Sherlock & Co. - Abbey Grange - Part Two

Episode Date: July 29, 2025

THE MONSTER OF GRAVESEND - The barbarity of the case had thrown me back to my army days. Urgent, driven, focused on protecting life. I discarded my responsibilities as a true crime podcaster and did everything in my power to care for Eustace. Upon returning to Abbey Grange care home I met with the residents in every possible stage of old age. We had to navigate broken, tired and even fanciful minds in order to build our case in the hunt for this monster.  Part 2 of 3 This episode contains swearing, references to violence, references to elderly abuse, reference to dementia and psychological trauma and discomfort.Listener discretion is advised. For merchandise and transcripts go to: www.sherlockandco.co.ukFor ad-free, early access to adventures in full go to www.patreon.com/sherlockandco To get in touch via email: [e-mail] Follow me @DocJWatsonMD on twitter and BlueSky, or sherlockandcopod on TikTok, instagram and YouTube.  This podcast is property of Goalhanger Podcasts. Copyright 2025.SHERLOCK AND CO. Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Paul Waggott as Dr. John Watson Harry Attwell as Sherlock Holmes Marta da Silva as Mariana Ametxazurra John Brannoch as WigginsRhys Tees as PC Stanley Hopkins Christine Triffitt as Margaret BrackenstallAnni Davey as FrancesNeil Hurst as Jack Crocker Additional Voices:Esmonde ColeNeil MartinAmethyst ElsonLee JarrellDarcey FergusonLauren HallJoel EmeryAdam Jarrell Written by Joel Emery Directed by Adam Jarrell Editing and Sound Design by Holy Smokes Audio Produced by Neil Fearn and Jon Gill Executive Producer Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC Optimum Points on your first five orders. Shop now at NoFrills.ca. For just £6 a month, binge ad-free adventures in full and have access to so much more over at patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and co Previously on Sherlock and co Margaret Brackenstall can that really be buried just a few months ago in May? Wow

Told you told me what That you'd been here before. Abby Grange is just on the next street. No way. Well it was. Closed down shortly after... It all happened. Yeah. I never released those episodes.

She's no longer with us. Perhaps... It may be time. Her story is ready to be told. Help me! We are trying to help! Can you open the door? I have a doctor with me. Hello, hi! I can't!

You can't open the door? I can't open it! Okay, what's your name my lovely? Margaret. Hi Margaret, my name's John. Can you do me a favour and just make your way to the door and unlock it for us please Margaret? I'm tied up. I think I'm...

Someone has tied you up Margaret. Is that correct my love? Yes. Jesus Christ. My friend, she's not moving. There's so much blood. Okay Margaret, we're just coming in. Everything is going to be alright. Everything is...

Help her. We have got a problem here. Use your light. There's so much blood. I can't find a path. What do we do? I keep her in position. We get her to a hospital. Then... Then we...

We find the monster that did this. Hi, and welcome to the adventure of Abbey Grange. Listen, I'm really glad to be finally sharing this with you. glad to be finally sharing this with you but as I mentioned before this has bleak moments so have a look in the episode description if if you're um thingy what do they say if if you've been affected by the themes in this program type thing that's what they say don't they wow what a great insightful voiceover John affected by the themes in this programme type thing. That's what they say, don't they? Wow.

What a great, insightful voiceover, John. Marvellous work, mate. Well done. Nearly there. Use this. Nearly there. Heart rate's gone again. It's gone again. We've got it.

We've got it. Very, very sluggish. Atropine canal. And we'll get it moving. Higher rate of oxygen first. Higher rate of oxygen first. OK. Not getting enough. The whole airway's just full of blood, a lot of jugular distension.

Oxygen increased. Good, good, okay, and let me set my watch in. In three minutes we're gonna now fill her with epinephrine. Yep. Then three minutes after that we'll do it again, and we will do it every time until handover. On it. Come on, justus, come on! It's solid red now. Who The fuck does solid red mean?

Broken or working? Red only means bad stuff. Green means good, right? Who gives a shit on this man? Hmm, Watson does. Yeah, well I've only known him five minutes pal. I don't need to be out in Kent, do I? Is that a microphone?

