Sherlock & Co. - The Norwood Builder - Part Three

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

TRIAL BY GUNFIRE - Sherlock and I had a foothold on the case and its discrepancies but unfortunately just about everyone in the UK wanted Hector DEAD. The Met Commissioner at times even seemed like one of those voices. Inside the chaos of this prestigious waxwork museum however; Hector only wanted to speak to one man... Sherlock Holmes. Part 3 of 4 This episode contains swearing, depictions of violence and gun usage. Listener discretion is advised. 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 Dominic Sandbrook as Hector McFarlane Sharon D. Clarke as Lestrade Additional voices Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Lucy-Jane Quinlan 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 £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. This is Gregson, over. Gregson, we've got an armed suspect at Madam Two Swords. What? Repeat, an armed suspect at Madame Tussauds. Dispatch, I'm in the area, about a minute away. Could you repeat?

Over. Suspect with a firearm at Madame Tussauds on Marleybone Road. Repeat, we have a suspect with a firearm at Madame Tussauds on Marleybone Road. Units and special units on standby. Over. I think we may have located Mr McFarlane. Don't you? We're just about to speak to Shereen, see if we can...

No, okay, wow, we're going straight into the paparazzi! Hey! Ah! I'll spoo it! Out of the way! Get off me! Oh, God, you lot are the worst! Shereen! Ow! I just met your husband! Look at the fuck off me!

Hey, hey, that got me! I'm a detective! He came to see me! I think he may be innocent. Shereen! I think Hector may be innocent. Wait, what? Did you see him leave? No.

You said goodbye inside? Yeah. Is Sherlock? Yes, Watson. Look at this, on the floor. Ah, yes. What do we have here? Is that from his bike?

Was it tampered with? No, not at all. The angle grinder, like the hammer... Was left in a location that would require Hector to touch it. To transfer his prints. Hey, where you going? We just got back. I'm going to 29 Marlabone Road.

And so are you. That's right. But the siege... It's opposite Madame Tussauds. Sherlock, please. Just don't do anything stupid, alright? Why not? Well, A, Madame Tussauds is right there.

Hector could be pointing that thing out the window for all we know. Doubtful. And B, there's police everywhere. Yes, and so there should be. This way. John Watson, this is Gwen. Gwen, this is John. Oh, nice to meet you, Gwen.

Nice to meet you, Mr Watson. It's... sorry, I never do this, you know, but... It's actually Doctor. Doctor Watson. Oh my goodness. I do apologise. I'm so sorry. No, no, no, not at all.

I know how you feel, because it's not actually Gwen. Oh, is it not? No. It's Dame Gwendolyn Nostrad, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. Right. of the Metropolitan Police Service. Right. Yeah, that's me embarrassing myself there.

More of that coming up in part 3 of The Norwood Builder. Lots going on in this episode. Get in the description for trigger warnings. Let's go. You idiot. Me? Why? You completely dropped me in it. Dropped you in what?

The shit, mate. You dropped me in the shit. Why didn't you say, this is Dame Gwen Lestrade, the Met Commissioner? I thought that was obvious. Yeah, but not... Alright, fine. Yes, I should have noticed. It was her. But the armed police were very, very distracted. Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, sh No it isn't. Thanks mate. Hector, we're going to get this food delivery over to you, okay? You're going to let Miss Miles answer the door to the driver and he will... He better be bloody Deliveroo.

Absolutely be Deliveroo. Don't need to worry about that. He is not an undercover agent. He's gone to... Where's the food from? Can you just double check with the team? It was Wagamama. What?

Who said that? Sorry, I was just... I was listening to your colleague who did the order for the hostages. Thank you. No problem. Hector the drivers on his way from Wagamama with the food but I can assure you he is not one of us alright. He's Deliveroo. Well tell them to get a bloody move on. We can do that we can do that I know you're all very very hungry. It's been a long day for all of us. Again, sorry to... It's Just Eat. What?

