William James Moriarty stood there, his eyes avoiding Moran's, as the man explained what he found. Moran set the broken glasses on the table and looked down. "I, am so sorry." He said softly. "You, may leave for now." William said softly. Moran nodded and left the study. Albert looked at the glasses, his calm face seemingly unreadable. "Morris left the country. Perhaps he realizes his crimes are about to be exposed." William stated calmly, though his eyes glistened slightly with tears he was holding back.
"Expose or destroy?" Albert asked. "Both. We shall destroy everything he loves, expose him. Then destroy him." William gritted his teeth. Albert nodded and placed his hand on William's shoulder. William looked at him and took a deep breath. He wanted to break down in tears, but before he could, Albert hugged him tightly.
One month later
A month had passed since the news. Without the body and proper explanation, a memorial had yet to be built. Though busy with their usual cases the two spent as much time as they could to try and track down Morris. Sadly, no luck in finding him, his wife, or even servants. One day while working a lecture William noticed a new face among the students. It was an older man, clearly not a student.
Once the lecture was over the man approached the professor. "William James Moriarty, brother of Louis and Albert James Moriarty?" The man asked in a thick American accent. "Yes, I am. Do you need something from me?" William asked, remaining calm. "It's about your brother."-"Albert?" William questioned. "No. The other one. Louis. I have news of him that may interest you." The man said softly, handing William a card. It was a business card for The Morris Hall hospital.
William's hand trembled very slightly as he gritted his teeth. "I am a researcher there and used to work directly under Earl Morris. Until about a month ago that is. I have info on your brother. My office is not far from here. Perhaps we can go and have a chat?" The man explained. William eyed the man, wondering if this was a trap. But desperation makes even the smartest of people do foolish things. And William was desperate to close the case on what happened to Louis.
William grabbed his coat, making sure the revolver was concealed in its pocket and followed the man to a small doctor's office a few blocks away. "Now, what I am about to reveal. May be a bit of a shock for you. See. A month ago, I was helping clean up some research cadavers from the Morris manor. And to my shock. Well, one of them was your brother." The man explained opening a door. William clenched his fist hearing this but gasped as the door opened.
The door was to a small room with a bed and nightstand. On the bed was a slender figure sleeping. "Seems he wasn't quite dead after all. But was in a coma, and very bad condition. I managed to help him recover. And now that I know he is Louis James Moriarty, and you're his brother. Naturally. I figured you should take him home." William's scarlet eyes were wide, and he slowly approached the bed.
Was it really Louis? How, impossible. But it looked like him. The slender figure began waking and looked up. "Brother William?" He asked softly. A voice William thought he would never hear again. William quickly, albeit gently hugged Louis. "You're alive..." He whispered softly, holding back tears. William cupped his cheek examining his face. He smiled softly and hugged him again. Louis seemed almost confused as William hugged him but did not resist or question what was happening.
"Albert will be so happy to see you. Can you walk? I'll call for a carriage to bring us home." William quickly got to his feet. Louis nodded slowly getting up as well. However, if William had been paying better attention. He would have noticed a few things wrong. Louis always had a burn scar on his right cheek since childhood. Yet this man who claimed to be Louis, had none. And oddly both ears had small black piercings. Which Louis never had before.