017

No one can determine where the missing John Horner is.

But Sherlock Holmes was pretty sure that there had been no news of murder or sudden death in the various newspapers lately.

Holmes thought for a moment, and then said to Agatha, "If you want to find John Horner, you must first find out where the Christmas goose came from. Whatever the shocking secret of the Countess of Moka, it is inseparable from the Angel's Tears. ”

After a pause, he added, "Of course, it's important to find out what happened to John Horner when he was at the Metropole, so I'm going to go to the Metropole later." ”

Agatha: "Countess Moka is a premium member of the Metropole Hotel, and her dressing room is on the top floor of the hotel. The top floor of the Mets is only open to premium members, are you a premium member of the Met? ”

Watson looked at Agatha with some surprise, he didn't expect Agatha to know so much about these things.

Agatha met Watson's surprised gaze and explained with a smile: "Mrs. Milwalton often participates in high society socials, and Mr. Milwarton is keen to collect all kinds of gossip and gossip, and he knows all kinds of high-end hotels and clubs in London, and is the most distinguished member of these hotels and clubs. ”

Since Mill Walton is mentioned, it's nothing unusual.

Milwharton is simply pervasive in London, after Watson met Sherlock Holmes, Holmes has handled not hundreds of cases but dozens, and there are many vicious serial killers among the criminals he has seen, but those people are not as good as Milwalton makes Holmes gnash his teeth when he says it.

On the night of the negotiation between Sherlock Holmes and Mill Walton, both men even turned on their weapons, and the conflict was on the verge of eruption.

Of course, Watson, who had always been mild-mannered, was almost going up to fight Mill Walton at that time.

Those who are close to Zhu are red, and those who are close to ink are black.

Watson never expected that the little maid, who was favored by Mill Walton, would fall in love with the plumber in Sherlock Holmes' disguise within half a month and be engaged to him.

Of course, Watson didn't think Agatha was stupid, he even thought Agatha was a smart and lovely girl, he just didn't expect her to be so innocent, and when it came to emotional matters, she was completely out of proportion.

Realizing that he was thinking too much, Watson came back to his senses and said to Agatha with a smile, "Sherlock wants to go to the top floor of the Metropolitan Hotel, and there are many ways. ”

Also.

Agatha remembered Sherlock Holmes' disguise, so literally that he could even disguise himself as a hotel staff and swagger to Countess Moca's dressing room without anyone noticing.

But Holmes wasn't going to do that.

Sherlock Holmes held up a white porcelain cup with black tea, the smell of tea was fragrant, and he noticed that Agatha had a special preference for tea from the East.

He took a sip of black tea and said, "I'm a premium member of the Cosmopolitan Hotel. ”

Watson was surprised: "When did it happen?" ”

Holmes put the white porcelain cup back in its place, leaning back on the back of the armchair, his hands habitually resting on his abdomen, his fingertips touching each other.

Sherlock Holmes: "This morning's thing. ”

Watson:???

Sherlock Holmes: "Didn't Wiggins come with Henry Baker when he came to claim the felt hat?" I asked Wiggins to send a message to McCroft. ”

Mycroft?

Thinking of Mycroft Holmes, Watson immediately understood.

Mycroft is a high-ranking government official who can do anything, and he cares deeply about his brother, but for some reason, the two brothers always don't say a few words when they meet, and the atmosphere becomes tense.

Watson felt that this was due to the fact that McCroft disliked Sherlock for not being smart enough and not steady enough.

That's right.

Sherlock Holmes, who everyone admires and admires, is only disgusted in front of his brother Mycroft and is not smart enough, which shows how amazing Mycroft's IQ is.

At this point, Holmes said coolly, "Helping family members in the best way they can is one of McCroft's favorite things to do." ”

Watson drank tea silently and did not speak.

Because he remembered that the day after he moved to the Baker Street apartment, McCroft approached him. Mycroft wanted to give him a sum of money to help spy on Sherlock Holmes.

Watson had never seen a brother who cared for his brother through surveillance, and at that time he only felt that the other party had malicious intentions.

Of course, the upright Watson rejected Mycroft's suggestion very seriously, and Holmes regretted afterwards that he did not accept McCroft's suggestion, otherwise he would have shared the money with Wharf.

Holmes was clearly accustomed to Mycroft's actions.

- The people in the Sherlock Holmes family are all extremely intelligent, but their personalities are too bizarre and eccentric.

Watson, who has experienced too much, can only sigh like this.