Yeah, it's got to have a pal. Some old woman gets her head smashed in and that young fella is just looking after his recordings. Er, I think he's taken her to the hospital, hasn't he? You know, after saving her life? Watson is at the hospital, yes. And we believe Eustace Yates to still be with us. Is that correct? As things stand, yes, but his recent message reads, Eustace is circling the drain. Oh, that's... not good. It certainly is not, PCSO Hopkins. It certainly is not.

What the hell you wanna be one of them for? Be what? Sorry? A community support fella. To start out on the force, get hands on experience? Hands on football hooligans and dog turds people haven't cleaned up, no thanks. Yeah, well, after the Pantsnay investigation, I might well be an officer very soon, actually. Oh, whoop-dee-doo. I guess I'll learn from the best. Never miss an episode, so... yeah.

Never miss an episode of what? Sherlock and Co. What's that? The show that you've got the microphone for. Sherlock and Co. The podcast. I was in the Golden Pants, Nate. We don't know what the hell you're talking about, man. Golden Pants? Okay, can we just...

Yeah. So Eustice is in critical condition. What about her friend, Margaret? How is she? Margaret Brackenstall is at a community hospital, not far. She's familiar with that place, so at least she's comfortable. And they're seeing to her injuries? Yes. Nothing serious? Well, a community hospital would not be able to deal with anything serious, so I certainly

hope not Hopkins. Right, yeah. Some bruising around the eye, I noted. Oh, God. How could somebody do that to two elderly women? Monsters. Monsters? Yeah, monsters.

Plural. A collection of them, you believe. Randall Park just over the road. There is some gang activity there. The Randall gang? Bunch of kids man. This is Kent. This is my neck of the woods. They're not a little gang of kids. The Randalls are a blight on every Kentish town this side of the Medway. Ah Peter Pan and the Last Boy Boys causing you trouble too? I assure you, they're a serious, serious problem. They're bullies.

They're intimidating, cruel, insensitive, ASBO bullies. Ha! See that? That is something a PCSO would say. I'd keep your voices down, gentlemen. We have a rather captivated audience outside. Oh yeah, dear dear. Not quite armed to the teeth, but certainly attempting to conceal weaponry. He's got a knife, look. That one's got a knife.

Then he's not our man. What? Eustace had repeated blunt trauma impact the skull. Repeated over and over, perhaps nearly 30 times. No use of knives, not even on the rope. The fraying is clearly from scissors and... this. Glass. Of... water? Yes. You see the thumb mark on it?

Blood. Someone with bloodied hands......made themselves... ...a glass of water. That's... weird, no? Only a mouthful of it consumed. Your lost boys. They're hanging out right by this window. I think our community support officer might be right. Yes, but...

I'm not interested when people are right. I'm interested when people are wrong. Oh, where are you going? I would like to speak to the other residents. Of the care home? Yes. Okay, um, why? To collect data, PCSO Hopkins.

What about the crime scene? I've seen what I've needed to see. What, the water? Well, all the obvious things we've mentioned. Then the more exciting part. Which is...? Nothing. Nothing?

Yes. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ah, look at this place, man. It's like 50 shades of beige. Derek will be able to help you. Excellent. Derek, this is Sean Holmes. Sorry, what did you say your name was again? Sherlock Holmes. Whatever you say Sean.

Shut up. Derek, this is Sherlock Holmes. He's helping the poli... Derek? Derek sweetie? Yes love? This is Sherlock Holmes. Oh hello, are you new? He's with the police as backup. If you're backed up, Stacey can get you my senacot. If that don't work, John's got a laxative that will clear you out.

Trust me. No, Derek, he's not constipated. He's backup for the police. He's a detective. Like Poirot. Exactly like Poirot, Mr. Armstrong. And and like me Poirot requires as many details as possible before filing his conclusion. I bet this is about Margaret and Eustace isn't it?

It is! I'm in the room next to them you know? Did you know that? I do know! That is why I wanted to speak to you! What did you hear? Pardon? What did you hear? Pardon?

What did you hear? Why am I here? I'm local but my kids can't look after me no more you see. Mr Armstrong, in the room, what did... Where abouts are you from young man? I really... I don't have time. Newcastle upon Tyne? No, no wonder I can't bloody understand you!

