Sherlock & Co. - The Sign of Four - Part Seven

Episode Date: November 19, 2024

AURORA - a word which would feel like it had a million different meanings. Tonga was trying to communicate to us. It was down to Sherlock and the co-investigation between Interpol and Scotland Yard to decipher exactly what Aurora meant and how it would lead us to Tonga and the Surakula.  Part 7 of 10 This episode contains swearing. Listener discretion is advised. 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 Follow me @DocJWatsonMD on twitter, or sherlockandcopod on TikTok and instagram.  To get in touch via email: [e-mail] This podcast is property of Goalhanger Podcasts. Copyright 2024. 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 Ant McGinley as DI Tom Gregson Marc Antolin as Athelney Jones Acushla-Tara Kupe as Mary Morstan Thomas Mitchells as Jonathan Small John Brannoch as Wiggins Nell Martin as DI Forrester 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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Previously on Sherlock and co. What is your name? Toby. He's a specialist search dog, retired. That's right. The sign of four went to the temple to find it. It wasn't there. Then they came for Sholto.

Only a handful of people knew that Sholto and Merry would meet. Indeed. And according to Sholto, our killer is white. Exactly. I remember what happened in there. Agent Jones, a white guy, stood up and left. And we haven't seen him since. Tonga's friends reported it. And they said

Mohinder didn't go to the school. Correct, but this incomplete assumption has skewered this entire investigation. The boy was telling the truth. Once a week he'd park his bike outside, collect a local magazine and distribute it to the residents who were paid subscribers. magazine and distribute it to the residents who were paid subscribers. And Mr M Singh, 34 Heathdale Avenue. What do you think is under here? The hell? Lift it! Ah!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Tonga's bike. He's gone. But he was here. They had somebody here. Ha! Tonga's bike. He's gone.

But he was here. They had somebody here. Against their will. Do you know what this is? It's a Chelsea hat. Tonga is a Chelsea fan. He scratched the floorboards as he was dragged towards the doorway. Where did they drag him to? I can too. Wide awake at like 3am, just head spinning with India and Dad and bloody diamonds and you and the whole Tonga thing Bloody diamonds and you diamonds and you

and you and you Watson, they're ready for us Okie dokie, yeah, sure. Listening to anything interesting? Uh, no, just... music. Yeah, a bit of music. Lovely. Very nice.

Hiya lads. Hey Tom. DI Gregson. How are you?ya lads. Hey Tom. DI Gregson. How are you? I'm alright. You two okay? We're fine. Yeah? John? Yeah. You know. Slugging through it. When we're done, you're sending him home.

What do you mean? You know what I mean. He's knackered. Not everyone can go full tilt like you. Why not? Shhh! This way. I want you to meet someone who's been instrumental in the case so far and managed to orchestrate an operation against one of the four. He'll tell you. Oh. Okay, John, Sherlock, this is Agent Athelney Jones from Interpol. Hello again, gents. So, tough to obviously verbalise given the... Yes, um...

Circumstances, that's the word. We found his bike buried in the back garden first, then as you've seen from the crime scene. Tonga was being held. Yeah. It's rough. I know, all right. But we're at a tipping point. Things are turning around now. On the sign of four. Are they? 100%.

I don't know about that. Yeah, don't, erm, not really in the mood for law enforcement PR bollocks to be honest. Everyone understands, okay? We're all working this thing from every possible angle. Yeah, yeah, just... It's a lot. I think the boy would have benefited from a much more thorough investigation into Mohinder Singh and the part-time job though. Wouldn't you agree, Gregson? Like I said, we're working on a number of angles. Maybe you should hurry things along and close a few of those angles off.

Which we are. Good to know. Sing being an elderly gentleman seemed improbable. Yes, well, as I always say, when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Do you say that, do you? Yes. Oh. Sometimes. you? Yes. Oh.

Sometimes. Yeah? Great. Look, we've come a long way, alright? I'm just trying to boost morale. And it's quite the adventure you've been on, eh? Yep. You call it an adventure.

