The Doctor

McBride greeted John Watson as colleague and friend

But, for Holmes and Lestrade, he just couldn’t pretend

That he wanted their presence - his patients might wince

At the sight of detectives - his words he’d not mince.

“I do know why you’re here and I know it to be

A necessity forced on you all, and on me,

But my patients are nervous and can be quite vague

And they all fear authority more than the plague.”

“You stand in the abyss which is London’s great shame

In which people are trapped, so afford them no blame

If they fear and distrust you, you should be advised;

And, if they don’t cooperate, don’t be surprised.”

“I’ve known murderers, many, from all walks of life

Who would strike with the cudgel or slash with the knife

But I’m after a man who kills Whitechapel’s own,”

Said Lestrade, “and his motives, so far, are unknown.”

“Not just in Whitechapel,” McBride then replied,

“Some women in Spitalfields also have died

At the hands of this Jack who, I’m told, has such hate

He takes bits of his victims to eat off a plate.”

“We don’t know that is so, but it could be the case

That the man does take trophies of sorts for some base

And degenerate reason I can’t comprehend,”

Said Lestrade to McBride, “nor could ever defend.”

“I admit that my job makes the world seem a place

Full of killers and liars and cheats and I face,

Every day, from the Public, derision and scorn,

But to defend that Public I’ve solemnly sworn.”

“I too can feel fear - I have felt it today.

When I stepped to the roadway I heard myself say,

‘Lestrade, look about you - your eyes should be cast

Toward dangers which could make this day be your last’.”

“So, if some people fear me, then let it be so

For that makes my life safe for the moment, and ‘No’

I do not hate them for it, and should they have need

I’ll defend them from danger with force and at speed.”

“I’m not here for the Government, nor for the Queen,

But for those humble folk who I see in between

Their predation by villains and death from disease

So don’t lecture me on London’s poor, if you please.”

“Jack the Ripper’s their enemy, not this old cop,

And I’ll do what is needed to make the man stop

But I need information, not hearsay and lies -

Some cops might not care but this one does, and tries.”

“The job you do here is a marvellous thing

But it’s many a felon who’s known where to bring

Anyone who’s been wounded when breaking the Law

But we leave you alone - from your doors we withdraw.”

“This man standing here, Sherlock Holmes, is a friend

But he often takes action that’s hard to defend

For a man sworn to uphold the Law, but I know

That he fulfils a need so, some patience, I show.”

“I have need of your help and it’s that which I ask

For I’m stuck with a galling and perilous task.

I have need to know more of that patient who came

Seeking help on the night Old Jack started his game.”

“She’s in danger while ever The Ripper is free

Just because she’s the one who was able to flee

From his clutches, and like us, he’ll think she’ll possess

Many details about him he’d like to supress.”

“We have much information but very few leads

And we’re flooded with rubbish when anyone reads

Of another who’s succumbed to death from that knife

Wielded by Jack the Ripper, that taker of life.”

“She will be well protected - we’ll guard her by day

And by night if she wants it - or send her away

To a place where she’ll never be threatened by Jack.

When the danger is over, we’ll bring her straight back.”

“We can offer assurances and a reward

If she helps points that finger of fate out toward

This insufferable menace of Whitechapel’s streets

Who, it seems, kills for pleasure, the women he meets.”

“To love me or loathe me is your given choice

But, to be rid of this Master of Hate, raise your voice

And tell me what you can or be cast as the one

Who could help but did nothing to bring Jack undone.”

“At least protect your patient, please, Dr McBride.

Let us give the protection the Force can provide.

She’s in danger right now - Death is there at her back

And a second chance she’ll never get from Old Jack.”

All the while Holmes said nothing but listened and saw

The response of McBride as Lestrade tried to draw

Out whatever was known of this woman called Dot.

Jack the Ripper had failed, but forgotten, had not.

“If I may, please, Lestrade, I will offer to ask

My good brother, Mycroft, for his help in this task.

