The Paraquat Murders
The Baker street Gang, now found themselves in the land of the rising sun, Japan.
" My dear boy, what can you tell me of paraquat? " said Holmes.
" Paraquat, also known as Methyl Viologen. It is a herbicide, which is highly poisonous to animals and humans " said Moriarty.
" What does that have to do with the case? " asked Watson.
" Everything " said Bell; " We have arrived here at Nihon to solve the Paraquat Murders "
The Holmes gang were ready to walk throughout Japan where the incidents had happened.
The incidents;
April 30th 1985 - Fukuyama Hiroshima, a truck driver drank a poisonous Ornament C.
September of 1985 - Izumisano Osaka, a 52 year old man drank a poisoned bottle of Oronamin C.
September 12th, 1985 - a 22 year old in Matsusaka, drank a poisonous Real Gold.
September 19th, 1985 - in Fukuoka, a 30 year old man drank a poisonous Soda bottle.
September 20th, 1985 - in Miyazaki, a 45 year old man drank a poisonous bottle of Real Gold.
23rd of September, 1985 - a 50 year old man drinks a poisonous bottle of Oronamin C.
October 5th, 1985 - a 37 year old man drinks a poisonous bottle of Oronamin C.
October 15th, 1985 - a 69 year old man drank a poisonous Oronamin C.
October 21st, 28th and November 7th, 1985, same stories with the same outcome, death.
The only female victim, on November 17th, 1985 - a 17 year old girl drinks a poisonous Cola bottle, and then dies.
" Twelve victims, and about 30 wounded, that is what we have to work with " said Bell, as all of them examined the locations, and the bottles.
And even the corpses were looked at.
The police helped out in any way they could.
" Well, Watson? " said Holmes, while they were looking at the dead bodies.
" Some suffered before they died, others died without any pain, but I am sure that you already knew that, Detective-Doctor " said Watson with a smirk.
" My dear friend Watson, I have told you before, do not sell yourself too short " said Bell, as he sighed, for he was now looking at the 17 year old girl.
" Life truly left her too soon, and death came too early " said Holmes, as he was now about to solve the case.
" Tell me, my dear boy, why were the victims killed? " asked Bell, as all three were walking within one of Japan's many forests.
" There can be many reasons, Sir "
" Name a few "
" Pleasure, the thrill of killing or ideals "
" What about mercy?"
" Mercy, Sir? " asked Moriarty, confused.
" Mercy killing "
" Holmes, you are not suggesting that the killer saw his, or her, killing as an act of mercy? " exclaimed Watson.
" Watson, here is a sad truth, that Japan is one of the countries with the most suicides, now, back in the day, suicide was seen as an act of honor and self-sacrifice, but nowadays, it is more a way of escaping the pain "
" Surely, the pain of existence can be overcome, right? " exclaimed Watson.
" It is not about the pain of existence, right, my boy? "
" Indeed. Japan is also one of the countries who overwork their people, sometimes, even to the point of death, " said Moriarty.
" Good heavens… " exclaimed Watson, as he felt exhausted.
" Now, now. It is not all dark or grim. If anything, one should respect the people, for even in the face of hardship, they can truly shine bright like the sun " said Bell with a smile.
" But, some of their tv-shows are a bit odd, but I hear that they make up for it with anime and hentai " said Moriarty.
Holmes just giggled, while Watson looked at Moriarty with a look of; how does he know that?
" We are here " said Holmes, as they had arrived at a normal and incident looking house.
" Who lives there? " asked Watson.
" Kodoku Ushi " said Bell, as he knocked on the door, where a young, fair and beautiful woman greeted them.
" Hajimemashite " said the woman.
" Greetings, madam, I hate to be rude, but my friend here really needs to use the bathroom " said Holmes, as he gestured to Moriarty.
" I do? " said the boy, confused.
" You do "
" I do, " said Moriarty, now looking like he needed a bathroom.
" Of course, come in " said the Japanese Xi Shi.
Moriarty walked to the bathroom, while Bell and Watson were shown to the living-room.
Kodoku placed two drinks at the table, and now went to get some sneaks.
Watson reached for his drink, but Holmes gave him a hard look, which made Watson redrew his hand.
Kodoku sat down and took a sip of her drink, she then coughed a little.
Watson now noticed Kodoku's ring.
" Where is your husband? " Watson asked.
" He is dead, " said Kodoku.
" My condolences "
" How did he die? " asked Bell, rather coldly.
" Holmes! " exclaimed Watson, sounding outraged.
" No, it is fine. It is actually a long story. One day, I had lost my keys… I truly wish that had not… but, I sent a text to my husband, who was at work, and I asked him if he could come and give me his key, which he said he would happily do, and that I just had to wait a bit… " Kodoku paused for a moment.
" This next part, I heard from the news. My husband was on his bicycle, driving home from one of the bridges, when the police stopped him, I still don't know why they stopped him, but due to exhaustion and frustration, my husband… jumped off the bridge. His last words were; I just need to cry for a bit " said Kodoku, who had told the story with the grace of a Princess.
" So " said Holmes, after a moment of silence; " Do you believe that what you are doing is an act of kindness? "
" Yes. " said Kodoku without hesitation; " I would rather kill others, so that they may never know those unforgiving work hours which my dear husband went through, day in, and day out "
Bell just looked at this resolute woman, he then got up, and said;
" We are leaving "
" But Holmes! " said Watson, as he followed Bell and Moriarty to the door; " Is she not the culprit? "
" She is "
" But, you are letting her go? "
" I am not, she has already sealed her fate, by taking a sip of her drink "
Watson's eyes widened, as he realized what Holmes meant.
He then walked out the house, and the Holmes gang then left Japan, having solved the Paraquat Murders.