Work Text:
It was a cold day in London, but that didn't stop Yujin Mikotoba from venturing outside to the nearby bookshop. His studies wouldn't slow just because of the bitter cold. He felt a cold chill rush through the bookshop as he scanned the shelves for what he needed. After a successful journey, he headed back to Baker Street, his books tucked under his arm. He was glad to get back to the warm fire, out of the bitter weather.
His partner, Herlock Sholmes, was engrossed in a letter as he returned. Immediately, Yujin knew what this meant; he had received a peculiar case, and was turning the facts over in his mind. With an eager smile, Yujin placed his books down on the metal chest that contained his notes on their adventures.
"Has a case arrived at our door?" Yujin asked him curiously.
"Indeed. Our client is one Lady Eva Brackwell," Herlock took a breath from his pipe before continuing. "It is a matter of blackmail. She has sent a letter informing me of the particulars."
Herlock was, unfortunately, taking up the entire space on the sofa. If Yujin wanted to read the letter for himself, he'd either have to lean over his partner's shoulder or get him to move. He chose the latter. Yujin swatted Herlock's head, prompting him to sit properly and free up some space for Yujin to sit.
"Ow," Herlock muttered as he shuffled round. "If you wanted me to move, you could've just said so. We have more than one seat in this room, you know. Or, is it something to do with how you're unable to resist me?"
"I wanted to see the letter," Yujin insisted as he sat down next to his partner. "Knowing you, you'd keep it in your hands if I sat opposite. Besides, you really shouldn't put your feet up on the sofa. Anyway, what's this about a case of blackmail?"
"Lady Eva is to be married in a fortnight to the Earl of Dovercourt," he began, "In her past, she wrote several imprudent letters - imprudent, nothing more - to a penniless young squire in the country. The letters, having been sold by said squire, are now in the blackmailer's hands. Suffice to say, they are enough to break off the marriage if a large sum isn't paid - one that Lady Eva cannot afford."
"You have yet to tell me about the blackmailer," Yujin pointed out, "Do we know anything about them?"
"The blackmailer is quite possibly the worst man in all of London. He goes by the name of Charles Augustus Milverton." Herlock stretched his legs in front of the fire, a look of disgust on his features. "Do you feel a creeping, shrinking sensation, Mikotoba, when you stand before the serpents at the zoo and see the venomous creatures, with their deadly eyes and wicked faces? Well, that's the impression Milverton gives me."
"You'd compare the man to a snake, Sholmes?"
"It is not unfounded, Mikotoba. I've had to deal with countless of murderers in my career, but the worst of them never gave me the repulsion that I have for this fellow," he snarled, "He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven help the man, or woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of Milverton. With a smiling face and a heart of marble, he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry."
Yujin took the information in carefully. He had never heard of such a blackmailer in London - but then again, he hadn't heard of Professor Moriarty until Herlock had told him about him. "For such an avid blackmailer, he must have a particular method of gathering incriminating details. Have you figured out how he does it yet?" He asked him.
"Am I not a great detective?" Herlock flashed a sly grin. "His method is as follows: He allows it to be known that he is prepared to pay very high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth or position. He receives these wares from treacherous servants and the like. Do you recall the Hresvelg family, close friends of the Baskervilles? Milverton paid seven hundred pounds for a note two lines in length, and the entire family was ruined."
"All from a note two lines in length?" Yujin repeated. He dreaded to think what the contents of that note contained.
"Indeed. There are hundreds in this great city that would turn white at his name," he explained, "No one knows where his grip may fall, for he communicates sparingly regarding his plans. He will hold a card back for years in order to play it at the moment when the stake is best worth winning. He tortures poor souls in order to add to his ever-swelling wallet. Do you understand why I hold such contempt for him now?"
Yujin had seldom heard his partner speak with such intensity. "Surely, the fellow is within the grasp of the law?" He remarked.
"I was about to ask the Director of Prosecutions about that myself, actually," Herlock rose from his chair and grabbed his coat. "If there's anyone that knows of the matter, it'll be Lord van Zieks. Knowing the man, he might be close to catching him for all we know. Are you coming along, Mikotoba?"
"The alternative is that you embarrass yourself. Naturally, we both know the answer to that question," said Yujin as he grabbed his hat. He hadn't seen Lord van Zieks since his promotion. It would be the perfect time to formally congratulate him, he thought. All he had heard from Genshin was that the man had become terribly busy as a result, so it hardly seemed like a good idea to visit the man without an invitation.
On that thought, Yujin turned to his partner. "Sholmes, you... have told him that we are visiting him, correct?"
