Sherlock & Co. - The Three Gables - Part Three

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST - We made our way into the older parts of the building, to find what had been hidden long ago.. and what was now being hunted. The older parts of the building happened to be a Children's Hospital.. so yeah that was interesting. Sorry that we all had to sing in costume - but it was pretty important when it came down to chasing the Maberly safe. Mariana x Part 3 of 3 This episode contains swearing, minors in distress, depictions of murder and assault 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 and BlueSky, 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 Marta da Silva as Mariana Ametxazurra Harry Attwell as Sherlock Holmes Paul Waggott as Dr. John Watson Maria da Luz as Isadora Klein Imogen Dymott as Maisie Richard Osman as Himself Additional Voices: Matthew Malthouse Jemma Revell Lauren Hall Darcey Ferguson Joel Emery Adam Jarrell Romy Emery 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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and the all new Casefile episodes. We just had another Sherlock & Co. event for our members, which was amazing. And yeah, we'd love to welcome you to the team. Sign up now at patreon.com slash Sherlock & Co. Previously on Sherlock and Co. Langdale, this could be serious. Oh, without doubt.

A gossip is serious business, detective. Why can't you tell us? He's too good. Who is? The master detective here. I wouldn't want to spoil his Christmas and give the whole thing away now, would I? It's about information. Isn't it always? Barney was wrong. I wouldn't want to spoil his Christmas and give the whole thing away now, would I?

It's about information. Isn't it always? Barney was wrong. It wasn't a hit job. Something needs to be destroyed. Something at the Three Gables. The key is the East Wing. Right, well, you must know the buyer wants everything. Everything? Everything. is the East Wing.

Everything? Goodness. Can't she just enter and remove the belongings. The buyer will flat out will not allow it. I tried taking out the contract actually but they won't have it. The legal agreement that they've drawn up prohibits anybody from removing anything at all from the property. Come down this hallway we'll eventually reach the, where are we, third floor entrance to the Elm Ward. Lovely. You know, their staff won't let us just walk in? If they wish to shop a room, that is fine.

I just need a good look at the rooms in that east wing. Holy shit, the lights have gone. The hallway lights, Sherlock. Yes, I know. They should be motion sensor. I don't understand. Let's just go back. Wait.

What is that? What is that? I can't see in the darkness. Shit! Someone is coming down the hallway, Sherlock. What do we do? Sherlock, what do we do? I knew it! John, is that you? I can't see you. What the hell do you think you're doing?

Watson, this is serious. This? This is not the event space. This is a children's hospital. There's eight signs that say staff only. Yes, I observed them. Thank you, Doctor. Oh, and what did you deduce, Detective? John, please, just... Look, we're about to go into the children's hospital.

So you're what? Where's the light switch? The children's hospital? Why are you a tree? To cheer up the children. What the hell are you? I'm an elf. I knew this would happen. You knew I'd dress as a Christmas tree to get into a children's ward.

No, a case! I knew you two would try and work a case. Cases must be solved, Watson. You can come along if you want. Oh, right, yeah, sure. Oh, hey, look kids, it's the Christmas tree and her elf friend. And there's their smart casual mate with a gin and tonic. We have a Santa costume.

There's their smart casual mate with a gin and tonic! We have a Santa costume! When we work on a stray Oh tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy Oh tidings of comfort and joy That was so good! Oh lovely! Look at your feet! I love it! Yes, they are present. See?

If you take them into Ash Ward, Liz Yeah, okay They'll be awake, it'll be lovely. Older kids, right? Yeah, you won't get much on this ward this time. Ash Ward, remind me, last time we did this. East Wing, through the double doors, down the hallway, alright? East Wing, excellent. But they're individual rooms, you might have your work cut out. Oh, great! Oh come let us adore him, oh come let us adore him, oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Anything? Nothing taking my attention. Next room. Merry Christmas, bye bye.

Why are you a bush? I'm a tree. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down his seated. Well? Nope. down his sweet head. Well? Nope! O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.

Up high, deep and deep, asleep the silent stars go by. Next! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Wow! This one actually fell asleep!

Good! Because this room... This room is different to the others. Sorry, what? It's footprint. Look at it. Our other rooms, equilateral, with right angles, functional commercial spaces. But this... Uneven.

Yes, and plenty of plasterboard. That means most repaired. Therefore most damaged. And thus the heart of the blaze from all those years ago. Look at that boxing around the coving along the ceiling. Uh huh. Sorry, what is going on? A man called Benny Maberly died mysteriously in Rome a few years ago. He was dating a young woman called Georgia Klein.

