"Partly," Holmes says dryly, taking his chair again. "But mostly because the man made the Metropolitan Police and Scotland Yard, not to mention myself, look like utter incompetents." He gives Severus a look through narrowed eyes. "Jack the Ripper was not Prince Albert Victor, Heir Presumptive to the throne. The man had several unsavoury habits (like father, like son), but murder wasn't one of them. He wasn't even in London when three of the murders took place." He broods. "I was close Clayborn," he says softly. "I was this close," he holds thumb and forefinger about an inch apart, "to getting him after the Elizabeth Stride killing. If if wasn't for that wretched cart, well," he shoots an odious glance at the mess in the study, "more than a few people would have had to find something else useless to occupy their time."
Yeah. BIG help there guys! *rolls eyes* Thanks. He'll get back to Winky momentarily. He really needs something to snap him out of it, lest he resort again to the needle.