No, Mr Armstrong, I need some leads! Leads? Leads? Sorry, forgive me, lovely sir, he's Leads. Horrible football team, mate. You know, my daughter-in-law's from Leads. I did not know that, Mr Armstrong. You won't believe who she's married to. Your son, by any chance? No, no. My daughter, they're lesbians, you see. I have to whisper it, because, you know...

Not quite a whisper, but fine. Mr Armstrong listen to me. People were saying that Margaret and Eustace were, you know, that they'd become lesbianised in older age. Mr Armstrong please. They had a wedding, you know, not Margaret and Eustace, but my daughter and daughter-in-law. I was there, obviously, and the vicar at the end says, you can now kiss the bride, and I thought, who's he talking to? Which one? I turned, there's two women in it, and I turned to John. God bless John.

What? What is it? God, I said, what would I do? We need John. Good, because I don't know if this thing is even recording. God bless John, I said. What? What is it? God, I said, what would I be looking for on top of it, Kate? Good. I don't know if this thing is even recording. John? Did you say that you needed... Hey, John? Yeah? This young man from Leeds wants you. I think he might be constipated.

No one is bloody constipated, Derek. I've got the blues blue I feel so lonely Hello? I feel so lonely Is...anyone? Hello? My name is John Watson I'm assisting in the...

I feel so lonely Hello? You're back! Oh, jeez! Sorry, yeah, er, yeah, I was here earlier. I've come to meet my colleague. When you said you were popping out, I thought you'd be 30 minutes. Er, no, the hospital needed some, um, sorry, have we met? Were you here earlier?

Now go and change out of your work overalls because Theona's back from school soon. Overalls? And she'll want to tell you about the year five picnic. It was ever so lovely, Peter. Now go and change out of your work overalls because Fiona's back from school soon. Overalls? And she'll want to tell you about the year five picnic. It was ever so lovely, Peter. We all played rounders by the church. Me and all the other mums. Sorry, I should...

Can I send someone up here? She asked that Mrs Deacon about being in the choir. I told her to. I said, Fiona, if you want to do it, you go and ask Mrs Deacon yourself. Frances? Oh, yes. Hello. Who are you? I'm Stacey. We know each other very well, don't worry. And this, young lady, is your

afternoon dose. I saw you sneaking it down the couch cushion. Twice a day please you. Okay right, yes let me, I'll get a fresh glass of water as that's been out a while. You've met my husband Peter? I'm not. I know you're not, don't worry. We were just, I'm looking for my colleague and she was talking about her daughter, I think. Fiona, yeah. The school picnic, rounders. Yeah, choir. Joining the choir.

Yeah, yeah. It's amazing. She must be so proud, you know, to keep that in there. I'm a doctor but I should have... yeah and it always blows me away that kind of like iron-clad core memory fuels people even beyond even beyond the most vital cognitive function. Francis has quite advanced dementia. We're trying to get her to our specialist facility. We will, in time. Yeah. That Fiona she's talking about died when she was a little girl, so if you're with her again just keep her within the guardrails of that memory and she should be fine. Oh, you've made yourself a whole pint of

water there. Well, they stick to my throat, these tablets. I'll be changing your knickers in 20 minutes if you're down all that. There we go. Sorry, did, um, my friend, the investigator, we were in the room opposite for the case. Is he around or...? Oh, they're all downstairs. Right, er, well, I bet, er... Are you popping out?

Yes I am. Bye bye love. Bye, yeah, okay go on then just a little... Oh, great, yep, oh and an arse pinch, lovely. Hello, you must be Derek. Oh hello, and I'm a young one, hey? Young? Clearly you need your eyes testing Derek. What's this, a Tottenham mug? Yep, that's it.

Definitely getting you some glasses if you're watching them lot. Oh, steady you. Yeah, tell you what though, must be nice to lift a cup, even it is just tea Oh, you cheeky get this one in here, aye? Hey, Derek, we're just looking into Eustace and Margaret's little issue they had earlier this evening Yeah, yeah, terrible, weren't it? Terrible Yeah, they'll be alright, don't you worry Did you notice anything unusual? Eh, it was them kids.

Them kids? He's referring to the gang. Ah, oh. Can you not sneak up on me? I did not sneak up on you. You did. Just, can we please? Right, fine.

What gang? What are you on about? Randall. Randall Gang. A local... problem. Err, yeah, yeah, they're a nightmare. They're a nightmare, those kids. Hoodlums.

