Sherlock & Co. - 43 - The Lion's Mane - Part Two

Episode Date: July 23, 2024

DEMON OF THE SEA - the iconography was everywhere we stepped on the island. Etchings of her on walls, murals in the pub, poems and songs depicting her beauty but also her brutality. Had Harris Stackhurst really fallen victim to an attack from a fantastical demon of the deep?  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 episode contains swearing, grief, loss, depictions of human remains, references to deceased animals. Listener discretion is advised. 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 Matthew Malthouse as Inspector Barle Ahd Tamimi as Olaf Stakhurst Joshua Manning as Ian Murdoch Additional voices Naomi Miller 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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Yeah, that is cheaper than parking at Heathrow for 29 minutes. Do you know that? Yeah, 29 minutes in a Heathrow car park or Sherlock and Co members club. You decide. Patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and Co. Previously on Sherlock and Co. This is Maud. Oh, you're visiting on a holiday?

No, she's not. No, I'm not. So what brings you across the border, down into the big smoke? Across the sea and across the border. My fiance is dead. My name is Maud Elspeth Bellamy. I'm 20 and I live on Fyara. Fyara? Wow. Fyara? Aye, so Fyara is a wee island between Orkney and Shetland, very north.

Everybody kind of knows everybody. Things tangle together a wee bit, you know. Big tentacles of gossip and scandal and chatter can kind of run between everybody. Okay, so my fiance is Harris Stakhurst, six years older than me. He worked for my dad and brother. I got a call. Found his boat, way out at sea. And he was in it. Dead. I looked in the boat and there he was. Bloody. Bruised. Wet suit was all torn and his skin... It was like these thick purple lashes against him.

Like he'd been whipped and burned. He was swollen and inflamed. These giant welts and blisters leaking with pus and blood. And it was just... it was awful. He had started to engrave a message on the side of the boat. What did it say? Lion. Lion.

Do you believe it to be murder, Mord? He'd been scuba diving since he was ten. This ain't no accident. This part of the North Sea, they call it the Viking Bank. Ancient hills and mountains that may have even held people once upon a time, swallowed by the sea. Look. Wow.

Wow what? The eye. Oh my word. Hey, crime solvers, welcome back to the adventure of the Lion's Mane. Please take a seat, put your seatbelt on, put any valuables in this bag, arms and legs inside the vehicle, and, uh, yeah, don't throw up. Well, here we are. It's... very... homely. Well, here we are. It's very homely. Character.

Sort of vintage look to it, this. But probably a real hit with the tourists. What do we say we are? I sense they don't take too kindly to visitors. Here on business? I like it. Me too. From Lyon's mane in.

Ready to go in? After you. I can carry these bags honestly, it's no problem. You staying long? I haven't quite decided yet. See how things pan out, but we'll be up early each day, I expect. Why? What are you here for? Um, just business matters. But up early every morning, is it?

Yeah, yeah, going to see a man about a dog. Sort of thing. Oh, keep your secrets then. A man about a dog? It's an expression. Something British, thing. Being vague about your business. Do you know why the pub's called the Lion's Mane?

I don't. Um, are you sure you don't want us to carry our bags? Long ago, a myth for people on this island became a fact of science. They used to speak of the León, a cat-like beast that would stalk across the mainland's. Until... One day... Hanum, a young laddy of Fy'ara, fancied himself as a wee bit of an expert. A sceptic of all things mystical.

I know the sort. Why are you looking at me? We challenged the islanders to prove this mythical creature existed. So in 1240, Björgen of the Cove set sail, and after nearly two years he came back. He sailed into the Fullworth Bay, pulled his cargo up the banks and through the body of a lion dune at the feet of Hanum. At this very spot, a myth shattered, a legend born, and a pub founded. Here's your room. Oh, I like it. The story, I mean. Yeah, very cool. Very nice. Room is satisfactory. And unlike the story, very much real.

