"The Widow" Bertha

Two days later, afternoon.

Mycroft Holmes left the office and climbed into the carriage.

This was supposed to be the same flat and quiet journey home as usual, until his carriage stopped in front of a street where it shouldn't have stopped.

The man in the carriage turned his head sideways, and said to the window behind him: "What's going on?"

It was not the driver who responded to him, but a younger voice: "Sir, there was a car accident ahead. The road was completely blocked."

Mycroft: "..."

The Italians responded quickly.

"Sir," the coachman's voice sounded slowly, "Do you want to do it?"

Mycroft touched the brim of his hat with a hand.

There was a somewhat unhappy look on the face of the man under the gentleman's hat—it's not that the dignified Sherlock Holmes didn't expect the other party to do it in public, or in such a bustling street, but in many occasions where a surprise attack might occur. , Marco Esposito chose the one that Mycroft least wanted to see.

In the end, it was just that he couldn't firmly control the place where the incident happened, and he was a little unhappy.

"Not yet," he finally said.

Bertha gave him two boys in order to serve as living targets and tell the Italians—"Look, here is Lady Thames' lover."Therefore, Mycroft only takes one with him when he travels on weekdays, and it is better to take care of one less.

After all, the boys were nominally responsible for protecting Mycroft, but he couldn't explain to Bertha what happened.

A Lady Thames boy, a coachman, that's what Mycroft brought home today.

Of course, on the bright side.

"Unhook the carriage," said Mycroft after a moment's thought. "Are there many in the street?"

"A lot, sir," the coachman said in a helpless tone, "it happens to be the busiest moment."

It also happens to be the busiest area.

Even with the windows of the carriage closed, Mycroft could hear the hustle and bustle of people and footsteps in the street.It was very lively outside, almost to the point of rubbing shoulders, so there was an accident of a carriage colliding, which naturally blocked the road.

And because of road congestion, there will be more and more horse-drawn carriages and trucks stranded.

It was not the way Mycroft Holmes was used to, but it was the way the gang was used to.

Gangster killings have always been so simple and rough, mixing in the crowd, it is not easy to be caught by Scotland Yard.

That being the case...

"Pretend the axle of the carriage is broken, and you two get out and fix it," Mycroft urged, "and go around the back of the carriage."

"What about you, sir?" asked the Thames boy.

"It's all right," said Mycroft, "I have my own measure."

——The driver and bodyguard in the carriage left without warning, which would undoubtedly make the other party easily vigilant.

The Italian who caused the car and horse accident on the street looked through the crowds and saw the servants in the carriage without any identification mark leaving on the street, and suddenly realized that Mycroft Holmes had sensed their intentions.

The killer who stayed on the side of the street immediately went against the crowd and took out a pistol from his arms.

Holding on to his hat, Mycroft leaned over and lowered his center of gravity.

A gunshot pierced the sky.

Bullets whizzed over Mycroft's head as they passed through the carriage, but they were soon buried under more movement.

Screams, gallops, and other noises came together, and the sudden commotion startled the unbridled horse, which neighed and galloped away.

The horse's departure caused the center of gravity in front of the carriage to sway, and it slammed heavily on the ground.

Due to the number of pedestrians, the gunfire stopped.Mycroft took the opportunity to get up, kicking the seat opposite him with a kick.

Normally, Bertha sat here.

But when Mycroft kicked down the bench, the barrier at the rear of the carriage opened automatically, and he jumped directly from behind the carriage to the ground.

It took less than thirty seconds from the time the Italian shot to when Mycroft stepped on the road majestically.

Pushing pedestrians, frightened horses, and other panicked carriages and wagons became the most natural cover.The hitman had to be close to the wagon to shoot, but before that the driver and the gang boy he brought over were enough to take care of everything.

Mycroft Holmes stood where he was and straightened his coat.

Then he turned his head and saw Marco Esposito standing on the side of the street through the crowd.

The two men faced each other from a distance.

Immediately afterwards, the Italian's hand reached into his pocket.

He wants to draw a gun.

But Mycroft was not alarmed.

Shouts of terror, cries, and neighing of carriages and horses interweave into a crisis-filled symphony above the bustling streets.However, this did not seem to affect Holmes in the middle of the storm at all.

He was like a pine tree standing in the middle of the road, tall and straight, with a well-thought-out plan, holding his own cane without any decorations, and his leisurely appearance was incompatible with the turmoil around him.

The next moment, dozens of young people wearing red scarves and red gloves arrived late.

