The Darkest Secret
An Hope Holmes Adventure Book III Chapter XXXV
Faith Robin
'Oh Father, I'm sorry that they took you. Please be safe; please still be alive when I can reach you.' I thought to myself as I quietly sobbed into my knees. Rain began to pour outside, disguising my occasional shallow gasps for breath. Then I looked up trying to compose myself.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a carriage pull up to the house on the street. I stared down at the person that was walking up to the door. I hurried from the windowsill and over to my makeup table. I began cleaning up my face so I would be able to look like I hadn't been crying. I wiped my face clean of the wet tears that had slid down my face.
Then I reapplied the rice powder to my cheeks. I took a minute to compose myself, taking each breath in slowly to help dispose of the redness in my eyes. I closed my eyes as I exhaled. I felt my shaking nerves relax and my whirling mind cleared. I continued my breathing exercises and then I opened my eyes.
They were no longer red and I was presentable to the Professor. I rose from the table and went over to the door. I unlocked the door and I encountered Mrs. Hudson.
"Mrs. Hudson, will you please fetch the Inspector? Tell him that there will be someone here of interest and he may want to place a tail on them." I said with brevity. She nodded and hurried down the stairs. "Make sure you leave by the back door." I called softly to her as I hurried down the stairs behind her. She went down the stairs towards the kitchen. I hurried into the parlor and made sure that there was a revolver in a nearby drawer. Then I sat down in my chair and picked up my crocheting. I continued to twist the yarn and trying to come up with a plan off the top of my head. Then I heard someone coming up the stairs.
Their steps were slow, as if they were trying to remain unheard. I opened the drawer quietly, and pulled out the spare revolver. I placed it into my pocket and closed it. The well oiled hinges made no sound, thankfully. I picked up my crocheting as the steps got louder.
Meanwhile…
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," I called through the door. The door was opened and a breathless Mrs. Hudson came in.
"Mrs. Hudson? What are you doing here? I thought you were keeping an eye on Miss Holmes." I exclaimed jumping out of my seat.
"I was but then she sent me out to fetch you because she said that there was going to be a visitor who might be someone you would place a tail on." She said after catching her breath. I grabbed my revolver coat and hat.
"Where is Mr. Holmes?" I asked her as we hurried out of the building.
"He left to go home for the night to prepare for the journey to his estate tomorrow." She said with brevity.
"So you just left her alone to face whoever it was?" I said as I hailed a cab.
"What else could I have done?" she asked as we climbed into the halted cab. We surged off to the Holmes residence, praying that we weren't too late.
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A/N: Sorry about the delay, having a lot on my mind recently. From being denied admissions and trying to find other colleges that I can afford has been tiring. Thanks for all the support through this time. If you have the urge to review feel free to. I don't bite. :)