Sholmes took a moment to look at him. He caught a glimpse of the shoulder holster tucked underneath Lupin's jacket, where Lupin kept one of his many weapons. Sholmes saw Lupin's eyes glint as he looked his way.
"You the one who sent that note?" Lupin asked, almost conversationally.
Sholmes kept his face void of expression. "I am."
"Have to say it was kind of you not to use your car to run me off the bridge this time," Lupin said, the edge of his mouth curling into a grin.
Sholmes didn't know what Lupin was talking about. He tried not to react. He had read a great deal about Lupin, the chaos he created through his heists, which were so numerous Sholmes was not sure he would ever finish reading them.
The renown thief didn't go out of his way to hurt people, but he would allow buildings to explode, racecars to burst into flames, for example, if it meant he got what he was after.
Sholmes remembered reading one particularly disturbing report of Lupin's year-long arrest. Lupin, daily, yelled at the prison officers, complaining that he was not the culprit. On the day of Lupin's execution, he captured a guard and had switched clothes with him, escaping unscathed while the officers tuned out the desperate pleading of the guard that he was not Lupin, the same complaint the officers had heard for months.
Prone to destruction, a master manipulator, Lupin was not the sort of person Sholmes wanted to face without a plan. And he had one.
"I'd like for you to tell me what you know about Tymiaor," Sholmes said, ignoring Lupin's remark.
Sholmes saw Lupin's eyes widen.
"You're not with Tymiaor?" Lupin asked.
"No," Sholmes said. "I have connections with the London Police Department." It wasn't entirely inaccurate, or a lie. He was not an employee or an authorized detective, but he knew several of the senior officers by name and knew who to tip off to Lupin's presence.
Lupin smirked. "So does Tymiaor."
It occurred to Sholmes suddenly that he might be targeted by one of Lupin's associates. Sholmes kept his demeanor serious, but not tense. He kept his hands exposed so no one pointing a gun at him hundreds of meters away would suspect he would be reaching for a weapon.
"Did the police department send you?" Lupin asked.
"No, I came on my own," Sholmes answered. He took a deep breath. "I believe you could be an asset in Tymiaor's capture. Tymiaor is a skilled organization. It uses intimidation, abduction, theft, to steal what it wants, and has the means to ensure peoples' silence, and Tymiaor has evaded police's capture for years."
"You mean the police has covered up for Tymiaor for years," Lupin remarked.
Sholmes only took a moment to process what Lupin had said. It was a possibility he didn't want to consider, but now he must.
"Perhaps," Sholmes said.
"Why should I help you?" Lupin asked. "How do you know I don't already have plans?"
"I know you have plans," Sholmes said. "You have been stealing items throughout London. I suspected you from your first heist here. Now, the London Police Department suspects you also. I know that your next heist will be to steal Portrait of a Lady by Sebastiano del Piombo at the National Gallery. Should you refuse, I know exactly who from the London Police Department, from Interpol, to contact for them to arrest you."
"That's a nice threat, but the police don't bother me," Lupin said, a little smugly. "Makes things more exciting, actually." His expression changed as he took a curious look at Sholmes. "Why are you doing this? What do you get out of taking Tymiaor down?"
Sholmes regarded Lupin's expression. He didn't see any glint of malicious intent, or a sign that he would use the information Sholmes would give him against Sholmes. Sholmes thought about ignoring the question altogether, but he decided to answer in a way he rarely answered questions. He answered vaguely.
"Have you ever had someone you loved stolen from you?" He asked Lupin.
Sholmes watched Lupin's expression change from slight alarm, to dread. Then, to Sholmes' surprise, sympathy.
"They've stolen someone from you," Lupin said, his voice quieting.
"You have my word that I am not affiliated with Tymiaor in any way," Sholmes said. He regarded Lupin a last time. Sholmes had said nearly everything he needed to. He didn't believe he would be shot by Lupin's associates.
Sholmes did not get an affirmative answer from Lupin, but he could tell from Lupin's expression that he was intrigued enough to take part.
Sholmes stepped back. "Meet me tomorrow at the Bodmin moors, 3 p.m., where the Tymiaor is expected by police to cross through. There will be very few officers there, but I will make sure you are not found."
Sholmes turned and started to walk away.
He heard Lupin say, "Be careful out there."
Sholmes didn't answer.