Why the Bodies Never Were Found

"If you tell me precisely what passed between you, I may consider ameliorating circumstances", said Holmes, his eyes hooded as he pulled at his pipe.
"Very well, Mr Holmes. This is what happened - and it is Eru's own truth, all of it. I took to my heels, and I ran after the cab. I had a heavy oak stick in my hand, and I tell you that I saw red from the first; but as I ran I got cunning, too, and hung back a little to see them without being seen. They pulled up soon at the railway station. There was a good crowd round the booking-office, so I got quite close to them without being seen. They took tickets for the Havens of Sirion. So did I, but I got in three carriages behind them. When we reached it they walked along the Parade, and I was never more than a hundred yards from them. At last I saw them hire a boat and start for a row, for it was a very hot day, and they thought no doubt that it would be cooler on the water.
"It was just as if they had been given into my hands. There was a bit of a haze, and the sight was limited. I hired a boat for myself, and I pulled after them. I could see the blur of their craft, but they were going nearly as fast as I, and they must have been a long mile from the coast before I caught them up. The haze was like a curtain all round us, and there we were in the middle of it. Oh, Eru, shall I ever forget their faces when they saw who was in the boat that was closing in upon them? He swore like a madman, and jabbed at me with an oar, for he must have seen death in my eyes. I got past it and got one in with my stick, that crushed his head like an egg. I would have spared her, perhaps, for all my madness, but she threw her arms round him, crying out to him and calling him 'darling'. I struck again, and she lay stretched beside him. I was like a wild beast then that had tasted blood. Still, I had some thought for my own safety - I struck a hole in the bottom of their boat and weighed it down with a heavy copy of 'Military Drill for Orcs' that someone had left behind in my boat. I heard the gurgle as the boat sank with the two on them on board - I had nailed them to it with some tines from my iron crown. And now - what are you going to do with me, Mr Holmes? Please have mercy on me! I will turn a new leaf and live a life of loving and caring for others, if you will but let me go."
There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the edge of the table. Then my friend rose, and threw open the door.
"Get out!" said he,
"What, sir? Oh, heaven bless you!"
"No more words. Get out!"
And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running footfalls from the street.
"After all, Watson", said Holmes and relit his pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. And I must say that I rather sympathize with poor Morgoth. To be consumed with love for Lúthien and see her give her all to that lout Beren would have tempted the goodness of a Maia. Oh, dear - that's what he used to be, was it not? That only goes to confirm once more how infallible I am, Watson."

Öjevind Lång

		Holmes
Sherlock