Sherlock & Co. - The Engineer's Thumb - Part One

Episode Date: June 23, 2026

NIGHTMARE ON BAKER STREET - It's fair to say it had been a challenging few months for a certain Dr. John Watson of 221b Baker Street (that's me). Unfortunately may attempt to soften my trauma with very British behaviour of ignoring it entirely eventually allowed the trauma to manifest itself into nightmares. Never been a nightmare guy. Now I'm a nightmare guy. Not a huge fan. But it does at least mean I get to catch up with Sherlock Holmes during his preferred hours. Part 1 of 3 This episode contains swearing, sexual references, references to abuse both psychological and domesticListener discretion is advised. A new clothing store has opened: www.sherlockwear.com For merchandise and transcripts go to: www.sherlockandco.co.uk For 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 2026. 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 Matt Malthouse as Colin Warburton Naomi Miller as Mrs Warburton Shin-Fei Chen as Vicky  Additional voices Adam Jarrell Darcey Ferguson 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

For just six pounds a month, you can get early access to ad-free episodes. Just binge those full adventures immediately. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more over at patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and Co. Just six pounds a month. Six pounds. Yeah, that is cheaper than parking at Heathrow for 29 minutes. Do you know that?

Yeah, 29 minutes in a Heathrow car park or Sherlock and Co members club. You decide. Patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and Cup. Hello, allow me to introduce you to the adventure of the engineer's thumb. Right, this is three parts. It's an adventure that might contain some distasteful language from time to time, bits of violence, superb editing, charismatic hosting, and, oh, nightmares.

I just did the cliche thing of bolting up right in bed. Sweating in the worst dreams right now. Nightmares, really. Brain is just a total hell factory right now. I'm going to, I'm going to grab a water from the kitchen and grab a sense of reality as well, hopefully. You're a reality that I'm just processing trauma. Reality that they're just nightmares and reality that they're just nightmares. and reality that I'm not bleeding out in a tunnel. I'm home and I'm safe and there's nothing to be afraid of. Hello.

Jesus, fuck. My name is Dr John Watson, once of the British Army Northumberland Fusoleer Regiment. Now, a true crime podcast that are based in central London. I don't have much experience in criminology. So this is mostly a record of how, I met possibly the most brilliant and bizarre person I have ever and will ever know. Join me as I document the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

What's with the Sherlock and Co theme whistle? A signal test. Call and response. Come, we may as well suffer together. So this is normal for you? I don't have many nightmares these days. No, I mean being up at 3am. Hmm, yes. I never thought I'd be an insomnia guy Always love my sleep Yes, so you tell me when I have my violin practice scheduled

Scheduled for when though 1am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Yeah, exactly So Was it the tunnel Hmm? Were you in the tunnel again? Yeah, it's uh

I don't know It's so dark And I know I'm scared right? I know I'm scared and alone, but it's a different feeling. It starts off kind of like a low background sense. Then it's like a volume dial that just gradually turns up and up and up, this overwhelming emotion.

Of what? Anger. Of the fear of what you felt after Miram? Sadness. Yeah, sadness. that, like I've lost someone and this sound of, this thundering,

pounding, churning, rush of waters. It gets louder and louder, and I get sadder and sadder until suddenly I'm in it. Under the surface, thrashing around, looking for something like, One minute I'm in a swimming pool on holiday with my parents and I'm diving down for my dad's keys at the bottom

and then I get there and it's this dark, loud mash of rushing water again. I'm not a boy, you know, I'm me again and I'm searching for something infinitely more important than my dad's keys. You know, I can't find it and the sadness just overwhelms me and then I... And then you wake up? And then I wake up. The same?

Every night. Not always. Every night, no. But it is the same. When it decides to show up, it is the same production. Each time. I see. What about you?

Just a body clock thing? Not entirely. So what is it? Boredom. Boredom. Yes. Yeah, that usually makes people fall. asleep rather than keeping them awake all night. Why not just, I don't know, read or...

It's not a pesky itch that can be quickly subdued with a well-placed scratch. No? No. What is it then? An ache. A chronic gnawing ache for activity, for challenge. For a case then? Exactly that. That's what helps you sleep, does it? Either in the solving of one or shortly after its conclusion, yes?

So, you need a case. And you need to find what you're looking for. And? What? I need a piss. Ah. Ha ha. Sorry, why do we have so many t-shirts?

