The Adventure Of The Baker Street Station Robbery
Chapter One
Dr Watson rubbed his eyes tiredly as the patients' notes in front of me began to blur. The Kensington practice was busy with the onset of winter, and the increased cases of flu. Watson looked up as the wind was picking up outside. He watched the autumn leaves resume their chasing one another swirling round and round like a dog trying to catch its tail thought Watson with amusement. A clock chimed interrupting Watson's thoughts and he looked up at the clock and gasped with a mortified cry at the time. It was almost six o clock and he was meeting Holmes at half past six at the bookshop at Baker Street Underground Station. They were meeting up for dinner at Simpson's and then on to a prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Watson wanted to discuss with Holmes his future, he had considered Holmes's offer of him moving back into Baker Street with him and had decided to accept it, and he wanted to announce to Holmes he had been given an offer for the practice which he had decided to sell.
Watson hurriedly put on his coat and walking stick and made his way out into the street and walked briskly to the Underground station to catch a train to Baker Street, ignoring the protesting pain in his leg. He did not have to wait long. The train was packed with commuters travelling home from work and Watson was unable to find a seat, finding himself squashed in between a large gentleman who reeked of cheap ale and a city stockbroker. Watson rubbed his leg still throbbing from the hurried walk and took out his pocket watch checking the time. Watson sighed. It was going to be a close call. Finally the train pulled into Baker Street and Watson disembarked the train and looked for Holmes. Suddenly he saw a familiar face in the crowd, Holmes smiling raising his silver tipped cane in greeting. He was waiting by the bookshop, wrapped up warmly against the biting wind with the scarf Watson had bought him for Christmas. Watson smiled and began to make his way through the never ending swathe of people arriving at the platform.
Suddenly, without warning Watson saw two men creep up behind Holmes and one of them grabbed Holmes by his coat collar pushing up against the bookstand.
"Holmes!" cried out Watson in horror, who began frantically pushing his way through the crowd and towards Holmes. He saw Holmes raise his stick against one of his attackers and seemed to be doing well when he was struck from behind by a third assailant who had appeared from the crowd.
"Nooo!" cried Watson who by now was clenching his jaw in anger and pushed even harder through the crowd to assist his friend and colleague.
Holmes looked up and out of the corner of his eye saw Watson valiantly trying to reach him. My Boswell, Solider and friend thought Holmes grimly. He pushed himself off the floor clutching his throbbing head and came face to face with his attackers.
"Perhaps you gentlemen could kindly explain the meaning of this attack" said Holmes in an icy voice that spoke of unspoken menace and anger.
"You know what it is about Mr 'Olmes, I want those papers and I want them now" said one of the attackers gruffly.
Holmes straightened himself in an act of defiance and ring of authority.
"I'm afraid I have been rather busy of late having dealt with quite a number of cases over the last few weeks, you will have to furnish more information if I am to assist you in this matter" said Holmes.
The reply came in the form of a strong left cross smashing into Holmes jaw and a flurry of fists and Holmes staggered back reeling from the blows.
"Don't play games with us 'Olmes, we want those documents on Parker Bainbridge or face the consequences"
Holmes stood up once more but was manhandled by one of the thugs who pressed a gun into Holmes's side and began to go through Holmes's coat. There was a cry of triumph as the thug brought out a carefully rolled up magazine from an inside pocket. The thug unrolled the magazine and snarled at Holmes.
"Ere I said no funny tricks, I don't want some trashy Strand Magazine, I want the documents".
The thug raised a club preparing to smash it into Holmes. Holmes knew he had to think quickly.
"Come now gentlemen, you did not think I would carry so important a document so openly? It is of course hidden in the magazine, glued in between the pages".
All of them looked up as they heard a distressed cry coming closer; it was Watson rushing towards them. Holmes took advantage of the distraction and thrust a punch of his own into one of the thugs knocking him out cold and turning his attention onto the other. Holmes did not see the third assailant break away to head towards Watson.
Watson breathing hard and ignoring the continued throbbing in his leg was finally almost free of the crowd and he cried out to Holmes whom he saw being attacked once more. But before Watson could move forward to help his friend, he felt a heavy blow slam into his rib cage and Watson bent over double, gasping for air. He tried to raise himself once more but only met with the club once more which hit his shoulder hard and then received another blow to the back of his head. Watson went down once more, his vision blurring and looked up to see Holmes in a fight.
"Holmes, I'm coming" shouted Watson as he painfully picked himself off the floor and staggered forwards towards Holmes.
Holmes had just rammed another fist into his second attacker who fell back to the ground in a heap. He saw Watson staggering towards him. Holmes rushed towards his injured friend and then his face turned to one of rage as he saw Watson's attacker deliver another crushing blow against Watson hard into his stomach. Watson collapsed onto the floor and held his sides as the attacker began kicking his rib cage and viciously assault him. The blows never seemed to end and then all of a sudden they stopped. Watson coughed violently and managed to glance up in time to see Holmes dispatch Watson's attacker with a series of punishing blows. Watson knew he had to stop Holmes before he would do something he would regret.
"Holmes…stop…please..." Watson broke into another fit of coughing and curled up tightly as the pain began asserting itself.
Holmes turned round to see Watson writhe in pain. He pushed back the thug into a wall and immediately rushed to Watson.
"Oh Watson, what have they done to you my friend" said Holmes as he carefully brought Watson's head and shoulders onto his kneeling legs which served as a cushion. He held Watson tightly as another penetrating cough and tremor racked through out his body.
Watson fought against the darkness that was threatening to snatch him away from Holmes. He felt a familiar sinewy hand hold his and Watson found just enough strength to squeeze Holmes hand back in acknowledgement. Holmes pleas for him to stay with him were becoming more and more distant. He knew he should listen to the commanding voice which was sounding increasingly distressed and shaky. Watson tried to murmur something, to reassure Holmes. He opened his tired eyes to meet worried grey ones.
"Holmes" said Watson weakly. "It's alright…" Watson gave the ghost of a smile before the pain overcame him at last and he sank into the oblivion of darkness.
"WATSON!" cried Holmes who held Watson's unconscious form to his chest and buried his face in to Watson's coat.
As the sound of police whistles reverberated around the station and he felt a gentle hand on his shaking shoulders Holmes vowed in that moment to hunt down and bring to justice the fiends behind this vicious and unwarranted attack. Anyone who dared harmed Watson would pay, and pay heavily.
TBC !!! Will probably take me a while to update again. But it does feel good to be writing again !! :) As always reviews and comments most welcome !