Teiko Shimura and the Two Names os Dr. Hendly

By H. H. M. Mcross

London, 1895. A heinous crime occurs at Baldomore Castle. A monstrous murderer kills the respected Lord Velton with cruelties. Visiting Scotland Yard to learn modern Western crime-fighting techniques in large cities is Tokyo Police Detective Teiko Shimura. He is invited to give his opinion on the crime and his insight and openness in considering the fantastic and the impossible builds a line of investigation that ends in discovering that there is a fine line between the wonderful and the real. Founding a special team, 'The Four Daring', he unravels the terrible secret that weighs on the life of a renowned American doctor and reveals the hideous face of the mysterious and cowardly murderer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bibliomundi
• Release date: May 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781526041258

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H. H. M. McRoss

TEIKO SHIMURA AND THE TWO NAMES OF DR. HENDLY

1th edition

2020

Teiko Shimura and the Two Names of Dr. Hendly / H. H. M. McRoss; [translated from the Portuguese by Denise Cipullo and Felipe Pazello]. – 1th ed – 2020. – 171 p. : il., ; 21 cm.

ISBN 978-65-00-10670-1

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H. H. M. McRoss

TEIKO SHIMURA AND THE TWO NAMES OF DR. HENDLY

1. BALDOMORE CASTLE, LONDON, 1895

The last daily chore at Baldmore Castle, Lord Velton’s huge property, took place indoors. It was Ms. Marriet’s last round of the night. She carried an oil lamp with dull light in the silent house while passing through the mansion’s hallways – she has been doing the same thing for the past 15 years - she would complete her round in half an hour. Practice has made Ms. Marriet notice what was really wrong or misplaced at the house, a rare quality. Her strictness around the house matters often made the housemaids distressed, because she demanded perfection. In the following morning, if her sharp eye would notice things that were out of place from the night before, the housemaid responsible for that would be severely reprimanded in front of the other servants. No one would ever wish to be the victim of Ms. Marriet’s harsh reprimands. Not even Mr. Durfall, the butler for over two decades, was so severe.

Lord Velton returned from America three days ago. He was a safari great white hunter who’s already been not only to Africa, but also to America and all around the world. As usual, he brought a new number of boxes filled with taxidermy animal mounts, to enhance his collection. Inside the boxes there were the most exotic and varied animals from all over the world. The African hunters on his hunting company were only a fraction compared to the other ones in Africa and worldwide. They were warriors and brave native hunters who came to London to help him and they were settled in the barn next to the workshops, behind the property gardens. Just like the two previous days, that day had been very busy, but the routine was different, with all the unpacking and the piling up of endless boxes. Even on a day like that one, Ms. Marriet was always thoughtful about her work for Lady Velton regardless. Her ladyship has always been very proud of her house keeper who would make the servants work until exhaustion. Exactly at dinner time the mansion was tied up as if that was just any other day, and Lord Velton was received to have his meal. Then, the exhausted helpful servants would serve dinner to their employees.

At the end of her restless round, the mansion was tied up in the usual orderly fashion, Ms. Marriet would go to her room. But that night was not the same. When she was on her final round through the house, she heard a noise in the upper story through the stairs that sounded like a vulgar curse, and it came from the family wing. It was not Lord Velton’s voice. Ms. Marriet was not aware of any visitors, and Mr. Durfall did not ask any housemaid to be ready in order to prepare any special request for an unexpected visitor. As a matter of fact, she would acknowledge anything different – there were no surprises at Baldmore Castle.

Ms. Marriet, upset rather than curious, went upstairs carrying her dull-lighted lantern and entered the family wing. The light spread in the study, which was the last room down the large hall, seemed shadows, reflecting figures that danced against the wall across the room. There were low rude growls, a hoarse and dark sound. Lord Velton was speaking as well, in a painful tearful voice. All of a sudden, he yelled and his scream was interrupted by a dull thud.

Good heavens, Ms Marriet shouted. Then she ran, Milord! Milord!

