A/N – Sagredo credit goes to you for the best answer to the buns and the bees puzzle. The only thing I'd add which isn't crucial is that 13 bun is also a baker's dozen which gives another clue. The other parts are that 13*17 is 221 the bees represent B and the buns Baker's. Therefore the buns and bees give Sherlock Holmes' address 221b Baker street. Thanks also the mrspencil you were close please read and review.

Chapter 1 – A Note Slipped into The Strand

About an hour after leaving the farm, Adam arrived in the centre of Cambridge feeling a little worse for wear. He made quickly for his lodgings hoping to wash the grime of a night spent in the hay from his body. As he put his key in the lock a voice hailed him from across the street.

"Wood!"

It was the man from the previous night. The man to whom he had lied so pointlessly. "Hallo again" said Adam a little weakly.

"How is the young mathematician?"

"Fairly well"

The man appeared to look Adam over. A slightly quizzical expression graced his neat features. Adam blushed at the scrutiny and felt acutely aware that his clothes were rumpled and stained, a striking comparison to the supreme neatness of the man before him.

"I never caught your name...?" Adam said. It felt almost like a gesture of defiance. He couldn't put his finger on why.

"That was rather remiss of me. I can only apologise. Its a rather unusual name you know. My father died when I was small. My mother always said he was from eastern Europe or some such place but she never knew his people. She was a bit of an aristocrat and I always got the impression her family rather disapproved of the connection. But thats ancient history now. I'm all agog why are you wondering around Cambridge looking like you spent the night in a hay-barn?"

"It's funny you should say that..." Adam replied "I'm afraid its an odd story"

"Well why don't you get cleaned up and I'll take you out to lunch. I simply must know the tale. Would it suit you if I met you back here about one?"

Wood sat back after lunch feeling pleasingly full and a little hazy from the wine. Somewhere in the back of his mind he had the uncomfortable feeling that this lunch would cost about as much as he'd spend to feed himself for the rest of term. Food and Wine had eaten away at Adam's reserve and caution. Without any real idea why he had found himself spilling out the events of that morning. Now the sat back, both in silence, Adam digesting his ample meal; his companion a story.

"Well, if you want to go to London I'm going that way myself tomorrow. I'd be more than happy to oblige you with a lift."

"You've been so kind already. I'm not even sure where I would go."

"We can work it out on the way. Think nothing of kindness. I'm intrigued and I have plenty of money. I rather think you should get out of Cambridge. Someone seems to have it in for you and London is as good a place as any. By the way, do you have any idea who it might be?"

"No, I don't really think I'd be worth that much trouble to anyone."

"But you've seen Arden's proof. That is a rare thing. I've been asking around. No-one would tell me anything about it."

Adam's jaw almost dropped. He'd forgotten all about his stupid lie. He felt himself redden again and in a slightly strangled voice said, "No-one could seriously want to hurt a chap for having had a glance at it."

"Couldn't they? It occurs to me that there is a fair bit of money riding on this thing being kept under lock and key."

"I've only really told you."

"But other people must know. Whoever showed it to you for a start, and a great many people could have listened to our conversation yesterday."

Adam realised that he might have been more foolish that he had initially realised. The older man pulled a magazine from his inside pocket and layed it on the table.

"I've got an appointment now. If your game for London you might like to have a look at this."

Inside the magazine there was a note "My name is Tommy Ria-Ria, keep it quiet." was all it said. Adam pondered its meaning but his attention was caught by the article. It was by a Doctor John Watson and talked of the inhabitants of 221b Baker street. Adam remembered the buns and bees. 'So this is he' he thought.