Countdown all over the world

After Annie tidied up her clothes, she felt warm all over her body.Sinking into the soft seat again, let alone how to enjoy it.

Holmes looked at Annie who was sitting in his seat, the corners of his lips raised a little, and a smile could not help but appear in his eyes.

Mycroft stood aside and looked around, feeling that it would be very boring to stand here again, and the left and right things had been ordered.He greeted Holmes, then turned around and passed Watson out the door.

Watson turned sideways, out of the way of Mycroft.

He turned around and looked at the closed door, and said amusedly, "Has Mycroft gained weight in the past two days? I feel like I was even squeezed by him when I passed by just now."

Annie pursed her lips, a little amused, and said nothing.

Holmes picked up his pipe and nodded appreciatively at Watson: "Obviously, Watson, your observation skills have improved a little."

He blew out a breath, with light smoke.

Watson came over, picked up a cup of black tea that Mrs. Hudson had made, and took a sip.

Holmes said: "Actually, since the last time we met, he has gained one and a half pounds. It should be caused by the discovery of a more interesting cake taste recently. Perhaps, it is the same dessert as your failed lunch at noon today. .It all tastes like orange..."

Watson almost choked on his throat with a sip of black tea. He coughed twice before he recovered.

He glanced at Annie in embarrassment. She sat there silently, holding a book in her hand, as if she didn't hear anything.

Holmes turned his head: "Watson, why are you blushing?"

Watson felt that it would be impossible to talk if this happened again today.He stepped forward hastily and lowered his voice to warn Holmes.

"Don't keep talking about me and Alice," he said.

Holmes nodded in a sudden realization: "Oh, it's Alice... I always thought you would choose your other assistant Abby first, what made you give up on that redhead?"

Watson's breath was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't go up or down, it was extremely uncomfortable.

He knew that he couldn't speak against Holmes, so he just sat aside with a cup of black tea and acted non-violently non-cooperative.It was so quiet, as if she couldn't hear Holmes' voice.

Annie tapped the corner of her lips, but she tried her best to suppress it.His stomach hurts from laughing, and his lips are tightly pursed.

Holmes cleared his throat, and decided to let go of such a subject for the time being and return to the subject.Otherwise, if Watson is really offended to death, there will be no one to help him in the future breakfast.

After all, Mrs. Hudson didn't agree at all, and used those two salted fish to fill up the bullet hole in the wall.It is estimated that he still has to prepare breakfast for the three of them.

"I think maybe we need to go to that familiar square." Holmes clasped his hands together and put them on his lips, speaking softly.

Watson paused as he drank his tea. Some did not expect Holmes to let go of this topic so easily.This surprised him a bit, but it was a good thing after all, so he didn't delve into it.

Annie turned her head with doubts on her face: "Are you going to start with that homeless man?"

"Yes." Holmes nodded.

He turned around and picked up the scroll that Annie had drawn, and spread it out on the ground.Picking up his violin casually, he plucked it lightly twice.Only then pointed to a place on the map with the bow.

Holmes said: "It is evident that the tramp was silenced at this moment. The timing is admirably admirable, and it would be a pity if something were not wrung out of him..."

Watson pursed his lips, but decided to speak out his doubts.

"However, we have seen his body. What new clues can there be?"

Holmes shook his head at Watson with a look of regret that could not be sculpted.He sighed exaggeratedly: "Dear Watson, how could you forget..."

"Sometimes, it is the person who no longer speaks who can give us more information!"

Going to the street corner where the homeless man finally died, Holmes didn't want Annie to come forward.After all, although I didn't understand why the tramp would follow Anne's route, there must be a story in it, which is beyond doubt.

Sherlock Holmes was very reluctant to let Anne intervene in this matter again.

"You shouldn't have come." Holmes sat in the car, still a little sullen.

Watson sat between the two of them, solemnly and quietly.He looked like he was watching from the sidelines, for fear that the fish in the pond would be harmed by both sides.

Annie thought that Mr. Detective, with slightly pursed lips and slightly red eyes, was very interesting.She smiled unconsciously, and her tone softened: "But, I also want to help you. Since this matter has something to do with me, if you add me, it may be handled more smoothly?"

