After listening to the detailed report from the leading detective, Colonel Howard Vincent's expression grew even grimmer.
He was almost laughing in anger:
"A stage? A pre-arranged scene? So, we've been played by a shoddy third-rate painter and some scoundrel?"
The detective replied helplessly:
"Currently, yes, Colonel. There is no evidence at the scene to suggest a murder occurred.
The writing on the wall is paint, the ring is a prop, and the chalk outline was clearly drawn afterwards.
The homeowner, Stan Murdock, took money and fled, he's a key figure, but his whereabouts are currently unknown."
Howard Vincent impatiently waved his hand, dismissing the detective.
He felt incredibly vexed—if he immediately issued another statement, insisting that everything was a man-made hoax and had nothing to do with Scotland Yard, would the public believe it?
In the fervent atmosphere created by the serialization of "A Study in Scarlet," such a statement would likely again be interpreted as a cover-up.
But if he did nothing, rumors would only intensify.
Just then, his secretary, Avery, cautiously knocked on the office door again.
Avery's expression held both eagerness and worry:
"Colonel, regarding the current situation, I... I have another idea."
Howard Vincent cast a cold glance at him:
"Speak, but I hope this 'good idea' of yours doesn't turn Scotland Yard into a complete circus."
Edgar Avery swallowed:
"Colonel, since we have confirmed that no murder occurred there, and everything at the scene was artificially arranged.
Then, instead of blocking, why not guide it? Why don't we... make use of this scene?"
Howard Vincent raised an eyebrow:
"Make use of it?"
Edgar Avery thought about it more and more, convinced his idea was brilliant:
"Yes, we can select a few reputable and influential newspaper reporters...
Oh, and also choose a few ordinary citizens who were at the scene, and let these people, accompanied by our officers throughout, enter the empty house to inspect the situation.
Let our people point out to them on the spot that the 'blood writing' on the wall is paint, the outline on the floor is chalk, and the ring is a prop...
Let these 'witnesses' see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears, confirming that this is merely a carefully staged prank, and that the events from the novel never actually happened.
Then, through these reporters and citizens, clarify the facts to the public.
Wouldn't a 'truth' obtained this way be more convincing than a cold statement?"
Howard Vincent fell silent.
The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) had only been established for two years, and they lacked experience in handling media and public opinion.
Edgar Avery's proposal was indeed somewhat unexpected, and if handled properly, it might genuinely turn the tide of public opinion...
He weighed his options repeatedly.
There seemed to be no better solution at present; passively waiting would only make Scotland Yard look more foolish.
Howard Vincent finally made up his mind:
"Alright, Avery, do as you say. This time, you keep a close eye on everything; not a single detail can go wrong!
The selected reporters and citizens must be chosen carefully, and the accompanying detectives must be the most stable and articulate! Proceed immediately!
I want those who have been swept away by the novel to see with their own eyes how ridiculous the so-called 'blood writing mystery' is!"
Edgar Avery, seeing his suggestion adopted, immediately brightened:
"Yes, Colonel! I will handle it perfectly!"
——————
On the afternoon of July 29th, the sun barely pierced through the haze over London.
In front of the empty house on Summerlee Alley, the atmosphere was even more fervent than the day before.
Under strict police control, a small group of chosen lucky ones, including reporters from The Times and The Daily Telegraph, as well as several bank clerks, teachers, and shop owners who claimed to be loyal readers of "A Study in Scarlet"...
With a mixture of excitement and apprehension, led by a senior superintendent, crossed the mysterious cordon and entered the empty house.
Edgar Avery personally supervised the scene, constantly winking at the accompanying detectives, signaling them to act according to the plan.
The detectives dutifully began their explanation:
"The red writing on the wall, after examination by the coroner, is not blood, but a special red pigment, mimicking the effect of flowing blood..."
"This white human outline on the floor was drawn with chalk, clearly intended to imitate the posture of the deceased in the novel..."
"This ring is of common material, with no signs of wear, more like a prop..."
...
However, the detectives soon discovered that their explanations had almost become background noise.
The reporters and readers who entered the scene were not interested in listening to these "disappointing" explanations at all.
Their eyes shone with excitement, completely immersed in a frenzy of "role-playing."
"Look! This angle! Sherlock Holmes stood right here to observe the body!"
A bespectacled teacher gestured with his hand, imitating the imagined detective.
"The position where the ring fell! This must hint at the relationship between the murderer and the victim!"
A bank clerk pulled out his portable notebook and pencil, meticulously taking notes.
"Paint? I don't believe it! Detective, I see this as blood!"
A reporter from The Daily Telegraph refuted the detective's explanation while holding his notebook.
They even started "deducing" on their own:
"The killer chose to commit the crime here because it's remote!"
"This is German for 'revenge,' meaning the killer might have a German background or wanted to frame a German!"
"Just looking at the house isn't enough, we need to go outside and see if there are any suspicious footprints!"
...
The detectives tried to pull them back to "reality," but their efforts were like a stone sinking into the sea.
These selected individuals were less "witnesses" seeking the truth and more "actors" participating in a grand immersive play.
They preferred to believe they were "Dr. Watson," assisting the great Sherlock Holmes in examining the scene, rather than listening to Scotland Yard announce "game over."
The accompanying senior superintendent looked at the group of people caught in collective delusion, his face filled with helplessness and despair.
He glanced at Edgar Avery, who stood by the door, his face gradually turning pale, and suddenly felt a touch of schadenfreude...
——————
The next day, the front pages of London's major newspapers did not feature the "truth revealed" that Scotland Yard had hoped for.
The Daily Telegraph's headline was simply:
"Inside the 'Bloody' Scene: Intense Mystery, Many Unresolved Questions!"
The Times' report was relatively restrained but hinted in its detailed descriptions that the police explanation was not entirely convincing, and meticulously recorded the various speculations of the "Holmes fans" at the scene.
The tabloids, on the other hand, went to extreme lengths to exaggerate, embellishing the reporters' "deductions" and "discoveries" at the scene, as if they had truly found irrefutable evidence of a murder.
When the public read these reports, far from being "clarified," they became even more excited.
Scotland Yard's action of allowing reporters and readers into the scene was itself interpreted as a "default admission";
And the anecdotes of reporters and readers imitating Holmes' deductions at the scene added a touch of absurd yet fascinating color to the entire event.
"Even The Times reporter thinks there's something wrong with the police's statement!"
"Look, real detective enthusiasts can see the mystery of the scene!"
"Scotland Yard must have run out of options to resort to letting outsiders in to see, right? And it backfired!"
...
Rumors spread even more fiercely in pubs, clubs, cafes, and at family dinner tables.
Sherlock Holmes' name was mentioned with unprecedented frequency.
Below the window of 21B Baker Street, although there were fewer people, some persistent individuals were still waiting.
And everyone's gaze was fixed on the late-month issue of "Good Words" magazine, due to be released tomorrow.
The anticipation for the latest serialization of "A Study in Scarlet" among readers across London, and indeed throughout Britain, had been pushed to a boiling peak by this absurd drama.
(End of Chapter)