It's not Deliveroo, it's a Just Eat driver. I don't know if that's going to cause any... It'll be fine. Yes, sure, cool. Miss Myers says she ordered the chicken donburi bowl. Hector, could you repeat that? Miss Myers, the hostage that is coming back to you, she is saying she ordered the chicken donburi bowl.

Okay, is that incorrect? Because We can amend that for you. No, she has just made the point that she is being exchanged for the food delivery. So, sorry, what is it you want? Mine was the chicken Donberry. Yes, I have relayed that information Evelyn. What about it? Does it come with the cutlery? Yes, it comes with all the wooden cutlery and chopsticks and stuff. Yeah, but I'm not here for the actual so it'll arrive and I'm not gonna be here.

Oh, of course. I'm basically just wondering if I could take mine to go. Right, can she take hers to go? She means take away. She's American. Yeah, that's fine. He says that's fine, Evelyn. Thank you. She says thanks.

You're both very welcome. Now get a bloody move on or somebody dies! BEEP HE CLEARS HIS THROAT BEEP Dean, call me. THEY CONFER DOOR CLICKS Do you fancy anything? Sorry what? Hungry now after hearing that.

No I do not fancy anything. Alright. I could order a cheeky cheeseburger. I don't know how long I'm going to be here for. Oh, that's loud. That kitchen has received your order. Okay, we have a driver inbound on Marleybone Road. Search him and get him to the door immediately. I want two teams flanking that fire exit she comes out of.

Yes, Mark. Where are you going? To the window to get a view of this exchange. Good point. Okay, delivery guy is here. He's off the bike, currently getting frisked by police. Now they are looking in the bag. He's made excellent time to be honest. Well, actually the road is closed to everyone but him, so yeah, that will do it. He's heading towards the fire exit. Yeah, so listeners, as you have heard, the food delivery is going in for Hector and the hostages. It sounds like a bad net, doesn't it? That was Waxwork Museum by Hector and the Hostages, next on BBC Radio 6. Watson. Sorry, yeah. Food delivery is going in and the police are

getting a hostage back, an American woman. Can you turn that off? Sorry, kitchen has accepted your order. Great. And yeah, this is a big deal, this hostage coming out. Not just because it's a life-save but it means the door for further negotiations is at least open. Okay speaking of doors opening fire exit door is now open. There's Evelyn Myers she is taking the food inside and in theory she will reappear. God this is nerve-racking this. Yes there she is! Okay we have a hostage return but the work doesn't stop. Give him some time then

we open up that dialogue again. Inch by inch, everybody. Right, you have the gun, boy! And what exactly are we going to do to get the other seven? Dessert? Sherlock! What flavour ice cream would they prefer? Sherlock! In here now! Now, listen.

It... How did you get in here? Oh, I just... He's my colleague, so I kind of... Follow him around? Er, yeah. Yeah, I just... He's my colleague, so I kind of... Follow him around? Uh, yeah. Yeah, I suppose I do, really. He's just as valuable to this case as you are.

Perhaps more so. Oh, more so than me? Yes. How's that? Because I don't see the need for your administrative and managerial role in this particular scenario. The only thing I need to manage is the urge to administer my truncheon right up your arse. You don't have a truncheon. Steve! Yes, yes, mom? Get in here! Absolutely. Give me that. Ow! You've got me bogged. Ow! Okay! You were saying? Well, I was about to

say they're referred to as positive lock-batons, not truncheons, just in the interest of facts. You're smirking again. No I'm not. Yes you are. Not. Are. For our non-British listeners, a truncheon is a hard stick that British police officers will use to-

I meant to hit the microphone. No, no, I know. You moved and I got you hit, so yeah, apologies. No, no problem at all they didn't have frozen peas so these are turkey dinosaurs oh okay oh there we go Tyrannosaur head that's not a concussion he just feels the need to verbalize his thoughts yeah I noticed when I couldn't help overhear the interactions of your negotiator just now.