Holmes let out a vicious breath through his nose, and turned his head to look out the window.One, I don't want to look like a theory.

Seeing this, Annie also smiled, and said nothing more when Holmes was angry.

After waiting for a long time, I didn't hear Annie's next voice.Holmes turned his head secretly, and glanced at Anne on Watson's side from the corner of his eye.

With limited attention from the corner of the eye, you will be able to see the smile on Annie's mouth.The rest were almost blocked by Watson's nose.

Holmes let out a vicious "hum", fully expressing his dissatisfaction.

Watson, who was confronted with such anger, trembled in his heart, and calmed down to comfort himself.It's okay, you didn't even speak.Sherlock is not mad at you.

Not at all, and sometimes, silence is not enough.

After all, people walk by the river, and the pot comes from the sky.

Fortunately, the car soon stopped.The street corner was not far away, and the group got out of the car.

Watson said: "Annie, you have to be careful, this kind of place is easy to be scratched once or twice."

Annie, who was instructed by the two people in turn, smiled, accepting Watson's kindness.

Holmes glanced at the two of them, but said nothing.He just strode forward, swinging the back of his coat in a very chic arc, and walked towards the corner of the street not far away.

Watson froze for a moment, but didn't speak.But he still protected Annie in a gentlemanly manner and walked over.

Although I don't know why, why do I always feel that Sherlock is angry?Watson, who was confused, was very careful with his words.He even paid more attention to protecting Anne. After all, Sherlock saw this woman in his eyes, and Watson consciously took the matter of protecting Anne into his heart.

The location on the street corner, the biggest feature at night is its concealment.

At that time, if it weren't for Anne, she could see the numbers on the top of people's heads.If Holmes hadn't followed the tramp's footsteps, it would have been difficult for him to discover the man's fall in the first place.

When the opponent shot the poisonous needle, he must have considered this point.

"It is because of the concealment of this place that the other party can step forward and kill the poisonous needle after the toxin in the poisonous needle enters the tramp's body," Holmes said.

He glanced at Watson, and stared at Watson's hand that blocked Annie's flow without any trace.

"Professional advice, if it is poisonous, how long will it take for people to lose their resistance?"

Watson frowned and thought about it carefully.

"As far as I know, the more commonly used level should be less than 2 minutes, and the person has no mobility at all." Watson replied.

Holmes nodded, and pointed to the scratches he had noticed not far away.

"Therefore, the dirt I see under the tramp's nails," said Holmes, "corresponds to the scratches on the wall, and proves that he once struggled there."

Watson shook his head: "Sherlock, I saw that the other party didn't have painful muscle stiffness..."

"unless……"

Both Holmes and Watson looked over, waiting for Anne's next words.

Annie pursed her lips and expressed her guess: "The toxin is mixed with sedative and anesthetic effects?"

Holmes looked at the position under his feet, and visually measured the distance between this place and those scratches.

"There is a distance of more than five meters between the place where the homeless man lay down and the place where he said he was struggling. And he didn't have any obvious wrinkles in his clothes. If he is affected by the toxin, he should walk a few meters away, and his trousers should be slightly wrinkled. Variety."

Annie frowned: "Is it possible that the other party did not shoot the poisonous needle?"

"It was stabbed at close range!" Holmes' eyes widened all of a sudden.After the inherent pattern is broken, everything can not be more obvious.

Mr. Detective closed his eyes, and the clues in his mind turned into fragments of the past.

fight, struggle.Sudden anesthesia and toxins, and finally collapsed.

Everything is connected.

Watson obviously didn't expect that, according to their daily experience, when seeing such a needle eye, they are generally accustomed to think that it is a long-distance shot.

Holmes nodded, obviously agreeing with Anne's speculation.

He and Watson looked at each other silently, and decided to hide this elementary mistake.

If you are not careful, you will lose face...

Holmes said: "So, the next step is, what kind of person would hire such a professional killer for the purpose of silence. Who is this person?"

Annie nodded, and continued: "Also, what did the tramp know before he died?"

……

After the three of them discussed, they planned to go to the shop where homeless people often play the autumn wind to take a look.

"Annie, that place is more chaotic..." Watson hesitated to speak, his eyes flicked back and forth on Annie's face.