Hoodlums, that's what they call them. Armed to the death. They're a nightmare, they're a nightmare those kids. Hoodlums, hoodlums is what they call them, harm to the teeth. They put a brick in the reception window once, didn't they, remember? Yeah, yeah, and the rest Charlie, yeah, nothing but trouble. I reckon they broke into their room and let me tell you they gave that poor woman a beating didn't they? Why would they go in that room Derek? Oh you mean why did they rob Margaret Brackenstall? Brackenstall jewelers? Come on you're clever than that aren't you young man? Hey? Right. Right. Oh I see. That's the nothing that you're excited about.

Exactly. So when you found her, no earrings? None. No necklace, no rings? None of those. Even though everyone we spoke to today, well, John spoke to, thank you John. You are welcome. I feel like my voice needs a rest after shouting at pensioners so I'm just gonna have a lie down here. They all said Eustace and Margaret wore excessive jewellery.

Margaret Brackenstall is, according to Barbara in the Arts and Crafts Room, tarted up no end, shining like something from El Dorado. Then Liz mentioned that Eustace jangled about like throppance in a laundrette, whatever that means. And finally, Nancy said they had more clink than a bottle bank on bin day. Yes, I was present for these fascinating insights, Hopkins. Yes, and what I'm confirming is neither of them were wearing any jewelry when you found them, were they?

Correct. Draws, cabinets, and dresser all empty. So we have a robbery. We do. And Eustis, I would say being the larger of the two women, bore the brunt of their attack upon entry through the window. Yeah and quite an attack. Multiple strikes. Dozens and dozens. Were you able to surmise the shape or size of the weapon? Yeah, blunt. Metal, I'd say, no wood splinters or anything. No more than 20mm diameter.

Indeed. It's brutal. Yeah, it is. Any word on her? Just text the senior registrar, we'll find out ASAP. Okay, right, well, I'm going to assemble a few professional units. More professional units than me, I mean. To go and have a word with our Randall gang. Do you think that is wise?

Yeah, I do. Do you not? Does Kent Police have plans to arrest them and commit to the charge? No, but I'm sure my superiors will want them to answer some questions. What questions exactly, PCSO Hopkins? Hello gents, did you happen to beat an elderly woman within an inch of her life, tie up her fellow resident and rob them? Am I missing something here?

Yes, you are missing something. Everybody is missing something and I find it very frustrating that I consistently arrive at different conclusions. What do you mean consistently? I've only done like four cases. I'm not quite sure why we're protecting these criminals, Sherlock. Stanley, it's fine. I will have a word with him.

No one will have a word with me. I am not protecting them. I am protecting the investigation. Well then they deserve to be investigated. Guys, we don't simply hand our findings over to the accused. I'm not going to hand our findings over. Guys, then you shall wait until we have found our stance. I think, I think, I need to elevate this and stop messing around. We are not messing around, guys.

This is a police matter and only the police can... Only police can what? Because you weren't so sure a fortnight ago with Elder Coram. Oh that was different. Guys. What? John. What? She died. Eustace They called it ten minutes ago. I'm David Oleshoge. And I'm Sarah Churchwell. Together we're the hosts of Journey Through Time, where we explore the darkest depths of history through the eyes of the people who live through it. Today we're going to tell you about our new series on the Great Fire of London,

one of the great pivotal events of the 17th century, one of the most important events in all of English and British history. It began at a bakery on Pudding Lane and quickly turned into a catastrophe. It consumed 13,000 houses, it decimated London and caused 10 billion pounds worth of damage in today's money. It even burned down the iconic St. Paul's Cathedral. The city was already devastated by the Great Plague, but rumors of foreign invasion led mobs to attack innocent foreigners on the streets.

In this episode, we'll explore the chilling consequences of rumors of fake news of xenophobia, problems that clearly are not unique to today. From desperate attempts to save their homes and belongings to the struggle to assign blame which turned deadly, this is the story of the fire as it was lived through by the people on the ground and the lasting impacts it left on the city. We've got a short clip at the end of this episode. that left on the city. We've got a short clip at the end of this episode. What is it? What is it, god damn it? You can tell Lou, but you can't tell me, huh? Nobody hits me and gets away with it. Oh, hold on, why is he slapping her? Because she's being hysterical. But that's not gonna help. Oh, they're snogging now, of course. Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

It's lovely. Oh, he really is grabbing her face, isn't he? Is she even conscious? Of course. She's loving it. Look at her. Yeah. And now a little Indian fellow with a snake. What's this? Oh, God.