Meanwhile, the strong repeated thuds reverberated and sounded clearly as if something was breaking. By the time she got to the door, the scene she saw froze her. Lord Velton dropped dead with bulging eyes, horribly twisted as if he were a ragdoll, while a horrific demon was escaping through the window, it looked at the house keeper with insane eyes. The monster entered the shadows, as if the hell swallowed it. Ms. Marriet’s agonizing scream crossed every room, waking up everyone. The house keeper fainted.

2. DETECTIVE TEIKO SHIMURA, TOKYO POLICE

The next morning, London was misty, dirty and wet as usual. It´s a living city, where lots of people slipped on the mud and soot, in order to produce glory and wealth for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.

It wasn’t any different at the New Scotland Yard building, except for a short press conference organized by the Scotland Yard’s Chief-Inspector, G. Lestrade, with the presence of the Japanese Consul, Mitsuhara Akito. They were in the small upper room on the third floor, which was decorated with the British and the Japanese Imperial flags. Some guests and journalists were present, but Sir Seymor Coolidge, the Scotland Yard General-Director, could not go at the last minute. The event was really discrete but did not have the presence of the Japanese Ambassador. However, it was a respectful formality, considering who sponsored the event – Lord Emerson Ellesworth – who has always been enthusiastic about the cooperation efforts between the British and the Japanese Police Departments. He was a renowned philanthropist, a politician, and a wealthy shipbuilder. Lord Ellesworth was very happy because his diplomacy efforts resulted in the cooperation between the Tokyo the and London Police Departments, which was acknowledged by the ones present.

Lord Ellesworth gave a brief speech, as did Consul Akito. Lestrade finished by saying that the Scotland Yard was very proud in aiding the Japanese Police and he introduced the one that mattered to the press.

Please, I want you to meet Detective Teiko Shimura from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.

As the Englishmen would not be effusive, no one applauded, and the only noise heard was the movement on the seats and the flash from the Herald Express journalist’s camera. The Japanese man was wearing a green tweed suit, and he was half as tall as Lestrade, he had sharp and bright eyes and a thin moustache that framed his mouth, as well as a large forefront and a restrained smile. His face was similar to a mask, any expression in it was carefully considered to have a certain effect. At that moment the right expression was a limited joy, because he was honored with the introduction. He bowed to Lestrade, but also shook hands with him. The journalists noticed that the Japanese man was strong, because Lestrade secretly massaged his hand after his Japanese counterpart’s handshake.

"Good morning. I am very honored with this reception, I am very honored to represent my country, and happy to be able to introduce myself to you. I am certain that I will learn a lot with the London police and I will be able to do much for the Tokyo Police Department, neh? Thank you."

His voice was high and loud: perfect English, excellent pronunciation, which made his speech sound unnatural. He bowed again and was going to end his speech, but a question arose among the journalists.

First time in London, Detective Shimura?

Teiko Shimura turned to the man. "No, thank you for asking. I’ve been here before. I came about 20 years ago, on an official visit with the Japanese Police, neh? I was a young cadet.

Did you learn English then, Detective Shimura? another reporter.

"No. I learned at the famous University of Nagoya, in Japan. I´ve improved it by travelling to England and America.

Are you always studying, Detective Shimura? another one.

Nothing is more important than that! I’m always learning and contributing from the best to help my country.

Do you think you can learn anything from the Scotland Yard? the first reporter took the floor again.

"No questions about it. London is the greatest city in the world and Tokyo is the greatest Japanese city. Tokyo, as a metropolis, has been dealing with the same problems that the Scotland Yard have been solving, and that has already been acknowledged, neh? I´m here to learn how to solve crime in big cities. It’s a good thing that I came here to understand how the Scotland Yard makes such a big city a safer place."

The people there chuckled and Lestrade got annoyed. He made a gesture so that Teiko Shimura ended his speech. He didn’t want the press acrimony disturb such a ceremonial event. Teiko Shimura was about to end it, when a Tribune reporter stood up. He was a big cigar smoking guy, with a bulldog face.

If I may, Detective Shimura, you chose the wrong police.

Lestrade was visibly annoyed. Please, this is only a get-together…

So, I’m going to put together some numbers for you, Mr. Detective Shimura from the Tokyo Police. This year only there were forty-two unsolved murders in London and only in sixteen of them someone was arrested…

We solved a good number then, Lestrade replied, smiling.

