183 – Bait (1)
The sudden arrest, and Holmes’ attitude like an emcee introducing a performance.
Only Holmes and her mentor, Professor James Moriarty, understood exactly what was happening.
When something unexpected happened, most people weren’t sure what exactly happened and whether it was serious or a joke.
Even the criminal, whose hands were suddenly handcuffed, thought that the young lady wearing suspicious pants was playing a trick.
However, the first to come to his senses in this situation was the criminal, Jefferson Hope. Soon he realized that he had entered the den of those who were trying to arrest him, and he resisted like an animal howling and tried to throw himself towards the door of the living room to escape.
However, this was easily stopped by Holmes. But the resistance was not over. Although Holmes, who had fairy blood and could not easily fight against an adult man, tried to stop him, Jefferson Hope, who seemed to have displayed superhuman strength, began to resist.
It was definitely a miracle. Only then did Watson, who came to his senses belatedly, feel a certain desperation from the criminal and some deep emotions that had been stale for decades.
But she rushed at the criminal to help her friend.
Of course, this wasn’t just the two ladies’ job. Inspector Lestrade, who came to his senses almost at the same time as Watson, put aside any questions about what was going on and joined in to apprehend the criminal.
Although he was an investigator who was coldly evaluated by Holmes as having a brain that was not as good as Watson’s, fortunately, his skill in apprehending criminals was worthy of an unusually high praise as that of a hunting dog.
Inspector McDonald also joined in. Even with the addition of two investigators and two extraordinary ladies, it took quite some time to subdue the criminal, who was still resisting as if he could not be caught.
Inspector Lestrade showed outstanding skill. Despite being hit in the face by a handcuffed criminal, he continued to slam his fist into the criminal’s face, playing a decisive role in subduing him.
Finally, the criminal gathered strength after accepting the fact that there was no way to escape in the first place, and he quietly expressed his intention to surrender, saying that he would not resist.
Then, with a heavy sigh, Holmes ordered the criminal to sit down on a chair. Inspector Lestrade and Inspector MacDonald, who had been watching Miss Holmes, who was giving orders as a superior, as expected, placed Mr. Jefferson Hope on a chair.
As a doctor, Watson examined the criminal for a moment. She wiped away the blood from her nose, which was still dripping from where Inspector Lestrade had hit her. Even though he was a murderer, he was a middle-aged man who seemed to have given up on everything, and without realizing it, I felt a little sorry for him.
Maybe that criminal also has his own deep story? Watson thought as he wiped his sweat with the handkerchief that Miss Moran brought him.
Of course, Professor Moriarty pretended not to see him as he quietly fell to the floor and got up as if nothing had happened.
During the scuffle, James Moriarty, who had quietly come to the side pretending to help with the arrest, thinking that just watching might arouse suspicion, was struck by Jefferson Hope and fell to the floor.
“… I don’t have enough exercise, teacher. “You have to think about your health, you’ll still have to see me for a long time.”
“… “I think you should consider it, Holmes.”
Of course, Holmes did not pay such consideration, and Moriarty had no choice but to answer as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Watson observed the criminal, Jefferson Hope, who was quietly muttering as if everything was over.
“Ha…. Too bad, I’m done with my revenge, but there was one last thing to do……. Well, I guess this is the time the Lord has allowed.”
“Now… Wait!”
It could have been just an act of accepting her giving up, but Watson, who observed her meaningful remarks and the criminal’s complexion, which a doctor could barely notice, approached the criminal and checked her chest area, freaking out. I had no choice but to do it.
“Aortic aneurysm?”
“… “He looks like he went through a hard time when he was young, and he seems to have some medical knowledge, young lady.”
“I’m a doctor.”
“Ah, I was sorry, doctor. Well, I guess I noticed. I was once diagnosed that there was nothing abnormal no matter when it exploded. I’m probably in a half-lying state in a coffin because of the current fight. Still… “I’m glad I was able to end my revenge.”
Lestrade, who knew that Watson was a doctor, could not help but be a little embarrassed by the unusual conversation. Although she had a sense of justice as a police officer, she also had a more snobbish side that valued the track record of bringing criminals to justice.
“Is it dangerous, Miss Watson?”
“… It may be difficult to take it to court or undergo further investigation. When an aneurysm ruptures… As far as I know, there is currently no way to treat or prevent it.”
“It’s a big deal.”
“Then we can finish the investigation here.”
“Holmes.”