Holmes was walking in front of the two of them. Hearing this, he turned his head and grabbed Annie.Pull her away from Watson, for fear that Annie will be fooled by Watson.

"You have to know that in the past 20 years, Annie has spent nearly half of her career on her own." Holmes frowned, "Don't always underestimate her like this."

Holmes lowered his voice and whispered in Watson's ear.

Annie stood in front of the two of them, looking at Watson with a smile on her face.As if he didn't know what Holmes said, he still greeted him calmly, "Let's go?"

Watson opened his mouth, but Holmes patted him on the back.He sighed slightly from the bottom of his heart, but didn't speak.Even if Holmes said that, he still couldn't let go of his worries about Anne.

Holmes settled Watson and nodded at Anne: "Let's go."

The place where the tramp played the autumn wind was an informal tavern.It's very quiet here during the day.There were only a few people in there, with pipes in their mouths, puffing in the room.Next to the feet, there is a row of empty wine bottles.

This is only during the day, if it is night, I am afraid that the noise of the crowd is enough to make the people inside dizzy.It feels like I've had several bottles of wine.

Before going in, Watson still couldn't help holding Annie, with a worried face on his face: "Annie, if you feel uncomfortable after you go in, you can tell me and Sherlock at any time."

Annie tilted her head, nodded very obediently, and did not directly refute Watson's concern.

After Holmes pushed open the door, several people inside looked over at the same time.The two tall men frowned and put down the half-empty wine bottles in their hands.He stood up and looked at the three people at the door.

"Is old John there?" said Holmes.

Several people who were drinking looked at each other, as if they had heard something ridiculous.The leading man sneered a few times.He raised his head and took a sip of the rest of the wine, smashing the bottle to the ground.

The broken glass made a sharp sound.It can be said to be full of momentum, the man walked over step by step.

Holmes was not short, but against the backdrop of the man, he was still somewhat lower.

The man grinned, showing yellow teeth.He took off the hat on Holmes' head slowly, and patted the non-existent dirt on it very disdainfully.A backhand, worn on his head.

He leaned closer to Holmes, as if joking: "I am Old John..."

Holmes didn't care about the man's teasing at all. He continued to shout: "Old John, I know the location of the girl you were looking for a few days ago. I have something to ask you..."

The man raised his eyebrows, as if he was amused.He bypassed Holmes and walked towards Anne.

Watson stepped forward, ready to put Annie behind him.But Annie quietly pulled her sleeves and stood there without moving.

The man leaned over, looked at Annie's beautiful face as if enjoying it, and smiled, showing his yellow teeth: "How old are you?"

Watson looked worried, and looked at Anne, as if he could greet a man with his fist in the next moment.

Annie smiled slightly: "21."

The man nodded, as if extremely satisfied with the result.He was raising his hand, ready to do something.I felt a pain in my wrist, and my eyes blurred.Before he could react to anything, he knelt down on the ground with a "plop" the next moment.The wrist was turned and pressed on the back of the neck, and the back was still pressed.

Annie smiled, looking at the man she had captured on the ground.He pursed his lips, looking extremely careless.

With a gentle tone, he asked, "But, why are you asking this?"

The man was in so much pain that he couldn't speak clearly. He hissed, and then he opened his mouth quickly under Annie's harder pain.

"Nothing, nothing!" He wished he could slap himself just now.

This is all at once, kicked on the iron plate!

When the men over there saw Annie's hand, their complexions also became bad.One of them was pushed forward and asked nervously, "You, what do you need?"

Annie glanced at Holmes: "Look for Old John!"

Anne nodded to Holmes, who understood and amplified her voice: "Old John, that woman will be leaving on the ship tomorrow."

Behind, a small door was pushed open.An old man in his early fifties slowly walked out of it, not to mention gray-haired, but definitely gray-haired.

Annie was a little surprised, she always thought that Old John was just a middle-aged man with some sources of information.

Old John came over, took a bottle of wine from the table and unscrewed it.

After taking a big gulp for himself, he slowly walked towards Holmes and his party.

"Holmes...you have come to my place again," said Old John.

