Sherlock & Co. - The Bruce-Partington Plans - Part Four

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

BLOOD BROTHERS - This case, that began in total darkness and obscurity in the tunnels below London was now illuminated. In the cold light of day. The real victims became apparent. The truth shone brightly into our eyes. Justice now needed to be served.Part 4 of 4This episode contains swearing, death, descriptions of murder, descriptions of suffering, suicideListener discretion is advised.A new clothing store has opened: www.sherlockwear.comFor merchandise and transcripts go to: www.sherlockandco.co.ukFor ad-free, early access to adventures in full go to www.patreon.com/sherlockandcoTo get in touch via email: [e-mail] me @DocJWatsonMD on twitter and BlueSky, or sherlockandcopod on TikTok, instagram and YouTube.This podcast is property of Goalhanger Podcasts.Copyright 2026.SHERLOCK AND CO.Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan DoylePaul Waggott as Dr. John WatsonHarry Attwell as Sherlock HolmesMarta da Silva as Mariana AmetxazurraThomas Mitchells as Mycroft HolmesJasmine Kerr as D.C Lily LestradeLuke Jasztal as Walter ValentineAdditional Voices:Jack AyresDarcey FergusonJemma RevellJoel EmeryAdam JarrellWritten by Joel EmeryDirected by Adam JarrellEditing and Sound Design by Adam JarrellProduced by Neil Fearn and Jon GilExecutive Producer Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For just six pounds a month, binge ad-free adventures in full and have access to so much more over at patreon.com forward slash Sherlock & Co. Previously on Sherlock and Co. I feel you're hiding something. I'm a spy for goodness' sake. Of course I'm bloody hiding something. What do you wish for us to find?

Everything, dear brother. Trust no one. Question everything. Uncover every detail. and only then will we know that British interests are safe. Aside from the classified documents, is everything else... Hide it a damn sight better than that, please.

I... what? You know what, John? I... I really don't. The clue in your grasp. Sorry, I'm really sorry. I saw that he was holding this cuffling. I can put it back. No.

No. That little sparkle in this darkness is the clue, dear John. That little ambassador of Savileau, down here, beneath, amidst the breakdust and ballast. A tiny beacon of refinement. It doesn't fit. Who do you think it belongs to? That is what Sherlock and Co of 221 Baker Street must uncover. Director, it's me.

Microft? Your fear may have been validated. Quarerize it. I'm in the process. Who? Valentine. James Valentine. You know this.

How? Because I do, Director. The man has worked on our behalf and nearly 20 years. Oberstein, the legacy asset himself. He called me. I just checked in with him. with the investigation. The investigation is in its infancy, Maycroft.

Give it time. The investigator I have is the very best, aided by James' own brother. Jim Valentine! It's Mycroft Holmes! I just wanted to run something by you. I didn't solve the case. He solved it.

He just... He made me feel like I did. He authored every single move. The business card, he found it. He didn't share the security footage. He merely told his tale. Saw only what I wanted to see, which was my success. It cannot be Walter.

It can't. It can, dear brother. It absolutely can. Okay. This is you? This is me. Thank you. Kindly, D.C. Lestrade. It's been a pretty rough day for you, Walter. I wasn't going to chuck you in an oe. Right, mate. Good to meet you and, uh, again, always here. Of course. Thank you, John.

Thank you for arranging the payment claim. Yeah. Secret intelligence service as a client. I didn't think we'd ever be invoicing you lot when we started this thing. Totally. You're a damn sight more effective than half of our third-party services, let me tell you. Take care. Yeah, you two. Bye, Walter.

He's doing well, I think. Hard to tell. First day they usually do. Shock carries them. Yeah, true. Oh, crap. What, who is it? Sherlock.

Ooh, we are in for a bollock in here. Why? Because we're getting a lift home without him. You answer. Here. Hello, mate. Spotson, this is serious. No, it's not serious. Come on. I thought you'd be there ages.

You don't understand. No, I do understand, actually. We were with a grieving client. Spotson, listen to me. No, you listen to me. I've had a long day too. You and Mikeliff were waffling on. It's the wrong... What? Walter is the rat. Not James. What are you talking about? We saw him. We saw him use Arthur.

