"The Widow" Bertha

Mickey the coachman was still dizzy until he followed Charlie Berry to South Shore Street.

He probably understands that the little boy Charlie is under the care of Mrs. Thames, and Mrs. Thames needs more subordinates. She is generous and neat, and she is a rare good person.Now Mickey has helped Mrs. Thames a lot, and Mrs. Thames will definitely treat him well. Mickey's future is boundless.

——The point is, what does this "Ms. Thames" look like, where she comes from, and what kind of background she has, even Charlie can't tell.

A street thief dressed as a newsboy brought Mickey to the bar at No. 22 South Bank Street, which was basically decorated.

"Go in," Charlie said anxiously, "I won't go."

"how?"

"Thomas said children are not allowed in the bar," Charlie murmured, "but it's not fair that you can go if you can't catch them... Anyway, you go in and find a Thomas Thames and give him the letter , The rest will be arranged by him."

"Another Thames?"

"It's Mrs. Thames' younger brother, one of my own, don't worry!"

After speaking, Charlie waved at Mickey and ran away in a hurry.

Mickey was still skeptical, but everyone was on South Shore Street, so it was too bad to go back. He hesitated for a moment, and pushed open the blue-painted door of the bar.

The bar isn't open yet, and the windows inside can't hide the smell of fresh paint.The clean decoration is quite stylish. As soon as Mickey looks up, he can see the iconic big bar counter of the English pub and the beer barrels placed high.

There were three men sitting there, one behind the counter, wearing a beige long trench coat, with a handsome face and a romantic temperament; two in front of the counter, a young gentleman dressed well, with profound features, a pair of eyes as sharp as a falcon, and the other Dressed sloppily and dressed sloppily, he looked like a hooligan at first glance.

Three people with completely different painting styles are in the same picture, forming a strange harmony.

Mickey hesitated for a moment, then said, "Which of you is Mr. Thomas Thames?"

Standing behind the counter, the suave young man got up, raised his eyes and looked at Mickey with ice blue eyes: "What's the matter with you?"

Mickey: "Charlie Berry asked me to deliver a letter to Mrs Thames."

As soon as "Mrs. Thames" was mentioned, the remaining two men also turned their heads at the same time. The sudden sight made Mickey feel a little pressure. He took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to the lightly dressed woman. A youth in a camel coat.

The latter paused when he found out that the letter had been opened, but he didn't say anything.

He took out the letter paper, glanced at it, and immediately froze in place.

The gentleman in front of the bar said sharply: "What news?"

A young man named Thomas Thames handed the letter directly to the gentleman: "Your brother must be busy."

Holmes: "..."

Sherlock Holmes glanced at the letter, and at once understood why.

The writer's handwriting is handsome, and at first glance it is written by a lady. There is only a short sentence written on the huge white paper——

[Sir Ward has been exposed, please act. ]

The signature of the letter is not a name, but a pattern similar to hieroglyphics.For the past few days, Holmes has been studying the contents of the mural, and he recognized it almost immediately as the symbol that appeared most often on the mural.

Holmes stared at the symbol a few more times, and his expression changed slightly.

He raised his head and looked at the driver at the door: "Do you know who sent this letter?"

"The governess of Sir James Ward, Minister of the Cabinet," replied Mickey truthfully, "the coachman who was with me recognized her."

"great!"

Holmes hooked his mouth at the speed of light.

In this way, it can be fully proved that Sir Ward really belongs to the Truth Society.And it seemed that his tutor did not know that Colonel Dent had also received a fake invitation.

"We must act as soon as possible," he put away the letter, and said decisively, "If the people of the Truth Society know that Colonel Dent and Sir Ward are in the same room and trapped in Mycroft's chess game, they will definitely Eliminate all clues outside."

Thomas shuddered, and then he followed Holmes' thoughts: "This letter must be sent to Mrs. Thames."

Holmes: "Find someone reliable."

Mickey: "I can go."

Thomas and Holmes had a meal.

The two turned their heads to look at the man by the door at the same time. Mickey was not very old and spoke authentic London dialect. He looked like an ordinary street driver.

"The letter has been opened," said Holmes. "You did it?"

"Uh."

Mickey hesitated for a while, but still told Charlie Berry the truth: "Charlie asked me to help him read the letter, and he said that he would get rich in the future. Don't forget the nonsense that he introduced me to Mrs. Thames."

