40
Whatever means needed
Mary
Reid stood at the window looking outside, with her nude body she presented
quite a view to any who may look up at the window on the third level. She was not
entirely nude; she had on the shirt worn by Jon Roxton. It was the scent of the
sweat that attracted her to it.
Mary
saw the man who sneaked onto the coach and left something on the bottom of it
at the rear on the street. She had seen the works of it during the war when a
more needed message was to be delivered. She saw the man retreated, and knew
she not much time. She turned to her discarded clothes, and found her gun belt.
She grabbed the gun there, and cocked the trigger.
“Wow!
Did I do a bad task? I am sore from it.” Jon was lying on the bedding with the
cover discreetly covering his groin.
Mary
ignored him and approached the window. She aimed the gun at the coach. She
needed the fast action there. She fired and saw the bullet impacted on the
street. It was the noise that caused the horse pulling the coach bolted off.
The
horse neighed and then pulled the away. The driver was thrown off by the
horse’s action, and the occupants inside the coach was startled.
“Whoo!”
Mycroft almost fell off the seating, while Doctor Watson was lying on the side.
“The
horse has bolted from the noise of the shot!” Holmes called out. “Driver!”
There
was no response form the driver. Holmes looked out and saw their coach was
without a driver. The runaway coach slammed into some carts on the side, but
maintained it speed approaching the end of the street.
At
the end of it was the junction and before it was the park.
“Jump!”
Holmes was the first to open the coach door and did just that. Mycroft followed
on and Doctor Watson hesitated when he felt the coach was lifted, he did the
same.
The
coach lifted onto its wheels when the horse swerved to the left to proceed on
but the coach had slammed into the fence at the park. It went down sideways and
dragged the horse along with it.
The
three passengers had landed on the street; bruised but alive.
“By
George, we are alive.” Mycroft exclaimed. “What the ……”
It
was then the noise of an explosion sounded from the spot where the coach was
earlier parked.
“Is
that an explosion? What has happened to the city nowadays?” Mycroft looked down
the street. “It used to peaceful.”
“It
is an explosion.” Doctor Watson said. He was used to that noise from his days
in the military when the shells from the three-inch guns exploded on the
ground. “Whoever bolted the horse saved our bacons.”
“Apparently.”
Holmes had pushed himself. “It is obvious the works of a military person.”
“It
cannot be.” Mycroft was on his feet and rubbed his back. “I have no enemy
capable of that here. Unless the Boers are in the city.”
“Mycroft,
the Boers are down south past the sea. I doubt they will explode your butt
here.” Doctor Watson said to the other.
“Bloody oaf!”
“Watson,
you are crossing the line there.” Mycroft took offence to the swearing.
“Settle
down, men. It is not every other week, we get exploded, but let us check on our
guest first.”
Colonel
Moran saw the failed attempt from across the street, two buildings from the
brothel. He was disappointed at that. He had wanted to eradicate the threat to
Mary Reid; she was the niece to the Doctor. It was a wild decision of his, but
felt the explosion would have damaged the coach and hurt the occupant but the
explosive was on the street. If he had intended to kill them, Tommy would have
left the bomb in the rear of the coach.
“Sorry,
Sire. I did as what you told me.” Tommy Hill was a explosive expert who had
laid the three sticks of dynamites with the lighted wick there.
“You
done right, Tommy. Someone caused the horse to bolt. Nevertheless, the message
was conveyed.” Colonel Moran stepped away from the window.
“Maintain
surveillance on the lady.”
“Aye,
Sir.” Tommy stepped away.
The
Colonel saw the lady and her man companion stepped out to the street joining
the gathered there. The lady was dressed in the oversized shirt and donned a
pair of pants with the boots. She held the long coat over the right arm,
concealing the gun there. The man was shirtless but wore his pants and boots.
“What
an explosion.” Jon commented. “Do you know who did it?”
“Young
man! What do you take us here for? The jungle?” The prudish older lady with the
umbrella glared at Jon. “Get a shirt on for Pete’s sake.”
“Il
peut avoir le mien à tout moment. » (Translated from French; He can have
mine any time.) The lady nearby commented.
“Let
us move on, George.” The older lady pulled her companion by the sleeve of his
coat.
The
companion who was an older gentleman was gaping at the ladies who were gathered
there. It was not every other moment he gets to watch so many ladies covered in
only camisoles. He wished he was still in his teens then.
“Stop
looking or I will gorge your eyes out.” The lady forcefully pulled Geroge away.
“I
cannot say George was distracted.” Mycroft had reached the spot then. Holmes
ignored his brother and examined the blast area. He picked up some of the
debris there.
“Part
of the blasting cap, and clay.” Holmes looked at the collected bits. “It was a
dynamite.”
“Nasty
way of sending anyone to the other side.” Doctor Watson said. He had seen the
effects of the explosion at the Frontiers. The lucky ones are the dead ones,
while maimed may return to Blighty without part of their limbs. It was a sad
wound to have when you are getting older.
“Interesting.”
Holmes was into his thoughts. “It is unlike the works of Professor Moriarty;
killing is within his expertise but to do it in this manner is beyond him
unless his had become more vicious.”
“Holmes,
Colonel Moran was in the military, and we used explosives there.” Doctor Watson
reminded Holmes.
“A
possibility….” Holmes frowned on his expression. He saw then the arrival of
Mary Reid and Jon Roxton.
“Mary.”
Mycroft was the first to greet them. He held the pained expression when he saw
the shirt on the lady.
“Jon!”
Doctor Watson smiled at the man. “When did you returned? And what happened to
your shirt?”
“Elementary,
Watson.” Mycroft borrowed the expression from his brother towards the doctor.
“We
shall meet inside.” Holmes motioned to Mary. “It may be safer.”
Holmes
was looking at the windows for any protruding barrel.
At
that moment, Colonel Moran took his leave of the unit and exited by the rear to
the awaiting coach. He was given the message to meet Lord Dennis. He was to
leave when the other message arrived.
“Holmes
with the lady.”