You couldn't help, could you? Hector is requesting to speak to myself and the Doctor. Your silence is very telling. It's telling you that we want information from you, not the other way round. Why did he ask for us? Because we foolishly allowed him a call to his wife. And she told him that we're re-examining the case? It's not your case to examine, nor re-examine, Dr Watson.

She almost certainly did Watson, and now Hector in there sees us as his only salvation. Wouldn't that be right, Dame Lestrade? Are we involved in this case or not? There's ground rules. There always are with you. You are assisting a Met investigation. You assist when we ask for it. You don't leave this building unless I say so.

And that microphone goes off. Now. I don't think that's wise. Well, I do. This documentation will be vital for this case. It has proven so on many occasions. It's a microphone for a podcast. The world doesn't revolve around podcasters.

The Adventure of the Police Brutality. Not a bad title eh, Watson? Well, I mean... Sherlock. The Case of the Demonic Dame. That's a bit better. Sherlock. The Mystery of the Manhandling Met Commission.

Sherlock! I want to know. Want to know what? You know what. Oh, there's no doubt I know something you don't. I would just like to narrow the parameters slightly. Why does he want to speak to you? Hmm?

Are you hiding something from me? Probably because he's innocent, and you locked him up. Wrong. I wanted to lock him up. Okay, probably because he's innocent, and you wanted to lock him up. How do probably because he's innocent and you wanted to lock him up. How do you know he's innocent? Because he said he was. Jesus Christ.

And then he punched me in the face. Oh, he's growing on me. And from that attack I was able to observe a number of discrepancies in the case. Of course you were. Oh God. How's your flap? Fine. Is it tidy?

Somewhat. Are you eating properly? Mm-hmm. When I can. Are you making friends? Nope. Is he making friends? Um, yeah, I... I mean, I'm his friend. Okay, good.

And Mariana? Daylight? Exercise? Hmm? Yes, yes. Drugs?? Daylight? Exercise? Hmm? Yes, yes. Drugs? Are you asking as an officer? Commissioner. And no I'm not. I'm asking as a friend.

Not as habitual as it was, but not entirely infrequent. Yeah, I'd say he's cut down. Quite a lot. What do you need? Put us through to Hector McFarlane. At Desjardins we speak business, we speak equipment modernization, we're fluent in data digitization and expansion into foreign markets and we can talk all day about streamlining manufacturing processes. Because at Desjardins Business we speak the same language you do,

business. So join the more than 400,000 Canadian entrepreneurs who already count on us and contact Desjardins today. We'd love to talk business. Lewis, this is Sherlock and John. Yes. Hi there. Sorry, Commissioner. It's just- They're here to speak to Hector. If you could put them through on the line. He cut it. He cut what? Hector, he... He was speaking to his wife on the phone and she got very upset about the press harassing her

and he's just... He lost it. Commissioner, he's completely... He's cut the line. We've lost contact. Shit. Righto. Could I borrow this?

That's a bulletproof vest. Yes. Why do you need a bulletproof vest? Because I'm going to see my client. Do I need to revisit the ground rules? Sherlock, we can't go in that building. We can, unless there is some master strategy from the Met Police that we're impeding. Do the Serious Crime Command and VCTF have any proposed actions that would make more sense than, say,

the appearance and cooperation of the two men that Hector McFarlane has specifically requested to see? That specific request that is indemnified for the lives of eight innocent hostages. The two men who last spoke to Hector McFarlane about his circumstances. The two men that visited his wife. The two men that own the firearm in question. One man, one man owns that firearm. Yes, and that man knows for an absolute fact that it is defective. It...

What? What? The gun was out in the flat because I was repairing it. I didn't have the part. I have ordered it, but yes, the firearm is in fact a dud. Team 114, prepare to engage the suspect! Team 114? Armed police?

