Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion by Suzette Hollingsworth

Author:Suzette Hollingsworth [Hollingsworth, Suzette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: victorian mystery
Publisher: Icicle Ridge Graphics
Published: 2018-01-19T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

On Their Own

“I began to smell a rat. You know the feeling, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, when you come upon the right scent—a kind of thrill in your nerves.” - Detective Tobias Gregson,“A Study in Scarlet” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Mirabella hailed a hansom cab. The cabbie frowned at the sight of Wiggins. The boy was grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of riding in a hired cab—probably the first time in his life he had ever done so— despite the fact he might be riding to his death.

Mirabella placed a sixpence in the cabbie’s hand. Ordinarily one would not pay at the start of a journey, but she wished to show that a young lady and a street urchin were good for the fare.

“Wha’ yew lookin’ at, mister?” Wiggins demanded of the cabbie. “She paid ya’. And we’re workin’ for Mr. Sherlock ’Olmes.”

“Don’ mean nothin’ to me,” the cabbie retorted.

“It will.” Wiggins’ expression was smug. “There’ll be a day when everyone has heard his name.”

“We must make haste, Mr. Wiggins.” Mirabella shoo-ed Wiggins into the carriage, even though she agreed with his sentiment.

The boy let out an earsplitting whistle as he entered the cab, clearly delighted at his new found status.

“Let us keep our mind on the danger before us, Mr. Wiggins,” Mirabella said as they sat down. Her heart was racing as she clutched the reticule containing her pistol, hoping against hope they would make it in time.

And that they wouldn’t.

“Ah, I’m used to it. There ain’t a minute of the day I ain’t in danger.” He kept his eyes glued to the window as if the sight before him was completely new. And it was, from the perspective of a cushioned seat. Apparently Wiggins’ expressed fear of vampires was experiencing a momentary hiatus as he luxuriated in the cab.

He laughed suddenly, revealing that one of his front teeth was missing. “Ain’t we just a fine lord and lady, Miss Mirabella?”

Glancing at her companion, she fought the urge to hug him. She didn’t wish to put an end to their new found camaraderie.

She wished with all her heart that Wiggins would make it to adulthood. If he did, he would be an outstanding member of society—if he didn’t already have a police record—and one who would sincerely appreciate any good fortune that came his way. She felt her frustration rising. Of all the young people she’d ever met, Wiggins should have an education. He was such a bright young man.

“Indeed we are.” She glanced at his feet. “Apparently your new shoes are comfortable, Mr. Wiggins?”

Wiggins nodded. “Yeah. And they is warmer, but they’se also a bit stiff.”

“Do they not fit?”

“Oh, they fit a’right. I seem to be able to run a bit faster—if I don’t fall that is. I’ve tripped and fell more than once.” His expression grew somber. “That can be the difference between landing in the slammer or not, you know.”

“Well at least you’re not as likely to land in glass—or horse manure. I

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