"We're old friends! I should hardly have to make an appointment!" Herlock burst into a fit of laughter. "Besides, I doubt that anyone would deny an audience with a great detective such as myself."
For their client's sake, Yujin hoped that Klint van Zieks wasn't too busy to speak to them.
----
Light shone from the tall windows of Klint van Zieks' office. Swords adorned the wall in a decorative fashion, and books lined the shelves. What struck Yujin the most, however, was the large portrait of a woman with pink hair, placed on the wall in the middle of the room. She appeared to be wearing a wedding dress. To Yujin, the woman was a stranger. Perhaps she was family?
Klint was busy working at his desk, placed in front of the window, when the two walked in. He was writing a report and only looked up when he heard two footsteps; his face lit up when he realised who was there. "Oh! I certainly didn't expect to see the two of you! You will have to forgive me for my rudeness - I assumed Barok had returned from his errand," he said, getting up to greet them.
"It's really Sholmes' fault for not calling ahead," Yujin replied, shaking the man's hand. "Congratulations on the promotion, by the way. Genshin tells me that it's kept you awfully busy."
"Asogi is a busy man, too," Klint pointed out, "I really should make time for him at some point. Anyways, what can I help you with? I assume you're here about a case, if Mr Sholmes is here."
"Charles Augustus Milverton," Herlock said immediately, as if waiting for the pleasantries to be over, "What do you know about the man?"
Klint was taken aback by the sudden question. He cleared his throat before replying. "I am aware of his... business. He is well-known to every prosecutor here. Why do you ask?"
Yujin opened his mouth to reply, but Herlock spoke first. "I heard of the man myself, and wanted to inquire if you are any closer to arresting him at last." It wasn't exactly a lie, but Yujin noticed that he had avoided mentioning that they had a client that was being targeted by Milverton themselves.
"Technically, no doubt, but practically not." Klint let out a sigh and brushed a hand through his hair. "We lack witnesses, you see. Every time we try to take him to court, our witnesses refuse to speak when the day comes. I suspect that he blackmails them to prevent them from speaking out against him. Another theory that I have is that they fear what will become of them when he is set free. He would most certainly want revenge."
"This can't be another case of a known criminal escaping the confines of the law," Yujin remarked. The silence from his two companions only alarmed him further. "...Can it?"
"It is as I feared," Herlock muttered, "The law is unable to reach this man. The circumstances this time are a little different compared to Moriarty. All it takes is one person to speak out, yet people are too frightened by Milverton to do so."
"It feels like I find more and more criminals escaping the law every day," Klint lamented, "It's sad to say that it's a fact of life. I do what I can, but even that isn't enough. Mr Milverton shouldn't get away with torturing innocent people, yet he continues to do so. Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever come knocking on my door - he has a habit of targeting noble families, after all."
There was a light knock at the door, and a young man with a dark waistcoat walked into the room. He stopped when he saw that Klint had visitors. "My deepest apologies. I didn't realise I was interrupting," he said.
Klint beamed brightly upon seeing the man. "Don't worry yourself, Barok. It was a casual chat, nothing more. Do you remember Mr Sholmes and Dr Mikotoba?"
"Dr Mikotoba... Yes, I've heard Genshin mention his name a few times," The man, Barok, recalled, "It's nice to finally meet you. My name is Barok van Zieks, Klint's younger brother."
"He wants to become a prosecutor himself," Klint informed them, "So, I decided that he could help me out until then. If he's not with me, he's with Asogi. The two have become fairly close in a short span of time... I sense it's their strong sense of justice."
"You talk about me as if I'm not in the room, Klint," Barok muttered, looking away to hide his embarrassment. "Genshin has been very helpful to me, that's all. Both he and Inspector Gregson allow me to accompany them to their crime scenes to learn the etiquette of... Oh, now I'm rambling. You were discussing something, correct? Should I leave you be?"
"Actually, we were just leaving," Herlock announced, "It was a pleasure to see you again, Lord van Zieks. I shall have to keep what you said in mind. For now, I think Mikotoba and I ought to head back to Baker Street before London freezes over."
"It certainly is cold, I'll give you that," Klint said with a chuckle. "Perhaps next time I won't be so busy, and we can have a proper chat. Goodbye, and... try not to get yourselves into trouble."
Barok watched the pair walk out of the room with a frown. "Mr Sholmes... Where have I heard that name before?" He muttered with a frown.
"He's the detective that helped me capture Professor Moriarty," Klint told him, taking a seat back at his desk. "Actually, I think it's a... consulting detective, he calls himself. Asogi sometimes tells me of the cases he takes on; they're awfully strange."
