Family Secrets
An Hope Holmes Adventure Chapter XXVIII
Faith Robin
"That wasn't me," Moriarty said her face becoming paler. I covered my mouth, to keep myself from giving my position away. The Colonel drew his revolver.
"Who ever you are, Show your self!" He ordered. I picked up a rock from near my foot. He had released Moriarty; she had made a run for it. Now it was my turn.
I threw the rock into the greenhouse, and knocked over a flowerpot. The Colonel ran into the greenhouse; I bolted for the garden gate. I heard a window break and a bullet whistled above my head. I rounded the corner and jumped into the hired cab. We took off. Moriarty was on the next street trying to get a cab.
"Stop here," I said the cabbie. "Granger! Get in!" I called out to her. She stared at me but obeyed. Once she was in the cab, I knocked on the roof. "Drive On!" I ordered the cabbie. The cabbie flicked his reins and we sped off.
"Who…?" She asked trailing off.
"Sorry I'm late," I apologized, dropping my role.
"Russell! How…?" she said looking at me, she was utterly taken aback. I smiled as I put my revolver back into its hiding place.
"Let's just say that I had a feeling, by the way, how did you get those red marks on your arm?" I asked trying to pretend that I had not seen what I had. She grimaced.
"It's my turn to do some confessing Russell," she said pulling out her locket.
"Why don't you wait until we can get back to safer territory?" I said glancing behind us, looking for signs of pursuit. There were none however so I turned back and relaxed into the seat of the cab. We rode in silence for the rest of the journey back to my flat. I had sent for my packages from the hotel and they had already arrived.
Once we reached my flat, I paid the driver and entered my quarters. Mrs. Fletcher, my landlady admonished me for not telling her that I was having company. I apologized and she scurried off to air the guest room as I had assumed that Granger would stay with me in the meantime.
'Since that she cannot return to her home, not after what just has transpired,' I reasoned. Granger had settled herself onto the sofa and I sat next to the fire mediating on the problem. I had often seen my father in this fashion and since it did him some good perhaps that this method could help me find a way to find/rescue him.
'How am I going to get back there now? I've just ruined my perfect disguise and now…' I froze in triumph and turned to look at my companion with a bit of mischievousness twinkling in my eyes. Granger looked up with me with a guilty look on her face. "Russell there is something that I have been keeping from you," she said pulling out her locket.
"There is no need for explanations," I said, "I already know." She stared at me. "Achoo," I said quietly.
"That was you?!" she said and busting out laughing.
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