Baker Street Charterers

Mrs. Hodson was taken aback by the news that Holmes seemed to have been kidnapped, and her instinctive reaction was to call the police.

Unexpectedly, Nora was quite calm. She even stopped Watson and Hudson, who had already put on their coats and were about to go out, and signaled them to calm down.

"That Mr. M is not a good bird!" Watson's eyes showed obvious anxiety, "Didn't it mean that his killers are cruel and ruthless? How can such a subordinate have a benevolent employer? Danger!"

"What you said is the truth, and I'm not going to refute you." Nora patted him on the back, "It's just that I disagree with your last sentence - Sherlock is in Moriarty's hands, It doesn't mean he's life-threatening."

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Hudson and Watson were confused.

Nora poured them a cup of tea to calm their emotions, and then said slowly, "Think about it... this criminal genius is the king of London's underground in what Mycroft said. He is smart, and extremely smart... …So when a guy whose IQ is so high that he no longer needs to look at anyone else, what does he need most at this moment?"

"Just say it straight." Watson sighed, "Your tone is exactly the same as Sherlock's."

Nora smiled, "Well... what he needs is an opponent who is equal in strength and wisdom. Smart people always love to make troubles - you can clearly see this from Xiali, and that Mr Moriarty is no exception."

"How do you judge that Sherlock is not in danger?" Watson was still a little skeptical, "I don't simply think that he just invited Sherlock for tea."

"Actually, you're right." Nora smiled slightly, "He finally met an interesting person who could be called his opponent. Before Moriarty lost interest in Sherlock completely, he It will be very safe."

"And..." Nora continued, "You think someone like Moriarty, even if you call out all the police in England, you will definitely not be able to find him, if he wants to hide."

Watson sat back on the sofa in frustration, "So we can only wait for news here?"

"That's not necessarily true." At this moment, Nora cut her hair, looking as if she was about to go out, "Do you still remember where Xiali was kidnapped?"

"It's a red-tiled alley just before Regent Street," Watson replied. "They're coming so fast, and they're carrying guns... Sherlock and I couldn't resist, and a man who looked like a leader let me go." I'm gone, I guess I need to come back to deliver a message."

Nora thought about it, and suddenly asked, "What are you doing on Regent Street?"

Watson was stunned for a moment, looked around in embarrassment, and hesitated to answer.

Nora narrowed her eyes, "Doctor?"

"Well……"

"Well, it just so happens that I need to visit Mary recently, and talk to her about your fiery affair with the innkeeper's daughter. She must be very interested in knowing about it."

"...He went to find your aunt, Mrs. Brown." Watson immediately confessed honestly.

Nora looked at him without saying a word.

Watson cleared his throat, "Uh...don't say I told you - Sherlock seems to have the intention of proposing to you, and even if you don't like that Mrs. Brown, she is your only relative Yes, he went there just to find out more about your past life, and to ask if she would come to the ceremony."

"..."

Nora froze. She stared at Watson motionlessly, suspecting that she had misheard, so she had to raise her voice and repeat, "What did you say? Marriage proposal?!"

Watson clasped his hands together, "You guessed it yourself...I didn't say anything."

Nora was stunned for a full 2 ​​minutes before she slowly came back to her senses, and her whole body fell into a huge ecstasy and shock.Watson stared curiously at the moving blush slowly rising on her face, and said in amazement, "...Do you mean to be happy?"

Nora glanced at him, suddenly feeling that he was an eyesore at the moment.

But she quickly calmed down from the situation just now, put on her clothes and was about to go out, Watson hurriedly followed, "I'll go with you!"

"No need." Nora resolutely rejected him, "You can only cause me trouble, just stay here and wait for our news."

Watson, "..."

Nora hurried all the way to the alley where Sherlock was said to be taken away, looked around for a while, but found no suspicious person.She paused, and did not choose to leave. Instead, she sat down at the entrance of the alley, relaxed her body and even stretched herself, as if she would not go home until she reached her goal.

The passers-by and the vendors nearby looked at this rude woman with strange eyes, and even a well-dressed little girl threw a penny at her feet when she walked by her.

Nora, "..."

She took a deep breath, took a look at the penny, sneered, and did not get angry, but leaned against the wall with great interest, watching the passers-by, wondering if there would be a second rich man to give them leisure alms.

In the end, she really waited.

