49 - The Red Circle - Part Three
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Previously on Sherlock and Co.

There is a location on Howe Street, a structure under development named Howe Street House. Two weeks ago, a QR code was placed on its construction hoarding. It contained the image of Frank Calla and a red circle around the Italian town of Bellagio. OK. And now we have this. This is from a new QR code that's been scanned. That's correct. Somebody is communicating with a hitman in this very city.

Let me see. Where is Tom? Who's Tom, sir? Gregson. Inspector Gregson. He's working the case. Where is he? It's a problem that was, for the most part, an Italian problem. And now it's ours. Why? Giuseppe Georgiano. Known as Russo Georgiano. Vanished off the face of the earth ten years ago. Convenient, seeing as he was suspected of blowing up a cafe in Palermo. Killing seven people. Man.

This is their own witness protection program, except it's conspiring mob boss protection. Quaint little locations, inconspicuous. Augustus Amber and Carlo Castellotti are the remaining two. Same stunt from them. What, Sherbo? No, they're in hiding in the UK. All this is right under the surface. Nobody wants to stick their head out, even Rosso. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Blah, blah, Bellagio...

Italy. It's a twin town. Sherlock! Mariana! It's a twin town! What's a what? Bellagio and Sherbourne. They're twin towns. I read a shout-out from Salzgitter in Germany, and that is the twin town of Swindon. I used to see it on the sign all the time, and then I looked up... Sherlock! Good God. What is the twin town of Trevelyo? Hurry! Romsey. Romsey in Hampshire. Wait, that's him. That's bloody him there. Stop, stop. Come! Come!

Don't be alarmed, Carlo. Yeah, we're here to help you. What? He's, um, cold. He's... He's dead. Oh, my God. It's poisoning. Probably a nerve agent. Sherlock's right. We need to get away from him. He has a rash, too. Where? His arm. Look. That's not a rash. That's a blister. He's been branded. With a red circle. Uh, yeah. Great. Now the light... The recording light isn't on, so...

Welcome to part three of... This red circle, this is crap. Let me just reload. Forget it, forget it. Welcome to part three. You okay? Yeah, not sure. That's fair. What about you? I'm slightly concerned. Oh, just slightly. I worry that the hitman may feed back to Rosso that we were at the scene. Yeah, maybe, but...

And this seems to be a one-way street of very limited information. But how's Street House QR code? It's not like they're meeting up for a chat. You came pretty close then. Tom. Sherlock. The good doctor here noted that Bellagio and Trevillo have twin towns here in the UK. So it was a code. From Russo to his man on the ground. Any sightings of potential killers? The potency of the nerve agent will make it almost impossible to do any kind of tracking right now.

It's all hazmat suits over there at the moment. If we have time. What is that? Answer it. Answer what? What is it? My phone. It's a money. Oh. Hey, Amy. Hi. Oh, God. Okay. Where is the Red Circle? I'm sending you a screenshot now. It looks like Senegalia. Just some random town or village in north... northeast Italy, yeah. Okay. I got the message.

Mariana, I'm really sorry about this. No, no, Imani. Don't be sorry. Yes, you mustn't. It's fantastic. Sherlock. I'll keep you updated. Okay? Bye. Let's see that image. Here. And yeah, she's right. Senigallia. Yep.

That's Augusto Zamba. Senegalia is twinned with... Oh, get ready to dart off to the train station, everybody. Chester. Chester? That's bloody miles away. The QR code was posted a lot quicker than the previous killing. Rosso is in a hurry. Let's go. Here, jump in the car. I'll drive you up there. It's all right. The train station's right there. I meant Chester. Oh, yeah. No, great, great. Thank you, Tom. Wonderful.