You're gonna play it piano now? You ready? Yep. Now I've been some sensing to you, honey. Listen to me. And listen good. You better smoke. truffles... Ho ho, bloody hell!

Proper singing that, ain't it? Proper singing. Yeah, no, it's lovely. Yeah, that's it, light a fag first, gentlemanly. And now they're both puffing away. Right, erm, I should probably... It's been a long day, and gotta be up early to be back here, so... Aye, off you go, Inspector Morse! Yeah, well, we'll have a cuppa in the morning.

I can pause it for you, it slaps you again in a minute. No, it's okay, you don't have to pause it. See ya! Night, everyone! Night, night! God almighty! Gentlemen, can we have a little chat? You do you, man. Yo, yo, man's got level 3 armor on. You look rickety as fuck in that shit, man.

Street drip. Man's got street drip. Man's got dip drip. Rockin' the anti-dip. Your comments are much appreciated. I'm PC Andy Conlon. This is PCSO Stanley Hopkins. We just need to ask

you a few questions. Get a permit then bro show permits and get answers. We don't require a permit for this type of conversation when we're dealing with a murder inquiry alright. Oh shit murder? Be truthful bro. PC Conlon is telling the truth we are investigating a murder and a robbery and when we detect a reluctance to comply with our questions Comply Comply with our questions Comply, comply, yeah, that's what you said Can you stop interrupting? No, I'm checking

What's the basis of this little chat your man wanted, right? Now you're saying comply? This ain't no chat if I'm being told to comply Ain't no fricking chat Reluctance to assist in answering our questions. Man wants assistance! He failed on the comply, bruv! He failed on it! Assist? My taxes assist you, man! Like Kevin Dobrynyan is proud! My taxes assist you! You want more from me?

For what? For what, huh? Huh? What Inspector Hopkins is saying? He's dead, Chad. Now, man, he's cast! Cast? Look who's mad reckless! Look, if it's that reckless, we'll discuss it down the station. You are! Save me the disc of the film last week.

You're moving, man. You're moving, man. What are you arresting me for? What are you arresting me for? Do it along, bro. Do it along! It's not nice to be restrained, is it? Now you know how she felt. Get off me! She's just over there there in the dining room.

Brought her in this morning. Great, thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, we are going to be nice and pleasant, aren't we? I suppose. Sherlock, not only is she a victim of a gruesome crime, she just lost her roommate, her best friend for most of her life by all accounts,

and on top of that, she is an elderly woman. Margaret! Oh, hello there. Lovely to see you both. Hi. Do you remember us? I, erm, well, not quite, but Sheila said you'd be coming to see me and you were very helpful yesterday. Yes, you were in quite the, erm... Pickle? Yes, quite. A pickle. I was able to untie you and I'm glad to see you're on the mend.

Margaret? Actually, Watson, I have a question... for you. Er... okay? You see the yellows and browns of the bruising around her eye socket. I do, yeah. Why would the bruising accelerate to eye socket. I do, yeah. Why would the bruising accelerate to its later stages so quickly? It could be coloration,

maybe a vitamin K deficiency or a liver condition. Margaret's chart suggests neither. Then it could be, well, I mean, at her age, everyone can be different. Would it suggest an old bruise? But we know that- I know what we know. If...

Mate, if you know what we know, can we just... Fine. Whatever. Sorry, Margaret. No problem at all. Got to be thorough. Of course. Yeah, yeah. Um... Yeah, so we just wanted to check that you're okay. Um... If you had any questions for us or anything we can do?

My son's coming this afternoon. You needn't worry. I think I might have earned myself a night or two at his. Very exciting. Well, we can speak to him if you want. Inform him of everything that's happened. He visited you yesterday, did he not? Jack? Yes. Did he? The reception sign-in book would suggest so, yes. Sherlock, what?

Not now, please. Ow, you pinched me! Too compliant. Get off me! I'd love you to meet him. You remind me of Jack a bit. Right, yeah. Doesn't have all your hair mined.