We did not. He used Arthur to take the documents because he... He was a traitor, Sherlock. We did not... We... John. Walter merely told us that. You understand.

It was not our investigation. It was his. He laid out the clues. We couldn't help ourselves, but to put it together. There is only one authentic clue he has provided in this whole thing. The cover.

Exactly that, Watson. Where is he? We just dropped him off. Dropped him off. How? I gave him a lift. Oh, for goodness sake. Where was my offer? Sherlock, we have more pressing issues. What do we do? Go in there, observe, deduce, and don't let him get away.

What are you going to do? Um, hello, mate. Me again. John. No, she just, uh, um, It was a robbery, I think, right? Where Lily went off to? Yeah, robbery.

Robbery. And she had to quickly zoom off and deal with it. And then I thought, I need to pee. Mariana, you said... I needed to check a payment thing with you, Walter, and we have to go get John's phone. One of those days. One of those days, exactly, exactly.

That, yeah, yeah. So, um... Walter, I also, I, I do these reports that we share with the police, and I will most likely share with your teams, I guess. Of course, I gave you the email. No, no, no, yes, no. So this is more a detail thing. How do you see it?

See my brother's betrayal? No, no, no. The holes. We have, currently. Arthur, on the track, in his pajamas, your brother being killed? I think Oberstein got what he wanted. Arthur was killed upon delivery, his corpse, having the documents that helped frame it. My brother?

My brother cut his own throat. That is how I see it, Mariana. I have little doubt that that is how the investigation will see it. In due course? Process and all that. Yeah. Yeah. Or it was Oberstein.

He could feel the British are responsible for the death of his sister. And God knows who else. Any one of us could be next. You understand? So get out. Get paid. Get to safety. John, didn't you say you needed to go to the toilet?

I did, yes. Yes, I did. Then we'll bugger off out of your way, Walter. Just through there on the left. Great, great stuff. Yeah, so these reports at first, I used to keep them kind of vague. If I was a cuff link, where would I? Where the hell would I be?

Um, ooh, laundry basket, here. A blazer to speak of. Probably wash it in normal lawnry? Cleaned. Jewelry draw. I have cuff links. This one, not one by itself.

God's sake, Sherlock, where the hell are you? I tell you where he lives? Oh, trust you. The man that couldn't spot an enemy of the nation in his own midst. And you are not. Clearly. But no, I really must get on.

There's so much to sort out, obviously. Yeah, of course, course. Oh, and what about this painting? Oh, yeah, that's really... I love the colour. Striking, isn't it? Striking, yeah, sad. You already asked me about that one, and I told you.

Ha, did I? Blimey, it really is one of those days, isn't it? No wonder you lost your phone. Yeah, yeah, so true. So, gosh, what was I going to say? How about goodbye? And we'll catch up soon. Uh, no, wasn't that?

Um... What's that? Oh, that... Is... James is cuffling, we think? From the tracks? From the body, I mean. Right? John?

Yep. You... When did you get that? When we... Looked... At the remains of Arthur? Right. I... well...

I must sort a few family things out. Walter, I just... Bye now. Yep, but at least he didn't kill us. That's true. Where the hell is Sherlock? I have no idea. So you didn't even find the...

cuffling, that's, that's the same one? Yeah, I had it out to compare his whole collection of them, but nope. No much? No, but why would there be? He's a spy. He's literally just left one clue. He'd just dispose of... What?

You wouldn't have it cleaned. He wouldn't keep it if he knew it implicated him. He'd throw it away. Bins, bins, it's bins over here. Here, here, here. You see anything? I smell plenty. No, not.

Ah, wait, wait, wait, wait. What, what, what is it? He bagged the suit. Holy shitting hell, this is a blazer. This is his fucking blazer. And the shirt. There it is. I found his brother.

Look, look. I see it. And look, the other cuff where it's been torn off. By Arthur. In his final moment. God. He gave us a message right from the very start. Right, right from when this is.

This whole thing began. Well, Arthur, mate, thanks for showing us. The light, thanks for... Telly. Oh, fuck. I hear... He's coming. Get in.