Well, you wanted them for the shop? Yeah, I didn't know we actually received them. Yeah, we get like, um, example prints. God Lord, they're everywhere. Oh, this is yours. Yeah, I mean, they are all technically mine. What does it say? say. Detective adjacent. Yeah, very good.

I really don't know if people will buy these. Let's see yours. It says, property of Scotland Yard. God Almighty, did I come up with all these? Yeah, you were pretty drunk at the time. Oh, Jesus, look at this. What is it? I don't get it. This is us as construction workers and it says your case is under deduction.

Oh God. Yeah. Yeah, we need to send these back. Maybe we don't need as much creativity for the shop as you think. Yeah, true. Apparently, what we need is a case. Yeah, yeah, he's struggling right now, right? Yeah.

I showed him some cases yesterday. He didn't really like any of them. Nothing. No. Well, there's quite a few here. Yeah, I started printing them out. I thought I could present them to him rather than just forward. in the cases, that it might

inspire him a little more. I don't know. Oh, I know what we can do. What? Wall chart. A wall chart. Yeah, we're going to do a World Cup of Cases. And whoever wins the final... Get our services.

Exactly that. So, like a tournamentry. Yeah, right. Get all this crap off the wall. This crap being pictures of my friends and family. Yeah, yeah, chop. Welcome, everyone, to the inaugural Baker Street Case Cup. thought we were calling it the Crime Cup.

Ah, yes, we changed it. Yes, I can see where he's crossed it out. Crime implies a criminal act has taken place, when we can't make that assumption. Very good. Thank you. Excuse me, an opening ceremony going on here. Well, we've only got eight cases to offer.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, all right, so we are in the quarterfinals. And in match number one, we have... Mr. Hussein's broken windows versus... Sherlock, would you like to do the honours? This is the brutal murder of Bill Marsh. Oh, how exciting. Ah, the tournament favourite, I'd say.

Right. Bill Marsh was killed by his brother. It was... What? He stole money from their father's business. His brother, Mark, attempted to frame the murderers some sort of mugging following a night at the pub, but there was traces of a prescribed petrelatum on the handle of the knife.

Okay, what does that mean? Fragrance-free. An emoliant of sorts. Sherlock, just can we play the Case World Cup, please? This is a picture of Mark. Oh, eczema? Doctor? Um, psoriasis, I'd say. What would you give a man with that?

Get the inflammation down, then a topical protopic? And? And... And, yeah, and a petrelatum-based emoliant, fragrance-free. Thank you. Okay, so, a huge... upset already. A true underdog story, Mr. Hussain and his broken windows has slain the Goliath that was the Bill Marsh murder. Into the semis goes Mr. Hussain. Right, for the next

quarterfinal clash, we have the singular problem of the ice cream van robbery. That's the scoop. Talk about cold cases. That culprit needs to freeze because he's under arrest. We're going to have to cone off the street. There'll be no flakes for you in HMP. Call for big moments. And there is no bigger moment than the deciding penalty in this titanic clash between Mrs. Cecil Forrester's strangled lodger and the real star of the tournament for me, Morgan the Poisoner. Suspected. Suspected Poisoner, excuse me. Being a long tournament, Mrs. Cecil Forrester steps up to the spot, the weight of a nation on her 87-year-old shoulders, the intimidating frame of Morgan, the suspected poisoner casts a shadow over the gold mouth. She steps up. And

What? Does she score? Does Morgan save it? I don't know. No, for the winner. Who do you want to win? Oh, strangling, please. She's done it. She has done it. Morgan the poisoner sent the wrong way.

Penenka, right down the middle. Her tops off, she's dived into the crowd, both bookable offenses, but she doesn't care. She's brought the trophy home, and she will get the services of Sherlock and Cone. Yeah! Who! Spanish royalty looking on from the stands, her stupid giant glasses, steaming up with emotion. So now what happens exactly? We go and check out the case.

Okay. Well, you've been quiet for a while, that's a good sign. Hmm. Sure, there was a band called The Stranglers. Did that song, Golden Brown. Golden Brown, texture like sun. I think he's trying to concentrate. Oh, bugger.

Oh, did I break your concentration? No. What is it? Do you think she did it? Do you think Mrs. Forrester killed Emmanuel? Do I think an 87-year-old woman strangled a French triathlete? No, I don't. Then why are we saying, bugger? What's wrong?

Mrs. Cecil Forrester is not a monster. She's actually rather kindly. How so? It's not suitable for the podcast. What? No, we cover everything on this, mate. Okay, fine. There was no breaking. This was self-inflicted, albeit accidental. Mrs. Forrester merely protected the honour of her lodger.