Marco Esposito on the street then had to put down his right hand, which was about to draw a gun.

Mycroft raised his gentleman's hat to the Italian from afar, nodded slightly, and greeted him politely.

Marco cursed in Italian.

The turmoil is coming to an end soon.

Mrs. Thames' boys entered in an orderly manner and subdued the killer very quickly.Thomas Thames charged forward with his gun himself, and when several boys held him down, Mycroft added flatly, "To live."

Thomas was taken aback, and turned to look at the calm Mr. Holmes.

Seeing that he was safe and sound, Thames' second-in-command nodded: "No problem. Sir... are you okay?"

"You arrived in time," Mycroft said politely, "but I heard the news."

"It is."

Thomas put the pistol back rather guiltyly. Of course, he did not miss the teasing flash in Mr. Mycroft Holmes' eyes when he did so.

"It's fine," Thomas said, "Ma'am...she's in the car, please get in the car first."

"Thank you."

Mycroft looked up again, and Marco Esposito across the street was gone.

Thomas specifically called out to a boy to escort Mycroft out of the chaotic street. A short turn from the block, Mrs. Thames' carriage was on the side of the road.

Evidently Bertha had been waiting a long time.

The gentleman stepped into the carriage, and as soon as he sat down, he met the charming dark golden eyes of the Jamaican girl. She quickly looked at Mycroft, and after confirming that he was intact, she smiled.

"Why not?" asked Bertha.

She knew that it must be more than the two people on the surface that he brought out.

Please, Bertha had already agreed with him to lure the Italians. According to his character, he might have already planned ahead.

However, the man who sat firmly opposite Bertha just smiled lightly: "Trouble."

One word is enough to explain everything.

Had the Italian picked a private occasion, Mycroft would have chosen to fight back.But his killer chose to commit the crime in public, which made Mycroft Holmes immediately choose to stand still.

——The gangsters in Italy have sent killers, so let Mrs. Thames, who is also the leader of the gang, fight back. In this way, today's riots are gang conflicts, but it becomes much simpler.

Otherwise, if Mycroft's people stepped forward to defend, Scotland Yard would be alarmed, and the higher-ups would naturally be alarmed.

Holmes also worked for the government. He was famous for his mentor, and he inevitably went through various procedures.

The winding road made Mycroft, who was sitting in the carriage aware of the attack, simply choose to wait for Mrs. Thames to send someone to rescue him.

"You will be at ease," said Bertha.

"Because of you, Bertha."

Mycroft laughed: "Of course I have a second choice."

What he said was better than what he sang, in the end it was really just the word he uttered - he just found it troublesome.

Bertha didn't mind at all, her gaze dropped to the dust on Mycroft's shoulder: "Are you all right?"

"The horse didn't stand still when it broke free," replied Mycroft. "It's nothing serious."

"is it?"

Bertha stretched out her hand, brushed the dust off Mycroft's shoulders herself, and said teasingly: "I didn't expect you to not move very much, but you are actually quite sensitive, huh?"

Mycroft: "..."

The gentleman holding the cane couldn't laugh or cry.

"I'm alive anyway," he said, "and you're making fun of me?"

"Okay, you are a great hero."

"Is that so happy?"

"of course."

Bertha did not hide her bright smile: "I am happy because you trust me."

As Mycroft said, he actually had many options to deal with the Italians, but he still sat in the carriage without any worries, and waited for Bertha's men to arrive.

"Is this something to be happy about?"

Mycroft said seriously: "I have always trusted you, Bertha."

Bertha laughed loudly: "Okay, you will please me. Hurry up and go back, Mr. Holmes has been assassinated, and the next condolences and visitors may have to step through the threshold of Pall Mall."

Mycroft turned his head sideways: "Do I need to close the net now?"

"Better as soon as possible."

"Because of your people?"

"Yes," Bertha didn't hide it, "Nancy brought the news that the Italians will attack you today, and she also said... Katie has hooked up with the boy I sent, and she wants him to come back tonight." go there."

"Then close the net."

Mycroft didn't say much: "The Italians should pay the price."

Bertha: "Hate him so much?"

"Hate—it's hard to say."

Mycroft replied slowly, "Nothing more than disgust."

Speaking of which, even though the gentleman still had a smile on his face, there was still a chill in the closed carriage that was not aimed at each other.

The man's gentle and polite gentleman's demeanor couldn't hide the sharpness in his eyes.

"You will get what you want, Bertha."

He said.

"No man can tolerate underestimation from others, my dear," said Mycroft unhurriedly, "even me."