She now works for her mother. Isadora Klein? Yes. I know, I've seen the documentary, unfortunately. You have? Yeah, yeah, it was crap. But I've watched nearly everything on Netflix, to be honest, I think we should try out Apple.

Did you glean anything? No, I did not glean anything. Nothing? Apart from the fact that she's a self-important fashion mogul wanker. Oh, sorry. I'll go back to sleep. Sleep in heavenly peace. John, after Benny's death, she tried to get this place burned down.

Ah, yeah, the fire. Now she's trying to purchase the Freehold. Throwing everything at the purchase. Even though it's protected by the local authority because of its current leaseholder, the Hospital Trust. And Marie Mabely's poor health. And right, get this. When I posted that we were coming to the Three Gables,

somebody tried to attack Sherlock. Then the cab driver tried to take us elsewhere. Then a prawn. A prawn? Right. And what did the prawn do? Did it mug you? Call your names? Do you need me to go and speak to the prawn's parents? It was expired. Or contaminated? Or whatever. Look, something is in this building still from when Marie Mabry lived here, John, and the clients want it. They want it bad.

It's really difficult to take you seriously when you're dressed as a tree. Yeah, okay, Santa. Langdale said it was information. She's not buying a freehold. She's buying a scandal. What are you doing? This was once a members club. Then it was a townhouse. Blueprints of both are still visible. The garish lobby from its first form. Then this tight room. Living quarters, bricked off from one another to conserve heat.

Think about the rooms we've been in. They all had steel beams inserted to create new walls for its new purpose as a hospital. This room does not. You just said it was all plaster. The shape. I come back to the shape. This here, this wall, that's... Yes, there's a chimney breast under there.

This room would have held a log fire, but there's boxed in pipes. So... Possibly bathroom? We need a room with no sign of pipe work, but... it will feed off this chimney cavity. What do you mean? Come!

It's quite hard to walk as Santa, maybe there's this big podgy belly for a start. I'm a tree, Imagine how I feel. Yeah, I sympathise with you. At least he's a bloody elf. I've never known him to be so light-footed. It'll be down here. Sherlock, just... Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. These stupid feet. Stupid itchy beard. This room...

It's a staff only. Well, if it was that important, they'd lock it. Come, come. Go, go. I said I didn't want any cases. Fine, stay out here. Oh, I want to come. Yes, here we have it. A storage room.

No pipes, original ceiling height, and I'd say floorboards too. What's the deal with the pipes? Why do you care so much? What room wouldn't need them, Watson? Er... lounge? Sitting room type thing? Back then the upper classes liked them tight. Like... snugs. This room is too tall to contain the heat. Why would it be tall? To... er... to hold something.

Like what? Er... books? Shelving for books? A study. Ah, of course. Right, why do we care about a study, exactly? Scandals, impropriety and shame often live on the page, and the actions of our perpetrators are very... offline. Wouldn't you agree?

I guess. Important documents in studies. Where would one place them? And more significantly for us and for the Clines, where would they still be intact and secure? A safe. A safe indeed. Oh, that's great work, mate. Thank you.

But I don't see a safe in here. No, you wouldn't because it's under here. The soft spongy spots on this floorboard denote that it is rotting and the screws galvanic corrosion. Something, I'd say a thick exposed metal in the area, is rusting. But for now the floorboards are weakened and therefore it comes up rather easy and reveals a safe...

Oh. What? There's... no... erm... Ah, let me get my phone light. Yes. There's... no... save. Err, this board here is kind of weak too. Let me try and...

Uh, oh, John, hold my back. Yeah, I'll do that. You two keep ripping up floorboards in a children's hospital. Well, you know, they haven't boxed up the fireplace in this ranch behind those storage boxes. Quite nice, really. I suppose they don't really need to box it up in here. No need for the old health and safety, because it's not housing any youngsters. And this storage room.

Yeah, let me take a look at this thing. Maybe someone left some scandalous documents in the fireplace years ago. No, of course not. Of course they didn't. This whole thing is bloody stupid. Hey, hey, hey. The ones going to the fireplace are loose too. Lift! Yeah, and it... Hey, that floorboard is... AAAAAAAAHHHHH!

Oww! Fuck! Oww! Fuckity fuck! I fell down the chimney! Oh my god, John, are you okay? You wankers! You...

Absolute wankers! Oh god, I'm so sorry! John! Climb back up the chimney! It should be narrower! Oh, piss off! I hate you and I hate this Christmas. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle fucking pissing arcing bells. Father Christmas?

I... it... erm... Ahem! Oh ho ho ho! Ahem! Oh Kingel, that's a lot of... soot. You're early. I'm... what? Sorry? It's not Christmas yet. Ah, yes, so... just doing a little... um... reccy.