Your suspect is effectively unarmed. The whole room and even Watson's microphone here just heard me inform you. Then they won't shoot. And you are certain of their steely resolve when Hector McFarlane points a gun at their unit. Quite the risk. Commissioner, if I may. You may not, Lewis.

We get these gents to go to Hector and give him this phone. Lewis? Private number? Could be the Home Office. The hostages are mostly American. I believe a Chinese national too. Could well be the Prime Minister himself trying to get through. Oh dear, oh dear. You really are the biggest tw- So here we go. Sherlock and I are currently walking towards the Madame Tussauds building.

Sherlock and I are currently walking towards the Madame Tussauds building. We are beyond the police cordon and nearly at the door. Behind us many, many police, a fire engine, crowds of people, the world's press, their cameras trained on us, focused on these two heroes, two modest detectives striding without fear or trepidation into the- Oh come on, for fuck's sake! I tripped, I tripped, I tripped, I tripped, and there's like 20 cameras over there, it's- Wonderful, that is wonderful. Up you get. Come on. Great.

Message, 100% that's my mum. Oh, John, you tripped on national TV, didn't you? Oh no, wait. Food is out for delivery. Oh, bollocks, I forgot about that. Oh. Hey. What? You. Why are you... Are you tense?

Have you been working out? Sorry, what? Your stomach... Wait, why are you wearing a bulletproof vest? Because I asked the police for one. But it... You said the gun was broken. You said it wasn't working.

Truth or dare, Watson. I opted for the dare. Sorry. Can we just... What the hell is going on? If I had told them the gun was live and functional, I would have been able to get the gun out of the way. I'm sorry, Watson.

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 opted for the dare. Sorry, can we just... What the hell is going on? If I had told them the gun was live and functional, they wouldn't have let us go in. Oh, I'm going to kill you. No you're not, but Hector might, so just stay behind me. Oh Hector!

You are a big stupid twat and I hate you. Cameras Watson, cameras. Whatever, I hope the lip readers pick us up and I hope the whole world knows that you're the biggest bellend that... Hello. My name is Carl. I can't talk to you, okay? So I just have... Carl Pitt. You're one of the hostages. I'm Sherlock Holmes. This is Dr. John Watson. Yeah, you tripped. We saw it inside on the screen. Are you okay? For sake. Yeah yeah thank you we're here to see Hector he's expecting us sorry can you just give us two seconds Hector no wait please please

welcome again to Madame Two Sw Yep, we're back. Got the American president staring at me, the Beatles over there. Jesus, Camilla Parker-Bowles just crept up on me. She's next to Meghan Markle, which is a little unlikely. I mean, they've got Churchill next to Mussolini over there, got more chance of that happening. Mr. Holmes! Hector. Oh, you've changed your mind then, have you? I have indeed, sir.

It wouldn't have anything to do with me taking your gun, would it? Certainly not. Hector, I need to know everything. Everything particularly regarding those final 12 hours before Jonah's old acres disappearance. Oh, that's exactly what it is! No body has been found, but they think they found a killer. Well, they are wrong! And I know that, Hector.

I know that now. Hector, if you could put the gun down, we could just talk. Oh, you'd have me give away my leverage, and then what? We'd get you out of here, back to Shireen. They'll lock me up! If we can prove your innocence, Hector,

they will do nothing of the sort. But the press, the people, they... They will have sympathy for the wrongfully accused man, the man that refused to take the judgment quietly, that took the law into his own hands. Because, Hector, they will see themselves in you. Everyone asks themselves how they would really face down persecution. Would they coil up and suffer the consequences or would they fight back? You are the manifestation

of that fantasy Hector, of that fight back. But you are only a hero if we face down this case together. You and us. Jesus! Hector, are you okay? That was a sniper. You bastards! You lying bastards! It wasn't us! Get away from the window Hector! Hector, I promise you that was the police! Ah! God, Hector! Hector, I promise you, that was the police! You want...