Get in. Get in. What? The bin. Get in. Oh. No. This way.

There's a back entrance. Lead on, brother. Through this side path. Just past these bins. It... There are signs of disturbance. I see that. He has, most likely, shredded documents,

washed evidence and disposed of them. I fear that to be the case. Let me see if anything has... Hello. Hi. Sorry, why are you in a bin? Yeah, that's actually a really good question. We went looking for the gutlink, and then we heard footsteps, and then...

You jumped. into a bit? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Would you like us to lift you out? Yeah. He's out. He's out heading northbound. Oh, Marga? Go live.

Come on. Ow, out. Wait. Strade heading northbound on Summerfield Road. Suspect is on foot. Suspect has entered a house. Exiting vehicle. Walter, on the fence. These are backing onto the Avanti or Eleni R lines.

The British law also mines very much, Mike Roth. Run anymore. You don't need to run. No, I, uh... I don't suppose I am... I don't suppose I do. Step away, Walter. Come towards me.

Can't do that, I'm afraid. Yes, you can, Walter. You can. You know this business. I know this business. There is no such thing as a clean agent. There is no such thing as a clear conscience. Walter,

come towards me, please. nice and easy. Come on, come on. You made a mistake, Walter. You made a mistake, my friend. That is all. Think of all the good you've done. Think the decades of service, of Oberstein. Nobody could have turned him apart from you. He turned back. So what?

You saved lies with what you got from him. Oh my God. Yes, old boy. You're looking at him. At who? Oberstein. What I know! Holding the Russians accountable is World War III.

They took down a British passenger jet containing 350 people. Man in the Kremlin is playing, Alex. Got to ask yourself, you want to play or not? You're the Prime Minister. You've done nothing! We would need to understand the policy context. All the relevant context. will be structured as a framework today,

and disseminated into an operation order, or Fraggo. A Fraggo that says to kill the president of Russia. Yes. Goldhanger. Who is going to be able to pull this off? Audio drama journey like no other. Men like Duffy, they are our most valuable weapons. Devised as a technically rigorous geopolitical action thriller.

We have two-tides-friendly key-a-eat. Where Britain plays its strongest hand. He's the best. its strongest fold. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts. Here. Why here? This is the Derbyshire Hotel, and we have here, room 209. It was booked last week by Herman Faulkner.

Okay. And who is that? According to the rather frantic audit, my brother's colleagues are doing on the valentines, Herman Faulkner was a persona of Walters discontinued in 2021, but it looks like he kept the name for such purposes. Right, so he had a hotel room? He did, but it wasn't for him. It was for Arthur.

Indeed, of whom the room was provided, all part of the enchanting adventure, of spies, of spies, of them. secret agents. The hotel has him on camera entering this building the night he died. A key card was hidden in a plant pot by the lobby by Walter himself, adding to the mystique, yes, but ensuring that Arthur ended up in here. Room 209. Do they have him leaving? No. Why not? Because Walter Valentine was the puppeteer and there was one final performance, a final tug on the string. Arthur was in a state of thrill, yes, but also tension.

Anything could happen in this blockbuster world he had been pulled into. He got as comfortable as he could. Pajamas, camomile tea under the covers. Then suddenly he woke to a call, alerted that his position had been compromised, an enemy zeroing in on his location. He had to leave now. But he was instructed by his master.

Do not leave via the room door. So he didn't. You see here? A fabric? The ripped pajama bottoms. Caught on the sash window latch here. He threw it open and clambered down, suitcase phone, wallet, all left behind. But why, Lily?

Why room 209? But there's a reason for the exact room. Yes. And I discovered it when I tried to reenact Arthur's prime. Look down. There's no window box on this room. There is on all the others. Strange, because we found the topsoil under his fingernails.

There was one. There was. See the splatter of dirt. See the dead flowers that fell when heeded and see you right here. The bolt that held it on. Sheared, clean off. Well, almost cleaned the teeth of the hacksaw. It was a trap.