Just sort of get my bearings just report back to the elves and yeah, yeah, this this room looks easy enough. I'll sign this one off. Tick. Ha ha. Ho ho ho. Anyway, better shoot off. Don't want my sleigh to get a parking fine. Ho ho ho. Don't think I'm Youlez compliant. Ho ho ho ho! Get down here and pull me up! Just wedge your feet and climb upwards! Is that your sack? Uh, oh no, this is my, um, handbag. Oh, will you come back on Christmas?

Oh, absolutely. With what I wished for in the letter? Oh yes, of course, that thing, yes. Do you remember what it was? I, um, quite a lot on my plate this time. If you, it, um, oh, come on Nick, think now. Um. It was the switch. The switch of course. Oh right see ya. And both

jackets. The one with sequins and the denim one. Of course yep. The guitar, the drone. Guitar, drone yep sure. And the really cool beanie with the wig. The beanie with the wig? Ho, ho, ho. This wig is a donated one. And it's so itchy. And it leaves blotchy bits on my head. Look. Right. Right.

Oh, yes. The elves are making your wig right now. Yes. Thank you. Thank you for being so brave. It's just the inspiration I need to deliver everything this year. You'd better go. Yes, yeah, merry... Ahem...

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Ah! Ah! Ah! Here, take my hand. Yeah! Ah-ya! Oh, wait, wait!

I see something... I think I see a safe. But what do we do with it? Oh, excuse me, sorry. We expose her. Yeah, but ow, Sorry, yeah, yeah, but can I just... How, Sherlock? We'll go to the press. They're just gonna reach out to her for a response and then she'll get her super lawyers to shut it down. What makes you so sure? Because this is how these people operate.

Exactly, right? There's a part in the documentary, here on my phone... Is it about control? Is it about control? It is always about control. That is a door. Be present, be there. Yeah. Ah.

Always. And we can get on with things right away. Well, we've had plenty of karaoke from some of our favorites, Rory and Alistair. Fantastic. But I've just spotted certain podcasters trying to get out before they get called up. You know I'm talking about you, Lord Sherlock and co. I see you. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Christmas karaoke, come on, get up here it's for a good cause. This is like my worst nightmare. Oh, just stay perfectly still still maybe they'll focus on something else. Go on guys go sing. Shut up Richard. Come on up to the stage all three of you come on come and pick your song. Oh god. Yes I would usually recoil myself but this may be rather helpful. Sherlock no wait. Sherlock. Look we can't do the carol singing act up here mate they want the big ones you know they want Mariah Carey they want Slade and Wizard.

I mean, I could maybe, maybe do the Pogues if Mariana did the Kirsty McCotten. Sherlock, Sherlock! Please, Sherlock, please get off the stage. Come on. Oh boy. Here they are, everyone! Sherlock and Go, give them a round of applause!

Woo! Woo! Hello. Uh, hi, Hi. Merry Christmas. Hi. Hi. Yeah. Right. Show of hands. Who wants the Pogues and who wants East 17?

Because I'm a little torn. Good evening, everyone. I apologize that we have missed a lot of the party, the dinner, and I believe the majority of the karaoke. But we, and I believe the majority of the karaoke, but we've been working a case. And if you don't mind, I'd very much like to wrap it up. Oh, okay. Well, if you have to go, Sherlock Holmes, everyone! No, no, don't worry.

After a little revelation from my doctor friend here just moments ago, I believe I can wrap it up. Right now. You can? I can. Okay, everyone. A little festive fun. Can you see what this is? It's a safe! It is a safe indeed.

It belonged to a Benny Mabely, whose mother, Marie Mabely, owns the freehold on this building. Her family lived in this property when it was a residence. Sadly, Marie is now in a home and I'm fairly confident given her degenerating mental faculties, she wouldn't be all that helpful in opening up this safe. Now, it would be fair to ask the question, why? Why would we want to open this safe? Well, six years ago, Marie Mabely's son and the owner of this safe, Benny, died in an apparent suicide in Rome. He fell in front of a moving subway train.

He was there with his girlfriend, Georgia. Georgia Klein, daughter of Isadora Klein. Hands up, who knows who? Oh, okay, right, the whole room. I noticed one hand down. We'll come to you at the end. Don't look that way. Look at me, please. Thank you. Shortly after Benny's death, a young criminal by the name of Barney Stockdale was tasked with burning this place to the ground. The results of his blaze were inconclusive and he was arrested. Believing her belongings to be destroyed and with mental and physical decline on the way, Marie Mabely donated the property with a 400 year lease to the Three Gables Hospital Trust. Yes, a good act. And a good thing we are doing here tonight.