I call it being thorough. Travel expenses for this one must be through the roof. You met with Sholto then? Well, they were in Amritsar with me when he was murdered. Correction. You weren't actually there when he died, were you Athelne? Okay, right. What else did you get up to? Um, well, we took a 49 hour train journey into rural India to trek through the wilderness and unearth an ancient hidden temple where we navigated booby traps and logical puzzles until reaching an inner sanctum in the hope of finding a missing diamond, but in fact

discovered dead bodies that had been tortured and, erm, mutilated. And we saw some tigers too? Yes, yeah, we did, yeah. Busy then? Yeah. So, Agent Jones and I have some questions for you. Actually, we've got some questions for him. Why am I getting a torn ear?

Because you disappeared, Athelney. You disappeared when a man you've been hunting for most of your career was poisoned. Poisoned by an individual he claimed was a white man. You think I killed Chaldea? Well, you didn't stop it. You didn't chase the killer down. That silence right there, that is damning, mate. The fact that you can't even explain yourself.

John. You can't even offer any kind of reasoning as to why all of a sudden you abandoned your duties and went AWOL. John, that's enough. Our white-faced killer certainly knew the streets of Amritsar very well, didn't he Watson? Yes he did. Yeah, made it very difficult for us to keep up with him, to be honest. How long have you been based out there again, Halfonny? Heh heh, okay.

Right. ARGH! You killed Shalto and you know where Tonga is! You're the fourth member of the Sign of Four and there is no point in trying to wriggle out of it mate, okay? End of! You tell us where he is and then you tell us where your co-conspirators are, you bastard. My co-conspirators? Yeah. Yeah? My core conspirators. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah! Abdullah Khan, Mohinder Singh, Dost Akbar. Umm, Athani's team just captured Dost Akbar at Dubai International Airport. He? It's one of the reasons we called you in here to cross reference with him. The team he leads at Interpol, they, well, just a few hours ago... Greg's son, mate.

Heard what you said. No, no, wait, just wait a second. Look, I'm sorry boys, but I'm here to lobby for a joint investigation with Interpol, the Met Police and MI6 to hold Dost Darkbar for a maximum 96 hours before we attempt to charge him to the ICC. International Cricket...couch. International Criminal Court. No, sorry, in my head I told myself not to say the Cricket one and to say the Criminal Court one.

Why did you say the Cricket one? Because I'm tired, okay? I'm really bloody tired. the cricket one out. Because I'm tired, okay? I'm really bloody tired. I'm jet-lagged and I've just found a room where a 14-year-old boy was being held hostage. Let's take a breath, shall we? You two had a breakthrough last night, right? Mahinda Singh's house. That's massive. That's the biggest moment we've had on the case so far. And Athelna here's got one of the members in custody. These are big strides in the right direction, yeah? Yes?

I suppose. But what I can't have is you directing your investigation towards an Interpol agent that is trying to conduct high-level cross-body talks with some of the most powerful law enforcement units in the country. In Europe, maybe! I mean, it was Watson mostly. I just... Shhh! Enough. We're gonna take these wins as wins and we're gonna go again. Do I make myself clear? Yes.

Yeah. go again do I make myself clear yes yeah Sherlock if I don't get a yes then Gwen is coming down here to talk to you yes all right fine fine right come with me I want to show you something What are we looking at here? As we know, Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes uncovered the address of Mahinda Singh. A few hours ago, they discovered a bedroom where Tonga was being held. A couple of the boys' possessions confirms this of course, along with signs of a struggle, signs of containment and a few leftover meals in the room. That was last night. As Sherlock correctly noted the house had been empty for a while. Our forensic pathologist noted that the

bacteria feeding off some leftover food, the least established of these bacteria colonies or whatever they're called, was around five days. Well just under five to be exact. So we checked out cameras in the area for that time and we got this. Who's that? The man in the coat with a hood up, we believe to be Mahinda Singh. The smaller figure next to him. Tonga. Jesus, have you tracked that vehicle? We have. It's been destroyed.

It was found burnt out and submerged in the River Crane in Twickenham. So nothing more than a 20 minute drive from the house of Mohinder Singh? Correct. And there are no witnesses that saw the vehicle being... We're working on that. But the vehicle isn't the most significant thing here. What is? Watch this footage.

