Becoming Professor Moriarty's Probability

Chapter 6: The Scandal of the Bohemian Queen (3)

The day after Isaac Adler's house was reduced to ashes for reasons unknown—

"Haah, haah..."

Having received Holmes's message to come to the hospital Watson worked in, the Queen, who had been staying at a hotel, rushed out hastily and was thus catching her breath heavily in the hospital lobby.

"I came immediately upon receiving your message, as you said."

"Yes, you did well."

"What's the urgent matter that you want to talk about?"

Holmes, who had been waiting for the Queen on the lobby's sofa, answered her question.

"It's naturally about the photo."

"... You didn't already get your hands on the photo, did you?"

"Not yet, but it's as good as in our possession."

"Oh, oh! Is that really true?"

The Queen, with a flash of excitement, then took Holmes' hands in hers.

"I knew I did the right thing entrusting this to you. How can I ever repay this favor..."

"The case isn't over yet. Please calm down and listen to my story first."

However, Holmes spoke to her in a cold voice, suggesting that the Queen sit down for the moment.

"...Holmes."

"What is it, Watson?"

From beside Holmes, Watson, who had been quietly observing the situation, began to whisper cautiously to her.

"Are you really okay?"

Whenever a case seemed on the verge of being resolved, Holmes usually maintained a calm demeanor and immersed herself in her hobby of cracking down the last crucial part of the case and then delivering the breadth of events to the client.

However, for some reason, she was now irascible, almost like a girl going through puberty.

"I'm fine, Watson."

"Really?"

"...I said I'm fine."

It was a noticeably different behavior from the always mature and knowledgeable Holmes that everyone was used to seeing.

"Explain what happened quickly."

"..........."

"I'm so on edge that I feel like I might go mad any moment now. We don't have much time left before Adler's deadline."

But the Queen, seemingly unfazed by this unusual behavior, started to press Holmes with an anxious expression on her face.

"To start, we failed to find the photo yesterday."

With that, Holmes, still in that irritated mood of hers, began to explain to the Queen.

"...What?"

"But now, I know where the photo is."

"Is... is that true?"

The Queen, whose eyes had widened in surprise at Holmes's statement about failing to find the photo, showed a hint of color upon hearing that she knew the location of the scandalous photograph.

"Where the hell is that damned photo?"

"It's in room 102 on the 3rd floor of this hospital."

"What did you say?"

"Because Isaac Adler is admitted there with full-body burns."

The Queen's expression changed to one of shock upon hearing those last words.