You're so sweet. What you did for Eustace. Oh, that, yeah, it's my job. Well, my old job. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I you did for Eustace. Oh, that... yeah, it's my job. Well, my old job. Um... I'm so sorry I couldn't do more. Don't be like that to yourself. You did everything you could. She's in her next life now. Does no good to dwell on her last one, does it? No. No, I guess I, um... spiritually, I never thought... Have you taken your galantamine this morning, Margaret? How about we stop looking at her chart and maybe just have a chat? I've done all my bits and pieces about an hour ago, my love.

Bugger. Okay. Right. Well... Enjoy your porridge. Sorry, Sherlock, just... Off we go, Watson! Sherlock! It hurts. I can keep kicking as long as you keep shooting your face off. You know what else my lad?

Yes, Reg. Sorry. Reg, best behaviour please. Always Melanie, always. We want a chum roughly Melanie. This is what it is. It's the drugs. What ones you on? Anything fun? Ah, not me, you pillot. They're blah. The enemy. The enemy? Ah, is that what you call them?

Well, what you call them? Kids. Stupid kids. But, er, yeah, no. Kent Police call them the Randall Gang. Because Randall Park, I think. Ah, yeah. Hoodlums selling drugs. What drugs exactly? They're selling all sorts of wacky backies. They're selling the old, the what's it, the old powdery one that the bankers and the politicians. Cocaine. That's the one. And Graham, Graham! Oh he's not listening. You should speak to Graham. He said he saw them. He might listen to this.

He said he saw them selling firearms. Like guns? Yeah, firearms. And my son's family, they live down the roads. And it's not safe with that gang, John. So they want out. Now they're trying to sell their ass. And guess what?

Can't sell it? Can't sell it. Because of that gang. People see them. And the second they go down the high street, or have a look round the park, there they are. Puts them right off. They are tormentors. They are thieving,

vandalising little bastards. Oh, hello. Hello. Hi, Frances Loughlin. I'm... we bumped into each other the other day. Did we now? We did, yeah. Yeah, just... saying hello. Hello. Bye-bye, then.

Yeah, bye. Bye, Frances. How do you know my name? No, I said... er, yesterday we... Doesn't matter. I'm a doctor. I know all the... You're leaving. Okay, she's gone. Dementia, eh?

Yeah. Yeah, it's tough. She shouldn't be down here, really, without her one-to-one. They have them all up in the Wyndham block, don't they? That's... No, she's opposite Margaret. Margaret in Eustace's room. Margaret's on her way. On her way? Just a bit.

Cure blimey. Eustace used to look after her, didn't she? And Eustace had her own issues with her leg. That walking stick had a few miles on it. Bloody hell, John, let me tell you. She's... She has dementia. Hey, eyes on the telly.

Watch this bit. She's... she has dementia. Hey, eyes on the telly. Watch this bit. Fantastic. Don't make her buy that anymore, will you? You were saying Margaret has dementia? Yes, she does, Johnny boy. Beautiful spirit, that woman. Sunshine, we'd call her.

Sunshine? Always the sunshine sunshine never the rain let me tell you with us lot whinging it's damn near pissing it down hey you talk about rain oh so your son is moving away yeah you gotta gotta put roots down when you got little ins and chah. Course, yeah. Your grandkids. Oh yeah, gorgeous little things. Bloody a personality strong. Funny how that happens, innit? Where are they moving to?

Down Bristol way, I think. Bristol? Wow. Long way. Yeah, well. Why do you think I'm here? Can't build your life around an off-blind 84-year-old bloke, can you? Will they visit? They'll visit. Do you have any idea the fees of these places, John? Oh, er, a lot.

You spend the money to not put up with your dad milling around your ass, getting old and doddery. I'm sure, I'm sure. I'm sure they love being around you. I know all that, but life has to go on. You don't want to overstay your welcome at the party, do you? It's about the little ones now. I've been in the way a bit the last few years. Let him go live. I'll be alright. Got me telly. Got me paper.

And Mel in the year makes a bloody good cuppa. Don't you love? Aye. The best. You see? Yeah, my dad left the party so early I never really thought what it'd be like if he... Yeah, stuck around. He's your hero. Yeah. And I was to my son, I think. And I will be again. I will be again when I go. Mark my words.