Hey, hey, what's that? What's going on there? Tonga is mouthing something. To the security camera. Holy shit he is. Something... Aura. Or...

Our... Our team say, and we've had this confirmed by three independent experts tonight... Aurora. Aurora. Aurora. Aurora. What do you think, Jonathan? Oh, goodness. Aurora. Aurora? What do you think Jonathan? Oh goodness, Aurora. I'm leaning on our resident expert here.

Don't lean on a man with one leg. Well, now you've put me on the spot. Aurora? Is this the boy who's saying that Aurora has the diamond? He's like, he sort of looks towards a security camera above a shop before he gets put in the car and mouths... Aurora.

So... Ah, could mean anything. Yeah. Er... Off the top of my head I'm completely stumped. I say that it... the Aurora, the lights, Aurora Borealis were seen in India this year. They haven't been seen in India for a very, very long time.

Exceptionally rare event. He could be alluding to something that happened in that time, perhaps the location of that. And that is why you're the expert. Leave it with me. I can research this. I refuse to be useless. Jonathan, honestly. No, this is it. When you're disabled, you work your arse off to prove your worth, and I will bloody well prove it. Besides, I'm a lonely old man I could do with the work. Aurora, Aurora! Fascinating stuff. Leave it with me and I shall leave this with you. Oh your book. Heirloom by Jonathan Small. Amazing mate thank you.

Don't you dare go promoting that on your terribly successful podcast. Don't you dare? Eight pounds on Amazon. Yeah, all right, I'll give it a mention. Trust me if anyone is gonna figure it out. It'll be him. Yeah. If in doubt, call a nerd. It's a great philosophy I find. But I mean And just check in doubt, call a nerd. It's a great philosophy, I find. But I mean, um... Right, and just check in here, but...

Aurora doesn't ring any bells at all. No characters in your bedtime stories, your dad didn't spell it out in your breakfast beans. No, not that I remember. Damn. Aurora, uh... Yeah, no, that doesn't mean anything to me, I don't think. Yeah, I'm just like...

I didn't think it would. In truth, though. Before I check, this case is weirdly... I don't know, people seem connected by such thin, invisible threads. I just... I can't understand it. What do you mean? Well, you, me. You you mean? Well, you...

You're connected to it, but... And I mean this in a nice way... You don't know anything. I know, right? Like nothing. I'm the worst victim ever. I've been listening to you other ones and people are like Oh this happened and then this happened and my partner thinks that and blah blah blah blah blah

And I'm there like, help me I don't know diamonds or something yeah so yeah that's what I mean there's all these little loose connections and we just need something that makes them all click together Archie your slobber is dangling oh okay fine you're trying to help me hey you don't know the girls might like a little bit of slobber. Oh it's possible. Well if Archie does find a gal that's into slobber that will be his first ever girlfriend I believe. Oh really? Yep. First girlfriend big deal. Oh huge. Huge. I remember my first boif. First boif. Yeah was... Man, did I fall. Big time. Oh god.

I just thought... I mean, he fell for me too. It wasn't a one-way street, but yeah, that was mushy, mushy stuff. Like, you wouldn't believe. We used to hold hands in class, right, and do Morse code messages. Morse code messages? With like, little taps on each other's hands. No.

Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes Yeah, look, I'll show you. Oh Your hands are cold. Shhh concentrate S O S What? I was starting you off with an easy one. Oh, okay. What else you got? I? Are you concentrating? I am. I'm just trying to remember the bloody letters. You're army you big doof. Doof? That's not a word. Nobody's ever said doof. Shhh, really? Okay, Um... Like... You.

I like you. Just an example of what would message each other. Sure. Yeah. Just gonna keep my hand here. Because yours are warm. I can talk about work stuff if you want to keep it professional. Uh, yeah. Sure. So, what happened to your interpol guy?

He... yeah he's got one of them, one of the four. He's not cooperating was the last thing I heard. Dost Ackbar. Dost? Wow. A story time baddie. Yeah. Wash off the old slobber Archie boy. Ah, that's quite the umbrella there. Do you want to get under it or not? Because you'll be staying out in the rain with that attitude. Fine, it's beautiful, I love it. Right, in you come. I have to tell you something.

