originally published Shadows Over Baker Street, Ballantine, 2003
H.G. Wells is summoned from his club by Sherlock Holmes. It seems Holmes wants Wells to accompany him to the Holland, to investigate a case involving the royal family of the Nederlands - a case which may be supernatural in nature.
It seems the princess - the king's youngest daughter, from his controversial second marriage, has suffered an attempt on her life, by an apparition that seemed almost like an older version of herself!
Holmes and Wells are made welcome at the palace, and the princess gifts them each with silver rings, blessed by the Pope.
While Holmes pokes around the library, Wells entertains the princess by telling her "The Island of Dr. Moreau" as a bedtime story. Meanwhile, Holmes finds the usual collection of Cthuloid reading in the library, and realizes the princess had been reading the Necronomicon when she was attacked. That night, Wells dreams of the star-headed Elder Things arriving on earth in cylinders, ala "The War of the Worlds"
Holmes and Wells meet with Elizabeth Cookson, a prostitute interred in the public sanatorium in Leiden. It seems she had a dalliance with the prince, the king's son from his first marriage, who's known to be a bad egg with an interest in the occult. She was imprisoned as a madwoman after visiting the king with a dagger on her person. She babbles to them about "Dark Things" and debts that must be paid in royal blood. Holmes takes a locket from her. Inside is a picture of a young girl - who resembles an older version of the princess.
The girl turns out to be Sarah, Elizabeth's daughter. She too is a prostitute. Given her clear resemblance to the girl described by the princess as attacking her, she is arrested and is to be tried, though she insists on her innocence. Wells is convinced, and is surprised by Holmes' callous attitude in considering the case a done deal.
Back at the palace, Wells is surprised by a visit from Sarah, who attempts to seduce him - only to transform into a black, oily tentactled monster. The silver ring he's wearing drives it off.
Holmes realizes that this monster is connected to Elizabeth Cookson. He and Wells confront her again. Elizabeth tells them that Alexander "planted" this creature in the woods near the palace, using "the Pnakotic ways", and using blood taken from Sarah - his daughter. This raised a shoggoth which could take on Sarah's appearance, and be used to attack the princess.
In the woods, Holmes, Wells, and men from the palace find a diseased-looking tree with an opening. Sleeping in the hole is a carbon-copy of Sarah. They burn the tree, killing the shoggoth.
This is an entertaining story, but I find the author doesn't catch Wells' style, and somehow the idea of Wells and Holmes teaming up seems like it should inspire something more remarkable than an above-average ghost story, however effective.
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