"A... consulting detective?" said Barok, "I've never heard of one before. Perhaps I will ask Genshin for more details on Mr Sholmes. Out of curiosity, of course."
----
They returned twenty minutes past six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's evening. Herlock turned up the lamp, and the light fell upon a card on the table. He glanced at it, and then, with a cry of disgust, threw it on the floor. Yujin hurried to pick it up and read:
"It says that he'll visit in ten minutes," Yujin told him, "I wonder why he has decided to say hello?"
"No doubt an informant was paid ample money to inform him that we were looking into him," Herlock remarked, "Or, someone close to Lady Eva told him that I took her on as a client. I shall have to try and negotiate with the man."
"Negotiate?"
"Lady Eva cannot afford his terms. If I cannot bring the price down, then I will have to consider other options. It is my duty to do so."
At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street below. Yujin glanced outside and saw a stately carriage and pair pulled up outside of Baker Street, the brilliant lamps gleaming down on the glossy chestnut horses. A footman opened the door, and a stout man in a shaggy astrakhan coat descended. A minute later he was in the room.
Charles Augustus Milverton was a man of fifty, with a plump face and a perpetual frozen smile. He had two keen grey eyes, which gleamed brightly from behind his broad, thick-rimmed glasses. His fixed smile was one of insincerity, and his eyes were restless and sharp.
He extended out a hand towards Herlock. "It really is regrettable that I missed you during my first visit, Mr Sholmes," he said, his voice as smooth and suave as his countenance.
Herlock disregarded the outstretched hand and looked at him with a face of granite.
Mr Milverton's smile broadened. He shrugged his shoulders and removed his overcoat, folding it over the back of a chair before he took his seat. "This gentleman?" He pointed in Yujin's direction. "Will he be able to keep our conversation to himself?"
"Dr Mikotoba is my great friend and partner," Herlock replied through gritted teeth.
"I have been informed that you are acting for Lady Eva," Mr Milverton began, "The terms are seven thousand pounds for the letters. Has she empowered you to accept my terms?"
"And the alternative?" Yujin asked, if only out of curiosity.
"It is painful for me to discuss it, but if the money is not paid on the 14th, then there certainly will be no marriage on the 18th." His insufferable smile was more complacent than ever.
Herlock thought for a moment. "You appear to me," he said, at last, "to be taking matters too much for granted. I am, of course, familiar with the contents of the letters. My client will certainly do what I advise. I shall counsel her to tell her future husband the whole story and to trust that his love for her overcomes any anger or jealousy."
Mr Milverton chuckled. "You evidently don't know the Earl," he replied.
A baffled look appeared on Herlock's face; it was evident that he did. "What harm is there in the letters?" He asked.
"They are sprightly - very sprightly," Mr Milverton answered. "The lady was a charming correspondent. But, I can assure you that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them. However, since you think otherwise, we will let it rest at that. It is purely a matter of business. If you think that it's in the best interests of your client that these letters should be placed in the hands of the Earl, then you would indeed be foolish to pay so large a sum of money to regain them." With that, he rose from his chair and grabbed his coat.
Herlock was grey with anger and mortification. "Wait!" He cried, "Don't leave us so soon - we would certainly make every effort to avoid a scandal in so delicate a matter."
Mr Milverton sank back into his chair. "I was sure that you would see it in that light," he chuckled.
"Lady Eva is not a wealthy woman," Herlock continued, "Even two thousand pounds would be a drain upon her resources. The sum you name is utterly beyond her power. I ask that you moderate your demands - two thousand pounds is the highest you will get from her."
"I am aware that what you say is true about the lady's resources," he said, his smile broadening and his eyes twinkling humorously. "At the same time, you must admit that the occasion of the lady's marriage is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to make some little effort on her behalf. This little bundle of letters would give more joy than all the candelabra and butter-dishes in London."
"Surely, it is impossible!" Yujin exclaimed.
"How unfortunate!" Mr Milverton chortled, taking out a bulky pocketbook. He held up a little note with a coat-of-arms upon the envelope. "Look at this - this belongs to... Well, I suppose you'll find out tomorrow morning. At that time, this will be in the hands of another lady's husband. All of this because she will not pay the sum, which she could easily get by turning her diamonds into paste. It is such a pity, isn't it?"
Yujin glanced at his partner, noticing how his hands were shaking with a quiet rage.
