"Don't move, Doctor," Loughton warned.
I cast a fearful glance at Holmes, lying stunned on the hearthrug from the blow he'd received for his defiance.
"Hand over that file, Doctor, and I might be inclined to spare you both," Loughton growled, advancing.
"We – don't have the file," I lied desperately, "we gave it to the police."
Loughton reached out a huge hand and grabbed me by the collar, pressing the gun close to my face. I swallowed hard.
"You've ten seconds, Doctor."
I knew I was trapped, when suddenly –
There was a loud war-whoop and Holmes's Inverness came flying through the air attached to a frightened Irregular. Alfie had launched himself off the couch and now threw the coat over Loughton's head.
The man screamed, I twisted the gun from his grip and brought it down upon his head forcefully. Loughton dropped like a stone, tangled in the Inverness.
I knelt next to Holmes, who groggily sat up with Alfie's help.
"Yew all roight, Mr. 'Olmes?"
The little boy was shaking; he suddenly wrapped his small arms round Holmes's neck, who cleared his throat nervously.
Then Alfie let go with one arm to throw it round me, nearly knocking Holmes's and my heads together.
"Er, Alfie."
But neither of us had the heart to disengage the lad's grip on us both.