So this is my colleague I should probably answer. No bother, mate. Hello. Hi. How's it going? Erm... Yeah, it's going. Yeah, I'm just working on a report for Kent Police for the Elder Coram Pantsnay situation. I can't get a hold of Stanley Hopkins. Yeah, he's busy.

We've actually... We're back in Kent. Another case. Oh, wait, what? That's what he wanted you for? Hold on. Mama, can you wait? Please, I'm on the phone.

Did you say your mom was staying over? Yes, I did. It, mama, I'm on the phone. Look, it's a call from work and I have to answer, okay? And yes, yes, I've made the bed. Well, first of all, it's not the bed, okay? It's a sofa. And second, the one who is using my bed is you. Mom, now I can't, okay? Right now I can't. Oh Jesus. What is going on? Well, yesterday, as you know, we answered Hopkins' urgent request, then broke into a care home for the elderly to discover a woman tied up and her roommate dead. Well, almost dead at the time.

Dead now, beaten to death. So, yeah. John, that's crazy. Are you you there now at the care home? Yep it's rough Sherlock is looking over the crime scene again and yeah but on the plus side I have made a load of new friends so hmm you're gossiping with the old people aren't you? Heh, and loving it. Thank you very much. I'm not surprised.

Murder aside, I've got telly on all day, waffling on endlessly about the slightest little things. Absolute heaven. Well, a pre-heaven heaven. Oh, you are so lame. Well, you say that, but... Ahem. Got off with a girl yesterday.

I think she was about 88 but still counts John! She initiated! Oh you idiot! No it's sweet. Dementia though it's It's rough, mate. It's rough stuff. I think our key witness slash victim is afflicted by that, so I need to tell Sherlock she might not be such a reliable sort. Of course, of course. And what's Sherlock saying about the case? I think he's just trying to work out how these little shits got into the room right now. Little shits? Yeah, sorry, so some gang-related incidents throughout the area right now and they have been lingering around Abbey Grange, that's the... it looks like they forced entry, took it out on one old woman, tied up the other and nicked all the... Yeah, the valuables. It's awful, really.

That's terrible. I know. And Sherlock, did he say this? Did he say what? Did he say that the gang did this? I don't think so, but they definitely did it. They didn't do it. What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the crime. What are you talking about? Sherlock, this is the least amount of sense I've heard today, and I've just been sat with thirty pensioners. You must be tired. Why not take a seat? No, there's blood everywhere. Uh, well, um, here? Why not take a seat on this chair? Where poor Margaret was tied down. No, again. Blood, see? On the seat?

Yes! Rather strange, isn't it? No! A woman was beaten to death. This is her blood. This is a crime scene. We're detectives. And yeah, that's another thing. I don't know if you know this, but, er... Margaret Brackenstall. Come closer, Watson. What? To the chair. Margaret's wounds were all well and healing.

Sherlock. I confirmed with the medical staff here that they filed a report on her bruising. Two weeks ago. Right. On her eye socket. Okay, but the whole case is not built around her bruised eye, Sherlock. No new wounds. Not anywhere on her person. And the community hospital, they confirmed this, did they?

They did. The restraints. The rope. Cut with scissors, not the knife of some gang member, and tied in a hand-spike hitch. Slightly complicated tie, but ideal if you don't want to cause too much damage to the skin. Almost braid-like the way it's rested around her wrists. So she's tied to a chair, but unwounded, and yet the blood of Eustace is soaked into the seat. How? They tied her up afterwards. That's not what she said. She's... Look, Sherlock, I just found out that this part of the care home...

She has early onset dementia. Yes. Wait, Sherlock, I just found out that this part of the care home... She has early onset dementia. Yes. Wait, wait, you knew that? Of course. But the crime took place an hour after her evening dosage of galantamine. Or what should have been her evening dosage. That is... This isn't an exact science. A glass of water right there. A bloody thumbprint smudged on its side. A mouthful taken. Just a mouthful. Why? To... to take a pill.

To take a pill? I'm just gonna say, psycho-analyzing a dementia patient is, again, not an exact science. Okay, well how about this? Window open. Yep. Where they entered. Bed directly beneath it. Yes. Was she accosted by fairies? Did they float across the bed and beat Eustace repeatedly in the face with their wands? What are you talking about?