And we can give the hospital their best financial gift yet, if we can get this safe open. So, who would like to play? Well, let's get to it. Marie Mabely was in part correct. All her belongings were destroyed. But her sons, on the other hand, not quite. His safe remained wedged where he had left it, in the nook of a chimney cavity. You see, Barney Stopdale was a bad arsonist and an even worse gossip. Knowing that his fire had been cut short, he spoke of nothing else while behind bars word spread, and his client was once again left flailing in desperation to destroy whatever this safe possesses. And sadly, ladies and gentlemen, I have to say they are very close. Very close indeed.

A signing of a legal agreement away, in fact, of getting this safe in their own hands. But Christmas has interrupted them, like it does so many professional commitments. It has hit a festive hiatus, and now we find ourselves with the opportunity to make our big donation. So how do we open Benny Mabely's safe? The dial here, I'm afraid, it's six digits, not four. But don't worry, I'll make sure I prod us along nicely. What do we think? What about our birthday?

Benny Mabely's birthday. He was born on the 18th of March. One, eight, zero, three. He was 25 when he died in 2018, so born in 93. Nine, three. Ooh, nothing I'm afraid. The girl's birthday. I can tell you I've tried it and that's a no as well. No birthdays. I thought for a moment it could be addresses. I researched hastily upstairs for the Grand London Homes of the Maybellies.

14 Avenue Road in St John's Wood. 21 Ashburton Place in Mayfair. And of course, here, the Three Gables, which building number for postal reasons is 73. So 14, 21, 73. His addresses through his life. No. So no birthdays, no house numbers. Quite tricky indeed. I would like all the Millennials to put their hands up. Let me see some millennials. Ah, yes, there you all are. Look, cash poor, tired. The ones with young children anyway.

And now I see some hair is going and metabolisms are slowing down. That's life, I'm afraid. Millennials have an intimate relationship with technology. Particularly one aspect of it. Advancement. Change. Most of them in this room could tell you their best friend's phone number from 20 years ago

because they had to type it out on a landline. They could tell you what computer viruses were like, how AOL would greet them and nearly all of them, much to their dismay, could sing you the hamster dance song. Please don't. These things mattered then. They don't now. But that's not how our brains work.

Yes, they're brilliant thinking machines and factories of concepts, but they have their flaws. For Marie Mabely, her brain leaks memories and thoughts by the day. For us, we wish more than anything that some recollections, memories of embarrassment, of pain, would leak out much the same and wash away for good. But things stay. Things that matter. Things that don't. I recall when I first typed on a computer keyboard, every word I heard in conversation I would type it out in my head.

Musical notes. I would see the violin strings in my head. These cognitive compulsions eventually become useless and annoying. Much like the knowledge of how to type on a T9 numerical keyboard. To even do it without looking. Mariana, your phone, please. The dumb phone. Uh, there.

Yes, thank you. To convey a message of text on these clicky little buttons on a 3x4 grid, T9. Text 9. Texting on nine keys. Text on these clicky little buttons on a 3x4 grid, T9. Text 9. Texting on nine keys. Words become numbers, held in muscle memory. Benny's name, I forgot to note, is not B-E-N-N-Y, but B-E-N-N-I-E.

Six letters. Two. Three, six, six, four, three. Correct. The man with the foggy glasses and graying hair has it. No letters on number one, of course. So B equals two, E equals three, N equals six, N equals six, I equals four, E equals three, N equals six, N equals six, I equals four, E equals three. Ladies and gentlemen, our safe is unlocked.

And what do we have inside? Stay where you are! Who are you talking to, mate? Our big fan, apparently. What? Who? A woman that greeted us with nauseating enthusiasm as we entered this evening. A fan of the show. I'm sure you all have them with your own particular productions. But this fan didn't seem quite right. No make-up? Fine, I suppose, in isolation, but not in further context.

Tattoos covered, thick glasses with a price-sticker hastily ripped off, hair tucked away under a hat. Yet the nails, the jewellery, the shoes all of exceptional value, the very essence of glamour, quite the clash. We have a woman worth nearly 300 million in our midst, everyone. Masquerading as an over-eager podcast fan, all to try and remain in control. Because that's how you built your empire, is it not, Isadora? Control, intensive observation, perfectionism.

You couldn't stand the idea of me not being deterred tonight. You had to ensure it yourself. To micromanage? Well, I don't blame you. Steve Dixie, a dodgy cab driver, Barney Stockdale, and of course, a prawn. They did rather let you down. Back to our safe. Inside we have...

