Joanne Hartwell is sent to London via the elder Holmes cousin Julian to hand off a top secret letter to Mycroft Holmes. Someone has infiltrated the ranks of the British Intelligence Services, and as a result are always one step ahead of them.
All kn...
"They were there that long? I thought it was only a temporary lab?"
"That was when they closed down Wilkes. The last noted correspondence from the scientists was in 1961. What happened to them after that is anyone's guess." Sherlock pushed a copy of an old letter across the table to her and went back to studying the map.
Pulling away from his brother and the laptop, Joanne sat down to read it. Mycroft felt a momentary sense of loss, missing her warmth close beside him. It was something he felt he could get used to - she had a distinct habit of invading his personal space, though to be fair they were all stuck together on a jumbo jet liner. Still, the physical nearness of her was intoxicating and he reveled in it.
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Obscure documents revealed a small team of four scientists had located to Wilkes a few months before the IGY had commenced in 1957. While the research of the handful of scientists and US Naval personnel were known and documented, the work of these four remained a mystery, further clinching it for Mycroft that it was indeed the same group from the islands. The nationalities were the same, except for one missing American.
Joanne wondered why the missing scientist wasn't with the others. "Remember how the author of the letter was afraid for his life? What if they got the American?"
"I believe we have established that the author was British," Mycroft reminded her absently, rapidly skimming over the text on the screen.
"Well ok, but where did the American's go?"
"Where did any of them go?" Sherlock muttered. "Nothing was ever heard from them after Titterton sent that letter."
The letter she now held in her hands was indeed from Titterton. It was one of three that had been sent from the scientists to update each of the their respective government officials who oversaw their work. This one was addressed to the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home. "Hey! I wonder if he was related to you?" she speculated, looking up at Mycroft. "You know, Home... Holmes? Heehee!"
Mycroft rolled his eyes at her hyperbolic brand of humor and turned his attention back to the screen, wondering if indeed there was a connection of their families somewhere in the distant past. The names were similar, though he wouldn't admit it to her. It wouldn't do for Joanne to know that this man had been an unpopular PM after his role as Foreign Secretary. Still, Mycroft applauded him for his steadfast traditional and old fashioned ways, not dissimilar to himself.
Joanne began reading the letter:
"June 12, 1959. Our research here at Wilkes has been a success. Unfortunately, we cannot continue on here due to the friction between the Australians and Americans, as well as the persistent ice and snow buildup around the station. Word has it that another station across the bay will soon be commissioned to replace this one.
We have therefore all agreed to finish our final leg of it at Port Lockroy. Though not as close to the magnetic pole as we would like, I believe we have perfected the instruments to sufficiently meet the requirements for our project. A larger apparatus will then be built at the third and final lab. Mr. Mackey has assured us that most of the necessary equipment is installed. He awaits our further test results to complete it.
