221B

Chapter 13 - The Blind Banker

Dimmock storms into his office at New Scotland Yard, followed by John, a rather bewildered Sarah, Sherlock, and I. Dimmock obviously not in a good mood.

"I sent a couple of cars. The old hall is totally deserted." Dimmock says.

"Look, I saw the mark at the circus-that tattoo we saw on the two bodies; the mark of the Tong." Sherlock says as Dimmock reaches his desk and turns to face us.

"Lukis and Van Coon were part of a-a smuggling operation. Now, one of them stole something when they were in China; something valuable." John says.

"These circus performers were gang members sent here to get it back." Sherlock says.

"Get what back?" Dimmock asks.

I see Sherlock bite his lip, looking away angrily.

"We don't know." I say hesitantly.

"You don't know." Dimmock repeats.

Sherlock still won't meet Dimmock's eyes.

"Mr. Holmes..." Dimmock says. "I've done everything you asked. Lestrade, he seems to think your advice is worth something."

Sherlock shifts his head and gives a faint, yet proud smile.

"I gave the order for a raid." Dimmock says. "Please tell me I'll have something to show for it-other than a massive bill for overtime."

Back at 221B, Sherlock leads John, Sarah, and I into the living room and he immediately stares at the pictures over the fireplace as he takes his coat off.

"They'll be back in China by tomorrow." John says.

"No, they won't leave without what they came for. We need to find their hide-out; the rendezvous." Sherlock says, he walks closer to the photos, staring at them intently. John also gazes at the pictures while Sarah hovers nearby, forgotten by both John and Sherlock. Sherlock runs his fingers over the main picture of the painted brick wall.

"Somewhere in this message it must tell us." Sherlock says.

"Well, I think perhaps I should leave you to it." Sarah says.

"No, no, you don't have to go..." John looks at Sherlock. "Does she?" He turns back to Sarah. "You can stay."

"Yes, it would be better to study if you left now." Sherlock says the same time John says his last sentence.

I walk over and stand next to Sherlock, looking at the photos on the fireplace as Sherlock looks round pointedly at Sarah. I see, out of the corner of my eye, John throw a dark look at Sherlock before turning back to Sarah.

"He's kidding. Please stay if you'd like."

Sherlock turns back to the photographs.

"Is it just me, or is anyone else starving?" She says, trying a friendly approach.

Sherlock sighs and closes his eyes in exasperation. "Ooh, God."

John has moved to the kitchen, attempting to find something to edible in there while in the living room, I've moved to the chair across from Sherlock's, and Sherlock has moved to the dining table which is covered with photos, notes, and drawing of various pictograms. He rummages through them, and Sarah stands nearby, looking at all the pictures stuck to the mirror.

"So this is what you do," She says. "You, John and Kate. You study puzzles for a living."

"Consulting detective." Sherlock says tetchily, not looking round.