This happened only because they were fights in public spaces, Inspector Lestrade, and it was very easy to catch the criminal. This is why. But there were a hundred and forty burglaries and more than three hundred official stealing complaints. The police can’t investigate because the criminals are intelligent and know how to hide, while the Yard is always trying to blame the same people: Irishmen that live in the Irish neighborhood.

People laughed. Lestrade replied: Youre not aware of the Yard modern methods of…" Lestrade was interrupted:

Excuse me, Chief-Inspector Lestrade, but London is the world’s most violent city. I wonder if it’s really possible to show the Japanese how to control a 4 million soul metropolis when it’s totally clear that’s not the case. After all, London is chaotic, one can’t walk freely safe at night or day for that matter! No sane mind will go to the port area expecting being harmless. In fact, the Yard is the one who needs help, Detective Shimura! What can you teach the Yard? Karate, maybe…

Laughter filled the room up. Lestrade covered his mouth, fulminating the scornful reporter with his eyes, visibly upset, but determined not to get involved on an opinion matter. The Japanese Consul remained calm, and Teiko Shimura was composed. He smiled thinking what he could teach.

My karate is merely a way to prevent my joints to snap during the cold weather, sir, people laughed more. The Scotland Yard is the best police in the world. I have traveled to other countries; I have seen other police departments, and I can guarantee that London fights crime through science effectively. I can teach nothing but how we, the Japanese people, are good students, neh?"

The reporter didn’t get intimidated. ‘so, you can demand your first lesson, detective. Mr. Lestrade can take you to Baldomore Castle and try to explain how, last dawn, Lord Velton was beaten to death by one of his servants that ended up escaping.

They started buzzing and some reporters stood up. What are you talking about, who said that?

I´m not revealing my source, said the reporter. ‘this is why the Tribune is better than you, insignificant reporters. Run late, because the Tribune has today’s afternoon edition ready – On an arrogant manner, he showed his newspaper issue with the headline: CRIME IN BALDOMORE CASTLE: LORD VELTON MURDERED."

While the reporter laughed sarcastically, a cigar in his mouth, Lestrade looked at him fiercely. The reporters rushed off. Teiko Shimura returned to his place, next to a young athletic man, much taller than him. He was his co-worker in Japan and his assistant in London. He spoke discretely in Japanese, without turning back to him.

"Let’s finally get to work, Wasaru-san."

"Hai."

3. SHIMURA AND WASARU

Teiko Shimura and Wasaru Watanabe ties were much stronger than their professional connection. Their relationship was more like a master and an apprentice, on an informal but effective way.

Detective assistant Wasaru Watanabe came from the Kagoshima Province, just like Teiko Shimura, who was a childhood friend with his father’s. Wasaru earned his degree with honors at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Academy and, after that, following Shimura’s advice, he took a coroner training for a whole year, which was completed with flying colours. There, he observed dozens of autopsies performed by Dr. Kunika Katayama, who was the physician that introduced the medical examiner training programs in Japan, after studying hard in Germany and Austria. He also attended to Forensic Autopsy classes at Tokyo University, taught by Dr. Wilhelm Doenitz. He had been an excellent detective then, but he lacked a certain gift, a kind of perception, an insight sense that, added to his amazing theoretical baggage, would have made him a brilliant detective. Teiko Shimura was gifted with that intuition and ended up being like a father to him when he joined the Tokyo Police Academy as a recruit, carrying his father’s letter of recommendation to Shimura, his good old friend. During his studies, Wasaru lived at Shimura’s place, and he was always trying to make his mentor proud, learning all the ways to recognize, unravel and stop crime. He would also spend every spare time he had reading and studying, always surrounded by books in English, German and French. Shimura helped him learn these languages because he"d learned them when he was a recruit himself, accompanying General Kawaji Toshiyoshi, whose father was one of Japan’s last Samurais., During the Meiji Restoration, Toshiyoshi introduced the modern western techniques used in police training and urban patrol. Shimura took part on Toshiyoshi’s team when he toured Europe in 1873 (ultimately, Toshiyoshi used the Parisien Police model to build the Tokyo one).