With a jingle, another penny landed at her feet. Nora raised her head and saw a familiar face with vicissitudes without any surprise.

"Long time no see," she said without panic or fear, just smiling peacefully, "Mr. Sharpshooter."

The other party took off his top hat and squatted down with interest on his face. Even so, his gaze was condescending, and a dangerous and cold breath like a beast rushed towards his face. His voice was as low and hoarse as ever, "Hey sweetheart, I'm here for a special trip. Come and wait for me?"

"Yeah." Nora patted the dust off the clothes, stood up, and looked around him, "Didn't you bring your beautiful and charming Ms. Marianne? I miss her so much."

The other party also stood up. He is tall and tall, and can easily give people invisible oppression, especially when those dark brown sunken eyes are staring at you, as if being stared at by some terrible giant beast Yes, the greed and ghastliness inside make one's hairs stand on end.

At this moment, Mr. Sharpshooter put on his top hat again and grinned. Even the neat and proper dress could not conceal his dangerous temperament. He reached out to her and tried to greet her politely, "I Miss Nora doesn't seem to know my name yet, well, I'm Sebastian Moran, my friends like to call me Colonel Moran, of course... I still like to hear you call me Sebastian Tian."

"Mr. Moran." Nora nodded, and suddenly changed the topic, "I think you and your friends have been waiting for me here for a long time, you see, I don't bring any weapons, you can do it like last time Take me away easily."

Colonel Moran touched his thick sideburns, his eyes sparkled, "This is a good idea... I really want to catch up with you, but it's a pity—that gentleman probably doesn't have time to receive us. It’s not bad, at least we can just chat and talk here, wouldn’t it be better?”

"To be honest, I don't really want to see you, under such circumstances." Nora smiled calmly, "The purpose of my trip is to find a friend who was kidnapped...you have precious Any clues?"

Colonel Moran rubbed his chin and smiled, "Little girl, I can't tell you the clue, you are too smart, maybe you gave me a trick when I didn't pay attention to the truth, a lesson from the past - since you are the only one Someone who might find your 'friend'."

"You've praised me." Nora glanced across the roof, the corner of the alley, and the intersection of the other side's street, and then put her eyes on the sharpshooter with an expression of interest. She smiled slightly, "I don't expect to find it from that hand." My friend... In fact, I just want to ask, how is your boss getting along with my friend?"

"It's quite a pleasure." Colonel Moran told her briskly, and suddenly clicked his tongue twice, and turned around her, the interest in his eyes became more and more obvious, "The woman who was spotted by the famous Sherlock Holmes is indeed It's different... It's a pity that those who are in love are destined not to achieve great things."

"We're just little unknown people." Nora shrugged, "We never wanted to be a big deal, we just wanted to live a peaceful life."

"That Mr. Detective doesn't think so." Moran suddenly approached her up and down, his strong manly breath enveloped her in an instant, his voice drilled into her ears like mosquitoes and flies everywhere, with a low tickle Yes, as if to persuade, "I think your friend is ambitious... He is not willing to be ordinary, but also has intelligence. It would be a pity if he was buried."

Nora's complexion didn't change, but her eyes sank, and she paused for a few seconds before she spoke again, "Ambition? A bottomless pit of desire and ambition like your employer?"

"Pay attention to your words, little girl." Colonel Moran narrowed his eyes, his eyes suddenly turned cold, with a hint of murderous intent, "You'd better get lucky that your lovely friend is a knowledgeable... otherwise ——Ah... To be honest, I really like you, a rare hedgehog-like girl, it would be a pity if she just dies like this."

The smile on Nora's face also disappeared, she stared at him without fear, her eyes met, tit for tat, her aura and the coldness in her eyes were completely unfamiliar with this dangerous officer, her tone was calm and dignified, "Unfortunately, if my friend had been more sensible, I'd have been disappointed with him... I just admire his rebellious nature, and we are very similar in one thing, that is... we never take things lightly. yield."

Colonel Moran smiled nonchalantly, with sarcasm in his eyes, "Heh...so naive and lovely, sir appreciates certain talents of Mr. Holmes, but if he doesn't know how to be funny...then even a person like Holmes is not good for us. It's useless to say, and people who are worthless often end up miserable... Do you understand?"

"Thank you for your reminder, Mr. Moran." Nora smiled slightly, "I don't know if you've heard the saying that if we don't agree with each other... Unfortunately, we are destined to choose two completely different paths. Let's move forward together."