Lions are real, mate. That was the point of the story. Would you be wanting anything before you go to bed? A table in the pub downstairs. We're meeting somebody- I'll get that set for you. Who are we meeting? We're going to see I'll get that set for you. Who are we meeting? We're going to see a man about a corpse. Oh. Lovely.

Oh, nice dark pub. It's my kind of place. Yeah, I like the murals on the walls. Yeah, yeah. Let me just give the listeners the rundown in here. Yeah, so, in the Lion's Mane Inn. Pretty dark, low ceilings. Looks like some proper ales behind the bark, gonna have to get stuck into them, let me tell you. Then the murals. Creepy stuff, lots of mythical creatures and vikings and longboats all over the walls. A few tables dotted around, candles burning, no TV or anything, and a bloke staring at us.

Good evening. You must be Inspector Barl. Sherlock Holmes? Yes, that's right. Good to meet you, Inspector Barl. Call me Fergus, please. Fergus, this is Dr Watson and Mrs Hudson. Hi, how are you? Fergus Barl is of the Highlands and Islands constabulary. He was dispatched here following the discovery of Harris Stackhurst's body.

Oh, okay. That makes sense. I thought you suddenly knew some Fiora locals. No, I'm certainly not a local as they have made very clear during my stay. Fergus, tell us everything you know and, most most importantly feel about this case. Suddenly. Well, seen us this evening, you can join me in the local delicacy. Oh, that's strong. That's strong whiskey. It's smooth though. I'd say that's quite smooth.

I feel like my throat is on fire. I got myself a couple of bottles of this to take back. What do you think, Watson? Shall we purchase some Lyona's song? Lyona's song? Yeah, good. Good idea. Good idea. Oh, my eyes are watering.

In a good way. Good way. Lyona? That's Scottish, right? Scottish Gaelic? No. It's a local word. A mythological creature type thing.

Bitch of the sea, some people call her. Nice. You can see her on Bitch o' the sea. Some people call her. Nice. You can see her on there. On the walls. The murals. So she's like a sea creature? She's on the bottle too, so it looks like a sexy octopus. Don't let them hear you talk of Lyona like that, mind.

Oh. They take the sea very seriously, huh? It's the whole ecosystem of their island. That and Bellamy's barnacles, eh? They say that if you set sail with guilt in your heart, Lyona will call you over. Like a siren. Or a mermaid. That's right. You see the face of a beautiful woman in the water.

Ghostly white., lush green eyes, thick black hair. At least you think it's hair. What is it? Long black tentacles. They come writhing out of the water, reaching higher than a ship's mast and pull you under. She wraps you up like a spider does a fly and sticks you to the bottom of the sea. She sounds nice. It would seem there is plenty to fear under those waters already. No need for myth or legend. Here. What? Picture of the boat we found Harris in.

Yes, we know this. Know what? Oh crap. What? Iona. L-I-O-N. Oh my god, that's what Harris scratched into the boat. Try telling the islanders she's just a meth-now-head.

Inspector, you said the locals haven't made you feel welcome. They're messing with you. Someone must have tampered with his boat before he was found. Maud said it too Sherlock. Nice to meet someone as skeptical as me. But look there's no murder I can see. How so? I've looked at this case closely all right? I try and shut out the locals and focus on what I see, not what I hear. And what do you see? I see the Martini effect. Nitrogen Narcosis. The marks on his skin, the tearing of his wet suit. Look, the lad was scuba diving damn near every night.

He's not getting sleep, he's breathing in this stuff. Constantly compressing, decompressing. It sends you nutty. Ask any accomplished diver, right? How did he end up like that? His wetsuit, his skin, on the boat. The Martini effect. And sorry to interrupt, what is that

exactly? Divers consume very dense concentrations of nitrogen as part of their breathing apparatus. Too much nitrogen in the body can affect the nervous system, like having a martini on an empty stomach, they say, but go deep enough for long enough, and that tipsy euphoria turns to fuzzy thinking, exasperation and derangement. Exactly. But what was he doing out there? Every night? I mean, swimming in pitch black in the North Sea? It sounds like hell. He was probably getting off on it. As your man says, euphoria.

