Countdown all over the world

Portulier's oil painting was stolen. According to the clues provided by Mycroft, the point is very simple.

The center of the explosion was not in the exhibition hall, but in the passage of the staff.

Obviously, the other party's intention was to take away the oil painting to deceive others.The success of the transfer is the only factor they consider.This is also the reason why Annie was able to successfully save so many people back then.

"Among Portulier's staff, there is an internal response."

In other words, the clue is what it means.

Annie frowned, obviously the feeling of being used by the other party was not good.So many human lives there, in the eyes of the other party, turned out to be just a means of diversion and a cover-up.

This kind of contempt for life is actually very similar to the people Holmes comes into contact with on a daily basis.

Annie said: "So, that is to say, that one...was put down by the staff?"

This reasoning is very common sense, and even ordinary people would think of it.If the gang moves together, there will inevitably be a share of the work.If there is no internal response, it is basically impossible to complete the smooth entry and transfer.

Why should McCoff focus on such an obvious thing.This is what Annie didn't understand.

Holmes explained: "On the day before the explosion, Watson and I saw a homeless man who died suddenly."

"Sudden death?" Annie asked.

Holmes nodded, walked to the desk, and pulled out a scroll from a pile of messy things.Pushed on the ground to make a flat ground.Roll out the scroll.

"Here is the map of the city," said Holmes.

He pointed to a heavily scratched place on it: "This is Porturiel."

Annie narrowed her eyes and squatted down.Her hand was not far from Portulier, gently mosuo.A very ordinary street corner, wrapped in Watson's handwriting.

"Just under your hand is the last place where I found the tramp," said Holmes. "And this..."

He pointed to a line with a strange trajectory on the map.

"Where do homeless people usually appear?" Annie frowned.

Holmes nodded. He looked at the map on the ground and pursed his lips.

"Any idea?" asked Holmes.

Annie's heart sank. If she said that this trajectory was very similar to her usual trajectory, how should she explain such a coincidence?

Even she herself was a little surprised when she saw it.

"Not far from this street corner is my residence."

After thinking about it again and again, Annie decided to be honest.At least, for some places, it should be explained in detail.

Facing Holmes' eyes, Annie pointed to the square not far away.

There is a market.

"I often go here too." Annie said.

She looked at Holmes with a slight smile on her lips.

"Speaking of which, this is the first time I saw you." Annie added.

Holmes naturally did not forget this matter, but he was not very willing to recall it.After all, not all the people he secretly looked at would look back at him so accurately and give him a focused look.

God knows how surprised he was at the time.

Annie pursed her lips, obviously thinking of something, and a smile filled her eyes.

"Occasionally, my route is very similar to his." Annie continued.

However, after the interruption just now, the atmosphere was no longer so dignified.On the contrary, Annie felt a little relaxed in her heart.Just like, it wasn't her who was targeted by the homeless for no reason.

Holmes nodded, evidently noticing this too.

During the few days when he... um... tried to pretend to follow Annie, he had indeed walked such a road.

Annie bowed her head. What Holmes didn't know was that if it wasn't for his "little game", she would always go this way every time if there were no accidents.

However, the bum was never found.

"That is to say, he used to be active in this area in advance when I was not around." Annie said.

But what is it for?

Annie is an orphan whose only hobby is painting.Annie, who has lived many years of health care in advance, is considered the most ordinary person on weekdays.

Where is this unobtrusive place, where is it worth hiring a homeless person to pay attention to?

"So, what does he have to do with Porturier?" Annie asked.

Holmes turned and took out another document, which he spread out on the map.It's all about that bum.

"Outsiders are forced to beg because of bankruptcy. When they come to the city, the most they do is drink and gamble."

Everything looks very ordinary.

Wrong hobbies made this already bankrupt person suffer from terrible poverty.Need money, and someone gives him money, so it is reasonable to do something.

"Poturiel, have you ever hired him?" Annie couldn't help being surprised when she saw one of the pages.