He’s a force at Whitehall and has agents at hand

And has many safe houses all over this land.”

“Scotland Yard and Whitehall - it’s an offer, supreme,”

Said Lestrade, “and I’d say we may scupper the scheme

Of that scourge of all London, our Whitechapel Jack.

We will only be safe when we hear his neck crack.”

“I’m a healer, a fixer of bodies, you know.”

Said McBride to Lestrade, “So I hope you will show

Some restraint to a madman, even to this Jack.

As for Dot, I must tell you great detail I lack.”

“But I’m sure Dot’s her name - I have seen her before.

She has brought sailors to me all covered in gore

After fights on the docks left their blood running free.

She’s a woman of spirit, I’m sure you’d agree.”

“But her surname? I only write down what they say,

All these patients who come, for I feel it’s the way

To encourage them on to lead healthier lives;

One will only succeed if, for such things, one strives.”

“I believe it is Sapper or Strapper, or such,

For she told me when bringing a man who made much

Of his pain, yelling out and in abject distress -

I do not keep good records, sometimes, I confess.”

“I stop all the bleeding and, stitches, apply

To a neck or a belly and have to rely

On what patients might tell me - the truth it may be

But I know the majority tell lies to me.”

“That is not my concern and, no questions, I ask.

To give medical help to the sick is my task

And I can’t become known as a snitch for the Yard -

That would make my continued existence quite hard.”

“Here’s her card - not much on it, as is plain to see.

It records a Dot Sapper, which may or not be

Her real name, though I am fairly sure that it’s Dot

But, to say where she lives, I’m afraid I cannot.”

“Five stitches I had to insert in a gash

In the palm of her hand - it looked like a knife slash.

It will heal in time and, besides being scarred,

Her hand, upon healing, will not be left marred.”

“She’s supposed to come back - I believe that she might

For she wasn’t the sort who would give in to fright

Or to panic and hide - if you find her she could

Say to leave her alone and, to do so, you should.”

“But, conversely, she may go along, not to flee

Nor to hide, but you may find that she would agree,

With a little incentive, to join the attack

As the bait in a trap for this Whitechapel Jack.”

“She lives down near the docks - she’d a reason to speak

While I gave that deep gash of hers a good tweak

While I cleaned it - it must have hurt like the blazes;

The fact that stood it just simply amazes.”

“I’d forget the name Sapper - just ask all around

At the docks for a woman called Dot - she is bound

To be known by somebody along Cable Street -

Don’t come on like Policemen or, Dot, you’ll not meet.”

Watson spoke for the group saying, “Dr McBride,

We appreciate what it took you to provide

Information on patients - in general, we’d not

Have expected that you’d give out any on Dot.”

“It normally wouldn’t be proper, you know,

And it’s only to stop further harm that I’d show

You my notes,” said McBride, “but it just had to be.

I don’t wish Dot to learn you got her name from me.”

“Now, folks come to this clinic for treatment, so one

Of you must make it look as though something was done

So I’ll ask Mr Holmes that he hold out a hand

And I’ll wrap the thing up with a dressing quite grand.”

“It must be quite conspicuous, so he should keep

His hand raised up in front as if he’d been cut deep

And had come to be stitched, as so many have been -

It is well to look injured if, leaving, he’s seen.”

“That Lestrade brought you to me, somebody will know

And will also have seen you had Watson in tow;

You being seen to be injured provides an excuse -

The people ‘round here, although poor, aren’t obtuse.”

“I will send you away looking like I’ve repaired

Some unfortunate injury which had impaired

An inquiry into some case, as a ruse -

Your friends brought you here and I couldn’t refuse.”

“Now, if Dot turns up here, I will tell her you asked

For a woman who had seen The Ripper unmasked

And was injured, perhaps, while escaping the fray -

I’ll suggest that she seek Sherlock Holmes right away.”

“Well, thank you, indeed.” Sherlock said, “Go ahead

And pretend that you’ve just taken needle and thread

And stitched up that deep wound I pretended to get -

You can tie a good bandage, McBride, I would bet.”

