Sherlock & Co. - The Norwood Builder - Part Two

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

SIEGE AT THE MUSEUM - Everything seemed to be within our control at one moment and then in this sudden altercation with Hector things began to spiral wildly out of control. Just how far this thing would go still baffles me. Sherlock and I decided to go over the case with the help of Hector's wife Shireen. Part 2 of 4 This episode contains swearing, misogyny, depictions of violence and gun usage. Listener discretion is advised. 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 Ant McGinley as Gregson Lucy-Jane Quinlan as Shireen McFarlane Sharon D. Clarke as Lestrade Additional voices Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Darcey Ferguson Vanessa Emery Julia Green Felicia Prince 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

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With tons of free reality shows, you are totally free to watch what you love on Pluto TV. And for me, that's Dance Moms, Bar Rescue, The Challenge, and Jersey Shore. All totally free on Pluto TV. And for me, that's Dance Moms, Bar Rescue, The Challenge, and Jersey Shore. All totally free on Pluto TV. Stream now, pay never. The truth is, no one does it alone. And why would you want to? We all need someone to make us believe. Hashtag, you got this. Previously on Sherlock and Co. This is Hector. Hector McFarlane, hi there. You're a solicitor. I am, yes.

And you're on the run. The run? Very much so. Very, very much so. This bloody air fryer. My wife wanted one. And I said, Shereen, we don't have the space. She said, we do, Hector.

We have the space. It's a big kitchen and all this and I said no we don't have the counter space the kitchen counter there's not enough room we decide to get a whole kitchen renovation and I think well that's just bloody marvelous isn't it let's tear up the whole kitchen for this bear fryer. Anyway, it drags on and we eventually get a guy from Norwood. A fella from Norwood. Jonas Oldacre. Oh. But he's dead. Hector. He was... he was murdered.

This man comes into my kitchen under false pretenses, smashes the place to bits, pulls out the oven, the dishwasher, all the cupboards and counters and holds me to ransom. To ransom! I said I'm not bloody having this. You are taking the piss. We have this big row. I told him in no uncertain terms I'm taking you to court mate. You are screwed. And and then on last Monday I came back from work and Jonas was still at the house which was odd as I had been working late well very late so I expected to not see him and he was actually he'd hung around for some legal advice he said his partner was pregnant, recently pregnant, and he wanted to draw up a will and he asked if I could help out and he said if I helped him he would knock down some of the labor costs even more and I thought

why not you know I mean I mean I arranged the forms for him. He was right back the next morning before I was even out for work. Forms were on the side ready to be signed by me. I signed it, caught him as I was heading off on my bike and I said to him we'll make a couple of copies and I can get it filed at work. That was the last time anyone saw Jonas Oldacre. I left the meeting room, I walked down the hallway and Dame Gwen Lestrade is there. She introduces herself and she says she's overseeing an investigation that she

says concerns her greatly and I say oh what's that and she says the murder of Jonas Oldacre and there is the will. All the belongings, assets and financial holdings of Jonas Aldeica will be left to me. To Hector McFarlane. You killed Jonas Aldeica. How dare you? You beat him to death with a club hammer. That's not true! A club hammer you took from his own van on the 13th. You're a liar! Hey, whoa, whoa, that's not right.

And did you see? He reacted to the blood on his own hand. His face ran pale, he gagged. His walk into the kitchen, it denoted a spell of dizziness. He was unbalanced and numb. Hector has acute haemophobia. Wait, leave him in there. No, I need more information on what exactly...

What? What is it? Is he fainted? No. He's vanished. He's vanished what do you mean he's vanished he's vanished he's a solicitor not a magician solicitors don't vanish into thin air guys look he probably climbed down onto the delivery truck roof. He's gone out the kitchen window, is he mad? Look, see? Oh, for God's sake, bloody Amazon deliveries, it's relentless.