"Now, Mr Sholmes, you remember the sudden end of the engagement between Miss Miles and Colonel Dorking?" Mr Milverton continued, "Only two days before the wedding, there was a paragraph in the Morning Post to say that it was all off. Why? The absurd sum of twelve hundred pounds would have settled the matter. Is it not pitiful? Here I find you, a man of sense, boggling about terms when your client's future and honour are at stake. You surprise me, Mr Sholmes."
"What I say is true," Herlock answered, "The money cannot be found. Surely, it is better for you to take the substantial sum which I offer than to ruin this woman's career, which can profit you in no way?"
"There you make a mistake, Mr Holmes," Mr Milverton shot back, "An exposure would profit me indirectly to a considerable extent. I have eight or ten similar cases maturing. If it circulated among them that I had made a severe example of the Lady Eva, I should find all of them much more open to reason. You see my point?"
In an energetic fit, Herlock sprang from his chair. "Go behind him, Mikotoba! Don't let him out!" He exclaimed, standing in front of the man.
Yujin did as instructed, although he wasn't fully behind the idea. "Sholmes, I really don't think we should-"
"Milverton!" Herlock cried, stepping closer to the man. "Let us see the contents of that notebook, hm?"
"Dear me, Mr Sholmes," he said, turning the front of his coat to show the butt of a large revolver hidden in his inside pocket. "I expected you to do something original. This has been done so often, and what good has ever come from it? I am perfectly prepared to use my weapons - the law will support me. Besides, your theory that I would bring the letters here in a notebook is flawed. I would do nothing so foolish. Now, if you would excuse me, I have some matters to deal with before I return to Hampstead."
Mr Milverton stepped forward, took up his coat, laid his hand on his revolver and turned to the door. Yujin went to pick up a chair - perhaps he could delay the man from leaving - but he put it down again when he saw Herlock shake his head. With a bow, a smile and a twinkle, Mr Milverton was out of the room, his carriage rattling away moments later.
Herlock muttered something unintelligible to Yujin under his breath and headed to his bedroom. Yujin followed him, if only to ensure that he wasn't about to do something untoward. He'd never seen his partner react so harshly at the mere presence of a criminal.
"What should we do?" Yujin asked him.
"I have a rough idea," Herlock mumbled, opening his wardrobe and ruffling around. "Let me see... I thought I had one of those in here... Aha! I knew it!"
To Yujin's complete surprise, Herlock pulled out a housemaid's outfit from his wardrobe. "Where did you get that?" Yujin cried out in shock, "I've certainly never seen it before. You didn't 'borrow' it, did you?"
"As you know, my occupation requires me to disguise myself quite often," Herlock replied, "This disguise is part of my plan. I may be gone for some time, but I assure you, my time will not be wasted."
"But where will you go, dressed like that?"
"To Hampstead, naturally. Would you like to help me with my hair?"
This was starting to sound like insanity to Yujin. "I am confident in your ability to change your appearance, but I'll need more information than that. Do you not think I'll worry about you, being away for long periods at a time? Promise me you'll tell me when you're expected to return. I'll stay up for you," he said.
"If that makes you happy," Herlock replied with a soft smile. "Now, about my hair... I think a light dash of makeup should work, too... not too much, of course..."
Whilst Herlock was muttering to himself, Yujin grabbed the necessary supplies to help him with his disguise. He had assisted him before - he would sometimes help Ayame with her hair when she was still alive. It did concern him a little that his partner had chosen this disguise, though. Whatever was he planning?
----
For some days, Herlock came and went at all hours in the attire, but he had kept his plan mostly a secret from Yujin, apart from telling him the time when he'd be back. On a wild, stormy evening, when the wind screamed and rattled against the windows, he returned from his last expedition. Herlock sat in front of the fire quite happily, chuckling silently to himself.
Yujin poured a cup of tea for him and frowned at his disguise - which he was still wearing. "Aren't you going to change your clothes?" He remarked.
"Later," Herlock brushed him off and took a sip from his tea. "I thought you would be curious as to my progress. I have a new friend - well, we are the best of friends, really. Her name is Agatha."
"Agatha?"
"Try not to sound too jealous. She is Milverton's housemaid."
"I'm not jealous," Yujin retorted, "I... I assume you befriended her in order to find information. It's a bit cruel, isn't it?"
"I was tempted to disguise myself as a plumber and ask her to marry me," Herlock said, "I then thought of your face when I would've told you as such. As I prefer to keep my face clean from any war wounds, I opted to go for the friend route instead. I pretended to be a new hire and worked with her - as a result, I now know Milverton's house as I know the palm of my hand."
Yujin stared down at his teacup and turned the facts over in his mind. "What of the girl? She will surely be upset when she discovers that her new friend has disappeared," he pointed out.