There are easier ways to get high. Be seen as a waster and face the judgement of this island? Nah. I'd like to see him. To see Harris? Yes, tonight, before you leave. They don't have much internet on the island, they've got one road, just about got gas and all sorts pumped to them from undersea pipes, they don't have a football team or a cinema or a supermarket but if you want a place to be able to store a corpse before burial... A fish freezer.

Fyarra is that place. Whole island full of them. This funeral director bought some for himself. Whole basement of him. Harris has been sent back here after his post-mortem in Inverness. He's getting buried in a few days. Ah, here we are. Oh, wow. Ah, man, that's brutal. What do you see, Sherlock? He did carve the letters. Lyona, he actually did.

Well, he did L-I-O-N. I don't wish to disappoint, but that does not spell Lyona. Pretty close though, mate. How can you tell he carved it? There's very fine fractures of wood under his fingernails here. He was right-handed, but he used his left. Right arm must be broken or wounded somehow. Out of its socket. Shoulder.

No, it's back in. He probably did it himself. Got some sinking by the rotator cuff. Yeah, and there's that crunch. So he's put that back in after whatever happened. Happened. Okay, but why would a man, in the bout of some sort of scuba induced psychosis, put his shoulder back into its socket? Good question.

Tooth missing, lateral incisor, dried blood in the gum, root has come out with it. Dental health of always very solid. Interesting. Bruising on the lip as well, it's puffy. Mm-hmm. From the devil's mouthpiece?

Eh, not sure about that. That's a knuckle, I'd say, landing on his lips. A knuckle? Yeah. Yeah, looks like Harris has had a bit of a fight. Not just shunned by the community, but attacked. Not really looking like the Martini effect right now. More like the eight cans of stellar effect at the moment. Listen, if you can show me how he was murdered, I'm happy to take the best current thesis

off the table, alright? I can show you, yes. But I'd need a submersible. Excuse me? Like a submarine? Only a small, leisurely one. Here's a pamphlet. I picked it up in Inverness.

Sorry, a private hire submarine, like the ones that people go missing on and die? Do they? Why do you need a submersible? To take your best current thesis off the table, as you said. When could we arrange for that, do you think, Inspector Barle? I, um, I mean, not until at least Monday, but at considerable cost, I might add. Lovely. Gives us time to establish just what Harris was up to, eh? And why, of course, his fellow islanders had turned so thoroughly against him.

We can't just magic up some cash for a submersible hire. We'll cover it. If I'm right, you can refund us. Erm, Sherlock? Inspector Barl, are you confident enough in your thesis to take my offer? Err, suppose it can't hurt. Especially if you're paying. Ugh. The End Good night's sleep? Yeah, it was okay. You? It's windy on this island, doesn't it?

Oh yeah. Yeah, I thought the inn was going to get blown into the sea. Cockle. What? Cockle. What is that? It's an edible burrowing marine mollusk and it's pickled. You've been on Wikipedia?

Yeah. Wait. Son berberechos. Oh yeah, we have those. Yeah. I don't like the look of them in Spain and I don't like the look of them here. Ew. Yeah, they look terrible, obviously, but they are good, good stuff.

Bellamy's barnacles, the best. Morning. Oh, Sherlock, Sherlock. Can I talk to you? Not right now. Doing research. Sherlock, a submarine hire from the mainland is £3,000. Ah, lovely.

Is that lovely? Uh, no. No, it's not lovely. Why not? Because that's a lot of money. Can I come in on this? Oh, sorry, excuse me, there's too many cockles. Money aside, this is a submarine you're hiring.

Submersible? Yeah, whatever. So you drive it around at the bottom of the sea? That's correct? Yeah, no. Know what? No, absolutely not. Why not? Because that is terrifying.