Hmm, what? I don't know if it's going to be easy to hear. Or maybe a relief? closure? I'm not sure erm at the sign of four we know of three members Dost Akbar, Mahinda Singh and

Abdullah Khan Abdullah Khan? Yeah. That's who they spoke about in the cave when I was... Yeah, I know. They kidnapped me. It looks like that was the case, yeah. This wasn't a military thing. It was...

It was then a sign of war. It was, Mary, yeah. So she died because of me, basically. That's not... that is not the way you should think about this. Then how should I think about it? But you... we've got it in our power to stop it, to avenge it. A couple of weeks ago, you were a million miles away from tracking down the Abdollah Khan to this world. I wasn't seeking them out.

You said... you said you're looking for something to change everything. Well, maybe this is it. You know, I was looking for something after trauma and my life changed. I wasn't looking for that John. It all came about because I went on the offensive. I've been on the defensive for so long. John listen. And overcoming this could be like John conquering Everest or something you know when we get these guys you won't look back. I was looking for you all right or I don't know someone like you someone that made me feel it made me Made me feel like me and you do that okay, you do that

You're one of those people that you meet in life that make it I'm gonna go balls every day out for you, and you don't feel anything anyway, so I'm serious John You're so happy, and I'm so not happy and this is just, it's not healthy. It's not for your own use. Mary, look, just, it's, oh it's properly pissing it down. Mmm, I know it is. Do you wanna come back to the flat? Oh, absolutely drenched. This umbrella sucks. Yeah, I know.

Right. Right. There we go. John, I just want to say that I don't want to hurt you. I don't want your amazing life to be derailed or... You're not derailing anything. You're right here, riding along with me. Now, do we open this door or not? I think we do.

Where the hell are you, mate? Who are all these people? Hello there, hi, hi. I have called a meeting, you see. Yes, I see, I see, I hear. I kind of smell it, to be honest. The irregulars have come for. Information is flowing. Data and gossip is being collated.

It's, oh, some damage is being done, but otherwise it's proving very productive. Where the hell are you? Hey, Dan. Hey. Wiggins? What, man? That is my top. No, it's not.

That is a Swindon Town home shirt. Yeah, we love Swindon Town. You're from Dublin? Yeah, so? We love Swindon over there. Get it off. Hey, sweetheart, it's okay. Hi. Wiggins, this is Mary. Mary, so we love swinging over there. Get it off Hey, sweetheart, you okay? Hi Wiggins, this is Mary. Mary, this is Wiggins. Good to meet you.

Do I even need to rough her? I say that, it's a strong boy claim. Come on, I'll have a man who's been there for a month there as well. Sorry, can we just get through the store? Come on, actually, let's go. Where is the... Excuse me. Ow! Sorry, hey, feet off the table, please. Excuse me, sorry. Ah, it actually broke, it's gone. Where is that? Excuse me. Ow, sorry, hey, feet off the table, please. Excuse me, sorry, ah, there.

Hello, Watson. Hello, Mary. How was your stroll? Been at your chewing gum, have you, Watson? I, yeah, maybe. Lovely mental breeze. Not like you to chew on Mike. Yes, thank you, Sherlock.

Does Jonathan have anything for us on Aurora? Not yet. Got this book here, though. Ah, thank you Sherlock. Does Jonathan have anything for us on Aurora? Not yet. Got this book here though. Ah, excellent work. Sherlock. Yes Watson. What the hell is going on? Like I said, I'm triangulating the data obtained by the Irregulars and applying any relevance I can to Tonga. Yeah, right, okay, but I feel like we should be dealing with Scotland Yard. And dip our rods into a vast ocean of bureaucracy and process. No, no, we need something bigger. A vast net to plunge into the deep.

And I'll tell you something, Watson. Scotland Yard would give anything for a net of this size. Look at them. Yeah, I see them. Who are they? He calls them Irregulars. Irregulars? What don't you see, Mary?

