Today's Prompt: a blackmailer is foiled (from mrspencil).
"What do you make of this?" Holmes tossed a letter over to Inspector Lestrade as the inspector stepped into the sitting room of 221B Baker Street.
Lestrade had to read it through a few times before at last he concluded, "It's a bad business."
"Or a well-laid trap," Holmes put in with a wry smile. "I happen to know the identity of the man behind this inauspicious letter and have been waiting patiently upon my lure for some time now. At last, he has taken the bait."
"You play a dangerous game, Mr. Holmes, you and Dr. Watson both," said Lestrade, glancing between them.
Watson merely shrugged, a tacit acknowledgement that he too had been involved in the plan.
"I know of only two ways to foil a blackmailer, Inspector," Holmes said, with just a touch of condescension. "The first you have seen in the death of the infamous Charles Augustus Milverton; their dangerous work eventually catching up with them. The second is to turn to the officials, but in doing so the victim's secret is lost. Therefore, the only solution is to invent a scandal, as I have done here, to the marvelous result you see before you."
Lestrade looked less than impressed. "And what evidence have you given him?"
Holmes waved it off. "Nothing conclusive, of course."
"I'll do what I can to prevent a scandal, but I cannot guarantee your reputation. It was a reckless move, Mr. Holmes, even for you. I can only imagine what an overzealous prosecutor would make of it."
"If I had an alternative, we would take it, but as I have explained, our options are rather limited, and this seemed the most convincing trap."
"Well, I won't say we're not grateful to you and the doctor for sticking your necks out like this. Blackmail is a hard crime to prosecute, but if you can lead us to our man, I'm certain we'll have enough evidence to lock him away."
"Good man!" Holmes declared and eagerly set about detailing his plans.
Only when Lestrade retreated down the stairs and the door shut behind him, did Watson let out a shaky breath of relief. "Do you think it'll be alright?"
Holmes nodded. He sat leaning forward in his chair, his fingers tented in front of him, poised as though in deep concentration. "Lestrade is a good man, if a little lacking in imagination, and I believe both attributes work in our favor upon this occasion. Our blackmailer's evidence is not conclusive, if it was I would not have dared go through any official channel, but as it is I believe we will be safe for now." He let out a long sigh. "My apologies Watson, for putting you in such danger."
"We may do well to be a little more discreet," Watson admitted.
"For some time I have been thinking of retiring to the countryside. There at least we may have more privacy."
"Are you certain?"
"I find myself increasingly drawn to more intellectual pursuits. I fear I am becoming rather like brother Mycroft in my old age. But you need not retire. It may be better for us to move separately."
"I have thought of going back into practice."
"Your infinite capacity for service to your fellow man is remarkable. Now, there is nothing more we can do, so let us think of more pleasant things."