Herlock shrugged his shoulders. "You can't help it, my dear Mikotoba. You must play your cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table. It is certainly a splendid night, considering my plans."
Rain battered against the windows. "You like this weather?" Yujin remarked.
"It suits my purpose, Mikotoba. The law cannot touch Milverton, so I must resort to burglary."
At those words, Yujin felt his skin grow cold. A flash of lightning raged through the sky, and his mind immediately jumped to the worst scenario of such an action; the detection, the capture, the honoured career ending in an irreparable failure and disgrace, and his partner being at the mercy of the odious Mr Milverton.
"Think about what you're doing, Sholmes!" Yujin cried, "If you were caught, I..."
"I can assure you, I have given it every consideration. Think about what Lord van Zieks said; the man eludes the law, so long as he has his pocketbook with his blackmail material inside," Herlock told him, "I went to him in hopes that I wouldn't have to do this. Although it is technically criminal, the action is morally justifiable. I only mean to take his pocketbook."
"Is there really no other way we can let the law handle this?" Yujin implored him, "There must be a solution of which you have yet to consider. This is rather extreme, Sholmes!"
Herlock narrowed his eyes. "The last time I trusted the law to handle things, I almost met my demise in the Falls. I can't let that happen again... not to you," he muttered.
Yujin opened his mouth to argue back, but found himself unable to. It was the mention of the Falls that had gotten to him; the mere reminder of that horrible month which had followed.
"I mean to take something which is being used for illegal purposes," Herlock continued, "Lady Eva needs my help, and so do countless others that are being blackmailed by that man. There is no possible other way of regaining those letters. The unfortunate lady has not the money, nor can she rely on others. Tomorrow is her last day of grace, and I will have to act tonight, lest this villain bring her ruin. I either abandon my client to her fate or play my last card. I am willing to sacrifice my self-respect and reputation over this."
"I don't exactly like it, but I suppose we have no choice," Yujin remarked, "When do we start?"
Herlock stared back at him. "You are not coming," he said.
"Then you are not going," Yujin declared, a determined look in his eyes. "I give you my word that I will take a cab straight to the police-station and give you away, unless you let me share this adventure with you."
"It's too dangerous," Herlock warned him, "You can't help me."
"How do you know that? You can't tell what will happen. Anyway, my mind is made up. I'm coming with you," Yujin insisted, "Now, get changed out of that ridiculous outfit."
Herlock looked annoyed, but then his brow cleared, and he placed a hand on Yujin's shoulder. "Well, my dear fellow, let it be so. Considering we have shared a room for some years, it would be amusing if we ended up sharing the same cell. You know, Mikotoba, I have always had the idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal."
"I am aware; you have boasted of your skills before," he replied.
"Oh. Have I?" Herlock took a neat leather case out of a drawer and opened it, exhibiting a variety of shining instruments. "This is a first-class, up-to-date burgling kit, with a diamond-tipped glass-cutter, adaptable keys, and every modern improvement which the march of civilisation demands. I invented it myself, in fact. I even have a dark lantern! All we need are masks. Can I trust you with that?"
Yujin had never made a burglary mask in his life. "I... I can certainly try. Mrs Hudson might have some spare fabrics that we could use," he suggested.
"Excellent. It is now nine-thirty," Herlock noted, "At eleven we shall drive as far as Church Row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to Appledore Towers. We shall be at work before midnight. Milverton is a heavy sleeper and retires punctually at ten-thirty. With any luck we should be back here by two, with the Lady Eva's letters in my pocket."
--
To disguise the fact that they were on their way to burglarise a man's home, the pair had put on their dress-clothes, so that they would appear to be two theatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street they picked up a hansom and drove to Hampstead. It was bitterly cold, and the wind seemed to blow through them as they walked along the edge of the Heath.
"The documents are contained within a safe in Milverton's study, and the study is the anteroom of his bedchamber," Herlock informed him, "The good news is that he is a heavy sleeper. Agatha says it is a joke amongst the servants that it is impossible to wake him. His secretary never budges from the study in the daytime, which is why we are going at night. Agatha has also kindly locked the dog away for me - she has done so the last two evenings, as I claimed to be frightened of it."
A large house loomed over them which almost took up the entirety of the street. "Is this the place?" Yujin asked him, reaching into his pocket for the masks he had prepared earlier. Admittedly, they weren't the best - they were created from old cream-coloured bed sheets.