The bed is crisp. Flat. Unruffled. A gang of youths is supposed to have bounded in here in a frenzy. It... Maybe someone made it. Who? You? Me? The Burleigh Sergeant at Kent Police? No, but- Hopkins took the photos. Upon our entry, it is exactly the same. The bed is perfectly made. I have checked and checked and checked again.

Maybe, er... Watson, there is something very seriously wrong with this crime scene. It is paramount that we speak to- Excuse me. Oh, hi. We're just... this is just, uh, this is a police investigation. What are you doing in my mother's room? Right, you're, um-

Jack. Jack Crocker. Hi. Uh, I'm John Watson. This is Sherlock Holmes. We, uh- so we are an investigative team that arrived on the scene when it... Hi, Margaret. Hello. I don't know if you... You knew Eustace as well, Jack, but I'm so sorry for what happened to her and... And to your mother here, of course. Hmm, yeah.

Jack has come to help me with some things. Yes, well, I'd rather you didn't. Excuse me. This is a crime scene. The police downstairs said... The police downstairs believe they have captured the killer. Good. Stay there, please.

Sounds like case closed. Far from it, Mr Crocker. Fine. They won't touch anything, but she needs some clothes. Definitely need a pair of shoes. These are light blooming clogs. Quite the build, aren't you, Jack? Thanks.

He's so muscly isn't he? When he was little he was all skin and bone and we used to say... Superb posture too, but I suppose with core workouts and not skipping back day that helps. Look, I need to open that wardrobe mate. Yes, and otherwise I'm going to be half naked and nobody... Margaret, recall the events for me one last time. Can you stop interrupting my mother, please? I don't know if you've noticed, but she's been through a lot. Yes, through an enormous amount. Some youths from the local park scaled the walls,

burst in through her window, tied her to the chair, and beat her fellow resident to death. Is that what happened? Yes. That's the sequence of events, is it Margaret? It is. Then what's this? Eustace's blood.

On the chair? Yes. That you were tied to before the beating took place? Sherlock. Margaret, you were tied to the chair before the beating. That's what you told me. My mother has early onset dementia. She's far from the perfect witness and you are far from the perfect detective to be grilling her.

I'm not grilling her. I am discerning a simple fact to prevent the police from putting children behind bars. She's unwell. Nothing is simple. It's fragmented. It's hazy and unclear and she doesn't have to answer to you. She doesn't answer to anyone. Anymore. Margaret Brackenstall was a soft-hearted, kindly woman her whole life. Why? What?

Why was she that way? Because that's who she is. Look at her, mate. That's who she chose to be. Alright, alright, that is enough. That's enough. I would very much like to get my things. Yes, Mum. I agree. Everyone has been so helpful and I want to thank you both. Mum?

For saving me. For trying to save Eustace. Margaret, I- And I want to thank the police, if you see them. They are busy tracking down the killer, Mrs Brackenstall. Good. They went looking in Randall Park. A rather unnecessary field trip, I'd say.

Sorry, this is... how exactly is that unnecessary? Because Mr Crocker, the killer is not in Randall Park. The killer is in this room. To binge this adventure in full and without ads, go to patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and Co. The End It's David Oleszogar from Journey Through Time. Here's that clip that we mentioned earlier. If you look at all of the accounts of the fire at this point, as we get to the end of Sunday the second, the first day, this fire is not behaving in any way the way fires traditionally did in London. And there is some people who've argued that it was becoming a firestorm,

that the heat and the wind and the movement of air caused by the fire was feeding, it was becoming self-sustaining as it were. John Evelyn, who's a great writer and a diarist of this moment, he talks about the sound of the fire. He said it was like thousands of chariots driving over cobblestones. There are descriptions in Peeps and elsewhere stones. There are descriptions in Peeps and elsewhere of this great arc of fire in the sky. I mean imagine that everything around you is coloured by the flames, yellows and oranges, and above you is this thick black smoke. This is a city you know, these are streets you walk, this is a place that's deeply familiar to you. And it looks completely otherworldly.

It looks like another, like a sort of landscape you've never seen before. People describe the fire almost as if it's supernatural. If you want to hear the full episode, listen to Journey Through Time wherever you get your podcasts.