He asphyxiated himself in the throes of her... Private passion. Oh, God. Pubic hair, sweat, rope fibers here. Off, off, turn it off. Oh, God, I'm trying. Some ejaculate. Off, damn it!

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Wait, for this price? Moment. Old Navy's drapey denim wide leg. I ordered that one, so... Yeah, you know, I'm not making it up. Jesus. Morning. It's 2 a.m.

That's why I said morning. Fair enough. Would you like another insomnia party? Sure. Thank you. Ah, well, I mean... It's just a nightmare. You know, I'd like to say I'm joining you for moral support,

but it's more I just... I just can't get back to sleep after that, chaos. I was thanking you for the Case World Cup. Didn't quite yield the results you were seeking, though, did it? That's unfortunate, yes, but your efforts and that of Mariana were commendable, and occupying of thought. And that can only be a good thing, can't it? Yeah, lovely.

I would have one from time to time. Hmm? A nightmare as a boy. What was it? My shadow was... He was somewhat disobedient. Oh, sir? In my nightmare, I would see the world from the perspective of my shadow.

He would rise out from my sleeping body. like some spirit. But he was still nothing more than a blot of impeded light, skulking through the hallways of my home, my boarding schools. And he would do the most unspeakable things, John. Evil, wicked, cruel. He would eventually return, satisfied with a night of callous destruction. To my body.

And I would hear him whisper to me as he clambered within, hot with joy over his night of terror. And then you wake up. And then I wake up. When did? They go. How long did you have those dreams for? They stopped for many years. Many, many years.

Ah, good. And I was, unfortunately, reunited with him not too long ago. Really? When we first heard of our spider, it awoke him. The shadow Sherlock. Ha, yes. Indeed. Just the one time, though, fortunately.

And have you found the source of your sadness in the deep, dark, churning waters, Mr. Watson? Doctor. And no. But I did catch that one on Mike, so if we do find a case, the listeners, We'll perhaps hear it, and they can always help. Can they? Yeah, of course. Of course, a great bunch.

You know, it's just... It's great. Just reaching out and engaging with the listeners. Oh, now that is interesting. Yeah, but two seconds. The toilet bowl beckons me... Listeners. The listeners.

Hello there. If you have a problem, a conundrum, a puzzlement that needs solving, an entanglement of circumstance that must be by trained professionals, then please get in touch with Sherlock & Co. at 221 Baker Street. And we will solve your case for you. And you will even receive a free t-shirt that reads, I went to Baker Street and all I got was traumatized. While stocks last on those, which will be some time. Looking forward to hearing from you, turning you off briefly to post that. One moment, listener,

Ready? Yes, hello. All right, do you want to put anything on TV? I don't find it helps a great deal. Oh, message at this hour. It's probably Wigginsie messages at weird hours, doesn't he? Nothing weird about those hours for an irregular. What?

Hmm? I've got loads of... Another. Everything all right? My phone is heating up. This is mental. I'm getting emails, DMs with people's... I don't even know where this is.

Problems? Yeah. Dear Sherlock and Co. Please help me find my cat. Dear Sherlock and Co. In 2016, my laptop was stolen. Dear Sherlock and Co. Is this a spot or an ingrown hair? Right, what the fuck is going on? Fascinating.

Sorry, what are you doing? What is going on? I'm closing your laptop. See? Seriously, what are you doing? Well, now the laptop lid is closed. I'm sitting on the couch conversing with my dear friend John. Okay, what were you doing before the thing you just did? Oh, I'm reaching out and engaging with.

with the listeners. Right. Sorry, how? Asking them if they need any cases solving. Is that a joke? What would be the punchline exactly? So, hold on. Let me just process exactly what...

You just put out a... A video. A video. Asking that the listeners get in touch with their problems. That's correct. Well, specifically problems that are related to crimes. That need to solve it. And did you specify?

Did you specify that? No. That's fairly obvious, isn't it? No. No, it's not. No? You didn't provide a number, did you? It was on the link.

Oh, for God's sake. Delete it. I'll remove the number and specify that the problem must relate to crime. No, Sherlock, I have been up all night with calls. Delete it. Quite in the mood for a violent crime, actually. Maybe I refine this accordingly. Have you been murdered? Seeking justice?