And on the way, Tom, if you could tell me what I did to upset you. That thing that you're very, very sorry about. Yes, that one. Christ's sake, get in. Hi, Mariana. Hi, Tom Gregson. MUSIC PLAYS

Sorry, can we turn this down? Sherlock, I'm just trying to capture some mood. He's right. It's way too loud. I have to agree. Right, yeah, OK. But can I just record this music, because then I can drop it into the edit and it... Oh, for God's sake. Replace it. Oh. Well, we are off to the northwest of England, to Chester. Chester is...

hugging the border with Wales and is just south of Liverpool. Manchester's not far either. Mariana and Sherlock are doing exhaustive research on Augusto Zambe. Fortunately, we're working with a unique name, but almost everything on him is tied back to Italy, not to a life in the UK. I mean, that's what he wants, right?

To hide. Oh, I feel like I might be going insane. Or do I have a PTSD friend? No, I don't think it's PTSD. You did just discover a man poisoned by a nerve agent. Yes, no, I know that, but I... I know the name Augusto, and in my completely ruined brain, I...

For some reason, I have tied that name to something British and I don't know what it is. Stew on it. Don't let him distract you. You talking about me? Yes. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for me. I figured out the Twin Towns thing. Fourth time you've mentioned it. Hey, that was bloody good deducing that. I'm not saying I'm not pleased or impressed, but you seized a chance moment. Yeah, so? I'm just saying.

Is this why you fell out with him? Because he can be like this? Not quite. Back to the case. Augusto Zamber seems in a different league to his deceased friends. He's younger, he's much wealthier, he quite frankly cannot stay off social media, showing off every car, watch, shirt and shoe he has. Which is a lot. Well, is there anything in the pictures that give him away? No. And that in itself is a sign.

It means he's still hiding in the UK. Well, Chester is in Cheshire. That can be a bit of a flashy place, the Golden Triangle and all that. The what? It's an area of Cheshire where rich people live. Footballers...

TV stars, influencers, typically young, rich types. You think he might be there? No, no, I'm not saying that necessarily, but if he's flashy, like Sherlock says, and he's got all this gear, he's not going to be living behind the high street or anything, is he? Plus, those kinds of areas, like the Golden Triangle, it's very...

Mum's the word, isn't it? Meaning? Meaning the people in the area will happily help you lay low. Good point. Gated communities as well. Neighbourhoods that help you stay out of the press for a drink driving or falling out of a strip club. Yeah, exactly. And it's a community where all the attention is on the other rich residents. Who's looking for some wanky Italian fella when there's Premier League footballers and glamour models driving about in Range Rovers and Teslas? HE COUGHS

How far until Chester? Another 40 minutes or so. Right. Erm... Can we come off here? I think there's a Curry's. The electronics shop? Yeah. What do you need that for?

200 Mbps SD card, 300 Mbps SD card, blimey. Erm... Not tempted by these here? By what? Ta-da! Aha, right, yeah, very impressive. New microphones. Just replace it. I don't want to yet, it's fixable. Aye, this is so stupid. Where's Sherlock? Staring at the enormous Super HD 8K TVs worth like a million pounds. Wow.

Yeah, look at him. He's like he's in a trance. I mean, this TV here is pretty good. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I wouldn't mind a few movie nights with that one. Yeah, the image is so shiny. Yeah, but it makes people look weird on it, doesn't it? Oh, does it? Yeah, because you can see, like, every single pore on their face. Let me change the channel and see. Ew. Oh, oh, yeah. No. Yep. You, um...

You finished stewing then? Hmm? On your thought. Your crazy thought. Yeah, a bit of a dead end. Augusto Zamba. Don't know what it is about that name. Ah, look, football.

What else is on? We've got sci-fi channel, horror, entertainment. You OK? Uh-uh. What? Yes, I mean, yes, I'm fine. I'm really good. Leave this on. Jesus, that is a lot of Botox. God damn.

God, it really pops out at you on TV like this, doesn't it? I feel like a titsy gonna climb out of the screen like The Ring. For any younger listeners, The Ring was a movie where a creepy girl climbs out of the TV. Shush! Yeah, you're right. It's quite spoiling. Wow, okay, this is completely crazy. And you are going to regret making fun of me. What is that? Because look... Wait, wait, wait...