While Watson was sighing, Agatha asked Holmes, "You go to the Metropolitan Hotel, can you take me with you?" ”

Holmes shook his head: "I'm afraid not." ”

After a pause, he glanced at Agatha again and asked, "What are you doing at the Metropole?" ”

Agatha bent her eyes and smiled cutely: "Curious, I want to see what the top floor of the Metropolitan Hotel is like that only the most distinguished members can go to." ”

Sherlock Holmes sat up against the couch, leaned forward slightly, tilted his head sideways, and his gray eyes met Agatha's.

Sherlock Holmes: "You want to help?" ”

Agatha was said to be thinking about it, but she was afraid that it was her own wishful thinking, so she was silent and asked, "Are you afraid that I will cause trouble?" ”

Not really.

But if Agatha really wanted to help, Holmes had something else to do.

Sherlock Holmes: "I have another important thing I need your help with than going to the Metropole. ”

John Horner disappeared, and it was his wife who went to Mr. Lesterred, and all they knew was relayed by Mr. Lesterred.

Holmes said to Agatha, "I would like you to go with Dr. Watson to Mrs. John Horner to find out what John Horner had done at home and what he had said to her before he disappeared." ”

It is also indispensable to talk to the victim's family to understand the situation.

Agatha gladly accepted Holmes's arrangement, and whatever his considerations were for her to meet John Horner's wife, at least it would not make her feel powerless about the world.

There are a lot of things she can be a part of.

==

John Horner's wife was a young woman of about twenty-five years of age, with two children, the eldest being five years old and the younger being three years old.

When Agatha and Watson arrived at John Horner's cottage, Mrs. Horner was preparing lunch in the kitchen, and the two children sat at the steps of the main door, and when they saw the two guests, they called out to their mothers in the house.

"Tom, mommy is busy cooking, don't mess around-"

The angry voice stopped abruptly when it saw Agatha and Watson.

Mrs. Horner looked at Agatha and Watson with a wary expression, picked up the two children, and said in a cold tone with anger, "Who are you?" ”

Who is it?

Seeing the young lady's wary look, Agatha and Watson looked at each other.

Agatha had a innocent smile on her face, and said politely, "Mrs. Horner, my name is Agatha, and this is Dr. Watson, who has commissioned us from Mr. Lesterred. ”

Mrs. Horner was relieved to hear that Agatha and Watson had been commissioned by Mr. Lesterred.

It could be seen that the young lady was very tired for the past two days, and she invited Agatha and Watson into the house, her eyes shining with hope: "How is it?" Did you find John? ”

Watson had an apologetic look on his face, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Horner, but we haven't found your husband yet. ”

Mrs. Horner's hope was disappointed, and her body shook, and her body went limp.

Watson grabbed the young lady who was about to lose consciousness and sat her down in a chair beside her, and Agatha hurriedly poured a glass of hot milk.

Mrs. Horner was anxious and tired for several days, and because of the low blood sugar caused by not eating breakfast in the morning, Watson, who studied medicine, gave her a general check-up, and advised: "It's not a big deal, but you should eat three meals on time and pay attention to rest." ”

Mrs. Horner wept silently, and she choked up and said, "Sir, my husband's whereabouts are unknown, and there are two children at home who are waiting to be fed. Ever since John's disappearance, I haven't been able to sleep at night, afraid something will happen to him. I went to the Metropolitan Police and called the police, but no one believed me. I had no choice but to crouch outside the gate of the police department and wait, and finally waited for Mr. Lesterred, who told me that there was not enough evidence to open a case, but he was willing to ask a friend to help me. I have heard that you have come on commission from Mr. Lesterred, and I think you have found John. ”

The ups and downs of emotions made Mrs. Horner's already physically exhausted body unsustainable, and she almost fainted.

Watson felt deep sympathy for Mrs. Horner, who had been with Sherlock Holmes for some time, but had never been able to learn to detach himself from some of his emotions.

Mrs. Horner held up her hand to cover her face, tears streaming from her fingers.

Agatha took out a handkerchief and handed it over, "Mrs. Horner, we will do our best in your husband's affairs." But before that, I hope you can take care of yourself. In case he can't get it back, you and your two children still have to live. ”

Ordinary words, but when she said them in a gentle and calm voice, it seemed to carry some soothing magic.

Mrs. Horner was stunned, put down her hand covering her face, and asked with a blank look in her tear-drenched eyes, "If Mr. Horner can't come back, how will I live with my children?" ”

This is a woman who has put all her life's hopes on her husband.

Agatha gently put the handkerchief into her hand and smiled, "If you can be honest with me and Dr. Watson, the result may not be as bad as you think." ”

Mrs. Horner's expression froze, and her open palm clenched violently.

She looked at Agatha with a pale face.

Agatha asked, "Since John Horner's disappearance, people have been harassing you, haven't they?" ”

Mrs. Horner: "......"