228 – Catastrophe (11)
Holmes and Watson, heading to the Red Hair Club, were walking down the street in silence. Watson could not readily understand Holmes’ choice of such a method, but that did not mean he did not dare to voice his question out loud.
If Holmes had known, he might have been a little moved. You were probably thrilled that a living creature named Jane Watson could finally learn. Unfortunately, Holmes’ evaluation of his friend was extremely low in some aspects.
Of course, Watson’s question was not strange. In fact, although she maintained a strange friendship with Holmes, in which she was often criticized and even ridiculed, Jane Watson was close to an ordinary person.
There were some shortcomings of Jane Watson, such as gambling addiction and the impulse to destroy, which are suspected to be not just a few but most of her, but when Watson was not intoxicated by such things, she could at least think like an ordinary person rather than Holmes. Just because.
Because it was quite a distance from Baker Street to the downtown area where the Redhead Club was located, like many middle-class Londoners, they had to hire a carriage as they used to do while moving around London.
It was okay to get off right in front of the club building, but strangely, Holmes specifically instructed the driver to stop a short distance away, a few blocks away from the destination. Of course, unkindly, the reason was not told to Jane Watson.
Watson was silent as she walked with Holmes, and because the short silence was boring, she imitated Holmes without knowing it and tried to look around her. Her friend always emphasized observation. Of course, in Watson’s view, she saw so many things in a short period of time that he suspected that Holmes was using magic, but Watson clumsily tried to imitate her friend.
“… “What is the reason?”
Of course, in Watson’s opinion, the evening street was no different from the usual downtown London streets. She said Watson didn’t think she was good enough. Because Holmes is strange. No, because it’s something special.
There was literally nothing unusual about the streets and people that Jane Watson could see. Of course, the street itself was a little familiar. At some point, Javert Wilson’s pawn shop got closer.
The only other thing that caught my eye was the fact that several carriages were moving busily in front of the Redhead Club in the distance.
It seems that all the high-ranking members of the club were in attendance. But in the first place, they were two people walking to attend the Red Head Club meeting. It wasn’t a particularly new fact.
At least that’s what Watson thought.
In response to Watson’s question, Holmes smiled and tapped the floor with the cane he was holding in his hand, as if he was secretly joking.
“What’s the point, Watson? “Always remember to be strict and precise when asking questions.”
“So… just… …. All.”
Holmes might have criticized it as being too Watson-like or a foolish question. But for Watson, going on an adventure with her friend Holmes meant always having those questions on her mind.
My friend was not a secretive who hid everything. Occasionally, Watson would tell me something before even asking, as if he was bragging.
However, at the most important moments, the performer hid the core of the performance by revealing it only at the end to maximize the atmosphere.
Even in this case, it was the same.
To be honest, Watson had no idea what was going on after he ‘illegally’ captured the vampire, a vampire called Count Dracula.
So it was questionable.
Then is it really okay to leave the Red Head Club like this?
I already knew that the club’s president, Javert Wilson, was suspicious. It was an illegal method, but we caught the vampire.
Of course, Watson did not dwell on the trivial fact that he almost burned himself and Holmes to death due to his ‘illegal’ method, or more precisely, his excessive mistake. Although she would not admit it to herself, Jane Watson was a woman who could sometimes commit crimes for the sake of thrill and pleasure.
If he is connected to Professor Moriarty, and it is almost certain that he is planning something serious, and he even has the person who can prove it, then why is he just letting the club go?
“Watson.”
Holmes smiled, interrupting his friend’s thoughts. Watson thought that the smile was like that of a Holmes woman, and that she was beautiful in his own eyes, but at the same time, she seemed to be condescending, so he felt that she was somehow unlucky. Her next words also proved that feeling to be true.
“I quite like showing off. “I like showing off to idiots, or giving a sh*t to people who are just like me.”
“Okay… “You’re handsome.”
