XII

The Train

Rathbone Hall, a pale fortress on a land of green. It had been the country home for no less than four generations of his fathers. Along a long dirty lane, the castle could be spotted from the hillsides as the spires and tower seemed to reach up high to catch the last rays of the sunlight. Flags swayed gently in the warm breeze as the carriage clopped down the hillside and to the iron gateway. Servants swiftly moved to pull open the gate before the four-carriage horse came tearing through. Through the gravel drive that divided both the garden and the foot-high maze, Rathbone tugged the curtain of the window aside with a finger, catching the glimpse of the servants who came to scurry out and greet their master.

"Wang," She had called him one last time as he stepped towards the cell door. "Have you opened father's box yet?"

Wang held the door, stoicly replying, "No."

With the door still open, Lin darted to follow Chon and Roy's lead, only to have it closed in her face by Inspector Doyle. She paused there, knowing now that she was not alone in her battle. A faint smile set to her lips as she held onto the deck of playing cards in hand. A gift from Roy she should not have accepted… but as she looked down to the naked women printed on them an idea began to boil.

The hours ticked by quietly in the Yard, much to Doyle's delight. When the hour struck three, he popped to his feet and stretched out his long limbs with an eager yawn.

"I leave everything in your capable hands Hogdkins." Said the inspector, slipping into his tweed coat and unhooking his bowler from the rack.

Hodgkins' mustach twitched as he gave an affirmative, "Aye sir. Have a pleasant trip. We'll handle things while you're gone."

Grinning, Doyle shook the man's hand and nodded, "Indeed, I'm sure of it. I'm off then. Goodbye!" With a last wave to Hodgkins he stepped out the door to catch a hansome.

Another hour passed before he had attained his bags from his flat and reached the train station. It chugged monsterously, billows of steam and smoke clouding the entire station. Doyle stepped to the steps, tossing in his overnight bag before he pulled himself in next.

A faint shout from behind caused his ears to perk curiously. He turned around, holding himself at a tilt as he peered out to the station. The train chugged forward, inching with its first push. From the mist of smoke and steam came Hodgkins and two constables, their faces flustered and wide with panick.

"Sir!" Hodgkins came to a swift walk beside Doyle.

"Hodgkins! What's happened?"

"It's that Looney Lin - she's escaped!"

"Jove!"

The man nodded frantically, speeding to a jog as the train picked up pace. Doyle rubbed his long chin a moment before he shrugged, "What can we do?"

"Make every effort, Hodgkins!" He shouted over the engine, "She can't be difficult to spot in London." He ... hoped.

"Yes sir!" Hodgkins called with his last moment before he skidded to a stop, barely avoiding running into a pillar. With a last wave, he vanished from sight into the thick cloud of steam and smoke. The train continued on.

Picking up his bag, Doyle moved into the car in search of his cabin… unaware of the sneak that was sliding down between the cars behind him.

Lin leaned heavily against the door of the train, closing her eyes for a moment, feeling the rocking of the train as it found its speed. She didn't see the door before her open. But the gruff and wicked laugh brought her eyes to quickly open.

She gasped, straightening where she stood as she stared at a man with a wiry beard on the sides of his jaw. The same man she had knocked over once already On her first stroll through London. His large teeth gleamed as he set beady dark eyes upon here, pinning the cigar between his teeth. "Fancy meeting you here."

He stepped toward her, and Lin reacted instinctively. The man was flipped over, left to tumble off the train and rolled down the tracks into someone's back lot. She leaned off the side of the train, catching only a glimpse of him struggling to untangle himself from the hanging laundry he had fallen into. She grinned, triumphant. Two out of two.