Family Secrets
An Hope Holmes Adventure Chapter VIII
Hope Robin; Faith Robin
"Where to Miss?" The cabbie asked.
"Baker Street," I said getting into the cab, "and a sovereign if you do it in ten minutes."
"Right away Miss," the cabbie said. The horse jerked his head up and trotted away. The sun began to set. The gas light lampposts were lighted. The sky was darkening from the brilliant red to purple to black. The cab was gaining speed.
'Something's not right,' I thought as we turned in the wrong direction, towards the docks. I knocked on the roof.
"Excuse me but I believe that Baker Street is the other way," I said my heart pounding. My mind was whirling trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Not for you Miss Holmes," The cabbie said urging the horse to go faster.
"My name is not Holmes," I said keeping my head cool. I looked for possible escape routes. 'The cab is moving to fast for me to jump out,' I thought, 'I could call out for help but could that help me at all? It could just make things worse. I am defiantly jumping' I thought picking up my purse and I opened the door.
The street was flying past me. I took a deep breath and jumped out landing on my feet. I gathered myself together and started to run in the opposite direction. I heard the cabbie turn his horse around. I ran around the next corner and bumped straight into a constable.
"Excuse me," I said taking a step back.
"Is everything alright Miss? You look as if someone is chasing you," He asked after apologizing.
"Yes there's a cabbie that's trying to kidnap me," I said trying to keep myself calm. The constable frowned. The cab swerved around the corner.
"Is that him?" the Constable asked.
"Yes that's him," I said turning around. The cab came to a stop.
"You there! Stop right there." The constable called to the cabbie. He started to walk towards the cab. I stood there, and when the constable was busy in conversation with the cabbie; someone covered my mouth from behind me. I felt the barrel of a gun pressed into my rib cage.
"Miss Holmes, come with me and no harm will come," that voice, the voice of fear. I did nothing; I let him push me around the corner. Coming to my senses, I pulled his hand away.
"HELP, Murder!!" I screamed, struggling away from his grasp. I heard the constable blow his whistle, felt the butt of the revolver make contact to my head. I remained conscious for another few seconds. I was pulled into a closed cab and I fainted into the darkness.
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