Hello, greets and so forth.

I'm sorry for not updating my dears... Last year of high school is extremely stressful with all the exams and things I've gotta do... Hopefully, when I only have 10 hours of school a week, I'll be better at updating but hopefully, I'll be able to start updating every Sunday morning.

Thank you for reading this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter :) Happy reading

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I'd like to dedicate this chapter to:

DarkJenny20 (I'm glad that you like the story darlin', it means a lot to me when people take the time to leave a review, even if it's something as small as 'I like this story!' so thank you very much for taking the time to write a whole paragraph :D )

Theresa Ruskin (Thank you for thinking this story is perfect. Personally, I think many things could be improved but I guess that's just an author thing.)

Bones-n-Books (I'm sorry for your brief disappointment but here I am again! I'm very glad you like the relationship between Luna and Sherlock... You wouldn't believe how long it actually took for me to get the courage to publish 'The Memoirs'. I didn't want people to hate me, thinking I wanted Luna to replace Irene in some way, even if it wasn't my intention.)

Thank you all and thanks to those who follow, favourite and alert this story. I'd be nothing without you, my reviewers and all of my readers.

"Why not look at the problem from the reverse side? For a moment, we are no longer the detectives working on the case or even the captive. Instead, let us look from the view of the captor, Shlessinger. He is a greedy man but he will not be able to draw funds from lady Frances Carfax's account at the bank without her." My sister began, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of toast which Holmes had practically forced into her hand on the morning of the seventh day.

"So if we were not able to take money from her bank account, what would we do?" The detective continued, as though he understood her thought processes completely which wouldn't surprise me as he seemed to know her better than even I did which was both a lifting yet worrying thought. I was her older brother. If a man was to know her better than me, I was glad it was my best friend but also a little put out. Soon, she would have no reason for me as she would have someone else to speak to on such an intimate level.

"He will sell her jewellery. Any pawnbroker around here would bite at the chance to own such finery, as well as getting it at a descent price." she added, a small smile creeping onto her face as she took a small sip of her tea.

"So we much check all of the local pawnbrokers that are known for giving a fair price to all of their clientèle!" Sherlock announced, finished their thoughts with a large grin of his own.

Alas, mere hours after coming to such a conclusion, there came a flash of light. A silver-and-brilliant pendant of old Spanish design had been pawned at Bovington's, in Westminster Road. The pawner was a large, clean-shaven man of clerical appearance. His name and address were demonstrably false. The ear had escaped notice, but the description was surely that of Shlessinger.

Three times had our bearded friend from the Langham called for news the third time within an hour of this fresh development. His clothes were getting looser on his great body. He seemed to be wilting away in his anxiety. "If you will only give me something to do!" was his constant wail. At last Holmes could oblige him.

"He has begun to pawn the jewels. We should get him now."

"But does this mean that any harm has befallen the Lady Frances?"

Holmes shook his head very gravely.

"Supposing that they have held her prisoner up to now, it is clear that they cannot let her loose without their own destruction. We must prepare for the worst."

"What can I do?"

"These people do not know you by sight?"

"No."

"It is possible that he will go to some other pawnbroker in the future. In that case, we must begin again. On the other hand, he has had a fair price and no questions asked, so if he is in need of ready-money he will probably come back to Bovington's. I will give you a note to them, and they will let you wait in the shop. If the fellow comes you will follow him home. But no indiscretion, and, above all, no violence. I put you on your honour that you will take no step without either my knowledge or that of my darling's and not without my consent."

For two days the Hon. Philip Green (he was, I may mention, the son of the famous admiral of that name who commanded the Sea of Azof fleet in the Crimean War) brought us no news. On the evening of the third he rushed into our sitting-room, pale, trembling, with every muscle of his powerful frame quivering with excitement.

"We have him! We have him!" he cried.

He was incoherent in his agitation. Luna managed to soothe him with a few choice words, none of which Holmes seemed to agree with if his expression was anything to go by, before thrusting him into an arm chair.

"Come, now, give us the order of events," Sherlock practically ordered, his voice rather hard and cold.

"She came only an hour ago. It was the wife, this time, but the pendant she brought was the fellow of the other. She is a tall, pale woman, with ferret eyes."

"That is the lady," my sister said.

"She left the office and I followed her. She walked up the Kennington Road, and I kept behind her. Presently she went into a shop. Mr. Holmes, it was an undertaker's."

My companion started. "Well?" he asked in that vibrant voice which told of the fiery soul behind the cold grey face.

"She was talking to the woman behind the counter. I entered as well. 'It is late,' I heard her say, or words to that effect. The woman was excusing herself. 'It should be there before now,' she answered. 'It took longer, being out of the ordinary.' They both stopped and looked at me, so I asked some questions and then left the shop."

"You did excellently well. What happened next?"

"The woman came out, but I had hid myself in a doorway. Her suspicions had been aroused, I think, for she looked round her. Then she called a cab and got in. I was lucky enough to get another and so to follow her. She got down at last at N, Poultney Square, Brixton. I drove past, left my cab at the corner of the square, and watched the house."

"Did you see anyone?"

"The windows were all in darkness save one on the lower floor. The blind was down, and I could not see in. I was standing there, wondering what I should do next, when a covered van drove up with two men in it. They descended, took something out of the van, and carried it up the steps to the hall door. Mr. Holmes, it was a coffin."

"Ah!"

"For an instant I was on the point of rushing in. The door had been opened to admit the men and their burden. It was the woman who had opened it. But as I stood there she caught a glimpse of me, and I think that she recognized me. I saw her start, and she hastily closed the door. I remembered my promise to you, and here I am."

"You have done excellent work," said Holmes, scribbling a few words upon a half-sheet of paper. "We can do nothing legal without a warrant, and you can serve the cause best by taking this note down to the authorities and getting one. There may be some difficulty, but I should think that the sale of the jewellery should be sufficient. Lestrade will see to all details."

"But they may murder her in the meanwhile. What could the coffin mean, and for whom could it be but for her?"

"We will do all that can be done, Mr Green, of that I can assure you. Not a moment will be lost, just leave it in our hands." Luna explained softly, patting his shoulder in comfort before he hurried away.

"Now Watson, he will set the regular forces on the move. We are, as usual, the irregulars, and we must take our own line of action. The situation strikes me as so desperate that the most extreme measure are justified. Not a moment is to be lost in getting to Poultney square."

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