When it comes to Abby... Who's Abby? You're a f***ing bitch, love. You're a f***ing bitch with a fake personality and fake tits. Oh, she sounds nice. Oh, yeah, that's Chantel. And this... This is Abby here. You've seen them before. The other night, remember? Like, actually, seriously, look in the f***ing...

Can we switch this off, please? People are looking. Oh, you're out of your trance then, are you? Shh, just wait. I'd rather look in the f***ing mirror than look at that lump of shit you call a husband. You bitch! You bitch! Come here! Get off me, you slut! You f***ing... I'm with Sherlock on this one. Shh, listen.

It just really proper upsets me and it proper gets me down and that when people say stuff about Augusto, because he's like

Oh, that's quite nice. Oh. Augusta. I knew it. I knew I wasn't greasy. I'd do anything for him.

including bottling Chantal on the head with that... What the hell am I watching? That's him. Him there. The one whose wife bottled the other lass? We must find this woman, Abby Zamba. That'll be easy. Local police force. What, you think they'll know her? She bottled someone on telly? Yeah, good point. Right, everyone strap in. I don't seem to have a belt. Oh, what a shame. MUSIC PLAYS

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Visit BetterHelp.com to learn more. That's BetterHelp.com. And when the police turned up, literally, like, I couldn't believe it. Leave him alone! Where are you going? I'm D.I. Gregson, and we're taking Augusto into custody for his own good. Oh!

I'm so sorry. Oh, my God, be careful with him! It's literally the saddest moment of my actual entire life. Augusto is everything to me, and, like, being without him is, like, really, really sad. I just can't believe it. Oh, are you OK, babe? I just... I can't even anymore, you know? Get it?

But no, so it's just the audio.

Just the audio of the episode. Just a clip of the episode. The episode isn't released yet. It was only recorded two weeks ago. No, I know that. I know that. I spoke to somebody and they gave me a link to the clip of Abby talking about Augusto getting arrested. I can't comment on his arrest. You know, I'm not asking you to. I'm asking for permission to use the clip. With a watermark? It's audio. Sorry, look, I was told this would be straightforward.

me and my team were instrumental in the situation with Augusto Zamba I need to use the audio of Abbey in the show for that moment I have a dodgy mic it missed our entire moment where we brought him into the police station I need to use this as a closing bit for the whole adventure

Yes. Hang up, please. Well, that's a good start. You did knock and you did say please. Hang up now. I know what we'll do here. I'll put you through to a production assistant that can help. Oh, just forget it. Forget it. What, mate? What's up? Could you release a different adventure on Tuesday? Sorry, what? This adventure I don't think is really good enough. Okay, let's...

Jesus Christ, I'm stressed at work. I'm actually stressed at work, in my own bedroom for my own bloody show. Just put another adventure out. Oh, yeah, oh, the other crime I was solving. Ah, right, of course. What is wrong? Sherlock, we saved Augusto's life.

I know it's not the Lord Harmson case, but this will do. Is that really good enough for your listeners, is it? Oh, now we're putting out a shit one. They're my listeners, are they? See, you agree. And it's not shit, it's just unfinished. We saved him, Sherlock. We missed the other two. But as Meatloaf said, well, almost said, one out of three ain't shit.

I thought you said it wasn't... Right, that's enough. I'm uploading. I'm calling Neil. Who's Neil? Neil at Goldhanger. Calling to apologise for the episode. Stop. That is enough. What's that? What's what? You've got an iPad. You don't use an iPad. It's the Mets. Oh. What are you doing with it? Reviewing. The show? No, not the show. Reviewing camera footage. Look. Ah. Ah.

What is this? Outside Howe Street House, adjacent to the British Museum. There should be plenty of cameras out there. You'd be right. One even pointing directly at the construction hoarding. Oh, that's... good. But, as I say, episode is going out, so... I'm looking at the footage from the night the Augusto Zamba QR code appeared. Yeah, and... Watch. The hell? Code isn't there.

