Sherlock Holmes and the Ley Line Murders by Allan Mitchell

Author:Allan Mitchell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sherlock holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes fiction, sherlock holmes novel
ISBN: 9781787051317
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2017
Published: 2017-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

The Game

Holmes took to his bed and managed to fall asleep using all of the discipline his great and active mind could muster. After more sleep that he usually allowed himself, he rose early and wrote out a message for his brother Mycroft seeking knowledge of two men, one English and one French, who might be in his service and operating as commercial travellers in Salisbury. He would send a coded telegram to his brother which would inform him of the letter’s despatch to a post office box across the Thames from Whitehall and addressed to a Mr Simmons. This name would alert Mycroft to a potentially serious situation which needed his immediate attention and a response without delay. He would also add the name Barrallier in a postscript followed by ‘also French’ and a question mark. He then walked to the post office and mailed his letter and noted that the nearby telegraph office was not yet open for business.

Watson had woken as well but Lestrade could still be heard snoring away, enjoying his slumber as no one else within earshot of him could. Holmes returned to Cooper’s Inn looking forward to his breakfast, something unusual for someone who so often went without, and found Watson up and dressed and reading the newspaper.

“Holmes, ” said the Doctor, “ I thought you’d gone off sleuthing without saying goodbye. I declare you’ve the energy of a dozen horses. ”

“No, I’ve not abandoned you. ” Holmes replied, “ I’ve just been sending off a few urgent letters about the pressing matters of which we’ve been speaking. I will have to be off to the telegraph office directly it opens to despatch more messages. Now, I hear that Lestrade’s snoring has ceased and we should soon hear his croaky voice seeking out us both and calling for breakfast. I’ll send that Billy off after Jenkins and ask if he could pick us up at ten o’clock for a trip out to Netherfields and Professor Tilbury. Lestrade can then be off after Fleming to discover just what’s troubling the man. ”

“Should we not be off earlier? ” asked Watson, keen to be on the hunt.

Holmes looked about for any prying eyes or ears and replied, “ Ordinarily I’d be off at this moment but we do not want to alert anyone that we are about urgent business. Any appearance of urgency might send up a flag and send our quarry off into hiding. No, we’ll enjoy a good breakfast and take out time over it; I’m sure that would meet with your oft-quoted dietary approval. ”

“Yes, indeed. ” was the Doctor’s eager reply, “ But I think I hear Lestrade’s oversized Police boots galloping down the stairs. Time to eat, Holmes, time to eat. ”

And, eat, the men did, till each was full. Cooper was also about but had many tasks to attend to before he opened for business and did not seek out his special guests. Holmes checked his watch and said it was time he was off to the telegraph office.

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