Herlock took his mask and chuckled at the material his partner had used. "Yes, this is it. Put your... odd mask on. There is not even a glimmer of light in any of the windows. How perfect! Now, we should also come up with aliases, just in case."
"Aliases? Is that necessary? I didn't think that we would talk, considering we're supposed to be quiet," Yujin pointed out.
"Of course it's necessary! I have already decided on our aliases. I will be Ace," Herlock announced with a proud smirk. "Ace being a card that is often associated with the number one. Considering I am the only consulting detective in the world, it's a perfect fit. Since you are my number two, you will be called Snake."
"I fail to see what that has to do with the number two, Sholmes."
"It's Ace. When you roll a sum of two with a pair of dice, it's referred to as 'snake eyes', hence the alias," Herlock kindly informed him, "I assure you, I don't mean for it to have any negative-"
"Let's just ignore the aliases and get a move on," Yujin hissed at him, "We just won't refer to each other by our names. There's only two of us, so it should be fine."
With the masks now on, they crept up to the silent, gloomy house. A tiled veranda extended along one side, lined by several windows and doors. Round the back of the house was a greenhouse, joined to the drawing-room. The only sound was the distant clatter of horses on the next street over.
"That's his bedroom," whispered Herlock, pointing to a room with a balcony. "This door opens straight to the study, but it is bolted and locked. We would make too much noise getting in. It'll be a better idea to enter through the greenhouse."
The greenhouse was locked, but Herlock removed a circle of glass and the key from the inside. He closed the door behind them. In the eyes of the law, they were now felons. The thick, warm air of the conservatory and the rich, choking fragrance of the exotic plants took them by their throats. Herlock seized Yujin's hand in the darkness and led him swiftly past banks of shrubs which brushed against their faces. Even in the darkness, Herlock acted as if the place was fully lit.
Still holding Yujin's hand, Herlock opened a door, and the faint smell of a cigar flooded Yujin's senses. Herlock felt his way among the furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind them. Yujin held out a hand and felt several coats hanging from the wall - they must've been in some sort of passage. They passed along it, and Herlock gently opened a door on the right-hand side.
Something rushed out of the door which almost gave Yujin a fright. A cat brushed past his legs and ran down in the direction that they came. In the new room, there was a fire burning, and the air was heavy with tobacco-smoke. Herlock entered and waited for Yujin to follow before he gently closed the door. They were now in Mr Milverton's study. A curtain hanging over the doorway at the far side showed the entrance to his bedroom.
The room was illuminated by the fire. At one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtain, which covered the balcony they had seen from the outside. A desk stood in the centre, with a turning chair of shining red leather. Opposite was a large bookcase, with a marble bust of Athena, a Greek goddess, on top. In the corner between the bookcase and the wall there stood a tall green safe, the firelight flashing back from the polished brass knobs upon its face.
Herlock tiptoed across and looked at it. Then, he crept to the door of the bedroom, and listened intently. No sound came from within. Whilst he was doing that, Yujin checked the outer door - their escape route - but found it neither locked nor bolted. He tapped Herlock's arm to draw his attention to it, and he was just as surprised as he was.
"I don't like it," Herlock whispered, putting his lips close to Yujin's ear. "I can't quite make it out. Anyhow, we have no time to lose."
"Tell me what I need to do," Yujin whispered back.
"Stand by the door. If you hear anyone, bolt it from the inside, and we can get away as quickly as we came," Herlock told him, "If they come the other way, we can get through the door if our job is done, or hide behind the window curtains if not. Do you understand?"
Yujin nodded and stood by the door. His first feeling of fear had passed, and now he found himself with the same sense of thrill that he felt when he and his partner were working a case together. He had to admit, he was taking a liking to the sense of danger that accompanied his partner. With a glow of admiration, he watched Herlock unroll his case of instruments. He chose his tools with the calm, scientific accuracy of a surgeon.
Opening safes was, admittedly, a hobby to him. The joy it gave him when confronted with the green and gold dragon before him was unmatched. Turning up the cuffs of his dress-coat, he laid out two drills, a crowbar, and several skeleton keys. Yujin stood by the door and watched for any sign of an emergency. For half an hour, his partner worked with concentrated energy, laying down one tool, picking up another, handling each with the strength and delicacy of a trained mechanic.
Finally, there was a click. The broad green door swung open, revealing a number of paper packets, each tied, sealed and inscribed. Herlock picked one out, but it was hard to read by the flickering fire. Suddenly, he froze, listening intently. In an instant he swung the door of the safe, hid his tools in his pockets, and darted behind the window curtain. Yujin realised that something was wrong, and rushed to join him.
