Miss Lewis was seated in the dining room when she thought she heard movement from outside. She wished to go to the window and investigate the situation but instead kept in line with the instructions painstakingly given to her by Mr Holmes. She was sitting in the dark with all of the curtains drawn as she had been told that she must give off the impression that the house was empty apart for the servants who would be sleeping on the upper levels.

Having been there for some few hours her eyes had steadily grown accustomed to the gloom and she was now able to make out all of the larger furnishings within the room and was even able to discern the outline of the family portrait hanging on the wall above her. Knowing that it was there gave her the strange sensation that she was being watched and although she was not a superstitious woman she fancied that maybe her father was there with her, awaiting the apprehension of the men who had plagued his life.

When she had first thought she heard something she had dismissed it but now she could definitely detect the muffled crunch of footsteps on gravel. She stiffened, gripping her cane instinctively. Forcefully she made sure that her breathing remained even as she listened intently. Mr Holmes had told her that the men would have no reason to explore the lower level of the house as they were under the impression that the 'second safe' was on the first floor. It was the only reason he had allowed her to remain, despite his obvious displeasure, and had insisted that she lock herself in the room of his choosing and make absolutely no sound whatsoever. He had not given his reasons for choosing the dining room as her hiding place and she had not questioned him. He had told her he thought it likely that they would enter and leave again via the back door and she could now see that he was quite correct.

The sound of footfalls had been moving progressively closer and Miss Lewis had to cover her mouth to stifle a gasp when a shadow fell across a slight gap in one of the curtains. Of course it was unlikely that they would have been able to hear her through the glass at any rate but she reacted according to instinct and the instructions given. The shadow passed by only to be replaced by another. Silently Miss Lewis closed her eyes and began to pray, her thoughts finding their way to the two gentlemen who were concealed in waiting, somewhere in her home.


In the room directly above Miss Lewis' head Sherlock Holmes followed the path of the three men with his watchful eyes. They were steadily making their way around the side of the house and walked beneath the window he was observing them from being none the wiser. Just as he had suspected they were heading towards the back door of the house that lead into the kitchen. He had made sure that Charlotte informed them that going up the servant's staircase was the quickest way to the 'safe' and it seemed as if they were following her instruction.

Holmes felt a warm breath on the back of his neck and knew that Watson had moved so as to try and see out the window as well. He felt his companion tense when he noticed the strange men but made no comment. The two watched closely as the three silhouetted figures disappeared out of sight and then Holmes quietly made his way over to the door, opening it ever so slightly. Watson did the same and came to stand behind his friend. Both waited with baited breath and heard the distant creak of the kitchen door being swung open. It had not taken them long to pick the lock as Holmes had known it would not and now they were in the house.

There was an unearthly silence, broken only by the sound of Doctor Watson's slightly elevated breathing, then the groan of the first stair. Holmes and Watson shared a glance and Watson felt something being pressed into his hand. It was a revolver, goodness knows where Holmes had kept it hidden but he himself was now armed with a favoured fighting stick.

The heavy steps were getting slowly closer until both detective and doctor were acutely aware that the men they were after were stood directly on the other side of the door they themselves were pressed up against. The moment stretched out for a long time. Finally the three sets of feet moved away and on down the hallway. Watson relaxed visibly but straightened again when Holmes caught his eye.

"Are you ready Watson?" It was the barest of whispers.

"Always," the doctor replied, revolver raised.

Holmes nodded and placed his hand carefully on the door handle. He took a terrifically measured step back, mindful of not making the slightest sound. He and his friend exchanged one final momentary look before he flung the portal open and charged out into the hallway, the doctor close on his heels.


Miss Lewis had been sitting in sickening trepidation and anticipation when she heard the commotion break out just above her head. She jumped visibly and did not trouble herself by covering the gasp that escaped her throat. She stood without really knowing why, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as if trying to divine what was happened above. She could hear very heavy footfalls and deep voices but whether they cried out in pain, surprise or triumph she could not tell. Everything was a chaotic muddle but was then abruptly silenced by the unmistakable shot of a gun.

All went deathly still for one terrible moment and Rebecca Lewis clutched at her throat in fear. The tumult started up again as suddenly as it had stopped and she recognised the sound of someone or perhaps several someones making their way down the back staircase. A voice rang out that was most definitely that of Mr Holmes and then there seemed to be some confusion. Rather than exiting via the back door at least one of the men made his way further into the house. He thundered past the room in which she was hidden while the sound of feet slipping on gravel told her that there were others outside.

"Mr Holmes!" she cried, giving little thought to her safety she clumsily making her way over to the door and began pounding on it with both hands, her cane falling to the floor. "This way Mr Holmes, this way!" Mere seconds later she heard another body rush past and could only hope that it was the detective. Knowing she could do no more she collapsed against the door, sliding to the ground, her legs no longer able to support her.


The three men upstairs had not been expecting any sort of attack and were taken completely unawares. They were set upon by two men in the dark and had to gather their wits about them sharply in order to defend themselves. Voices were raised and arms and legs were flailing randomly in the dim lighting. The taller of the two men had come at them with a heavy stick which he used to great effect. It took two men to disarm him and wrestle him to the floor. One had managed to find his throat with his hands when the revolver had gone off. Shock had stilled all three men and the two grappling with the one on the floor had been knocked aside.

Their only thoughts now were of escape. Not one among them was a coward but at the same time not one among them was a fool either. They did not fancy their chances against two armed men in the dark even if they did outnumber them. Instead they chose retreat and headed as one for the staircase.


After having suffered an attack Holmes had to take a precious moment in order to recover, gripping at his throat and choking harshly. The doctor was at his side in a moment but Holmes waved him off while struggling to his feet.