But Jefferson Hope smiled and shook his head at Holmes.
“No, that lady is probably right. More than anything… I guess that girl was the one who arrested me? Can I become a detective? That’s unusual. But since I was caught, I have no intention of resisting in an ugly way. Above all, I have done something just.”
Originally, he had planned to take the criminal in for questioning, but Lestrade had no choice but to hesitate, perhaps thanks to Watson’s opinion as a doctor.
Above all, because Holmes was silently pressuring me to write a document here, in Professor Moriarty’s drawing room, in front of Professor Moriarty, I had no choice but to follow in the end.
Of course, James Moriarty watched quietly.
In an uncomfortable atmosphere, only the criminal, Jefferson Hoffman, began to calmly confess his motive.
According to Holmes’ assessment, it was nothing more than a boring, irrational, and emotional history of the past. Of course, Watson could not agree to this. As a tearful Watson, he couldn’t help but shed tears without realizing it while listening to the tragic love story.
The reason for the murder given by the criminal was, as Holmes expected, a woman’s problem. And it was also related to Mormonism.
Decades ago in Utah, a woman and a non-Mormon criminal fell in love and tried to run away from the Mormon village with the woman’s father, but failed.
Only the young criminal had no choice but to escape alone, and the woman was forced to marry the first victim, but she died of illness shortly thereafter, and the criminal later went to England to seek revenge on the woman. He calmly confessed that he had been tracking them down.
The other means of murder were just as Holmes had deduced.
Holmes smoked a pipe next to him half-way as if he was not interested, drawing Watson’s attention, but he also asked questions in between, as if he was listening to the story itself.
“By the way, was the first victim, the driver? How did the man obediently take the drug? That was the only thing I was worried about. “Even if you take the medicine together and have a half chance of survival, no one would willingly take a gamble like that, right?”
“… He threatened me with a pistol. He was fake, but I didn’t recognize him. “He was half drunk and couldn’t even resist.”
“Ah, that’s boring. “It’s corny, it’s corny.”
“Holmes!”
“Anyway, this is the end of my story. I think this is enough content to write in the report……. “Do you have any more questions, miss?”
Holmes smiled as if he had been waiting, glanced at Professor Moriarty, who was watching him expressionlessly, and then opened his mouth.
“What did you plan to do after returning to the United States? It looks like you have already accepted that you are terminally ill, but isn’t your revenge complete? “Then he wouldn’t have had any reason to go back.”
“… Ring. A ring… I wanted to put it back in her grave. It would be a lie if I said I didn’t regret it, but her revenge for herself was over……. “I guess this is it.”
“A ring? “What do you mean, Miss Holmes?”
“Be quiet, Inspector Lestrade.”
From noble mtl dot com
Holmes spoke again, blocking Lestrade from interfering.
“If I do that last thing… “Can you give me what I want?”
“… I’m an old man about to die… “There’s no way I could grant something like a young lady’s wish.”
“You didn’t do this alone.”
Jefferson Hope closed his mouth. But interest flashed in his eyes for a moment. He seemed to be asking how he knew. There was no fear.
What was rather confusing were Inspector Lestrade and Inspector Macdonald, who were listening to this.
“You’re saying it’s not a single criminal? “What do you mean, Miss Holmes?”
“Quiet! Anyway, I can’t catch that opponent right away. The important question is whether someone who came from the United States can do this work alone. Think about it, Inspector Lestrade. The place where the first victim died, how could even a coachman who knew the geography of London prepare in advance for such a remote location as if it were natural? And what about the second victim? Finding someone who is determined to hide in London can be a hassle. “It would take several days to free several beggars who are skilled in the streets, but our Mr. Jefferson Hope happened to visit the second victim who had been hiding as if someone had taught him to do so.”
“… “What do you want, girl?”
“I told you, let’s make a deal before I die. This is one of the few opportunities to hear the testimony of a client related to that person while he or she is still alive. Above all, there is nothing to be afraid of because death is imminent, right?”
“Holmes.”
“Watson, this is necessary. At least we’ll keep our deal, Mr. Hope. A person who has already entered the grave… “What do you have to fear from retaliation?”
“… “What a scary lady.”
Jefferson Hope remained silent for a moment as if contemplating, and then opened his mouth again.
“I have her ring in my inner pocket. Take it. And keep your promise.”
After confirming that Holmes took the ring and wrote down the location of the grave, Jefferson Hope opened his weary mouth again.