There was a noise somewhere in the house. A door slammed in the distance. Heavy footsteps rapidly approached them. They paused at the door. The door opened. Someone entered the room. The door was closed once more, and the smell of a strong cigar drifted into the room. The footsteps continued forwards and backwards within a few yards of them. Finally, there was a creak from a chair, and the footsteps ceased. A key clicked a lock, and Yujin heard the rustle of papers.
He gently parted the curtains and looked through. From the pressure of Herlock's shoulder against his, he knew his partner was doing the same. Right in front of them, and almost within reach, was the broad, rounded back of Mr Milverton. He had never been in his bedroom, but rather, he was smoking in a room on the opposite side of the house. He was leaning back in the red leather chair, his legs outstretched, a cigar in his mouth. He wore a semi-military smoking-jacket, claret-coloured, and a black velvet collar. In his hand he held a long legal document, which he was reading in a sluggish fashion, blowing rings of tobacco smoke from his lips as he did so.
Herlock squeezed Yujin's hand reassuringly. The door to the safe was closed imperfectly, and Yujin was worried that Mr Milverton would look over and spot it. If he did, his only option would be to throw his overcoat over the man and flee in the confusion.
But Mr Milverton never looked up. He was far too interested in the pages in his hand. Several times he looked at his watch. He rose and sat back down again. Then, there was a gentle tap at the unbolted door. Mr Milverton rose and opened it.
"You are nearly half an hour late," he said, curtly.
When Yujin was able to look out again, he saw Mr Milverton sitting back in his chair. In front of him stood a tall woman, a veil over her face, as if she was in mourning. Her breathing was quick and fast, and every inch of her figure was quivering with strong emotion.
"You've made me lose a good night's rest, my dear," he continued, "I hope you'll prove worth it. You couldn't come any other time, eh?"
The woman shook her head.
"Well, if you couldn't, you couldn't. If the Countess is a cruel mistress, you have your chance to get your revenge. Pull yourself together and stop shivering, will you? Now, let us get down to business." Mr Milverton took a note from the drawer of his desk. "You say you have five letters which compromise the Countess d'Albert. You want to sell them. I want to buy them. All that remains is to fix a price. I should want to inspect the letters, of course, to see if they are... Is it you? It can't be!"
Without a word, the woman raised her veil. Yujin clamped a hand over his mouth to hide a gasp - in all of his life, he never thought that he would see that woman ever again. Her mouth was set in a dangerous smile.
"It is I," she said, "The woman whose life you have ruined."
Mr Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated in his voice. "You were so stubborn," he snarled, "Why did you drive me to such extremes? I assure you, I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own accord, but every man has his business, and what was I to do? I put a price well within your husband's means. He would not pay."
"He was the kindest man I had ever known. You sent the letters to his family, and it broke his heart," the woman muttered through gritted teeth, "It is a rather cruel act to drive a happy man to take his own life. Do you recall the night before you sent the letters, where I came to you and begged and prayed for your mercy? You laughed in my face as you are trying to laugh now. Your cowardly heart keeps your lips twitching. You thought that you would never see me again, but I had used that night to assist me today, so I could meet you all alone. Well, Charles Milverton, what have you to say?"
"Don't imagine that you can bully me," he replied, rising from his chair. "I have only raise my voice, and I could call my servants and have you arrested. But, I will make an allowance for your natural anger. Leave the room, and I will say no more."
The woman reached into her dress, the same deadly smile on her lips. "You will ruin no more lives as you have ruined mine. You will wring no more hearts as you have wrung mine. I will free the world of a poisonous thing such as yourself, you hound!"
She drew a gleaming revolver and emptied barrel after barrel into his body. Mr Milverton shrank away and then fell forward upon the table, coughing furiously and clawing among the papers. Then, he staggered to his feet, before receiving another shot and rolling upon the floor. He muttered something akin to a curse and moved no more.
With an intense gaze, the woman grounded her heel into his upturned face. She looked again, but sensed no sound or movement. Yujin heard a light rustle and the night air blowing into the heated room. The avenger was gone.
Herlock still had a grasp on Yujin's hand. Justice had overtaken this villain, but they still had their mission to complete. The woman had hardly left the room when Herlock rushed from the room to collect the key to the door leading to the hallway, locking it as the sound of voices and hurrying feet appeared outside. The revolver shots had roused the household.
With a calm mind, Herlock slipped across to the safe, filled his arms with the papers and threw them into the fire. Again and again he did so, until the safe was empty. Someone turned the handle and banged upon the outside of the door. Herlock looked swiftly round. The letter which had been the messenger of death for Mr Milverton was smeared with his blood, upon the table. Herlock tossed it with the rest of the papers.
