Posted by Bowen Cates on 3/9/2008, 4:25 pm, in reply to "Chapter thirteen part two"
24.207.121.197
Chapter 14: In Which Us Girls Get To See The Inside Of The Men’s Room At ‘Chester And Co.’
“I don’t get it Holmes, how did you know?” demanded Lestrade as she flipped through file after file on the bank’s computer “this guy’s got to be swimming in debt.”
The Chester and Co. bank was a large building nearly as imposing as the house they had just left. Rows of offices spanned each wall and employees of every imaginable background could be seen sprinting from one to the other, barely touching the inlaid marble floor. The whole impression was of a huge anthill, with of course, the obvious lack of soil catacombs and giant insects. It seemed to Theodore that only someone with an excellent sense of direction would take the time to barricade any amount of money in such a place. You would have to have one of those handy little maps from Treasure Island, and a compass just to find it again.
2103 Holmes smiled, as he leaned against the computer consol on which Lestrade had been viewing bank files.
“It was obvious, when I took into account the fact that he was unwilling to disclose information about his invention, the lack of materials for the construction of it and the absence of the appropriate number of staff at his home.
“The only conclusion one could come to was that his funds were depleted, not to mention the fact that all of the equipment in his laboratory was at least five years outdated, including his core computer which I am told should be replaced after the time span of three years.”
“Indeed” 1800 Holmes nodded in agreement “one would also think that of man of his supposed financial standing could afford to buy a new pair of trousers rather then having his old pair patched”
“I didn’t notice that” Theodore admitted sulkily.
“Your distance from the doctor was too great,” 1800 Holmes informed him.
“Okay, okay!” Lestrade, not liking being left out of the conversation, was tapping her foot impatiently. She had closed down the bank computer console about three minutes before and was rearing to follow their newly detected sent. “Now that we know he’s broke what we are going to do about it!”
“Find out where he was getting the money he needed to even consider the construction of a time machine.” 2103 Holmes explained in a tone that spoke of his increased annoyance at her refusal to notice the obvious.
“Oh? And how are we going to do that?” she replied, just as annoyed.
“Well, it stands to reason that if he was in such dire need of funds and yet he was considering the manufacture of a multimillion pou-” wincing at his error 1800 Holmes continued, he had taken over his twins explanation in an attempt to avoid an argument.
“…credit device then he must have had some other means available to him, and since he was so reluctant to inform us of his creation’s existence, I hardly think it a legal one. We know it was Moriarty who stole the blueprints, we know he has means at his disposal of financing his various projects and we know that he travels back in time in the very near future, so where does that leave us?”
“Okay, okay,” Lestrade grumbled, repeating herself “so Moriarty stole the blueprints for the time machine.”
“Really, you’ve outdone yourself Lestrade,” 2103 Holmes assured her, sarcastically.
Theodore snickered.
“Okay kid, you think you can do better?” demanded Lestrade, red in the face
“Well-.”
“Surely we are wasting valuable time” 2103 Holmes insisted with impatience “has it escaped your notice, both of you, that we have a dangerous criminal to apprehend, we may not be able to intercept him before he time travels for obvious reasons. But is it not important that we have all the information we shall need at our disposal?”
Now it was Theodore’s turn to be embarrassed.
Glaring at the two of them 2103 Holmes continued.
“Now that we are all in agreement, perhaps we should assign our prospective tasks, as he is still incognito my counterpart and I shall take up the investigation of technology manufacturers. For that is where Moriarty would go for supplies for the construction of his ill gotten invention.” he stopped to look at his aforementioned twin who nodded in assent.
“Unless of course he decides to steal them, but we shall know should he start upon that path, Lestrade you would be instrumental in helping us to discern whether Powell has had any other splotches upon his record. Such information, if it exists, would be of great assistance in our knowing his next move, but do not question him.” he warned, “The last thing we need, is his suspicion.” The inspector nodded, her features set into a glower of determination.
“What can I do?” Theodore had no intention of being left out now that things were getting exiting, after all, was it not he who - for better or worse - had been the cause of this entire escapade?
“You, Mr. Trent, would be of great assistance if you would work in the company of my irregulars.” Theodore smiled with expectation “I should like the four of you to see what you can unearth concerning where Moriarty would be most likely to set up headquarters.
“I have here” he continued, rummaging in his pocket in a gentlemanly fashion, and pulling out a leather bound notebook “a list of some old friends of mine, all living in close company with the criminal underworld, who would be most willing to lend assistance. By myself it would take days to find and question them all, between the four of you a number of hours should more then suffice.”
“Sure” excitement flowed rapidly through Theodore’s veins, this would be the first time he would be alone with the irregulars without 1800 Holmes, a challenge, but he would rise to the occasion.
“Wonderful, so Lestrade if you would be so good as to drop the three of us off at Baker Street we will each begin our separate undertakings.”
The four of them started out, Theodore, as usual, walking beside 1800 Holmes and having a heck of a time attempting to keep up; he was used to walking in small strides, which came nowhere near to the width of Holmes’ long ones. He imagined it being comparable to a donkey trying to keep pace with a thoroughbred stallion. He was just about to follow the detective out the door when he thought he glanced a familiar face over his shoulder.
Quickly, he swerved around, but he could not see any one, shrugging, he again moved toward the door. 1800 Holmes was already getting into the police cruiser and Theodore didn’t want to hold the group up, but just as he turned the doorknob, he heard a sound.
“Ssspppp, hey, Theodore.”
He stopped dead.
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