Family Secrets
An Hope Holmes Adventure Chapter XIV
Faith Robin
I soon reached the Diogenes Club.
"Wait here and I'll pay you in a minute," I said to the cabbie. I knocked on the door. The butler came to the door.
"May I help you?" he asked after looking twice at me.
"Yes could you give a verbal message to Mr. Holmes?" I asked politely.
"I'm sorry miss, but Mr. Holmes is quite busy," The butler said looking apologetically at me.
"Could you just tell him this message?" I said, my eyes were nearly pleading/begging for him to take the message.
"Well I suppose," He said, "what is the message?"
"Tell him 'The hounds are pursuing the fox and the prey seeks refuge' and also just tell him it's from his second cousin." I said to him. The door shut and I waited with the cabbie.
'I hope Uncle Mycroft gives him some money to pay for the fare,' I thought, keeping myself on my toes. I kept looking around as if the kidnapper's were going to grab me back into their clutches again. The cabbie noticed my uneasiness.
"Don't you worry Miss, if those hooligans dare show their faces around here, I'll give them in charge," The cabbie said, cracking his knuckles.
I smiled, 'Well at least I won't be completely alone if it happens again.' I thought. The door opened and the butler ushered me inside. He paid the cabbie and after he shut the door behind himself; took me up to my Uncle's lodgings. I silently followed him up the stairs. He ushered me in after he announced that I arrived. My Uncle stood up from his easy chair.
"Thank you White, you may leave us," Mycroft said sending the butler away. After the White had left, my uncle turned his attention back onto me. "Hope, what in heavens are you doing out this late!?" Mycroft said turning around and glaring at me.
"Good early morning uncle Mycroft," I said somewhat embarrassed at my appearance. "I was visiting a friend and as I was going back home I was abducted." I said answering his question, his glare disappeared and he stared. I began to explain.
Holmes groaned, the world was beginning to focus before his eyes. He couldn't move, he was lying on a table restrained. The surgical light was nearly blinding him. 'What's happening?' Holmes wondered. A man showed his face into the light.
"Good Morning Mr. Holmes, I trust you slept well," Colonel James Moriarty said snickering at the irony from his chair at Holmes's bedside.
"Moriarty," Holmes said sharply.
"Good to see you again and I'm sure we'll have your daughter join us shortly. Hope, isn't it?" Moriarty said smirking. Holmes felt the blood drain from his face.
"Leave her alone, Moriarty, you have me. Isn't that enough for your revenge?" Holmes said his tone even.
"Ohm, no that's not enough. I want to see her reaction when you die right before her eyes," Moriarty said, pulling a case into view.
"And that's why I had to come here, instead of going back to my house," I said waiting for my uncle's reaction. He didn't say anything for the longest time. The grandfather clock ticked away the time. I glanced at it, it was nearly one thirty. He sat there, his hands folded and his eyes closed. 'Patience Hope, patience, he may be my father's brother but you must be respectful considering that you have not seen him for approximately three years and that was… well, not a very good way to leave like that.' I thought. Finally at last he gave his reaction.
"Hope, have you sent any message to let your father know your safe?" he asked speaking at last.
"No, I thought it best if I hurried here before they caught me again," I said quickly. He glanced at the clock and sighed.
"Considering the circumstances, you had better stay here for the rest of the night," he said returning his attention back onto me. "I'll send someone to let your father know that you are okay now. Your room is down the hall, second door on the right," He said pointing down the hall. I stood.
"Thank you Uncle Mycroft," I said gratefully, "Good morning." I said.
"Humph, Good Morning," he said dismissing me. I left and went into my room. I shut the door behind me. I went into my drawers, and pulled out my nightgown. I took off my dress and put my nightgown on. I inspected my arm from where the cocaine had been injected. There was a small red dot at the injection sight but other than that it wasn't too obvious. I sighed, and pulled back the covers on the bed. I laid down and closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into sweet, dreamless slumber.
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