"A Matter of Taste"
Chapter 3: Motive & Mayhem
Mycroft Holmes was never one for pacing. In the midst of the most dire circumstances he preferred to be anxious by enjoying a cigar before the hearth, rather than wearing holes in the new carpet. But the present circumstances in which he now found himself were hardly dire, they were catastrophic.
"I'm sorry sir. But they failed...again."
Mycroft sighed deeply. "Then I would advise you to do as I told you, rather than following the morbid whims of Lord Hollingsworth. I see no reason why they must be killed...take this letter to his lordship, and bring his response immediately."
"Yes sir."
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Cynthia walked faster. She hadn't intended to be caught out after dark. She'd planned to take a cab home from the shop. But a cab meant money, money that she'd forgotten, and left at home. Thus she was left walking...at dusk. She stopped. There was that sound again. Footsteps. They stopped when she stopped. Cynthia ran. And so did they. She turned down a dead end. She shouldn't have looked behind, but she did. There were two of them, and they had revolvers...aiming for her. She screamed.
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Holmes returned, as promised, before dinner.
"Well Holmes?"
He did not answer, but ran into his bedroom and returned with his revolver.
"Holmes what is it?"
"Quick Watson, get your revolver and come with me!"
I did as directed, grabbed my hat and followed Holmes into the street. I expected him to hail a cab but he turned and ran down the alley.
"Holmes where are we going?"
I received no reply, only an impatient gesture. Suddenly I heard a woman's' scream. We turned a corner and stopped dead in our tracks. Cynthia Cavenness stood at the end of the alley. Two thugs stood no more than ten feet away, preparing to fire. Holmes drew his weapon and I did the same.
"McKee! Smithers! Put down those weapons if you please sirs. I would hate to be forced to put a bullet into those thick skulls of yours."
They hesitated.
"If that woman is harmed I swear to you that you will not leave this alley breathing."
They obeyed, and turned around slowly. Within five minutes Inspector Lestrade arrived and took the culprits away. Holmes lifted Mrs. Cavenness from where she'd fallen.
"Are you alright Ma'am?"
"Oh yes..yes thank God!" The poor distraught woman burst into tears. I patted her hand comfortingly. We saw her back to her home, where Mr. Cavenness anxiously awaited her. Holmes advised them not to leave their home until he contacted them again. Only when they solemnly promised to heed his advice did we take our leave.
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"Yes, what is it, Quinn?"
"Lord Hollingsworth, I regret to inform you sir, that the latest attempt was also...unsuccessful."
"What the devil do I pay these men for, if not to do their job!?"
"Well sir, they were very near, but...well sir...Mr. Holmes intercepted them."
"What!? Why on earth would he do such a thing! It's worth his career as well as my own, what the devil-"
"No, no sir. Mr. Sherlock Holmes...the detective. Mr. Mycroft's' brother."
"Confound it, can't he keep a rein on his own family? I've heard of this brother of his...a perfect busybody. Exactly what we do not need in this affair. I shall have to-"
"Excuse me sir, there is a Mr. Mycroft Holmes to see you sir."
"Capital! Just the man I wish to see, show him up Williams."
"Very good sir."
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When we arrived home, Holmes refused dinner and marched straight into his bedroom without another word. Thus, it was not until the next morning that I was able to question him on the previous nights' events.
"How did you know that she would be attacked, Holmes?"
"When I left you, I made a few inquiries and discovered that the Cavenness' have been watched by numerous sentinels for nearly a week now. Two of these watchers were her attackers tonight."
"But why? Are we no nearer to the answer?"
"Certainly we are. I was actually with Chandler Cavenness just before his wife was attacked. You see, during their interview, I perceived that there was indeed something they were holding back. Something which they deemed of no importance to the matter at hand. Subsequent to a great deal of persuasion, he informed me that he and his wife were the unfortunate witness's of the secret transportation of the Quinn bomb...the only witnesses."
"The Quinn bomb? Why it hasn't even been completed!"
"On the contrary Watson, it has, and has been given to England, obviously. Therefore I very much fear, that it is our own country that has marked the Cavenness' for removal."
"What!? Surely not Holmes! Why on earth-"
"Watson, if word were to leak out that we received the bomb from a Russian citizen, Russia would have cause to start a full scale war. There is no room for error in this matter."
"What will you do then, Holmes? What can you do?"
"Come, we will go to Mycroft. With his position, perhaps he could persuade the officials to simply have the couple watched, rather than exterminated."
When lifted our hats from the rack and stepped out to hail a hansom.
"Well Holmes, I should certainly say that you now have your motive."