Moran narrowed his eyes, and a cold light flickered in those beast-like pupils, "I only know one sentence, those who don't obey us, there is only one way to go."

Nora sighed. "Then the conversation is over, isn't it?"

"no doubt."

Nora raised her chin, "Then... it's time to say goodbye. Of course, I am very grateful for the information you disclosed to me, and I believe your employer will be very generous about it."

Colonel Moran subconsciously tensed up, faintly vigilant, "What are you talking about?"

Nora shrugged, "Just now, you told me about the small stronghold where you hid Sherlock."

Moran seemed a little angry, he lowered his voice, "You're talking nonsense, I didn't—"

"Your boots are still damp with black manure and there is behind you the remains of a small water lily, a beautiful but rare water lily I have ever seen only in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Your top hat There's a bamboo leaf on the side, it's a bit dry, it wouldn't be treated that way in a botanic garden... I'm guessing you've just walked through that magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens and been there for a long time, but Then you left there, walked through a nearby bamboo forest, and came here...Maybe when I look up the map, I will know what buildings can hide people near the Royal Botanic Gardens and the bamboo suburbs... I Guess I can find my smart and charming friend in 10 minutes, what do you think?"

Moran's whole body was tense, and he was about to say something, "Papa Papa", loud applause came from the depths of the alley.

The two turned their heads in unison, but their hair was a little messy. Sherlock Holmes, who still looked neat and tidy, came out from the shadows. With a proud and confident smile on his face, his eyes diverged towards Nora. The outside is mild.

"It seems that our conversation during this time has been extremely useful." Holmes said slowly. "It turns out that I also have the talent to teach others. Look at what an excellent female detective with a bright future I have unintentionally cultivated!"

Nora tried her best to calm down her eyes, but she couldn't help the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said softly, "You're here, Sherlock."

"I'm sorry to be late." Holmes nodded at her. "The reason is that I had a difficult conversation with a certain gentleman. It took me a while to get out of there. I knew you would come here to wait for me. So I came right away."

"It's not too late, Sherlock." Nora's eyes were full of smiles, "It's within the range that can be forgiven."

Holmes walked over and looked down at her. Originally, his hand was kept in his coat pocket, but now he quietly took it out, held her fingers calmly, and said in a low voice, "Yes... Please forgive me, ma'am."

Nora held his hand instead, smiling silently.

Colonel Moran, who had been silent all this time, looked at the two of them with hostility, and gritted his teeth faintly, "You're lucky, Holmes...you won't be so lucky next time."

"The scenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens is very good, but I don't like that place, it makes people dazzled." Holmes had an elegant and confident smile on his face, and his tone was calm and calm, "Besides, this is not luck...Of course, I hope the next Once you can have such 'luck', explain this to your boss."

Moran gritted his teeth, "You have to take care of your woman, Holmes...don't lose her like last time."

"Thank you for your reminder." Holmes replied politely. "It is the duty of a competent gentleman to protect a lady. Please rest assured that I will never repeat my mistake."

Colonel Moran didn't say anything more, he gave them a last look with a sullen face, then turned his head and left, and soon the tall figure disappeared into the crowd.

Holmes turned his head and looked down at her. The confrontational toughness instantly softened. He subconsciously squeezed her hand and said softly, "I'm very proud... Nora, in fact, I have to admit that you are like It is the best and most unique gift that God has given me...other than that, I don't know how to describe it."

"So you heard our conversation just now." Nora smiled slightly, and then stepped forward to hug him very naturally, sticking her head to his chest obediently, hearing the faint steady and regular heartbeat, Her eyes were as soft and bright as a green lake under the sun, "I'm glad to hear you say that, really... I was a little apprehensive at first, but looking at it this way, everything is worth it."

Holmes looked around, his gray eyes showed a strange expression in the shadow of the backlight, he stared at her face intently, even his voice softened unconsciously, he said slowly, "Of course it's worth it... But this time, no one will bother you, right?"

Nora responded subconsciously and asked, "What's the trouble?"

Before she had time to react, Holmes suddenly lowered his head, and a very light kiss with a faint smell of tobacco and a light breath fell on her lips, stayed for a few seconds, and then it left, mellow , the deep male voice echoed in the alley, "...excuse me...the kiss we should have finished long ago."

"...!!!"