It's necessary. Are you telling me that being confined into a tiny steel tube at the bottom of the North Sea doesn't scare you? No. Does it scare you? Well, yeah. Why? What are you afraid of?

Er, well, death. Mm-hmm. Sharks. Very unlikely. Sexy? Er, well, death. Mm-hmm. Sharks. Very unlikely. Sexy murderous sea demons, apparently. Very, very unlikely. It's also £3,000. I appreciate your concern, but it's really nothing to worry about.

I'm reverse-engineering the practices of Arthur A. Allen, the oceanographer. Oh, Arthur A. Allen, the oceanographer. All right cool great yeah cool. How is that supposed to help us? People that are lost at sea are notoriously difficult to find. Oceans are vast. People are tiny. That's how things were. Until Alan came along and worked with all the things I'm going to work with. Which is? Data. Data. Indeed. I know where Harris was found. At what time and in what vessel. The vessel's weight. I even know when he was wounded thanks to the pathology report.

And therefore I know when he climbed into his boat. I know the fullness of the moon that night. The strength of the tides. I know the wind speed. The weather. He wasn't rowing. We know that much as he had dislocated his shoulder. Work backwards from that final location,

utilizing those data points, put it in the machine, and you'll find where he descended that night. And the machine is... Me. Great. Now for your task. Yeah, go on.

Find out what Harris Stackhurst was up to out here every night. And why the locals were so upset with it. Exactly. Right, sure, will do. Aye, aye, Captain. You sure you don't want a cockle? Look at the size of that one. You're disgusting.

Are you talking to me or the cockle? Well we spoke to some people in the pub we're staying at the Lions' Mane. Sure. And they said to go and see Olaf Staghurst. That's, erm... Is that Scottish Gaelic? Icelandic. Right, cool. Very cool.

Ice. Cool. Thank you, erm, Olaf. I just... I know I said it on your doorstep, but I just want to, I almost can't believe what you've had to go through with the passing of your son. I am amazed at your strength, quite frankly, and that you can even sit here and talk to us. And if at any point this is too much, please, please just say. Thank you. I think where the investigation is struggling, Mr. Stackhurst, we can't quite understand what Harris was doing out there every night.

Is that something you would be able to tell us more about? Who says he was out there every night? Sorry? Where does that come from exactly? I uh, I suppose initially... Maud? Maud Bellamy. Yes. Yeah. Is that a bad thing? She seems very nice. The Bellamis run this island, Dr. Watson. You do know that, don't you? It's a successful business. It's the only business. It's well over half of the economy of this place. And it's pretty much all the jobs, too.

What are you getting at? I'm not getting at anything. I'm just offering some local context. There's a feeling, Olaf, that in the weeks leading up to his death, Harris was shunned by the community. And that's not just local gossip. I've got it here in Inspector Barl's reports. No longer attended town meetings, stopped going to church,

didn't turn up for football, didn't go to the pub. Harris had plenty of interests outside of the pub and football. Like what? He was studying. In what sense? Marine biology. Wow. Okay. He had some idea that he'd get that degree and he'd be posted out here with some grant.

He'd never have to leave the island. But he'd be better than some oyster farmer. People, they don't take too kindly to that kind of thinking. It's complicated out here. No, no, no, we understand that. We just want to get a broader picture of Harris. You can start by getting a broader picture of Maude Bellamy. Why?

Because her last two boyfriends are dead, Dr Watson. What? I'm not saying anymore. Was she with Fitzy Macpherson? Olaf, is that what you're saying? Fitzy that went missing a few months ago? I think I've said enough. Did Harris say something about Bellamy's barnacles? Is that where the island turned on him?

You're not bad. Thanks. Was he... was he whistle-blowing, Olaf? It would be unwise for me to say much more. Who punched him? The night he died, who punched him? That's easy. Is it? His best friend. Ian Murdoch. Any reason? You'd have to ask Ian Murdoch. I'll laugh. Did you turn on your son? I doubted his cause. So did his mother.