We should really go and let the police in. Oh, God. Hiya. John. Tom. Mariana. Tom. I'm here to make a formal arrest. Well I know you and Sherlock don't get on, but that's a bit dramatic isn't it? Where is he? Who, Sherlock? Just upstairs, hanging out, chilling, taking a load off. No, Hector McFarlane. We know he's here. Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure of that, Tom. What do you mean? Ummmm...

You know what you should do? You should air-tag your suspect, question him, then pop one of those on them, that's what you should do. Just a little bit of feedback. That would be illegal. Right, right, yeah. Hey can I get you a cup of tea? No. Okie dokie. Tom, I think we should reevaluate the case. Consider this fugitive state of affairs as a window of opportunity. That there is a window of opportunity. And our suspect has just jumped out of it. Okay, so I think what Sherlock is trying to say is that he noted a few holes in the case. Right, Sherlock? Oh wait, what? Sherlock Holmes? Found fault with a police investigation?

I'm gonna need to sit down to process this. Jesus Christ. I can't believe my ears. Take a seat Gregson, you'll be alright. Watson, get a cold cloth. Yeah he's being sarcastic. Oh. Tom, if you could make arrangements for Sherlock to maybe see the crime scene, it would give...

Guys, this is a serious matter. They're always serious matters and we always help. This isn't help. A good track record does not excuse letting a suspect jump out your back window. A suspect, by the way, that we believe not only beat a man to death with a bloody hammer, but they cut him to pieces. You don't have a body. No we don't. But we have Old Acre's death with a bloody hammer, but they cut him to pieces. You don't have a body. No we don't. But we have Old Acre's blood on a club hammer, we have Old Acre's blood

on a disposed angle grinder blade, and we have Hector McFarlane's fingerprints on both. You know Hector McFarlane, the bloke who miraculously stands to inherit all of Old Acre's cash and belongings. Funny that. Does it not occur to you, Tom, that this murder tied to this suspect a little too easily? Yes! That's why we're in the process of arresting him and getting him charged for crying out loud! I too had the same thought of Hector McFarlane but now my mind is full of questions. Yeah well you're going to have a lot more in your mind when Gwen is finished with you. Gwen's energy would be best spent finishing this investigation. You better have finished the investigation!

Two minutes! I have deciphered more than you... Shut up! Your radio, Tom. It's alright, it's not for me. It's for units in the bigger street area. Oh shit. Mrs Gregson, over. Gregson, we've got an armed suspect at Madame Tussauds.

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 Madam Two Swords on Marleybone Road. Repeat, we have a suspect with a firearm at Madam Two Swords on Marleybone Road. Units and special units on standby. Over. I think we may have located Mr McFarlane. Don't you? Sherlock, they said he's armed.

He's not an armed gunman. He's a snobby solicitor from Black Heath. Let me go deal with the gunman. We'll talk about McFarlane later. They're the same person. Enough! Sherlock, just, this is serious, mate. Right, Tom, we will get our heads together,

have a think about how we can tackle this. Yeah, you do that. You didn't move it. Someone is paying attention at least. What? The gun on the counter in the kitchen. I told you to move it. And you didn't.

Did you? I did not. Whoopsie. He... No. You are fucking kidding me. No. You are fucking kidding me. We need to be sure that that building is evacuated immediately and I want a head count of every single person.

Well I spoke to a young woman in the area and she said that the gentleman was armed. From what the eyewitnesses are saying, we believe that maybe a firearm may be involved. Yes, absolutely. I think we'll do it on camera too, and I'll just speak to them. We will meet an armed unit here on the main beach. Thank you, Suzanne. Now, we are just getting some information to us that Madame Tussauds in London may be the site of a potential hostage situation. Hey, are you in the mood for something new?

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... taken by the man whose identity has just been revealed as Hector McFarlane. Hector McFarlane. A gentleman from Blackheath by the name of Hector McFarlane. Hector McFarlane. A gentleman from Blackheath by the name of Hector McFarlane. Five American citizens are fighting for their lives in London, England. The Metropolitan Police Service. Five Americans, a Chinese national and two British citizens make up the hostages taken by Blackheath-based solicitor Hector McFarlane. Everybody move back! This is an armed scene!