A bus passes by and, as if by magic... Zoom in. Yeah, no, I see it. How? There wasn't even anybody walking along the street. Quite the trick. Show me that again. Here. Watch as many times as you want. Doesn't make it any clearer. I don't understand this. Does the bus have footage? On the dash. Not a wide-angle lens to see the hoarding as it passes. But this is baffling. Yes. Excellent, isn't it?

Where are we going? Call Imani Warren of Hudson's. Tell her to meet us at Howe Street House immediately. Should I leave the mic here? Why? Well, because I've finished the ep. Just mic. What should I do? Make up your mind. Fine. I'll take it.

Ah, they've got one of those rubble chutes that builders use that look like slides. Oh, there she is. Sorry about that. So, it's the big key for this, but then I'll have to disable a security thing for the contractor stuff they keep here. Thanks again for doing this, Imani. Wow, OK. Looks like a bloody building site in here. Ha ha ha!

It looked a lot worse before July, honestly. Why July? Well, that was their to-market deadline. There were no pre-sales for the apartment, so they needed to have more than just renders by July. They wanted people in the space to see it, so this is the lobby. See? Little desk, fake house plants. Yeah, nice, nice. Hey, look, if we could snoop around sharpish... Shells, I've got to upload, so... Printer. Printer.

Hmm? The construction team have a printer. Yeah, for on-site passes. The security here is proper. There's previous jobs on this printer that are A4. Security passes aren't A4. Three jobs saved with QR in the title. When were the builders last on site?

What is it? Saturday? So, yesterday at probably 3, 4pm maybe? And who has the keys to this place? Site manager and me. No other contractors or workers can access without Hudson's or the site manager? Correct.

What's the site manager like? Is he, she, are they... He's a pretty normal guy. Been doing it for years. Where was he the night that the last QR code appeared on the site? I've already asked him. He went away for the weekend, so I don't think he would have snuck back in in the middle of the night to post a QR code to a hitman. That's fair, but I think it's best we do, or at least Gregson maybe speaks to him. Oh, for...

I've stepped in piss. Oh, no. For God's sake. Show me. What? Show me the urine. It's there. I've been stood in a puddle of it, for goodness sake. They changed out the port-a-loo tanks before they locked up yesterday. It's probably spillage. Oh, lovely. Really lovely. Port-a-loo?

Site toilets? You know, the portable ones that you... No, yes, I know. We're not connected to London Mains water yet. Takes forever. Just getting passed around all the time. Can I wash this off? Anyway, these are new shoes. Sorry. Wait till Thursday, according to Thames Water. But they said that four Thursdays ago. God, my shoes are cursed, I'm telling you. The portable toilets, the site loo, where is it? Just round there to the left. Sherlock, what are you doing? If the toilet tanks have been changed out...

There should be empty tanks in them now, should there not, Watson? Well, yeah. What are you... Here. Okie dokie. Three of them. What lies behind door number one, Watson? Gonna hazard a guess. A toilet. A toilet indeed.

Now, if you just pop your hand down it, push gently against the bottom, it'll open up and we'll be able to see inside the waste tank. Don't worry, I will illuminate with my phone light. Oh, oh, you'll illuminate with your phone light. OK, because I was worried that I'd be putting my hand down a builder's toilet in the dark. Ah, no, not at all. That would be silly. Sherlock! What? What?

I am not putting my hand down a toilet where a bunch of builders have been pissing and shitting. Nothing, er, nothing against builders. Why am I narrating? This is not going out. You heard it yourself. The tanks were emptied at the end of the working day on Friday. That's not the point. Well, what is the point? There's no urine down there. There's no faeces down there. Then why are we bothering? I have suspicions. I wish to confirm them. It...

Can you do it, please? But I really wanted to be in charge of the phone light. I'm much taller than you, you see, and I really do think I'd get a better angle. You're doing the next one. Fine. Right, OK. Bloody hell, this is like I'm a celeb. Here we go. OK. Hand going in toilet. Pushing open the little trapdoor thingy. Everything all right? Yeah, no, I'm just looking for something.

