Holmes: The Kismet Trail

Chapter Ten

Until midday, things became monotonous. The paper was dull as it spoke of a thieving around Berner Street and an assault around Whitechapel. I thought nothing of these as the police handled these matters with great speed. They only requested me when a murder took place. One that baffled them. I had been looking out the window as I anxiously awaited my street rat. One of many in my case. Opening the door before a knock, Watson jumped up with a ready pistol at his side. Upon inviting the boy in, Watson apologized before coming to me and whispering his lack of support for me using the children.

"Did you do what I asked?"

"I gave the letter to the mister. He was with a pretty woman and kid 'round Whitechapel."

"Very good." I looked to Watson who then paid him while giving me an upset look. "Do you have anything in return?"

The boy hesitated before I knew what he desired.

"Watson shall give you a few more pounds but you will then leave and speak of this to no one."

"Righty sir."

Watson did as requested before I was handed a long letter. I smiled with a great feeling of victory. "I do not miss my empty pockets around you." Watson murmured before I ignored his comment. "What is it Holmes?"

I took the letter I received all that time ago and compared it to the other one I had just received.

"They are nothing alike." He said in comparison to my evidence.

"Elementary, Watson! How I admire your keen eye."

"What does this tell us?"

"There are more than two people in this. What I do not understand is why they are holding Rose and why Moriarty has not come after me...I find it quite odd..."

"He thinks you dead..."

"He is a smart man. When they do not pull up my body, he'll know. When he sees the broken lantern..." I froze. "The lantern...why would he have given me one if he would have buried me alive?"

"To be cruel?"

"No. I missed something...He was testing me. Seeing if I was listening to him."

"If it is an judge on how you listen to me, it is no wonder you did not see it." I sneered at him before looking back at the window.

"Do you understand Watson?"

"I am lost...." He said blinking fast.

"He is trying to show me this...to tempt me, to rip it away. He knew I would not die. He does not want me to. Think about it. He had all this time to kill me. In my sleep, as I walk from my apartment steps, and yet he does not. He could have even had my carriage sabotaged-"

"It scares me how many ways you think of killing someone-"

"He is playing me. I am his pawn in giant board..." I did not relish in this thought. He seemed to always be a step, if not hundreds ahead of me.

"But why would he do it? Why would he want to show you?"

"What if he is trying to show me who hurt Rose?"

"Why? He is the one who took her..."

"I do not know yet...Something is not right-" Before I could finish my confession of confusion, the phone rang. That bitter charming sound that sent my nerves in a spin as I always dreaded what I would be told. Upon answering it, I was told the location and the name of the victim which I proceeded to agree to meet the detectives there.

"Who is it?"

"You come in order to see."

"Why must you tease me?" He asked as he grabbed his jacket and we moved to the scene. We sat outside of the residence as Watson went to get out. I pulled him back in which made him fall hard in the seat.

"Holmes!"

"We must not go in the front. I have one single advantage. I know something Moriarty doesn't know I know..." I pointed to a small door near the back of the house. "A secret latch that goes through to the office."

"If you say so Holmes." He said as I moved first and made my way through the commotion and into the door. As it opened, I had a gun in my face that was ended when the lieutenant told the officer to drop it. I thanked him before I was told to move before them.

"Sherlock Holmes, you are under arrest for the murder of Bartholomew Landry. You are accused of this crime due to the threat against him last night and your known discord with him. You will be trialed this week and will be appointed a lawyer if you do not already have one."

I looked back to Watson before shaking my head.

As I said, Moriarty was always one step ahead....