Thomas knew it right away—it was someone introduced by Charlie Berry.

He tilted his head: "What's your name?"

"Mickey."

"how old are you?"

"23 years old...what the hell is going on?"

"You work with me these few days," Thomas did not immediately explain. "The situation is tense right now, and I will explain it to you in detail on the way. Send me a letter to worry about it. What about the Truth Society?"

"It's easy."

Holmes thought for a moment, and then he had an answer: "The big trouble is that people from Scotland Yard are dispatched. I need Thames' children, and you, Sykes."

Sykes, who was holding a beer glass in his hand, was immediately upset: "It's fine if Mrs. Thames orders me, who are you?"

Holmes turned his head expressionlessly, and his sharp eyes swept over, making Sikes, who was still unconvinced just now, feel inexplicably guilty.

"I know what you've been hiding in the Docklands," he said dryly. "Shall I tell Mrs. Thames?"

"What is he hiding?" Thomas immediately sensed the situation.

"……Oh shit."

Sikes put down his beer glass fiercely, first glanced at Thomas warily, and then had to give in: "Just say what you want to do."

Holmes nodded: "Thames, you must send me someone who can mobilize children."

THOMAS: "Jacob Thames and Jack 'Untouchable' are at your disposal, and this Mickey and I go to Northfield with a letter—"

"—Leave it to me to deliver the letter."

A fifth person's voice came from outside the door, suddenly interrupting Thomas' words.

The other four people in the room turned their heads one after another. Except for Mickey, the three men who cooperated with Mrs. Thames recognized the visitor at a glance: a man in his 30s, with a burly figure and a kinder face, The point is the standard postman uniform he's wearing.

This isn't the postman around the South Bank block, who else could it be?

Sykes immediately put down his beer glass and shouted strangely: "This is really fucking hell! Gangsters, street thieves, newspaper boys and coachmen, who else is Mrs. Thames picking up? Don't tell me that a postman like you Damn you want to get a foot in!"

Facing Sykes who was full of swear words, the postman who had just entered the door just smiled, and then looked at Thomas: "Someone needs to keep an eye on the Whitechapel area and the Dr. Long tied up upstairs."

Thomas immediately frowned: "Who are you?"

Postman: "I am from Mr. Holmes."

Thomas was taken aback for a moment, and then realized that the "Sherlock Holmes" the postman was talking about was not the one sitting opposite him, but... Mrs. Thames's "lover" who never knew what to do.

but……

"You say yes," he said coldly, "Why should I believe you?"

"He is indeed my brother's man."

Sherlock Holmes said coldly, "I didn't expect it to be you."

The postman nodded politely: "Little Mr. Holmes."

"This is the servant Mycroft brought to London from the Sherlock Holmes Manor," Sherlock said, with a hint of surprise showing on his always indifferent face, "He actually sent you out to protect Mrs. Thames." ?”

Bring out servants from home.Even Thomas, who was in the slums like this, understood that such a subordinate was naturally a right-hand man, and it was of great significance.

That Mr. "Lover" sent such an important role from the very beginning? !

This time it was Thomas' turn to be surprised. He complied with the postman's request and watched him and Mickey the coachman walk out of the bar with the letter. what relationship?"

No wonder Thomas was confused and said they were lovers, but Mrs. Thames said that they were not in that kind of relationship, but now everyone has entrusted his right-hand man to protect his wife. It is a bit strange to say that they are simply cooperating.

Holmes just smiled slightly at this, and watched the postman leave thoughtfully.

***

That afternoon, Northfield Manor.

Two days had passed since the murder, and finally someone couldn't sit still.

Sir Ward was not the only one who was uneasy. Several professors were burdened with courses, and if they dragged on like this, it would affect their work.Therefore, they took the lead in blocking Bertha's way in the manor hall: "Miss Marple, you have been investigating for two full days. Is there any progress in the case? We don't know anything until now. I think everyone here has the right to know. "

The gentlemen spoke politely, but they were menacing.

Facing their questioning, Bertha turned her head slightly, and looked around before answering: Because it was afternoon, and the lunch break was over, basically all the guests who had been holding back for two days were present.Bertha took a little longer to confirm Sir Ward's location, then nodded: "Of course, what do you want to know?"

"You said you found a letter in Dr. Lang's room, what letter?"

"Ah, this."

Bertha looked around again, but she did not find Colonel Dent.