We have visual confirmation of the target. No, no, no, I'm sorry, like you've got a madman with a gun who is threatening to kill innocent people, Callum. Yeah, but what I think we're all missing is, right, he's innocent until proven guilty, is he not? He is holding people up at gun points. Because he is fighting against the press for saying that he did it. They're saying it. From what we understand, both Hector McFarlane and the eight hostages

do not have contact out there. Over here, where we're seeing Mr. Eamon. Jareem, Jareem! This is McFarlane, this is McFarlane! Jareem, please! You're using me! You're using me! You're using me!

You're using me! You're using me! You're using me! You're using me! You're using me! You're using me! You're going to be a bitch, man! Your husband should be shot dead! Yes, the man in the maroon shirt. Do you think that builders like Jonas Oldacre being murdered will affect the government's house building targets? So the question is, I mean, is this going to be for Justin Rao, Member of Parliament for Buckingham and Bletchley? Will these builder murders affect government house building targets? That's what the gentleman asked.

Erm, well it... Well, well no. All units be advised, suspect is armed and dangerous. And you're just seeing these remarkable pictures we're getting now of police units actually on the rooftops surrounding Mamontoussauds, and I'm just wondering, Michael, if they have line of sight on Hector in there. And you've got that guy in England, right? And he's like, taking it to the cops.

Wait, you don't think he killed that guy? I don't, man. You don't? I don't think he killed that guy! Adol, come on, man! I think he's like, it's typical, stuck up, up and the snob who I hope is gonna get what he's coming to Is he gonna get what he deserves? Go go go go go go go go!

The whole thing is gruesome, this man and two swords Simple, you shoot theirs, get asked questions later That's not what we do in this country, that is not what we do in this country You should be shot dead, you're like everyone's gone a billion Everyone's gone a billion, We are losing our grip on sanity. I hear some shouting from inside the east entrance of Madame Tissot's just behind me. And we believe all that. Oh my god.

Oh my god. Oh. Good shot. It's not fair. No, no, no. He's onside because the right back is playing him on. Not the football. It's just about the mouse again. They said they'd call for a humane release.

No, not the mouse. The siege. Oh. Yeah, well, I mean, of course it's not fair. It is an armed siege, Sherlock. Yes, but I'm not there. That's what's not fair. They're not gonna let you attend, mate. It a potential hostage situation not a birthday party. Welcome to Blackheath everyone in southeast London and I have to say it's about as tranquil as London gets. We're currently looking out on the expanse of the well of Blackheath, it's a big flat Heathland type park really Lots of people playing football. A bit of cricket over there, tennis courts behind me, people walking their dogs

coming back from work. Yeah, we are hopefully going to get a piece of this Norwood Builder case action, but not quite sure what the master detective has in mind. Now that's where you tell me. Nope, fine. Well, definitely not getting an air fryer now. I mean, look what happens. One minute, all is fine, you're living in Blackheath, not caring the world. Then you get an air fryer and before you know it, you've chopped up a builder, you're on the run from the authorities and now you hold up in a landmark London tourist attraction in a standoff with armed police.

Makes you think. Makes you think of what, exactly? I don't know, like... How the smallest things in life can set off these massive events, they're just... You know, I mean, this is huge, isn't it? People will say, Oh, do you remember the siege of Madame Tussauds in 2025? Oh yeah, I remember that. I was, you know, I was at uni and your mother was working down the street from it, weren't you love? Sorry, who on earth are these characters?

No, I'm just, I'm providing a sense of the gravity of events, Sherlock. Okay, that's, people remember this shit. What sort of events do you remember then? Me? Um... Diana death? Uh, 9-11? Then, um... The London bombings, 7-7 I think that was?

Mm-hmm. And, uh, that bloke that blew his bollocks off with the suicide nailbomb in Anbo's toilet in 2006. It was a giraffe. What? It was a giraffe. What? It was a giraffe. No, it was a bloke, mate. It was a suicide bomber. No, the establishment.