Right. What are you looking for? Erm... Sherlock, what am I looking for? Human waste. Oh, for f... What? It's OK. That tank is indeed empty. Good work, Watson. Did you feel anything? Nothing. And I saw nothing. No shining glint of urine, no waft of ammonia, no sloshing of liquid or squidging of... That is enough. Ah, of course. Apologies, listeners. Don't apologise to them. Apologise to me.

If this goes out, and it won't, the Patreon numbers are going to collapse. Hey, listeners, you could have had an amazing adventure about a murdered lord, but instead here's me with my hand in a toilet. OK, my turn. Ah, Imani, would you perhaps like to have a go? No. Bugger. OK. Right. Phone light to you. Thanks. Mystery door number two. And putting my hand down. Oh.

Can't really see much in there. No, and I can't feel any wetness. Guys, they were emptied when they locked up yesterday. Yes, and that's why I don't particularly mind having my hand in them. Then what are we doing? OK, final door. Your turn again, Doctor. Lovely. There's the phone. Thank you. Mystery door number three.

Piss or no piss, here we go. Oh no. Oh god. Look. Yes, I do.

I also want the thing from Men in Black that erases short-term memory. So, sorry, what does this prove? The code appeared on the site as if from nowhere. At least, that's what the CCTV tells us. But what if it wasn't from nowhere? What if it was from inside the site? It was posted at night. Everyone had left. Tell me, Imani, when prospective tenants or buyers visit this property, where do they go? Well...

The lobby? Mm-hmm. The communal spaces, so the gym, well, what will be the gym, and then up to the show apartment, you OK? Yeah.

What? What is it? Rosso. Rosso? What? Giuseppe Rosso Gorgiano. If he was in the show apartment... The security camera never would have spotted him walking down the street. He would have just reached through the hoarding lock and stuck it on as the bus passed. He resides in the show apartment, of course. He uses these toilets as there is no running water. He urinated on the floor when the portaloos weren't replaced.

He lives in luxury but in total solitude. We must go up there. Are you serious? Come, Watson. What are you doing? Imani, call Marianna. Tell her to come here with Tom Gregson right now. OK. You OK, mate? We've got it, Watson. We've bloody got it. You're a genius. A genius. Ah, is it too late to run back and use the hand sanitiser?

No time. We've already given Rosso too much of that. We can no longer spare a single second. OK, what's the plan? The plan is we storm in and demand his arrest. What if he's armed? Well, it's a good job I anticipated this moment. And there's the gun again.

Yeah. Oh, my God. This door. Oh, my God. This is so cool. We're going to arrest the mob boss. Wow. Okay. Ready? I mean, this is like... This is... This is like... We are going straight to the top of the podcast charts, honestly. I asked if you were ready. You named something cooler than this. What were you doing on Saturday? Oh, you know, I caught a mafia boss. What about you? Okay, okay.

Right, I am ready. Ready for... Hey. What? Oh, no, no, no, no, no. What is it? The mic, it's flashing. It's got that fault again. Time, Watson. There is none left. This needs to sound amazing. Enough. I'm kicking the door open in one, two... Three!

Head up, you son of a bitch! Who the hell are you? Your worst nightmare, buddy. Tell him, Sherlock. I am Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and this is my companion, Dr. John Watson. The game is up. Senor Giordano. You have to catch me fast!

Bagger! I missed him! Bob, it's like a false wall! He's out of the apartment! He's heading to the lift! There is no lift! Then he's going into the empty lift shaft! Russell! Police are on the way! Give it up now! Russell! You'll have to catch the fire for your English pigs! English pigs? What? Oh shit, John! Oh shit!

Help me! Help! Take my hand, John! Take my bloody hand! I can't reach, Sherlock. I can't reach. I can't hold on. Sherlock, I can't hold...

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