"After them Watson, after them!" he roared, hoarsely.

Together they raced after the men who had vanished from sight. Watson was first out of the back door and was already running round the side of the house when something made Holmes stop dead in his tracks. He heard a disturbance coming from further withinthe house and then Miss Lewis' voice calling out to him. Without another seconds hesitation he took off in the direction of the voice, trusting that the lady would not lead him astray.


Watson followed two of the three men out of the kitchen door and round unto the gravel walkway just before the gates. It registered only briefly in his mind that he was unaware as to the location of the third offender and the fact that Holmes was no longer following slipped his notice completely.

Watson was not a man used to much strenuous work. Indeed his profession as a doctor allowed for very little physical stress. He therefore found it an understandable strain to try and catch up with the two men who had fear to put an extra spurt in their step. The injury he had sustained during the war also served to slow him down so it was that he was someway behind when they reached the gate. They turned left without even the slightest detectable pause and carried on down the road. Watson continued on after them thinking that if they were at all in their right minds they would turn on him and try to overpower him rather than keep on running. Where exactly did they expect to run to, the station? That was some way off to be sure.

Just as he was thinking this a darkened silhouette came into view in the middle of the road. A few more pained steps and the doctor could make out the shape of a waiting cab with a man sitting hunched in the driver's seat. The men did not pause, they scrambled into the cab and the horse was immediately whipped into action. Knowing there was hope in catching them now Watson stopped and raised the revolver he still clutched in his hand. He then dropped it uselessly to his side aware that it would do no good; instead he watched as the cab rapidly disappeared into the distance.

Only when it had vanished completely from sight did Watson allow himself to recognise his body's exhaustion. He doubled over, breathing heavily and shaking ever so slightly. He glanced around for his friend so see how well he fared only to discover that he was standing quite alone. He called out into night. "Holmes?"


The man in question was at that moment suffering troubles of his own. Having pursued the straggler through the house he had followed hot on his heels when he burst out of the front door and took off in a completely different direction as to that of his companions. Out of the corner of his eye Holmes noted that Watson was chasing after the other men but was losing ground. He would not catch them, of this Holmes was certain and so redoubled his efforts in a hope of making at least one of the villains answer for their crime.

The man in front of the detective was of slight build and not surprisingly rather fast. Holmes' ever active mind recognised him as the one who must have been the safe cracker even as he inwardly debated over the best way to apprehend him. The two of them disappeared from sight of the house as they ran into a densely wooded area. Here the terrain was more uneven and both had a hard job of trying to keep their footing.

It was the safe cracker who fell first and Holmes seized his opportunity, leaping onto the man's fallen back. They struggled and grappled for a moment until the stranger managed to get the upper hand by giving Holmes a glancing blow to the temple. For a brief second the famous detective's vision darkened and when he was again able to see it was just in time to catch a glimpse of the large rock that was being held precariously above his head.


Miss Lewis had not moved for sometime after the commotion had travelled away from the house. In fact it was not until she heard a gentle knock at the door that she stirred at all. "Miss? Miss Lewis are you there?" It was Rogers. With a certain amount of difficultly Rebecca rose to her feet, using her cane for that urgently needed support and opened the door.

Rogers was standing there along with the maid, Charlotte, who was holding a candle. The woman had a fearful look in her eyes while the butler looked concerned. "Miss Lewis," he breathed thankfully. "Are you quite alright?"

The lady took a few moments to reply and when she did her voice was not entirely even. "Yes thank you Rogers I am quite well." She paused, searching her mind furiously as her thoughts were in a state of disarray. "Did you see what happened to the two gentlemen? Do you know where they went?"

The butler shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid not Miss. We were all locked away upstairs just as the detective told us - "

Charlotte interrupted him. "The front door was open Miss, perhaps they went that way?" she suggested.

Miss Lewis did not delay; she struggled past the two servants and made her way uneasily over to the front door. She flung it open, nearly unbalancing herself; no doubt she would have fallen had Rogers not been there to support her. The night outside was still and completely unmoving.

For several long moments the young lady simply stood there, willing something to happen, for someone to appear, It was only when the butler made as if to draw her away that her prayers were seemingly answered. A figure came into view by the gate and it did not take her long to recognise the form of Doctor Watson. She breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief and moved towards him, as far as her leg would allow. The butler followed behind, ever conscious of his mistress' frail state while the maid remained in the doorway, candle held high.

"Doctor Watson," Rebecca breathed when he was close enough. "Oh I am so thankful that you are alright."

"Thank you Miss Lewis," the old army doctor replied, still somewhat out of breath. "I only wish I brought good news." The lady looked stricken for a moment. "I am sorry to tell you that the two men I was chasing got away. They had a cab waiting for them and there was no way I could catch them." he glanced around, almost as if he expected to find someone else there.

With a terribly fearful sensation Miss Lewis asked the question that she felt was about to fall from the gentleman's lips. "Doctor, where is Mr Holmes?"

Watson looked up with a start, suddenly realising the gravity of the situation. "I am afraid I do not know," was his quiet response.


Oh dear...where is Holmes? I know, do you? Of course you don't, I haven't told you yet. I guess you'll just have to wait for that little titbit of information won't you?lol. How evil am I?? Hey at least I updated sooner this time right?

The big question is however when will I update next? I suppose it all depends on the numbers of reviews I get doesn't it...more reviews quicker update people – it's up to you.

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. I don't have much experience writing action scenes so if you think I over did it in some way let me know won't you. Until next time my lovelies...

A/N: I used lines to split this chapter up which is something I haven't done before. The only reason I did it this time round was because with all the different points of view I thought it might be easier to read.