It wasn't the toilet of a Nando's, it was a giraffe. Ah, Giraffe Cafe, yeah. Sorry. We should be there. The police will handle it. Just focus on the task at hand. They won't. They'll kill an innocent man. Yeah, innocent men don't arm themselves and march into wax work museums taking hostages.

This one does. Another thing. I don't appreciate being dragged from Baker Street all the way to Blackgate, literally the opposite side of London, to then hear you say, oh, we should be there. We must review the crime scene. I must be sure. I must be able to provide the police with an alternative. Yeah, they're gonna wanna hear that right now. It's their job to hear it.

Yeah, I mean, sure. It is also their job to shoot Hector McFarlane in the head, so. There she is. Shereen. Shereen McFarlane. Right there. Where?

Where I expected her to be. On her way back from work. Come. Ah. That is a lot of paparazzi around her, mate. Are you surprised? No, not one bit. Pick up the pace.

Oh, hi again, everyone. As I said, in Blackheath... Blackheath is of course... Whoa, shit, something fell over. Blackheath is the home of Hector MacFarlane, which is where the missing, presumed dead, Jonas Oldacre was... was contracted for his building... um... work. We're just... bloody hell. We're just about to speak to Shireen, see if we can...

Okay, wow, we're going straight into the paparazzi! Hey! Ah! I'll screw it! Out of the way! Get off me! Oh, God, you lot are the worst! Shireen!

Ow! Shireen McFarlane! Shireen! Shireen! Get away from me! Parasite! Shireen! I just met your husband!

Get the fuck off me! Hey, hey, that got me! I'm a detective! 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. What?

I said... This is the lounge. Lovely. I love the framed quotes over the walls. Wine o'clock and you had me at Merlot. Funny stuff. Some people think they're tacky but... No not at all, not at all. No, no, let the night be gin. Yeah, no this isful, classy decor, Shireen. Glad you like them. Yeah, very, um... yeah. Then, um, dining room here.

I decorated this room. Yeah, wow, that's... The leopard print really kind of throws you at first, but... once, yeah, once your eyes settle... It's quite something. Yeah, crushed velvet dining chairs. Very swanky. Table all set for dinner.

It's just gonna be me tonight though. Hey, Shireen, it's okay. It's gonna be okay. Sherlock, can you get one of those serviettes for Shireen? The pink ones? Yeah. Of course. Here we go.

Oh, look, look, look. Little inspirational quotes on each. What does it say? The only disability is a bad attitude. That seems insensitive but... Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh god, Hector, what have you done? He's taken some hostages in a London tourist attraction I don't think she was being literal mate Shireen could we Could we see the kitchen maybe?

Yeah, it's a bit of a mess Still under construction obviously and we haven't been allowed to touch it for a good week Yeah, yeah bit of a building site site isn't it? But it looks lots of potential. Cornelius Kitchens? The name of his company. Of Jonas's company. Right. Do you recall what the police took away for evidence? Mostly Jonas's tools. They took his van too as it was parked on the drive. And the hammer was in the van? No, it was on the counter there, in the kitchen.

Jonas had left it with the documents he had for Hector to process at work. The will? Jonas Aldaker's will, yeah? Yeah. Then over here is where he was doing the extension. No. Sorry? We're not done. How did you know the documents were in the kitchen? Hector said he took them first thing in the morning to his work. Yeah, but I was up first to let Jonas in. Hector was showering. Mrs. McFarlane.

Shireen. Shireen, it's very important you relay this information to me with as much accuracy as possible. On the morning of Jonas Aldecker's disappearance, you got up at what time? 6am. Same every morning. I do yoga in the lounge. What time does Jonas usually arrive? Usually 7. That morning it was 6.30. Why?

He didn't say, but the yoga session, the video is 45 minutes long so I just quickly let him in and he got on with it. You finished the session and you at some point saw the documents on this countertop. I did. I came through to make a coffee and the documents were right there. Here? Yeah. How were they presented?