Ah! God, Hector! No! Stop! Truth or dare, Dr Watson? If you don't want the truth... I do want it, Hector! Then you get the dare!

John! To come up! Go on, Blum! Ah! Ah! Ah! Shut up! Get down for God's sake, you idiot!

He's on the move. I can see him reloading. He must have taken my ammo. Oh, fucking fantastic... Oh my God, he's sake you idiot! He's on the move. I can see him reloading, he must have taken my ammo. Oh fucking fanta- Oh my god he's shot JFK! Oh god look his skull is completely blown apart. Watson, there's no time. This is a cultural landmark mate and he is destroying it.

Oh no he got Reagan too. Shhh, shh. He's in here somewhere. Just please can you stay down mate? There's too many waxworks. He's hiding amongst them Watson. I think he might be over by Dr. Strange and Iron Man. What on earth are you talking about?

Hector! Just come round this side, past the beetles. Beetles? These guys, I feel like I can hear something. Come out, come out, wherever you are. Oh Jesus! Down! Are you okay?

Yeah, just PTSD, a whole kind of panic attack brewing. Oh. And I landed on my finger, ah, wow. That looks broken. Yeah, and a lot of blood. It's a lot of blood, did I cut it? Here. Is that a rodent bomb?

Ignore that. Sherlock, you stole it off Graham, the pest control man. Wrap your middle finger in this. No, just let's get to safety first. Does it look alright apart from the blood? You just want to give me the middle finger, don't you? Yeah, a little bit. Watson, your PTSD, if... If this is too much for you.

I... Yeah, I mean, I mean, maybe I'm not... Well enough to face this... Kind of... Oh god, John Lennon's been hit! God, this is devastating! Oh, no wait, that's Ringo, I think. We're cornered if we don't get out of this waxwork labyrinth!

Yeah, you're right. You're right. God, listeners, honestly, I... I hope I get this episode out. I cannot tell you how weird it is to have the most famous faces in the world. Well, in all history. Staring at you as you try to search for... Get down! Are you okay? I'm alright. I'm... He missed.

Oh, God, a bit of trumps here just hit me in the face. Watson, we need to move along this back wall to the fire exit. Yeah, you're right. Let's get out of here. Let the armed units move in. No. The fire exit will allow us to use the stairs and get the high ground. I don't want the high ground. Yes you do. Up there we can see. We will no longer be peering through this army of mimics.

You tricked me, you bastards! Oh, shitting hell that was close. Come this way. No, wait. He's destroying all these incredible waxworks, Sherlock. Watson! Just wait here. Watson!

Come on! And you! Up you get! Another one! And you! Come on! What on earth are you doing? Salvaging culture, mate! You seem very proud of yourself.

Yeah, if the Natural History Museum was under attack, would you leave all the bones and fossils, mate? No, you wouldn't. Not quite sure these hold the same value. These are emblems, Sherlock. Emblems of the aspiration and dignity and beauty of the human spirit. Okay, here, you take Stalin, I'll move Hitler and Mussolini. Grrrr! Grrrr! If you got a free hand, can you take Kim Jong-il too?

Grrrr! One of these is melting! No, that's just Andrew Lloyd Webber. Come on! Shh! I hear footsteps. He's closing us down, Watson. Hold on. I've got an idea. This is ridiculous. I didn't say it was a good idea, did I? I just said it was an idea. This Nazi uniform is itchy.

Firstly, I'm the Nazi, okay, you're the Italian fascist, and secondly, shh, I must remain perfectly still. Oh, mustache fell off again. There we go. He's coming. I know you're still here. I can smell you. Your betrayal, the stench of it. You gain the trust of my wife. My Shireen. Just to get closer to me and have me put down like some demented XL Bully.

Oh, can I smell your dread? Your fear? Come out, come out, wherever you are! The great detective, eh? Frozen with fear. Quite literally petrified. Oh bollocks I'm going to be a little bit of a pain in the ass. Thanks for watching!