No! No! It's an open mic. If you could wait your turn... Don't do it! Don't worry, he won't sing, will you John? Put it down you bastard! I usually don't encourage this sort of thing, but if as many people as possible could record

Isadora Klein's reaction on their phones, it will very much come in handy for the police. Please! Please! A letter, right here, from the office of Isadora Klein to Master Mabely. It's false! It is fake! To Master Mabily My daughter's adoration but my boy Prince my lover

Whenever you read this letter I Want you to feel my presence in your heart feel my eyes burning into yours Feel my hands gripping your... I'll skip that bit. Ooh, and that bit. Throbbing. Nope. This is none of your business! There's pictures as well. I'll keep those in this little envelope. So we weren't in love, so what? Yes. Seems rather cruel of me, doesn't it? Well, it did, until I read more about the night of Benny's demise,

and the background of your disgusting daughter. Why is it, Isadora, that when Benny, while stood next to his girlfriend at a platform, somehow ended up under a train, and subsequently died? Why is it you did not attend his funeral? Your boy Prince, your lover. Fine, you don't have to attend as a bit on the side but not even to support your daughter. Shut up! In fact you weren't pictured with your daughter for months after. Quite the fallout. At a time when we need our loved ones most. Why the fallout? Could it be that witnesses from that night in Rome were correct? That there was a quarrel? A quarrel as a young girl discovered her boyfriend's lover was her own mother?

Your legal prowess is quite something, Isadora. It's why I ask everyone document this as thoroughly as possible. You know how to get your way in the courts. She wasn't arrested for an eco-protest, was she, Isadora? Your daughter assaulted an apparent friend of hers and left her with 17 stitches across her face. Leave her alone! From the sounds of her, I absolutely will, Miss Klein. But I don't think the police will.

No! No! No! Not to spoil the reveal, but she'll be down for murder, and you'll get accessory, possibly, and obstruction of justice, definitely. You might see some time for that arson as well. It's rather cold out, Isadora. You may want to grab a... She's gone. Quiet now. Shh, please. Your podcasters, right?

No one to shut up, thank you. Thank you kindly. Our final donation of this evening, we have a hard drive labeled, Should Anything Happen to Me? Seems that Benny was aware of the Klein Rage. This everyone is what is known as a cold storage drive for a rather healthy amount of bitcoin and cryptocurrency that Benny would like to see given to a deserving cause.

And I can't think of one more deserving than this wonderful place. Thank you for listening. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Cheers you too. Cheers. Cheers. To those brave kids.

Absolutely. And to Benny and Marie Mabely. Good people. Cheers to that. And to Mary Morstan. Bravery and goodness personified. To Mary Morstan. To Mary. Well done guys. Really, really well done. Thank you.

You found the safe. Yeah, by accident but thanks. I will take that. Quite the donation. How many bitcoins or whatever was on the drive? Around 1500. Oh nice. Cool, cool. What's a bitcoin worth? Like a hundred quid or something? Let me google it.

How much is a bitcoin? Bitcoin worth, like a hundred quid or something. Let me google it. How......merch... ...is a... ...BIT... ...coin? Ah. Watson. You've gone rather pale. He said to a deserving course, you can't be mad.

I'm a deserving course too, I... Oh for fu... Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. You look like you're going to be sick. That... Wait, that's a hundred and 150 million pounds at current value. I just gave that away, did I? Benny Mabely did, really.

God's sake, I'm not even gonna get a plaque, am I? Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Stop laughing. Sorry, I can't help it. It's not funny, stop. Merry Christmas, you guys. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. It's not funny! Stop! Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Ooh, I'm gonna get a picture of us.

Where is it? Where? Hey. What? What is that in your bag? Oh, it... You! Now, listen. Sherlock said I should bring the mic. Sherlock? You hate bringing the mic.

Yes, but I said it was for you. Oh, for me? For the guy who said he didn't want an adventure out? He was looking after the future you. Who would look back on this? The future me? What are you looking after him for? I feel like I'm getting a lot of the blame here. Well, you did say... Hold on, wait. What?

Richard Osmond is coming. Where? Oh crap, go, go, go, go, go! This way, jingle bells, jingle bells! Doc J. Watson MD on Twitter and Blue Sky and Sherlock and Co. Pod, all one word, on Instagram and TikTok. We'd love to hear from you. That was so good, Sherlock.

Was it? Mm-hmm perfect perfect What you said it was gonna be crap What you said you'd do the intro you try your best, but it wouldn't be as good as my ones is everything okay John No, why are you too good at this? This is my thing, but you said you're not doing this adventure I'm not, but... We'd love to hear from you. What was all that about? We would.

Oh, piss off. Shall we do that again? Nah, we nailed it. It was perfect. The Music