Get in touch. Oh, just what? we need. The Sheriff of Sarcasm has graced us with his presence. Yes, all right, thank you. The British Sarcasm Awards have announced their nominees. Yes, enough. Thank you. Sherlock, delete the post entirely. I'm refining it. Just... Yes. Hi, and no. Sorry, we are not interested in any... Um, uh, all right. Yeah, that does sound kind of... Do we have a catch?

Shh, shh. Uh, um, sorry, what are your details, please? Uh-huh. a slippery little anamniotic vertebrae wriggling on the end of our line. What? A fish, Watson, a fish. Okay, uh, great. We'll be right there. The fans have answered our call. So, Colin Warburton.

Mm-hmm. Dead? Wronged? Missing? Mad. Mad? It sounds like some sort of psychotic episode. Oh, wonderful.

I'll get the T-shirt. He's up there. And you say a very sudden madness. In what respect does it concern you to contact a detective consultancy? Well, when it first happened, he was... His work called. And they said that he got up all of a sudden, right in the middle of the office, and, you know...

I'm struggling to deduce this one. Watson? Yes, sorry, I don't quite follow. He stood up in the office and took his clothes off. Oh, wow. Yes. Underwear and... Everything. Right.

Look, I understand the Mental Health Act sectioning and what have. You can have an enormous effect on someone's life. I get that, but your husband will need professionals. He went to one. Of course he did. He had to. He, I've drove him there. What was their observation? They think he's a psychopath.

A psychopath may expose themselves, but there would have been noted acts of violence in his past. They didn't say was a psychopath for stripping off and walking out of work. They said it was because of what he told them. The mental health professionals, what did he tell them? He said he put it on. He put it on? Yep.

He faked it? Yes. He told them he's faking madness. That's right. He said, I'm faking it for my own reasons. Don't put me, you know, don't section me on grounds of insanity or whatever. Faking it for what? To what end?

Well, he didn't reveal to them. He hasn't to me. But as they've said to me, the clock is ticking. They will come here and they will take him away. So you wish for us to decipher the reason for his madness? Exactly. His job. What does he do? He's a legal director for a...

Well, it's lots of companies that he looks after because it's a conglomerate. What kind? Luxury designer goods. I see. Mariana? Yes. Get the information of his office from Mrs. Warburton here, then call them, have them check their inventories, particularly shipments on the...

When did his madness begin? The eighth. The eighth. Okay, let's go in here. And if you can just take me through exactly what's involved with his work... I don't know what we're thinking. It's not quite what I think at this very moment. It's what I feel.

What do you feel? A fraud. What gives you that feeling? The bookshelf I spied in the lounge. Yeah? Mrs. Warburton clearly had a shelf of her own. And his, uncracked hardbacks, money-making manuals, entrepreneur porn, self-help Bibles. Uncracked, like...

He hasn't read them. All for power, for ego. And these stare photos. Uh-huh. Nothing candid. Everything posed. His wife there in this one out of focus. Not Colin. Never Colin. With this family here, he's the tallest. The photo is cut where another man stood to his right.

Someone taller. Exactly. No, the feeling. She's in his shadow too, in nearly all of them, his wife, I mean. And this one? The only one showing true affection in his eyes, looking at this man, clearly his father, and I don't like what I see there at all.

This is just from books and pictures. No pets. And none in any photos, but his wife clearly loves dogs. A phone case, yeah, saw it. So he doesn't allow her to have one. Controlling. Narcissistic. And greedy.

Hmm. What a lovely combination. First sign of madness, they say, Mr Warburton. What in there? Care to tell me. Sorry, who are you? Get out of my bedroom. Come on. You must know the answer. I don't.

Oh, that's a shame. Who was on the phone? What? Your wife said you had gone mad. Just wondering who, during your potent bouts of psychosis, did you decide to call? I wasn't calling anyone. So, you were talking to yourself. That, Mr. Warburton, is the first sign of madness.

We got there eventually, didn't we? But I see no other signs. Do you, John? No, I don't, mate. This is a very unconvincing performance. Get out! Or what? Or I'll call the police?

Oh, we would just. about to do the same. Oh yeah? Yeah. Yeah? Yeah. Yeah. I'm having visions, and I'm...

And I'm... And I'm... And I'm... And I'm... A bit what, Mr. Warburton? Having a... I feel like a panic attack. Could have get some water.

Downstairs. There's a glass right next to you. Oh, yeah. It was a distraction, wasn't it? Hmm? It wasn't a lapse of your mental fact? It was a distraction. I don't really.