“It’s a wager you’d win.” said the Doctor as he

Began wrapping Holmes’ hand so that Sherlock could be

Seen as patient attending, not sleuth on a case.

The three visitors left and went back to the chase.

Friar Geoffrey and Gregson had waited with Bert

Who had tended his horses while keeping alert

For the signs of the toughs who might rob a man blind-

Bert knew these streets well and knew they were unkind.

A sigh of relief he gave out upon seeing

His passengers hurrying, seemingly fleeing

Some trouble unseen, but then found he was rushed

To get going as, into the cab, they all crushed.

“Where to?” Bert demanded, and got the reply

That to Sullivan’s Tavern they needed to fly

And discuss how they ought go about finding Dot-

Sherlock said that, to place her at risk, they could not.

Fifteen minutes would see them at table inside

And preparing to lunch with a drink and decide

The best way to proceed, to get her to respond

And agree to help out, not to make her abscond.

The discussions went on for an hour and more

As the five men went over at least a full score

Of the ways which might tempt Dot to join in the fight

And help bring her attacker out into the light.

They decided, at length, that the word should be spread

That somebody called Dot who someone wanted dead

Was being sought by a doctor called Watson who’d pay

For her story if she’d contact him right away.

She should send word that she might be willing to give

Her account of what happened, if she might relive

The events of that frightening night when she came

Face to face with a monster she wouldn’t dare name.

She should send off a message to find Watson who

Would wait for her where ever she said he ought to.

He’d discuss, in the open, her options then say

She was really being sought for a plot now in play.

So the word was put ‘round with the way to contact

Dr Watson - they hoped that this Dot would react

In the way that they wanted then not disappear

Upon hearing the plan - it was their greatest fear.

They knew this might alert Jack the Ripper, and he

Might keep watch upon Watson, arranging to be

Right behind him when he went to meet up with Dot

And so Watson must seek out a new secret spot.

Bert the Cabbie agreed to be in on the scheme

Which might be become dangerous in the extreme;

He would pick up John Watson where ever and when

Called upon and transport him - the man was a gem.

Sherlock had asked Mycroft if he might provide,

For a few days or weeks, somewhere Watson might hide

Till the time had arrived for his meeting with Dot-

To refuse to help Watson, Mycroft said he’d not.

With Watson ensconced and the word put around,

Watson waited impatiently, much like a hound

On a very short leash just awaiting the call

Out to action to start Jack the Ripper’s big fall.

Two days went by slowly, that’s what it would take

But John Watson could not go outside to partake

Of those streets he liked walking - he had to await

Any message from Dot. Would she rise to the bait?

That question was answered when Dot wrote to say

That she’d meet Dr Watson the very next day

At the middle of Waterloo Bridge right at Ten.

He must come in a cab; she’d bring someone called Ben.

On receiving the word, Watson shouted, “At last!

We’ll have something to go on - the die may be cast

For this Whitechapel Jack.” then made ready to act.

Dot must hear their offer - he had to use tact.

With Lestrade notified and Gregson on alert,

Sherlock sent out a message which told cabbie Bert

To pick up Dr Watson who’d then tell him where

He would want to be taken and transport him there.

At precisely nine-thirty, John Watson would stand

At the corner of Arundel Street and The Strand

Where a cab would arrive and he’d step on inside,

Settle down and relax for this critical ride.

At a distance discreet, Holmes would follow his friend

In a cab, with the friar, in case they must lend

Any needed assistance should things go awry-

Holmes could not get involved but at least he could spy.

His concern, most of all, was for this fellow Ben

Who was coming with Dot - was he one of the men

Who had helped Jack the Ripper and now threatens Dot?

Holmes thought on the matter but felt Ben did not.

More likely than not was that Ben was some friend

Or a husband or brother who’d come to defend

Dot against any danger which might come her way

For, her fears of attack, she would have to belay.