Then, he grabbed the key for the balcony door and gestured for Yujin to follow. A ladder was resting against it, allowing for an easy escape. Herlock locked the door from the outside. "We can scale the garden wall in this direction," he hissed to his partner.
Yujin followed him as they ran across the garden. Looking back, the huge house was in a blaze of light. The front door was open, and figures rushed down the drive. One of them spotted the two and raised the alarm.
Herlock seemed to know the grounds perfectly, as he threaded his way very swiftly through a plantation of small trees. They had yet to shake off one pursuer that was hot on their heels. A six-foot wall barred their path, which Herlock quickly vaulted over.
As Yujin followed, he felt someone grab his ankle. He quickly kicked himself free and scrambled over the wall, landing in a pile of bushes. Herlock grabbed Yujin's arm and the two dashed away together across the huge expanse of Hampstead Heath. They ran for two miles before Herlock stopped and listened intently. Absolute silence followed; they had managed to shake off their pursuers.
"Did... Did you recognise that woman, Sholmes?" Yujin panted, now that they were finally able to take a rest.
"I certainly saw her face," Herlock confirmed, "But not a word about it until the morning. We'd best hurry back to Baker Street for now."
If she really was the woman Yujin thought she was, then he understood completely why Herlock was refusing to speak of it. After all, they had both assumed that they would never see her face ever again, especially considering the circumstances of their last encounter with her. Still, they had to get back to Baker Street before Mrs Hudson realised they were missing and raised the alarm (again).
----
Their morning was interrupted by the arrival of a guest. Yujin opened the door to see none other than Klint van Zieks. With a gasp of surprise, Yujin stood aside and let the man in. His carriage was outside, but it had evidently been somewhere else that morning, considering the dirt marks on the usually remarkably-clean carriage.
"Good morning to you both," Klint said, "I thought that I should stop by and inform you of some news before it reaches the papers. Last night, Mr Milverton was found dead - he'd been murdered."
"Murdered?" Yujin feigned surprise. "What were the circumstances behind it, Lord van Zieks?"
"From what I've been told, it appears that the criminals were targets of his blackmailing operations," Klint recalled, "No items of value were taken, but all of his materials were burned in the fire. It certainly provides a clear motive, don't you think?"
"Criminals?" Herlock repeated, "You mean to say that there was two of them?"
"Yes, they were very nearly captured red-handed," Klint continued, "We have their footmarks, and a vague description. The first was far too quick, but the second was caught by the gardener and only got away after a struggle. He was clean-shaven, with combed-back black hair, and a mask over his eyes."
"That's rather vague," Herlock remarked, "Why, it might even be a description of Mikotoba!"
Klint glanced at Yujin and chuckled. "Very true, Mr Sholmes. It might be a description of Dr Mikotoba! Still, it appears that private revenge ended up bringing this villain to justice, rather than the law..."
"My sympathy is with the criminals. Milverton was a vile man," Herlock commented, taking a breath from his pipe. "At least we can rest safely, knowing that he can blackmail others no more."
"Thank you for telling us, Lord van Zieks," said Yujin, "Are you staying long? I can make a cup of tea for you if so."
"No, I should get back to my office before Barok tries to organise my bookshelves again," Klint replied, "I'll have to let you two know if we ever catch the criminals. They say it's ten to one if they'll catch them, but I never was a betting man. Goodbye, Mr Sholmes, Dr Mikotoba."
Yujin closed the door as Klint left and shot a glare towards Herlock. "You're lucky he thought you were joking," he muttered.
Herlock ignored him completely and stared at his pipe. "You know, for just a second, I... I thought I saw a flicker of darkness in our prosecutor friend. Ah, but I'm probably imagining things. Wipe that glare off of your features, Mikotoba."
"Does this mean we can discuss... the woman?" Yujin sat down next to his partner. "I almost intervened, but you stopped me. Why? You could've finally caught her."
"She would only slip through our fingers once more," Herlock told him, "We'd land ourselves in a world of trouble if we revealed ourselves any sooner. There was nothing that we could do to stop the shooting. It's quite possible that she would've killed us to get to him. Still, I can't say I ever expected..."
"Sholmes? Are you alright? You've gone quiet."
"I'm fine, Mikotoba. You worry too much," he said with a chuckle. "It's funny how we ran into her after all this time, isn't it? It seems like, even now, she is still getting the upper hand on those that dare to cross her."
Herlock looked towards a particular picture on the mantelpiece and smiled.