Baker Street Charterers

221b Baker Street.

Watson sat on the one-seater sofa he had always liked before. He glanced worriedly at Nora who was being questioned by the sheriff in the room, then turned his head and said softly to Holmes, "...she looks really terrible. - I mean her face, the dreadful kidnapper Moriarty."

Holmes put his hands on his knees, and his face was not well, but his expression was calm and his eyes were calm. His gray pupils were fixed on a certain point, and he seemed to be caught up in some complicated thoughts.He blinked his eyes when he heard Watson's words, slowly recovered from the situation just now, glanced at him with a worried face, and then said slowly, "I think it's the opposite...at least with other Compared to her horrific kidnapper, she looked very complete."

Watson held his forehead speechlessly, "I don't think we are talking about the same thing."

Holmes raised an eyebrow.

It just so happened that the sheriff had finished his questioning, walked out of the room, and nodded to the two sitting in the living room, "It seems to be all right, but I still suggest that you pay more attention in the near future... Many times it doesn't work The perpetrators will come back."

Watson replied politely, "Thank you, Sheriff, I'll take you out."

When Watson came back, Holmes was still sitting quietly on the sofa. He paused, thought for a while, and chose to turn around and walk towards Nora—the young lady who had just escaped from kidnapping was sitting by the bed, wearing a Watson took off the coat she gave her in the secret room, her face was pale and haggard, and her eyes were black and blue from not sleeping well.But fortunately, she didn't seem to be frightened, but her eyes looked extremely tired, but also calm.

Watson slowly sat next to her. The other party noticed his movement and raised his head and smiled at him gently. As a result, the worry in Watson's eyes became more and more serious. He turned his head cautiously and considered his tone slowly He said slowly, "...well, Nora, although Sherlock didn't say it, he is very worried about you."

Nora lowered her eyes and was silent for a while, then smiled comfortingly, "I know."

Watson choked at her attitude at the moment, "...uh... Sherlock told me that - about what you said to him on Christmas Day."

Nora stared at him without blinking, "Then he will tell you his answer—Actually, doctor, you don't have to treat it like a fragile glass ball, I'm not that fragile, so you can just say Come out: I was rejected, no surprise."

"..." Watson scratched his head, "Maybe Sherlock didn't mean that. You know, he always likes to say some confusing things."

"This time is different." Nora told him briefly, and then changed the topic, "I think there are some things you must know, come with me."

Then she got up immediately, took off the coat that made her look pitiful, and walked neatly to the living room.

"..." This style of painting is wrong!Obviously she was the one who was kidnapped!The girl who agreed is asking for comfort!

Watson opened his mouth bluntly and stood there for a few seconds, then got up annoyed and followed him out.

——Sure enough, he shouldn't have imagined Nora as an ordinary lady who would cry and cry when things happen, being weak and moving.

When Holmes saw her coming out, his eyes subconsciously fell on her face—very well, she seemed to be in good condition, at least her mind was stable, although she did look bad as Watson said.

——It doesn't look like the "suffering blow" mentioned in the book?Holmes stroked his chin.

What Nora said next confirmed his guess——

"I think you should know this." Nora leaned on the sofa, a little tired. She hadn't closed her eyes for more than fifteen hours, but her tone was still calm. "His name is Moriarty—presumably the Sheriff has I told you, but what he doesn't know is that I also met the beautiful Miss Marianne, and Moriarty's men, who should be a sharpshooter, are completely dangerous, and he admitted to killing Cheryl Bell, And have no guilt about it.”

Holmes looked at her examiningly, as if thinking.

"He was about 45 years old, probably taught at a university, I smelled the ink, saw the chalk dust on his fingers the moment he opened the door, he was very neatly dressed and haired, he looked like an old-fashioned gentleman... ...but unfortunately I didn't see his face."

Holmes remained silent.

Nora continued, "But I have to remind you...he is very dangerous, far more threatening than anyone I have ever seen, his IQ is not even inferior to yours, he has endless methods, and is extremely attractive to Marian and the sharpshooter. A dangerous criminal, and I guess there are not a few people who are willing to run for him... He speaks very politely, but he doesn't care about human life, and treats people who are worthless... More importantly, he treats you Very interested, and doesn't look like it's going to let it go easily."

After speaking, she looked up at Holmes, "Then what do you think, Sherlock?"

Holmes seemed to have been reminded. He raised his head slightly, his gray eyes flickered, and after pondering for a while, he spoke slowly and thoughtfully——

"During the day and night when you were kidnapped, I seriously thought about—"

Nora was taken aback.think?Could it be that he already knew the news?

Holmes went on to narrate, "...thinking of the wonderful relationship between you and me-if there is any obvious effect of Mr. Moriarty's actions, then I must say that he is a potion of efficacy. Good catalyst."

Nora stared into his eyes, puzzled and nervous.

...It seems that the point he wants to say is not just Moriarty?

Wonderful relationship... Ha, this is really an intriguing word.