"It's an invitation letter," Bertha said coldly, "but this invitation letter is not signed by Mr. Lancaster."

"Not Mr. Lancaster?!"

An official in the hall was surprised: "Then, how did he get in?"

Bertha smiled brightly: "I don't think your wife is on the invitation letter, sir? The same is true for several doctors and professors here, but Mr. Lancaster is willing to make friends with researchers, and everyone recommends visiting That's all."

Several professors who were not included in the invitation showed embarrassment, but still insisted on asking: "Then what's wrong with this invitation letter?"

Bertha: "I can't tell."

The professor who asked the question: "You——you're playing tricks."

"Of course I have to play tricks," Bertha said bluntly. "If I say it now, it's tantamount to making the clues public. Then? Are you and I waiting for the suspect to erase the evidence? If the 'murderer' gets away with it , Professor, are you willing to take responsibility?"

Thanks to her former occupation, Bertha's mouth is not so sharp. She uttered these words clearly and firmly. Coupled with the dark golden eyes of the Jamaican girl, this unyielding appearance surprised several people. The professor flinched a little.

The scene became awkward for a while.

Just when Bertha felt that the rhythm was just right, and was about to ease her tone and give the gentlemen a step down, a familiar voice came from the top of the hall.

"What is it worth arguing in public?"

It was Mycroft.

Another planner of the secret room "murder case" finally decided to personally join the drama.The tall gentleman walked down the stairs without haste with his cane, and stopped beside Bertha.

He even had his usual polite smile on his face: "What's the matter, dear?"

Bertha: "It's nothing, it's just that the gentlemen are a little anxious, which is understandable."

Mycroft's cane fell to the ground, with a look of patient explanation: "It always takes time to solve a case. Even the most experienced police detectives in London have to pay attention to rules and evidence. But these gentlemen asked at the right time. .”

"What?" Bertha turned her head.

"Your new friend has sent an important letter."

new friend?

Bertha didn't know where she made new friends in the manor.But Mycroft said so...

She lowered her head slightly, and took the letter from Mycroft: "Where did it come from?"

The older Holmes turned his head and asked, "Where is Colonel Dent?"

Bertha: "..."

In the eyes of others, this rather unfamiliar Mr. Holmes just called out the Colonel's name in a friendly manner.But Bertha, who was the closest, saw a bit of indifference in Mycroft's eyes.

——The last time I saw his expression like this was in the carriage that night, when he threatened himself.

"Mr. Lancaster," Holmes looked at the owner of the manor and asked politely, "Please invite Colonel Dent to the lobby—"

"no need."

Before Mycroft finished speaking, Colonel Dent strode in from outside the main entrance of the hall.

The colonel, who was a soldier, had a neat figure, with one hand behind his back, and a serious face that showed no emotions.Bertha glanced at him quickly, and then her eyes suddenly locked on the cuff button of the hand hanging by his leg——

Not only did Miss Jane Eyre have a good memory, but she was also a good painter. She accurately reproduced the pattern of the cufflinks that Colonel Dent put on, making his small cufflinks stand out in the huge hall.

The man strode forward, almost heading straight for Bertha and Mycroft. When he was still five steps away from the two, relying on Bertha's years of experience in being robbed of cameras and recording pens, She quickly judged that Colonel Dent's target was not herself, but Holmes!

She lifted her skirt almost reflexively.

Colonel Dent took another step forward, four steps to go.

Bertha drew the hidden gun from under her skirt

There are three more steps.

She raised her left hand to load.

There are two more steps.

Bertha raised her right hand, and Colonel Dent was only a step away from the two of them.

The cold muzzle of the gun was aimed right at the man's forehead, not even an inch away.

Colonel Dent's footsteps stopped suddenly, and he also drew out his right hand behind his back, holding the same gun in his palm, but it was meaningless to raise it again at this time.

"I can't bear it until now," Bertha said with a smile on Yan Yan, "I'm afraid that you will expose your other accomplice to Mike, aren't you?"

Colonel Dent smiled back.

The cold muzzle of the gun was pressed against his forehead, the colonel didn't move, but he didn't show any look of flinching and fear, he just looked at Bertha in front of him provocatively: "Do you know how to use a gun, Miss Marple?" ?”

"Nope."

Bertha replied naturally: "But it's so close, why don't you take the risk and see if I can burst your brain out?"

At this point, a drama has entered the climax before the end.