In the document is the contract for the homeless to be hired.

Perhaps it was because before he went bankrupt, he also had a little education.

Annie frowned: "It turned out to be a major in appreciation?"

This was unexpected, who would have thought that a drunk who babbled nonsense all day long and was once a connoisseur of suits and leather shoes?

The complexity of the background surprised Annie a little.

She still remembers, at the window, seeing the light on the corner of the street, gradually going out.The string of countdowns instantly reset to zero and lost its light.

That is the dissolution of a life.

Annie thought about...

It's just that when I first saw it, I just thought it was commonplace.Everyone has a countdown timer on their heads. Doesn't that string of numbers that keep getting shorter indicate the inevitable death in the future?

of course……

Annie looked at the string of question marks above the head of the person next to her, and the clean one above her head.Perhaps, there are only the two of them, who don't see the oppression of the countdown all the time.

Holmes nodded: "So, he should have had experience with stolen oil paintings."

"But he was silenced before anything happened." Annie said, "This is a bit unexpected."

Annie walked to the map and looked at the map again.

"He knew something the employer didn't want him to know. The route that appeared in the end was very weird. It was very different from the usual one, and he should have realized something. But he chose to come downstairs to you, which is very strange. Obviously, in the direction of your house."

Holmes paused, and looked at Anne with worry in his eyes.

"It seems that my situation is very delicate!" Annie didn't seem to take it seriously, and joked casually.

Holmes frowned.He walked over and looked at the crowd outside the window very seriously.

Turning his head around, he announced in a very serious tone, "You should stay on Baker Street."

"Let me rent a house?" Annie raised her eyebrows.

Holmes shook his head. "No, 221B. You should stay here."

As if suddenly realizing his good idea, Holmes sped up his speech with some excitement.

"Yes, you should stay here. Whether it's protecting you, or better looking for Watson, I can find... er, protect you faster."

Holmes nodded heavily: "So, stay here."

Annie: ...what kind of development is this?

Seeing the lack of seriousness on Anne's face, Holmes persuaded her more patiently than usual.

"This is not permanent. Even Watson and I may not say how long we will live here." Holmes spread his hands with a normal look.

He went on to persuade: "You should know that the people living in this street are not simple. Mycroft would never want me to stay away from his surveillance, would he?"

Holmes glanced at Annie, who was sunk in her seat again, with a bit of curiosity in her eyes: "He should have gone to you, right? It seems that you are a little late today by 2 minutes, and you still have something hard to ignore. The smell of the perfume. If I remember correctly, it is the new perfume that Mycroft just changed two days ago."

He spoke quickly in one breath: "So, how much is he going to give you this time?"

Annie shrugged: "It seems that this is not the first time he has done this. What a pity, I thought I was the first."

Annie made a "seven" gesture.

Holmes opened his eyes wide in shock: "It's only seven hundred pounds, am I so worthless?"

"No way..." Annie curled her lips in disgust.

She added another knife: "It's £170."

Don't mention the expensive Portouille VIP coupon, which is even priceless.Clearly enjoying Holmes' shock.

"This miser deserves to be so fat by his little cake!" said Holmes bitterly to himself.

Annie nodded: "Well, it's quite stingy. He even plans to pay in two installments, and he doesn't even have the courage to pay once."

"So you confiscated it?" asked Holmes.

Annie nodded as if it was a matter of course.

A slight smile appeared in Holmes' eyes, but he said reluctantly, "It's a pity. Although it is small, we can share it."

Anne looked at Holmes with a funny face, but did not poke him.Just like that, he sank into his seat, drinking black tea quietly.

"So, our next step..." Annie asked, swallowing the black tea in her mouth.

Holmes looked up: "Go to Portulier."

This is where it all happens and is naturally worth a visit.

Annie nodded: "Okay. Come to my house by the way. Since I live here, I need to move some things."

The check-in experience at 221B Baker Street should be very interesting.

Anne thought so.

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