What was his cause? The sea. The vitality of the sea, always. So what was Harry's doing out there each night? He was busy. Yes, but busy doing what? I can't tell you. Why not? Is... was he hiding something? Did he discover... is he guilty of something? I don't... I can't work out what you're saying. Of what? Of what? Olaf. Balsanna.

Mr. Sackhurst. Balsanna, yeah. Balsanna? Did he expand on that? No, no, he... He left. He left his own house? Yeah, that's right. We repelled him out of his own house, mate. That's just how charming we are.

They don't take kindly to tourists. Yeah. Wait, why? What have you been doing? Oh, nothing. I can see you, by the way. Where are you? That's you on top of the cliff, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, you can see us. In the rock pools, down on the beach. Ah, Oh hello! What where? Where? I can't see. That little speck in the distance with his trousers rolled up. Oh yes hi hi! Yeah I can see you, I can see you.

Is that wait is that a children's bucket and a spade? Yes well it's important I sift carefully through these rock pools. Uh, why is that? Looking for something. Traces of a sea goddess? I have no time for this silliness. Okay, well Sherlock, just, we're going to see Ian Murdoch now. Local gossip has it, and Olaf kind of confirmed it, that he was the one that attacked Harris that night on the beach.

Excellent, Watson. Albeit they are best friends. Even a best friend doesn't immune from a physical assault. Lovely. Definitely keep my wits about me in the flat, then. Cheerio. Okay, bye. Look at this place. Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Like another world. You can see why they have all these tales and legends, can't you? You live in a place that looks like this. Yeah, exactly. tales and legends can you live in a place that looks like this yeah exactly breathe in that sea air blow out those cobwebs hey we should probably keep heading up the cliff yeah agreed off we go hello everyone Currently walking up a cliff. Well, not up a cliff. Walking on top of a cliff that is still quite steep and winding. If we look down over the side you can see a bloody big drop and then the sparkle of the North Sea lashing at the toes of Mr Cliff

here, who is a bloody big bloke. Oh my god. How can you talk and walk like this at the same time? Well, I come from a long line of wafflers. It's natural. It's like breathing. Any sign of the house? Er, yes, actually. Oh. Wait, really? Yeah, I can see it up here now. Footpath evens out a bit and I can see it's just over on the left. Still near the cliff edge, the, erm...

garden, the front fence of the place has nearly fallen into the left. Still near the cliff edge, the garden, the front fence of the place, it's nearly fallen into the sea. Oh wow. What a way to live. You won't get a mortgage on that, let me tell you. Yeah, because it's unsafe. No insurance. Yep, that, and the house will be in the sea in 15 to 20 years' time. You can see where the cliffs are coming away. Yeah. Huh. What are you thinking?

How old is Ian Murdoch? 20 years time you can see where the cliffs are coming away. Yeah. Huh. What are you thinking? How old is Ian Murdoch? Same age as Harris. And Fitzy. Yeah, so 27-ish. And he bought that with no mortgage. Oh. Oh.

Yeah. Oh, come. Yeah. Well, come on then. Let's go ask some questions. Nope. No answer. Hmm. I never know how long you have to wait between knocks.

You come in too quick and you just seem impatient and rude. John. What? Don't look now, but he's in the top window. You serious? Yeah, he's looking at us. Okay, okay, erm, I'm gonna... I'll knock again. We may want to come up with a decent story. Why? Because he's obviously bloody suspicious, isn't he? He thought of anything? No! You?

I was busy knocking! Oh God, he's coming to answer the door. Hello there! I am... well, I'm English, as you can tell. Hello. I claim this land for England. No, that's inappropriate, given the history. We're not colonizers, although she is from Spain. Hola. Hola, señor. What a pair, hey?