After he finished speaking, it was as if it was the first time he saw that the man caught by Annie turned out to be someone from him who came to buy wine.Exaggerated surprise appeared on his face, and he muttered: "What happened?"

Holmes glanced at Annie and walked towards her.

Annie let go of her hand knowingly.As soon as the man was freed, he ran away as if fleeing for his life.He didn't dare to go out directly, the main entrance was blocked by Holmes and the others.

In the corner of the store where the timid one is, it is very quiet.

Old John made a "please" gesture to Holmes and told him to sit down and speak slowly.

Watson was still a little immersed in Anne's hand, obviously he hadn't thought of it at all.Annie, who looks so cute and cute, has such a quick response and the straightforwardness of her subordinates.

He unconsciously followed Annie and sat on the other side of Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes, who watched Watson take away the seat next to Anne, felt a little unhappy in his heart.He glanced at Old John who was waiting to talk, and decided to put this matter aside.

Old John cut to the chase: "Tell me, when and where will the girl go?"

Holmes laughed and said, "A few days ago, a homeless man came to drink with you. What happened?"

"He didn't bring any money, and he drank too much." Old John paused in the middle of his sentence, and smiled at Holmes, "It's your turn."

Holmes said, "Tomorrow afternoon. Where was the tramp sitting?"

Old John lazily pointed to a corner not far away.There, two or three worn-out chairs surrounded a board that could not be called a table.There were also two cracks, standing there firmly.

Watson watched and pursed his lips.

"Did they fight that day?" asked Watson. "When did the table break?"

Old John didn't answer, but just glanced at Holmes.

Holmes nodded: "She is going to cross the sea and has brought all her belongings."

Old John's eyes widened for a moment, and then he continued to pretend to be calm: "Yes, I don't know what happened that day, that homeless man drank like crazy, and even quarreled with the people next to him all at once. I got up. Finally, I moved my hands and broke a lot of my things."

Holmes stood up and nodded to Old John, "The boat ride at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you." Old John stood up and limped to the back.

Bending down, he entered the back room through the narrow door.

Holmes walked over and knelt down to observe the corner carefully.He touched the dust on the bottom of the table and rubbed his fingers lightly.He squinted his eyes again, looking at the broken gap.

On the side of the wall stood a broken log.There is only a small connection left, which will connect itself to the table next to it.

Holmes walked over, feeling his hands up and down the broken log.

Then he turned around and glanced at Annie.

Annie said to Watson, "Let's go."

Doubt appeared in Watson's eyes, and he followed Annie to the gate.

Holmes made a detour to the man who was hiding in the corner, and those who were flaunting their might just now shrank even more.Like, wish I could make myself smaller.Let the person not notice the same thing as himself.

Holmes looked at the person who had just attacked him, gently got his hat back from the table.

"If I were you, I would definitely take good care of the injury on my knee. Otherwise, what will I do in the future?"

After finishing speaking, he ignored the panic in the man's eyes, turned around and went out the door.

That group of people is obviously a friend of wine and meat.Without the bravado of force, how could the remaining group of people be inferior to others.Men may still have something to worry about.

After Holmes came out, he said to Anne and Watson, "Our initial thought was wrong."

"The original exhibition in Porturier was a replica?" Annie frowned.

Holmes nodded, and handed Anne the note he had just found from the broken wood.

"They're going to deal with me... because I know, that thing is fake!"

Holmes sighed and walked briskly up and down the street a few times.

"In the beginning, the exhibits that Portulier received were not authentic." He explained, "And this tramp, he is not an ordinary person, right? He knows how to taste, even I suspect, He once told the results of his tasting, which is one of the reasons for the sudden disaster."

Watson shook his head, intervened and asked, "Wait, I didn't follow. What tasting?"

Annie added the part that Watson didn't know: "I saw the information about the homeless man with Sherlock some time ago. He fell here because of a change in his family. He learned how to appreciate it before."

"The more professional one." Annie added.

Holmes nodded: "So, it's not that the other party chose the wrong oil painting to transfer. It's just that from the beginning to the end, they only got replicas!"

This conclusion surprised all three of them.

Annie recalled the appreciation that was interrupted by the explosion, and couldn't help feeling worried.

Where is the oil painting that was once famous overseas and is now priceless?

