Sherlock Holmes and the Murder at Lodore Falls by Charlotte Smith

Author:Charlotte Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, sherlock holmes short fiction, female crime writers
ISBN: 9781780921754
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

It had been two days since the visit to the Bank of England before the veiled advert in The Times was finally answered. Holmes had persuaded Brett to include a message in Danny’s obituary. The message simply read that an item belonging to Mr James was available for collection at a safety deposit box at the Barnetts, Hoares, Hanbury, and Lloyd in Lombard Street. The item in question was a copy of the formula for the explosives. Holmes’s plan had succeeded - Brett had received a telegram from the bank informing him of the removal of the formula from the deposit box.

Brett flexed his arm gingerly, thankful that he had not needed a sling because the knife injury was only superficial. He was worried by The Times advert and the possible response, feeling as if he had capitulated to the will of the James Gang.

“Mr Holmes, surely by giving them the formula you are inviting them to rob the bank? Also, won’t they know it is a trap?” asked Brett with concern in his voice.

Holmes looked up and gave Brett one of his rare half smiles which disappeared as quickly as it had begun.

“Certainly, they will indeed suspect a trap. That’s why they waited two days to retrieve the formula from the bank - they had to be sure it was not being watched and no police were around. However, if I know this James Gang as well as I think I do, then their greed will be their undoing.”

Brett sighed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. The guilt of his suspicion as to who was behind the James Gang has been eating away at him, this caused the nightmares of the last two nights, which were a mixture of South Africa and Danny.

Watson placed a reassuring hand on Brett’s shoulder. He had come to be concerned for Brett both as a doctor and out of respect for his military past. Watson knew Brett had held back far more than he revealed to Watson when they were waiting for Holmes to return from the Richmond Hotel. He knew that Brett needed the support of a friend, particularly now. Not unlike myself, back when I first met Holmes, Watson thought. Alone, recovering, and trying to put the war behind me. Had I not met Holmes and been supported by him I don’t know how well I would have coped on my own. Remembering his own nightmares, Watson clenched his jaw. He did not want to lose Holmes and would do anything to prevent that from happening. Holmes broke into his thoughts,

“Watson, we must be ready for a long night ahead of us. Once the James Gang has the formula, it will only take them a few hours to make the new explosives, as Mr Sullivan can confirm. They will strike immediately, as their plans are ready to be put into operation, and have been since the very beginning of this case.”

“Yes, you are correct, Mr Holmes,” agreed Brett, “there is not much to it really, and the process is relatively quick.

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