Holmes didn't look directly at her. He kept his gaze straight ahead, clasped his hands on his folded legs, his back was slightly straightened, and his deep and tough profile revealed some unusual seriousness and earnestness. I only heard him say to her in a very solemn tone, obviously after some thought, "...I-well, yes, I need your...companion."

Nora's eyes widened slightly, suspecting that she had heard it wrong, "...Sherlock?!"

"You heard me right," Holmes nodded seriously. He thought for a while, and then said, "I think Watson should have told you...that's right, I paid enough attention and actions to your sudden disappearance ,I--"

He turned his head slowly, met Nora's inquisitive emerald green eyes, and was silent for a while, then turned his head sideways, and his tone returned to calm, "...I'm worried about you, very much."

Nora lowered her head slowly, and answered in a low voice after a while, "Thank you."

It sounds indifferent.

Holmes moved his fingers subconsciously. He stared sharply at her drooping eyelids. His brows were wrinkled together in distress. After a long while, he let out a long sigh of relief. He pursed his lips in frustration and annoyance. ,"……I'm very sorry."

Nora looked up and smiled, "Sorry? About what?"

"About ... Christmas Day, I think maybe that was not well thought out, and maybe it would lead you to think that it alienated us—considering that—"

"Oh Sherlock." Nora interrupted his intermittent words, looked at him strangely, then sighed, and said very helplessly, "About that matter, I think I should say sorry... because some Immature, without thoughtful impulse, I am ashamed that I said those things to you, and I am determined to correct this mistake - I am sorry."

"Shame? Mistake?" repeated Holmes, raising his voice.

Nora turned a deaf ear to his reaction and continued, "Maybe it has affected our relationship a little bit, but I think this will pass eventually...True friends and partners never last long Isn't it the barrier? You see, I have never been good at remembering these troubles, and when I wake up the next day, everything will be fine."

Holmes tightened his fingers, subconsciously leaned forward slightly, and unconsciously lowered his voice, "...you think so?"

Nora was silent for a long time this time.

"...A day ago, no." She sighed deeply in her heart, and her tone of voice was still calm, "But, I think your answer before is clear enough, and I have always been a very open-minded person, isn't this you One of the traits you’ve ever admired?—not like those sachets who spend all day crying over a lost beloved item.”

Holmes was silent for a few seconds. "Yes... I have admired it."

"I can't understand you again," Nora smiled, "but fortunately, you don't need to worry about this in the future—it just so happens that Watson is also here, and I want to tell you a piece of news."

The doctor who had just sent the sheriff away came over, sat down, and pricked up his ears with interest, "News? About—?"

"I will move out within this week." Nora said surprisingly, but she was obviously not aware of this, "For safety reasons."

"Move away?" Watson widened his eyes in shock, and subconsciously turned his head to look at Holmes immediately.

The other party seemed to be stunned for a moment, and his gray eyes suddenly sharpened, staring at her without speaking for a while.

"Yes, moving." Nora spread her hands helplessly, "Please don't blame me for being disloyal, but I think Sherlock will understand... After Mr. Moriarty expressed his love for me and Xia After the strong interest in the relationship between Locke, I think the temporary separation will be a responsibility to each other, isn't it?"

"What, the relationship between what? Strong interest?" Watson obviously didn't understand.

Nora was silent for a while, "Explain clearly—in the opinion of the mysterious and dangerous Mr. Moriarty, I—and you, Doctor, as the two closest friends of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, will be Sig Free's bodhi leaf, his Achilles' heel... If we stay with him, he'll hit us mercilessly—do you understand now?"

"But, but Sherlock is our friend..." The doctor was a little anxious, "Are you going to abandon him?"

Holmes gazed at her without blinking.

"Abandoned? No, I think it's the opposite. I love him, so I choose to stay away." Nora looked at Watson gently, "My friend, there is nothing in this world that I care more about than you. But But I can't get closer to Sherlock, otherwise, if this goes on, I will become a living target for him, and he will also become the Achilles' heel to kill me."

This lady is so strong, but now she utters such soft and helpless words... What kills her Achilles' heel?Watson pursed his lips very sadly. Of course he knew her feelings for Sherlock, and he had worked hard for it more than once before. Seeing her failure in the end, he pretended to be calm and still maintained their safety. With unspeakable heartache and pity, he opened his mouth, "...Is this the only way?"

Nora paused, and asked him, "I can't think of any other better countermeasure - it won't embarrass us, but it can moderately guarantee each other's lives."

Watson sighed heavily.

"Besides," Nora said calmly, "Sherlock also said long ago that he has long been accustomed to being prepared for the separation of friends, and I think this time will be no exception."

Holmes kept a precious silence on this until she finished her sad and helpless words, and then she opened her mouth with the same expression and tone as usual, "Although I have some objections to your long-winded speech, there is one thing that I am very sorry about. agree."

Watson couldn't help asking, "Which point, Sherlock?"

"I don't comment on that Mr. Moriarty's character, but at least he has a good sentence—" Holmes narrowed his eyes slightly, "As the closest friend, you—you are all Siegfried My bodhi leaf, my Achilles' heel...then, have you ever heard of the truth of placing your fatal point elsewhere?"

Nora paused.