Although Scotland, not colonized at all, was it? A political union between the two countries. No, so we're Britain, aren't we? Both of us. You're as guilty as we are in the colonizing game. Anyway, we are weird tourists. That's who we are. And we're actually, we need help. You need help? We do, yeah. With what? With my dog. Where's your dog? He's lost at sea. He's lost at sea. He's lost at sea. Yep.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Yeah, erm, we just... We're asking a few of the locals who may know more than us about how to go about searching for him. How would we do that? We're very worried. Well, where'd you lose him? Fullworth Bay, with the rock pools. Oh, those things are deadly. I dare say he's injured himself. You know, dogs will toddle off in solitude after things

like that. Yeah, yeah, awful. Well, come in. I can make some calls for you. Best. Thank you. Thank you so, so much. This place is massive. I know, right? And just him. That's what the local gossip tells me. It's impressive that you retained that knowledge after half a bottle of Lyona's song. Yeah. What's that now? Oh, yeah, we had some of Lyona's song last night.

Didn't manage to finish a whole bottle, but we gave it a good go, didn't we? We did, yeah. What's that now? Oh, yeah, we had some of Lyona's song last night. Didn't manage to finish a whole bottle, but we gave it a good go, didn't we? Uh, we did, yes. And you know the folklore, do you? You tourists tend to know more than meself half the time. Yes, Lyona the Sea Demon. Sea Demoness. Do you believe it?

Yes. No. Oh. Do you? I mean, I definitely would like to believe it? Yes. No. Oh. Do you? I mean, I definitely would like to believe it. And maybe in biking times. Who knows what kind of creatures were transposed into legend.

How is a sea witch with tentacles any different to say a whale or a shark or even a big jellyfish or octopus? Yeah, no, I mean, I guess that's where these stories arise from, right? Get lodged into the hearts of the locals, like the lion, right? Passed down through generations. Do you believe it? I know enough about that sea to not go diving down to the bottom of it. Mm-hmm. Like...Fitzi.

Excuse me? And Harris. Now how is it that two fellas not even known to mainlanders are well known in Spain? So we live together in London? We're investigators. You're damn rude! Hey, hey, okay. We want to help.

By lying to me, stepping into my home and taking advantage of my good nature. You were seen on the beach with Harris that night. Shut up! If you let us help, we can eliminate you as a suspect and- Eliminate me as a suspect? Oh, do me a fucking favour. Ian, this is serious. A man is dead. Aye, and he'd be alive if he'd listen to me that night

Yeah, you think I do that do you think I go around killing my best friends? Dragging them into the sea and blaming some ancient creature of the deep You know, I always thought the islanders were dumb as shite I didn't know it was everybody down in London turn not going to prove anything by losing your temper Oh, I'm a not no. In in fact it only makes you look worse. Get out. What were you doing there that night? Marjolaine.

Get out my house before I throw you out. Maud Bellamy sent us. Hey! What? Maud Bellamy, she came to London. You're lying. I'm not. No, she wouldn't do that.

Why? No, she wouldn't do that. Her dad, her brother. No, no. No way. Is she okay? She wants this resolved. She wants to know what happened to Harris. And she, she told us you went down to the bay with him. Why did the islanders turn on Harris Stackhurst, Ian? Where is Maude? Look, she needs us to figure this thing out.

We can only figure it out if you help us. You don't understand. But you can help us too, Ian. What do you do, Ian? And how do you have this big home? Don't. You bought it not long after Fitzy died. I'm telling you to shut up, mate. Did someone pay you off?

Stop it! Just stop! I went to warn Harris, alright? I went to tell him to stay away from the breach, okay? Ian, just calm down. What happened to Harris that night? He got aggressive with me, because he knew what I'd done. That I kept quiet and they paid for...

I was just towing the line. Everyone does it around here, all right? I just wanted something out of it. Towing the line! Everyone does it around here, alright? I just wanted something out of it. Towing the line for what? Get out. Ian, what is going on? Ian, are you guilty? Are the Bellamies of Balsanna, right? No. Get out of my house.

I didn't kill Harris and I didn't kill Fitz, it was the bell I mean. I'm going to be a good boy. Thanks for watching!