……

There was a knock on the door of Baker Street in the early morning.

Under Watson's gaze, Holmes sat on the spot, completely lost in thought.

"Messenger, this is an urgent post," said Holmes, clasping his hands to his lips, and slightly lowering his head.

After hearing this, Watson helplessly put down the teacup in his hand, and shook his head: "No, Sherlock. You know our postman never arrives at this time."

After speaking, he stood up and walked to the window.

"The postman?" said Holmes, laughing.

Watson looked out the window, the postman who had just left had a stiff face.He turned his head, looked at the subtle smile on Holmes' face, and admitted helplessly.

"It's the postman."

Holmes nodded as if taking it for granted, "Of course."

Footsteps on the stairs, one step at a time.

Holmes' complexion changed slightly. He raised his head and looked towards the door of their room.

"Anne?" asked Holmes.

Watson turned his head belatedly, and walked past the window: "Annie? What do you want?"

Although it's been a while since she moved into Baker Street, Annie has never been to the third floor.

Holmes looked serious. He stood up immediately and came to Annie.From the somewhat chilly hand of Annie, she gently picked up the letter that the postman handed to her.

Ten lines at a glance.

Watson walked over worriedly and handed Annie a cup of black tea.

Annie took a sip before panting slightly: "Sherlock, I want to go back for a while. I need to deal with...these things."

Holmes took his eyes away from the letter, and looked at Anne who looked normal.However, she could see a bit of hesitation in her slightly lifeless eyes.

This was Anne he had never seen before, and Holmes couldn't help but feel nervous.

He walked quickly to Annie's side, and held her hand involuntarily: "I'll help you."

Watson looked at Holmes who was rare and serious, a little nervous: "What happened?"

Holmes glanced at the silent Anne, turned his head and shook his head at Watson: "I have something to do with Anne for the time being, and the matter of picking up homeless people, so I will wait for a while."

Annie shook her head and gently pressed Holmes: "Sherlock, I can do it myself. You and Watson go to investigate first, and I will follow up as soon as possible."

However, when the two were talking, Watson said, "I think, just investigate what happened to the homeless man, and I can do it."

Holmes turned his head and looked at Watson suspiciously.The meaning in those eyes couldn't be more obvious.

Watson couldn't help but rolled his eyes when he was watched, took a few deep breaths helplessly, and suppressed his anger.

He looked at Annie, who was a little out of order, and decided to let this time go for her sake.

"Thanks for your hard work, Watson." Annie said with gratitude in her eyes.

Watson looked at Annie's smile and felt that his decision to speak this time was right.Although... a certain Mr. detective who always underestimates himself often makes him feel helpless at some moments.

Holmes pursed his lips, walked up to Watson, and patted him on the shoulder.After looking at him silently for a while, he turned around and followed Annie out.

"Rebecca is that friend of yours?" asked Holmes.

The two were sitting in the galloping carriage, and Holmes looked at Anne who was leaning aside and said.

Annie turned her head to look at him, and nodded very slowly.

"It's not easy for a girl to grow up in an orphanage." Annie said suddenly, with a calm expression on her face, as if the person who spoke was not her.

Holmes turned his head to look at Annie, with pity in his eyes that he hadn't noticed.He unconsciously shook his body, and moved his shoulders closer to Annie.

Annie glanced at Holmes and leaned over gently.

Holmes looked sideways at Hair Twirl leaning on his shoulder, the corners of his lips raised uncontrollably.Holmes breathed a sigh of relief in the corner where Anne could not see him.

You know, he'd be ashamed if Anne didn't come over.

"Rebecca came a year before I left the orphanage," Annie said. "At that time, she was a little girl who was loved by everyone. If you haven't seen her, you can't even imagine her." cute."

The little face is fleshy, and the blue eyes are blinking and blinking, looking at you brightly.It's like, you are the whole world of this little girl.

Rebecca was well-liked by everyone, after all, with her chubby little hands scratching the air.Once it catches someone, although it's just the baby's gentle force, it makes people feel as if they are stroking their own heart.It made people reluctant to take their sleeves out of Rebecca's little hands.

Even if she knew it, she wouldn't cry.But it was also unbearable, and made this lovely child feel lost.