Is this, are we... Is this Christmas love? Oh, come on. Could you put another log on the fire? Colin, don't lie. Don't take advantage of an understanding mental health service that is stretched. My colleague is checking with your company, Mr. Warburton,

on what possibly happened to their shipments. On the eighth, it would seem the glare of your new display blinded those with responsibilities that day to perform basic inventory tasks. Would that be right? Then it certainly did the trick, didn't it? They have missing handbags, missing trainers and jackets.

Thank you so much, Mariana. Could you make a quick bit of cash, Mr. Warburton? Hmm? Just looking in your jeans here. Hoy! Ah, well, isn't this a nice little clue here? A signed agreement. I don't know how the people at Tesla feel that a man has apparently gone totally mad,

walked right into their showroom, and bought a brand-new full-spec model Y. Not quite an endorsement of their product, is it? Get the fuck out! No! No, I'd rather stay. They're not going to section me. They're not going to put me away. No, they're not. But you needn't worry about that.

The police will process you much faster than the NHS. Would you like to be arrested in your pyjamas, or would you like to dress? You'd go out naked again, mate, if you want, for all time's sake. Get the fuck out! Absolutely not. We will leave when the police arrive. Why? Hmm? Why? Because I worry for your wife's safety.

Oh, yeah? Yeah. I'm not a nutter. You're something, but I'm not qualified to gauge what exactly it is. I can gauge other things. Like what? You're a daddy's boy. He was a brute and a thug, and you worshipped him.

His wife didn't look particularly happy by his side, I must say. What gives you the right? You are not a nutter, as you put it, Colin. But I don't like what I observe. I have assessed and made my judgment on the criminal act. The other observations and the reflections on the relationship with your father was the final flourish. You see, Mr Warburton, rather like your latest flashy purchase. It's all in the jeans.

Oh shit, what the... Get dressed. It's all in the jeans. Whack! Chuck the jeans at his head. That is unbelievable stuff, mate. Ah, stop. No, come on.

That was... That was world-class stuff from you. Yeah? Hey. What? You're tired. Yes, I feel like I could do with a little sleep. Oh my God, do it. Go.

That would be all right. Yes. Oh, I'm also going to go to sleep. I was up all night answering people's problems. I do apologize. Don't apologize. Sleep, sleep. Go now.

You too. I'm going to quickly walk, Arch. Archie boy. Oh, wow. I mean, hello. Hi. Hi, sorry. Yeah, I'm dog.

and this is my doctor Arch Arch Archie. No, I'm not, no, sorry. I'm Dr. John Watson. I haven't, I haven't had much sleep recently. Hi. I actually, I know who you are. Ah, cool, cool, sweet. Yeah, that's... Ace. Um, I... I'm in London for a little while, and I saw on your post that you wanted to know if, um, if anyone had any problems, they needed solving. Ah, right. And I do actually have, I don't know, what could be a case, I guess. It happened a while ago, so that's kind of difficult, but... Yeah, I don't, um... Sorry. You want my name. Yeah, is that okay? Tricky question. Yes, it is. I'm Vicky.

Vicky, okay. Well, Yes, uh, Vicki. Sorry we, it, um, it was posted because, um... Look, I thought it was a nightmare. I have always had, had them. My whole life, I think. And, but the one that started five years ago, nearly every night, and they would get really intense.

And I just, I thought, um... A nightmare? Yeah, I... Five years ago. ago when I studied here in London it was this time of year I was sleeping in my student accommodation I hadn't there was no drugs or alcohol or anything like that and I had it right and there's this tunnel and these screams this headless woman this terrifying clown comes towards

me and and he bice down on my thumb and... And then you wake up. And then I wake up. Right. Well, um, I, I, I, I struggle with, uh, I mean, I am currently, I have a situation in that area. Um, yeah, but, uh, we're a detective agency, so I don't, I don't think we would have been much help in the, uh, the nightmare analysis field. Okay.

Okay? Yeah. But it was really nice to meet you. Vicki. Where are you from? China. Cool. Nice. Nice. That's great. That's great. Hey, I'm gonna go and walk my dog. Um, if you, I don't know, if you fancy, maybe, um... When I woke up, it... It... It was gone.

Sorry... Sorry, what was gone? It was gone. The nightmare. Was gone? No. This. Oh my God. My thumb.

Severed. Gone. Yeah, maybe, um... We could help with that. To binge this adventure in full and without ads, go to patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and co.