Well they were folded open on the last page, because that's how I knew it was for Hector. So the signature box for the solicitor, in this case Hector, was presented... With a pen beside it, yeah, and he put the hammer on it as a paperweight. Probably because the extension's still drafting. Whoa, stop. What? The hammer. It was... Well, it didn't have blood on it or anything. No, no, Shireen.

The hammer was on the documents. As a paperweight, yeah. Is that... Have I said something wrong? No. Hector comes down. He sees the signature box. He knows the form as he's drafted it the night before, so he's not gonna read through.

He moves the hammer. His prints go on it. And his signs. Shireen, take me through the rest of your husband's movements that morning. Okay, so he had a late night the night before with work, with Jonas asking him about this will. He wanted to help him out, bit of a side gig I suppose, to reduce the cost of all this. He was a little behind that morning so he put his coffee in his takeaway cup and then he put the documents in his briefcase. And he went to his bike. He would have then cycled to the station.

Where is his bike stored? It's round the side. Show me. It's round the side. Show me. He'd undo the lock for the storage and his bike is in here. 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? A very small bit of plastic. Yes, moulded and adjoining a gauze shield. Most likely fitting a fan to expel air.

Is that from his bike? Was it tampered with? No, not at all. Shireen, are you aware of what an angle grinder is? It's a saw. That's what they're saying he used on the body. That's right. It's a handheld circular saw. Two grips, one at the rear, one at the

front. The police report states that they found a disposed blood-stained blade for it, and a new blade had been fitted poorly, and the angle grinder itself had been damaged in the process. And that's why they think he did that? Because it looked… It appeared amateurish. Someone disposed of the evidence and refitted a new blade to cover their tracks but did it poorly. But this here... the small plastic moulding would fit the damage depicted in the report.

So the angle grinder, like the hammer... Was left in a location that would require Hector to touch it. To transfer his prints. I mean it's no wonder you snapped. This press coverage is absolute mental. Hey look there's us. Good sake I look so short because I'm next to you. I'm not that short in real life. That's why I should do more casing than Mariana. God, my hair's looking a bit long there too. Could do with a cut. Gotta go to the usual place though, can I? All closed off because of bloody...

...you know, the lone gunman here. Sorry, who are you texting? An associate. So, Mariana? texting? An associate. So, Mariana? Different kind of associate. Right, could you elaborate? Yes, actually. Hey, where are you going? We just got back.

I'm going to 29 Marlabone Road. And so are you. Look, the siege! It's opposite Madden Two Swords. Why are we going there? Oh, for God's sake. Sherlock, please just don't do anything stupid, alright? Why not? Well, A, Madame Tussaut 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. Mr. Holmes. Hello there. Some identification please. You too, Mr. Watson. Oh, mister, is it? Sorry? No, nothing. There you go. Driver's license has a Swindon address, but I'm going to get it change. Also, there's a blonde streak in my hair because of a stag.

This way? Okay. Certainly. Ooh. This is... ...something. Yeah, it's quite. I've never seen so many guns.

Well, I'd hope you have. Otherwise, the British Army is in terrible shape. No, I know that. I've seen guns in an army context. That's a different context. You know, that's a natural environment for guns. This is London. Yeah, it's like when a bird flies into your house.

You're like, Jesus Christ, look at that thing. What the fuck am I going to do? What am I going to do? But ultimately, it's just a bird, but in a different context, you know? It's the context... Please stop. Right through here. Mum.

Holmes and Watson are here. There you go, chance. Hello. You're smirking. Stop smirking. Oh, this. This isn't a smirk. Yes it is.

No it's not. What is it then? I'm smiling. It's because I'm pleased to see you. We both know that's not the reason you're smiling, Sherlock. Fine. I may be a smidge excited. Is that a crime, Gwen? I realise you may be a little rusty for that question. Feel free to consult your policing practices handbook. What did I say?

You said best behavior. Exactly. Of course. How rude of me. John Watson, this is Gwen. Gwen, this is John. Oh, uh, 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'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 Lestrade, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. Right. To binge this adventure in full, and without ads, this. Right. The Thanks for watching!