What sticks out to you? Er, I see a lot of beards. Mmm, yes. Beards. You're manic. Have you had a proper sleep yet? And can you please change out of your clothes too? Apologies, Watson.

I haven't quite got round to it. Er, I see a lot of chatting. I asked... what you don't see. Oh, erm... erm... not really sure. Phones. Oh, right, yeah. Not a smartphone in sight. No tablets, no headphones, no circling back to emails or spreadsheets,

no chasing down clients or nudging supervisors. No CCs or BCCs or TBCs. No, none of that. Eyes and ears always open. This is the most powerful surveillance network in the Western world. Hey, that's my wine. I was saving that for a special occasion.

Why was it out on the side with candles then? Shh. Shh. What? Shh! What? Hey. What? Err... You're in a bit of a trance there, Mary. It's er...

Mary... Hello? Hello? Erm... It's his music box. It's Tonga's. Where did you get that? This? Yeah. It's his music box. It's Tonga's. Where did you get that? This?

Yeah. It was in Tonga's room. He had it hidden away. Mary, what is it? Do you recognise this music box? I... I thought I lost it. This is mine. It was hers. Correct. How did the boy get it?

Our friends slash spies, erm... The Irregulars. They discovered that the sign of four have spies of their own, believe it or not. That erm... Also young kids. Err, Tonga was one of them. So he broke in. That seems the most likely scenario. Her father left this behind for her. Pride of place in his storage unit according to Mary.

Locked or unlocked? Unlocked. Tonga added the lock as the passcode was personal to him. How come Mary didn't open it then? She collected a lot of stuff from his storage and just stashed it at home. I mean she wasn't to know what was inside. Wasn't to know what was inside? No. Yeah. Not the fuck. We believe Mary, unbeknownst to her, had the Surakula

all this time. Wow. God help me. I've been in India for the past six years after the people trying to track that thing down and it was in bloody wood green. Well, technically Turnpike Lane. Tonga took it then? Indeed. He is in big trouble. They've hunted this thing for generations. Yes, which is why I need to borrow something. What's that then?

Ah, just the man, Tommy. Don't call me that. I'm not here. Yes you are. No, I'm not. I can assure you, you are, D.I. Gregson. I'm not. I'm extremely busy. I've got everyone right on my arse about this Aurora business. Just to check in this scenario, are we all so up your arse?

What do you want? Tonga's hat. Excuse me? Please. Is he serious? He seems to be the more serious one of the two Excuse me? Please. Is he serious? He seems to be the more serious one after the two, yeah? Hey. The boys hat.

The football team. Chelsea. Yes, that one. I want it. Why? Because I need it. What for? Oh, er, Sherlock? John?

The O Forester. Good to see you. Yeah, you too. How's everything going in- Terrible. The boy has been tied up as a hostage. Is Toby in? Is Toby in? Yes. He is? Yeah. Could I see him please? He's a dog, Sherlock? Yes. Right. Toby! Someone at the door for you! Oh jeez, hello mate! I almost missed most of my balls. Oh right, thank you, that's very kind. Hello Toby.

Can he come out with us? Sorry, am I missing something here? Yeah, we erm... We need Toby's help in Twickenham. Help with a case. Oh. Here we go. Last known location of Tonga. The car record was right here. And now we bring the boy's hat to the nose of Toby.

There you go Toby, what do you think mate? He's sniffing. Yep, still sniffing. He's stopped. Yeah, well maybe it's like wine tasting. You know when people do that stupid little sniff and then swirl it around. Maybe it just needs to sit for a minute. What are you talking about?

I'm just trying to understand what he's doing. Toby. Hey, Toby, are you listening? Just give him a second. Toby, hey Toby are you listening? Just give him a second. Okay, he's coming back to the hat. Come on boy, come on. Right, he looks like you... Whoa! Ha ha ha ha!

Yes, Toby! You've found the scent. Off we go Watson, follow that dog. I don't really have much of a choice do I? Ow! Alright Toby, yes. Hey Watson. Yeah, I know what you're going to say.

You do? Yeah, the game is afoot. Go Toby, go! Binge this adventure right the way up to part 10 now available in full at patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and Carl. Music