Teiko Shimura was born in 1850, born and raised at Kagoshima Prefecture. He was also the son of a Samurai, Samurai Satsuma, the same lineage as Toshiyoshi, and the same Samurai hierarchy, a yoriki samurai, a kind of provincial mounted police, a smaller kind of samurai that should obey many others in the hierarchy before the daimio, the Prefecture Feudal Lord, which was Lord Shimazu Hisamitsu. Shimura would be a Yoriki Samurai, because this lineage would be passed by birth and they should impose respect to the peasants, and live under other samurais orders, no matter how stupid they were. However, the welcome Meiji Restoration modernized Japan and the Samurais came to an end. Free from hierarchy, Shimura was on the right place at the right time. He was connected to Toshiyoshi because of his father’s connections and could take advantage of the western influence that reached Japan, so that he could be exalted by a detective career. He lived under a solid moral background because he has lived with Buddhist monks for a long time, in a temple called Fukusho-ji. There, he learned meditation, reflection and perception of details; he learned how to read the nature and weather signals, and observe the smallest intentions on a man’s face. With the monks he perfected his jujutsu practice – the samurai wrestling martial art – he also practiced the kenjutsu – the sword fighting –, and the kyujutsu – the bow and arrow one. The Buddhist Zen masters always complimented the young yoriki samurai, saying that he was not only a fast learner but also a good learner. But the sad day came and 20-year-old Shimura saw the Fukushoi-ji temple be sealed and the monks weren’t allowed to take any more disciples, a consequence of the western influence during the Meiji Restoration. There could not be any samurais or monks in Japan anymore. That year, Teiko Shimura left his armor and started his new career as a recruit investigator. Later on, he would be the one in charge of Wasaru’s mentoring. When Lord Ellesworth –the British embassy’s attaché in Tokyo – started a series of British investments in Japan and Japanese-British agreements on several areas had been made, the cooperation between these countries police departments was a matter of time. Shimura embarked on the project for two reasons: one being his previous experience on the Toshiyoshi trip and the other was Wasaru having the same important experience he"d had before.

Then he prepared Wasaru by explaining that, listening was more important than speaking in Europe. The European people were too prejudiced towards any foreigner, just like the Japanese people.

"We are despised the same way we despise, neh?"

He explained that the European would never agree with a Japanese person. So, there was no point in interfering, only observing. Specially the European Police, which were deeply biased. They would first blame the foreigner, the immigrant, the gipsy, the Jew for the crime, and that wasn’t the right thing. Then they would blame the lower-class citizens, the peasants and the poorer. Only after a long hierarchy that included geographic, social and professional origins that might possibly lead to suspect some elite person. The foreigner was in Europe to learn. So, this person was considered ignorant, or they were there to work – a miserable scum.

A week before they departed to Europe, Shimura sat Wasaru down in front of a Kennel full of very loud dogs, Wasaru trying to write a poem about time and the nonstop barking annoying him all the way. When the poem was ready, Ioshi, a Zen master was the one who read it and not Shimura, and the master complimented Wasaru very much, for his handwriting was perfect and the poem was very beautiful. Wasaru was proud and answered all the questions Ioshi asked him. After he left, Shimura asked Wasaru:

"What have you listened to longer today, Wasaru-san? The dogs barking or Master Ioshi?"

Oh! The dogs…

And which of the two youll tell you children"

Master Ioshi!

"Learn, Wasaru-san. There are more dogs than masters. The same in Europe. There youll get offended by people who are weaker and more ignorant than you are, but sometimes youll be praised by wiser and stronger ones. As wiser and stronger ones are rare, you"ll get more offended than praised. So, be patient with the dog in order to deserve the master.

They made an agreement then. Shimura was aware his pupil was proficient in English, he could read, write, understand and speak the language. But, in London, he would pretend he only knew Japanese, and this is how both of them would communicate. Wasaru should be cold-blooded enough to ignore any conversation in English, even though he was able to understand everything. He had to neglect any comment, even a personal offense, remaining impassive as a non-English speaker would be. That disguise was important, so that Shimura could criticize the English police work in front of them, and they wouldn’t realize it, and better yet, their presence wouldn’t grow them weary. That