Anne didn't think much of the new girl.At that time, she was still busy with her own affairs.Leaving the orphanage and surviving on your own is not easy.And all of this has cost her almost all her energy.

"At that time, everyone liked her very much," Annie said.

Holmes looked at the girl on his shoulder and said softly, "I don't think that's why you care about her?"

Annie smiled, and looked up at Holmes, as if to help his keen intuition.

"It's not intuition, you know," began Holmes. "I just know you better."

Annie smiled and nodded: "If Rebecca is such an ordinary and well-behaved child, she would not be abandoned like this. It is her genetic disease that makes her so miserable."

It is expensive and difficult to cure.

Those parents must have thought for a long time before giving up on her.

"When Rebecca first fell ill, no one thought that so much money would be needed." Annie said, "Even the dean considered giving up."

It was like, overnight, everyone gave up this lovely child one after another.

The performance of those loves before, it seems that they don't exist anymore.When they saw the reality, everyone succumbed.I didn't think about how to deal with this matter.

It seems that giving up is the easiest choice.Therefore, it was the unanimous choice of everyone.

"You are not a person who is willing to give up, but preparing so much wealth for her is just to extend a short period of time." Holmes said.

Anne nodded.

Under the torment of such illness, Rebecca's smile didn't seem to be affected in the slightest.As always, the pure smile seems to be a little face that can melt people.

Those blue eyes fell on Annie.Rebecca's smile was not weakened by everyone's distance.

"I've always felt that even leaving this world is not such a hopeless thing." Annie said.

She looked at the people outside the car, and the numbers above her head were changing one by one.It may be long or short, but it is slowly decreasing.

She has seen many people, the deadline and the fall of time.

Holmes looked at her. "But Rebecca doesn't want to go, does she?"

Such desire for life is rarely seen by Anne.Optimistic, clearly suffering from illness but still full of hope.

"However, her adoptive family got the news," said Holmes. "They thought that Rebecca would not be sick again."

The car stopped slowly, facing Annie's familiar courtyard.

The place where she spent most of her childhood.

orphanage.

With the support of Holmes, Anne slowly got out of the car.Holmes did not allow the mud on the ground to occupy even an iota of Anne's skirt.

"However, she fell ill again." Anne sighed, and pulled Holmes into the courtyard.

The children in the yard are preparing to sell handmade flowers on the street at this time.Every meal they have, the bread on the table, is not so easy to get.

Being a dean is not easy, nor is it affordable.These children need to come to help the orphanage and help themselves.

Holmes looked back and forth several times in this somewhat dilapidated courtyard.His thin lips pursed involuntarily.

Anne, has also lived in such an environment.

This made Holmes feel a little distressed.He moved a little closer to Annie, and raised his hand tentatively.Empty around Annie's back, but stalemate not taking a step closer.

"Annie!" The dean came out.

Holmes' hand was quickly withdrawn.

Annie greeted her with a smile, and warmly kissed the dean's wife twice: "I rushed over as soon as I received the news."

The dean looked at his wife and shook his head helplessly: "I don't want to put so much pressure on you again."

The dean's wife glanced at her husband with some complaints, and shook her head slightly.

The dean didn't seem to be affected at all, he took a step forward and led Annie into the room.

The dean's wife said: "Without Annie, these children might have difficulty getting milk every day."

The dean glanced at her and didn't speak.

The people are seated.

"Rebecca was sent back, we were all very surprised." The dean's tone showed helplessness.

The orphanage couldn't bear Rebecca's illness at all.

Holmes looked at Annie, gently held her hand, and silently gave her some strength.

"I will figure out a way." Annie said, "What should I do with the adoption procedures?"

Yes, adopt Rebecca.

This was Annie's first reaction after seeing the letter, and it was also the most practical approach.

When Watson returned to Baker Street in a dusty suit, he backed out in disbelief and closed the door again.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Holmes hugging a little girl, and Annie, who was doting on her face, stood beside her.

Watson felt that he seemed to have read something wrong.

It must be the wrong way to open the door, try again.

The author has something to say: Enter v~~~ Thanks to all the little angels who are still accompanying Pudding!

thanks~

"Dancing Pikachu" Little Angel's Landmines