“Are you sulking? The important thing is, Watson, for the sake of the show, sometimes it is necessary to acquiesce to what the other person wants. And don’t worry, you will know soon when the truth comes out. Already… “Behind the stage, everyone is busy preparing for the highlight.”
“Everyone? Ah… “You mean Inspector Lestrade?”
“Well, even though he’s not smart, he’s one of the few inspectors who can be trusted. “There’s Inspector MacDonald, and more than anything, he’s been scolding Mycroft and giving him a hard time over the past few days.”
“What did you ask me to do?”
Watson asked, as he now follows a set of officers whenever they are involved. Instead of answering, Holmes hit the ground with his cane.
But Watson thought for a moment that the sound was a little strange. Although she couldn’t think deeply.
“Don’t you hear something strange, Watson?”
“Huh? Uh… …. That… Is that so? Is there something wrong with the floor? “Did the construction go wrong?”
“I’ll just give you a hint in advance that there may be empty space underneath this floor, unlike other places. “It’s even leading to the Redhead Club.”
“What?”
“We’ve arrived, Watson. “The teacher is over there.”
Just as Holmes said, a man was standing in the middle of the marble stairs leading up to the entrance of the building where the Redhead Club was located.
It was Professor James Moriarty.
Unlike usual, the man was alone in his street clothes, looking down at the two women. Although there was a little distance between them, Holmes and Watson also stopped and looked at him.
Watson thought.
He looks good as always.
It was an unsuitable thought in this situation and knowing the other person’s identity, but it was an unavoidable problem.
Because Watson still could not be free from the confusion of his emotions. But at the same time, even Jane Watson nervously crossed her neck without even realizing it.
Could it be that they waited on purpose?
That’s not true.
Although Watson did not ask, Holmes answered it in his mind.
It was a coincidence. Of course, people sometimes interpret inevitable meaning in such coincidences.
A normal Holmes might have laughed at such people’s reactions. But at least when it came to Teacher Moriarty, she was behaving like the people she laughed at.
From the very beginning, her relationship with the teacher, and her interpretation of this confrontation as her mission and destiny solely for her, she could never escape.
There was silence for a moment.
Moriarty stopped and waited as if he was enjoying the reactions of his student and Miss Watson, and Holmes, who came to his senses belatedly, began to climb the stairs first, trying hard to ignore the sound of his pounding heart.
Watson followed, and soon the two ladies were able to face each other in the same position as the professor.
“It’s been a while, Sherlock, and… Watson.”
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James Moriarty greeted first. As if he was genuinely happy to meet the two people, he readily extended his hand as he usually did with people in his social circle.
Holmes took the teacher’s hand, touched his hand a little without realizing it, shook his hand, and then greeted him. Later, so did Watson.
However, Watson looked at Holmes as if he was confused about what to say, and Holmes, who had only been looking at James Moriarty to the point where he did not even notice Watson’s attention, opened his mouth again.
“Teacher… “I didn’t know you were interested in stupid investments.”
“Stupid… You might think so. But sometimes not everyone who participates in speculation thinks that way, right? Rather, there will definitely be some who want to take advantage by taking the first step. In the first place… “Because I was the one who handed out the invitation.”
“Yes, that’s right. Thanks to you, I had a bit of a hard time. Who would have thought Watson would be so crazy about money?”
“Ho… “Holmes!”
At Holmes’s words, Watson blushed and shouted as if he was embarrassed, but Moriarty could already tell what had happened with just that brief remark.
No, anyone who knew Jane Watson could easily have drawn a similar conclusion. In that respect, Watson clearly did not betray his expectations.
“… You must have had a hard time. By the way… Still, Holmes, I didn’t know you’d still be interested in this club. “That’s surprising.”
“Javert Wilson was a vampire.”
Watson unconsciously opened his mouth, as if he was a little surprised by Holmes’ sudden remark, but Moriarty responded by calmly shrugging his shoulders.
“Really? “It’s amazing.”
“Yes, because there are going to be more surprises in the future.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Then…” Shall we come in, sir? “I already wanted to talk to you a little more, so it worked out well.”