He would have put his weight on it and... Down he went. This is when the plan is a little snag. Namely, the ground and not the great. The great? Explain? Come. In the depths of the night, Arthur landed here, broke a few bones and leaked a fair amount of blood.

The most of the bleeding he would do. But the intended target was two steps to the right. This ventilation grain. Exactly that. Look. A brand new padlock? Locked by Walter during his cleanup of the incident. That holds the gates of the ventilation shaft in place.

The previous lock was cut off. The plan was that Arthur would fall from his window and crash straight through. But he didn't. He missed. Landed here. These are tooth fragments. Oh, Jesus. The blood.

has since washed away, but not this. A scrape. Along the concrete. That would be Arthur's damaged watch. He was dragged to the grate and thrown down. And sadly, right at the moment when death could have taken him and spared him this final terror. And grabbed it.

Our clue. Yes. The shaft was opened up and he was thrown down, taking the cufflink with him into the dark. Well, why does it end? You know where. It ends where this all began. Hey, Lily.

Hi. What do you think? I think it now makes sense that Sherlock has the mic if you two were waiting down here. I don't see a ventilation shaft above my head. So... Yeah, that one took a while. Yes, it did.

But I figured it out. Well... I like to think I brought it to your attention. Sherlock? I literally figured it out. I even called TFL and got the exact train it happened to, and they sent me back blood spattered from their clean of it. Yes, yes, yes, all right. What happened?

At around 2 o'clock in the morning, all Metropolitan Line trains would be stationary, powered down, locked for the night. Some had platformed, some in various terminus locations along the line. But one would be in the sidings below Duke. place directly under... The shaft? Correct. Arthur was expecting to catch a flight.

What he in fact caught was a tube train, or rather it caught him. He landed on it. That was how the injuries were exacerbated, where further blood was ejected and where the body was carried on the first train of the morning, even for just a few hundred yards, away from the shaft. As the lines intersected various junctions of Aldgate, the turbulence threw him off and onto the tracks. Where we first met him. Where we first met him.

The whole time he thought he was living in his James Bond fantasy, but he was just a dummy. He used to hold the missing Bruce Partington plans, nothing more. Well, that's our side of things debriefed. Hmm, yes. Bet you've got much more complicated discussions to have now, haven't you? We do indeed. It would appear, rather dearest, that Oberstein was a shadow, a phantom. A figment of the imagination.

Well, all to Valentine's imagination to be exact, be just all. Saw what you wanted to see. Exactly that. The blinding flash of success, getting results. We just wanted to believe it. Why did he kill his brother? He was going to crack. The Russians most likely gave water an ultimatum.

Which was what? He goes. Or you both do. Right. Are the agents safe? At enormous effort and expense, it looks like we got them all out, yes. But the plan's got out. Almost certainly.

Walter just tried to fit it all in retroactively. Cobble together some villains in Arthur Cadogan West as the Mule, his brother, the inside man, and Oberstein as the master. And just like that, he had his hostile agents. and their operation to secure vital intelligence. Ah, duty calls. How convenient. Sherlock and Co.

As always, for your efforts. Yeah, um, no problem. But can that be the last, um, case we get through you? I certainly hope so, good man. group huggies? Come on. No. Come in. Why are you so damn strong?

Get off. Thank you, everyone, for listening to this adventure. It's quite a difficult one to get out, as you can imagine. A few things cut. But then I just got a message from an unknown number that said, just release it anyway. So I did. Hello?

Sherlock? Let me just... Hello? Is someone in here? What hell is that? Sherlock? Afternoon. Were you just in here? I was not.

Did you see anyone on your way out? What? Why are you smiling? What is this? And why is it on the kitchen table? It's a flying Scotsman, John. A flying Scotsman? A toy train? Oh, it's not a toy. It's a 1 to 85 scale Marklin H0 Class A3. Is this part of the case because this edit has been a nightmare

and I'm really trying to just ram this whole thing off? It's finished, I assure you. Microft has nothing else to share with us? No. He was never very good at sharing. Until now, it would seem... Great. Cool.

So, I can end the episode. You can, dear companion. You can. Yes? Yes. All done. That's... That's it.

End of the Bruce Partington plan? The end. Great. Thank you.