Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 53 FINALE

 

53 Baker Street

 

Mrs. Hudson carried the small package to Holmes that morning.

“Someone gave me this at the marketplace. Even gave me a quarter to deliver it.” Mrs. Hudson handed the package over. “I spent the quarter on the flour for the scones.”

Doctor Watson saw the package in Holmes’ hands and inquired.

“It is rare you get a gift, Holmes.” Doctor Watson leaned back to read the prints.

“It is rare. The packaging is light and too light to be any explosive.” Holmes tossed the package in his hands. “It does not rattle and no ticking. It does have a distinctive aroma.”

“Why do you not open it, Holmes? It could be a book or maybe a hat.” “Too soft and no firm edges. I will open it. There is the string to untie it.” Holmes untied the package. It contained his favourite Cuban cigars.

“Cohiba, my favorite cigar brand. Cohiba Behike is known for its rich, nutty, and espresso notes.” Holmes held up the cigar. “Aha, my favourite tobacco. Blended to my taste.” Holmes held up the card there. “From Moriarty.”

“You mean the black shag?” Doctor Watson spoke. “I cannot stand the smoke and smell.”

“Moriarty?” Doctor Watson had a lapse of thoughts and then looked up.

“Apparently, he knew my tobacconist and my preference.” Holmes smiled. “A tete for tete.”

“Do tell, Holmes. What is the follow-up with the count and professor?"

“I would not know. Mycroft took them into custody, and that was it.”

“No more killings in the city?” Doctor Wason asked. “What about Doctor Manfred?”

“I would not know. If I did, I would be in the tower, given three meals a day and stretched daily on the rack.” Holmes joked. “I could be taller by then.”

It was then that Mycroft arrived, and after handing over the flowers, he approached Holmes.

“Bad news and somewhat good news.” Mycroft said. “The better news is that we stopped the Super Warriors program. Doctor Manfred is incarcerated. The bad news is when we checked on the cells where we kept Count Vlad and his brother Radu. Well, they are not there, except for the bat dung. They may have escaped during the night.”

“And Mary Reid is on the trail. According to the Doctor... that is Moriarty, she left Dunkirk by boat to Normandy.” Holmes held up the card he just read. “It was below the tobacco.”

“And Doctor Jekyll?” “He left Dover last night with Rosa. I guess we have the city back to ourselves.” Holmes smiled. “I shall ask Mrs. Hudson for the tea and scones now.”

“No more vampires and monsters then. I am content." Doctor Watson leaned back. “And Mycroft, no bloody Mary, please. I had enough of the bloody for a lifetime.”

On the freighter to Lisbon, Rosa snuggled towards Jekyll in the comfort of the cabin. “Let me tell you the tale of Count Monte Cristo.” Rosa slept her head on the man’s chest.

“It was the era of the Bourbon Restoration. It begins on the day that Napoleon left his first island of exile, Elba, beginning the Hundred Days period of his return to power. Edmond Dantès, a French nineteen-year-old first mate of the merchant ship Pharaon, was to marry his fiancée Mercédès but was delayed for he was falsely accused of treason, arrested, and imprisoned without trial. There he met a fellow prisoner, Abbé Faria, who educated Dantès and told him a cache of treasure Faria had discovered. After Faria dies, Dantès escapes and finds the treasure and becomes the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo; he enters the fashionable Parisian world of the 1830s to avenge himself.”

“Why are you always with Counts in your lifetime?’ Jekyll asked.

“It cannot be helped. I am attractive to them.” Rosa smiled.

“I am not a count. I am just a...”

“Do not count yourself out. You accountable when you are Hyde. You become huge when you are Mr. Hyde. I knew that. And I am ever content to be the princess. I do not count my blessings; I am blessed.”

“Just do not bite me. I cannot stand the sight of blood.” Jekyll reminded her.

“Do not worry. I can suck it.”

Colonel Moran stepped away from the window. He took out a rolled cigarette to smoke.

“Doctor, he got your package.” The Colonel looked at the other person in the room across Holmes’ unit.

“Good. Holmes held good and... common taste. He is a worthy adversary to me.” Professor Moriarty smiled. “How is the syndicate?’

“They are like Medusa. You cut off one head, and another takes over.”

“Bloody choices but admirable.” Professor Moriarty looked across the street. “I guess Holmes and myself will be preoccupied over them in the days to come.”