The Reichenbach Plan

Chapter 8: Turkeys and Skunks

Richard Brunton stared down at the documents in front of him, Project Kipling was proceeding better than he expected. His man inside Scotland Yard had procured photographs of the documents from the Sinclair estate and he was soon to receive the documents that Lucas had acquired. To most people, the documents were useless. Just old maps, some still showing the old Soviet Union. Brunton smiled, it was like most people, people who looked but didn't see. It was that important difference that was going to make him rich.

He was enjoying the game, but he had to remind himself of restraint. That is how he had gotten caught the first time. He wasn't worried about the secret being discovered. As far as his former employer knew, Brunton was attempting corporate espionage. Oh the idiot was still unaware of the fortune he possessed, but access became more difficult. That is where James Moriarty was playing a role. Soon the necessary pressure to the right corporate head would be applied, and the large piece would be in place. Till then, it was the smaller pieces, such as the one the late Eduardo Lucas had procured. With any luck, it was headed toward him right now.

The beep from his phone woke him from his reverie.  He recognized the number as belonging to one of his couriers. The message was a link. Brunton brought up the link to discover an article from the Derbyshire Times. It was a article about the arrest of one Antonio Bepino. Bepo, as he was known to his associates, was arrested for a instigating a brawl in a local pub. Brunton sighed, Bepo had been couriering electronic copies of the document recovered from Lucas's safe. It had taken a few minutes to locate the safe after the crime scene had been released. Sherlock's appearance had helped to speed its' location along. Brunton wished that Lucas had made the documents available, but his price was too high. Brunton made a mental note to thank Moriarty for the contact information. A few words in certain circles in France had stirred up the jealousy of Madam Fournaye. Brunton had hired a woman to act as Lucas' mistress, but it proved to be unnecessary as a mysterious woman had appeared that fateful night. 

Now the information was in police custody or possibly lost. Brunton dialed a number from memory, it was picked up on the second ring. "I thought you might be calling," the voice on the other side answered, "He didn't have it on his person. He was stone cold drunk, and all he said was 'tacchino' over and over again." Brunton brought up an Italian translator application and typed the word, it came back "turkey." Brunton smiled, a secondary blind drop was a turkey that his organization had purchased in Derbyshire, and was expecting the next day. Brunton informed the chef of the blind drop, and prepared for a call to Moriarty about the information that he was going to acquire. 

*****

Watson arrived back from the store to find Holmes examining two black beans in separate containers. Nathan Sinclair sat on the opposite side of the table with an amused smile on his face. Holmes opened a container and proceeded to swallow the contents. Nathan did the same with the other one. Holmes' face took on a pained expression as he gasped for a second, "Dear God, that's foul, who ever thought that would be appealing?" Nathan laughed, "That's the point of the game Sherlock, they aren't supposed to be." Watson deposited the groceries on the table, "What are we playing?" Nathan glanced up, "I was rereading your blog, John. I came across your 'Study in Pink', have to say you sister is a foul mouthed little minx." Before Watson could continue, Nathan continued. "The challenge reminded me of another's and I came over to give Sherlock a go at this one. We are using beans that either taste like licorice or skunk spray. I have to say Sherlock has been skunked three times times in a row. "Again!" Holmes said pounding the table. Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out two confectioner's bags. Removing a bean from each he placed them into the jars. Nathan eyed Holmes for a second before placing a jar in front of him. Holmes grabbed the one in front of Nathan this time, swallowed its' content, and again made the face. Nathan looked at Watson, "four times now." Nathan took a long pull from a flask. It brought Watson back to someone in his unit. "Lucas Cho," Watson said. Nathan, while Holmes was again staring at the beans, tapped his nose with his index finger. Watson chuckled, and proceeded to put the groceries away.

"Are you here to see me, or torment my flatmate?" Watson asked. Nathaniel chuckled, "No I'm here about a turkey. Lord Craigwall has become the homeless' new voice in Parliament. He asked me to join his team. Recently we have been working with a psychologist that has been counseling some of various homeless. I know some are still shaken up with Boone's death. I had just escorted the good doctor from the arches. As I was headed to my flat when I saw a man being accosted by some local youth. In the ensuing struggle, the man slammed one of the kids against a store window, setting off the alarm. Everyone scattered including the man. He left behind the bird and his wallet. Fearing the turkey would spoil before I could find him, I brought it to Mrs. Hudson to cook up for the lads. When the young man comes for his wallet, I'll give him the number of a butcher I know who will give him a fresh one on me. While I was waiting, I thought I would skunk your roommate." Watson again chuckled, but was interrupted by a scream erupting from downstairs. Holmes and Nathan rose quickly from the table, the latter almost falling forward. Misses Hudon came barging in holding something small and slimy in her hands. "Sher...Sher...Sherlock, look what I found in its' th...th...th..throat." She opened her hand to reveal a small black jump drive wrapped in plastic.