Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 1:36:33 GMT
Would I be here if I weren't?
*Quinn gets out after Harry, and waits for her to open the boot before fighting to get the wheelchair out*
"You should have chosen a car with a biger boot, Ms. Watson. The wheelchair is a problem."
We're too vulnerable. Too exposed.
*Sherlock is nervous--not showing it, but he is on alert. He knows full well that he is the largest source of vulnerability, and that a pregnant woman, paralysed man, and an unarmed medical man (even if he was trained in martial arts) do not make the best group to take on a crime syndicate*
*Quinn has managed to get the wheelchair out of the boot and now is ready to transfer Sherlock to the chair. He opens the door and Sherlock, unable to support himself, nearly tumbles out. He grits his teeth in pain as his spine is strained. Quinn catches him and quickly moves him to the chair and helps him settle into it*
Well?
*he starts to roll toward the building, in front of Harry*
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 12:32:58 GMT
*Harry follows hesitantly, her hands tense, her breathing heavy*
Stay close to me.
*As soon as the words leave her mouth, three cars come screaming into the yard, and at least eight men jump out brandishing guns. Before Harry can do anything, someone's pointing a gun at Sherlock's head and her hands are pushed behind her back, and she's screaming and hollering - not for herself, but for Sherlock*
NE LE TOUCHEZ PAS! NE LE TOUCHEZ PAS! LAISSEZ-LE TRANQUILLE! Don't touch him! Don't touch him! Leave him alone
*She is kicking and screaming, struggling endlessly against her captor when the she catches sight of a man to her left*
TOI?! Qu'est que tu fait?! Laissez-le tranquille! You?! What are you doing?! Leave him alone!
*The man, tall with dark hair and a nose that has clearly met someone's fist on more than one occasion, gives a low laugh*
"Emanuelle. Je suis enchanté, comme toujours. Me parlez, Emanuelle; pourquoi est-ce que tu amènes la police avec toi?" "Emanuelle. A pleasure, as always. Tell me, Emanuelle. Why have you brought the police with you?"
La police?! Qui? Où? The police? Who? Where?
*She gives a hollow laugh*
Lui?! Non - il n'est pas la police! Il est avec moi - il était une fois quand c'était assez. Him? No - he's not the police! He's with me - once that would have been enough
*The man steps towards Harriet and she struggles furiously to no avail. He comes towards her, strokes her cheek and it's clear who has caused her bruises.*
"Ne bouge pas, Emmanuelle." "Don't move, Emanuelle"
Tu sais, je te détestais toujours, Marius. You know, I always hated you Marius
*And Harry spits in his face. Suddenly there's a gun at her throat, and her breathing is all the fills the cold winter air, and she's sure everyone can hear her heart pounding, and her mind's racing and she's staring at Sherlock, trying to convey her apologies with her eyes when...*
"MARIUS? QU'EST-CE QUE TU FAIS?"
*Harry nearly passes out with relief, as Manuel steps out of a car she hadn't noticed arrive*
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 14:03:32 GMT
Typical.
*Quinn has adopted a martial arts defense stance--after all, he's not just there as a doctor. Sherlock just rolls his eyes at the proceedings, clearly unfazed by the high drama*
Manuel, I presume? I'd say I'd shake your hand if I had the strength, but I probably wouldn't. As accustomed as I am to having guns pointed at me by one-track-minded thugs, it's no less irritating.
*people are staring at the brazen words of the most physically vulnerable man in the nearest square kilometer*
You said you had something on Moriarty. Something valuable. Your baboon has caused physical harm to an associate of mine. I may have to take the cost out of the price I'm willing to pay.
*he's never really played the underground leader with troops in his care. He's not enjoying the fact that he has to look out for someone else*
This is Quinn. I'm sure you know who I am, and you obviously know her. Let's talk business before you bore me to death.
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 15:23:29 GMT
*Manuel raises her eyebrows at Harry and she suppresses a smile, translating everything Sherlock has said precisely.*
"Emanuelle. Ma chérie."
*Harry wriggles free of her captors, rushes forward and greets Manuel with two kisses on each cheek*
Vous n'avez pas la confiance en moi? You don't trust me?
*She gestures to the eight or so men*
"C'était pas mon idée Emanuelle. En fait, je ne connaissais pas." "It wasn't my idea Emanuelle. In fact, I didn't know."
*He glowers at Marius, who quickly steps back, gesturing for his men to retreat, which they do.*
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 16:59:31 GMT
If everyone's finished threatening or greeting one another.
*he drums his hands along the wheelchair arm, impatient and cross, his brain damage also causing mood swings (though admittedly his mood has been in the crochety zone for quite some time)*
It's not a social call. We're not here for nibbles and champagne. Skip the chit-chat.
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 17:11:09 GMT
Harry shoots him a warning look as Manuel begins to walk towards the nearest warehouse*
I wish they'd shot you now.
*She follows Manuel, plastering a beam on as she falls into the older man's step*
Il n'est pas avec la police. Il est mon associé. Nous voulons parler l'entreprise. He's not with the police. He's my business partner. We want to talk business.
*Manuel nods but says nothing, and they reach the warehouse door. Manuel turns to Harry with a grave look.*
"Emanuelle, J'ai confiance en toi. Ça m'est égale s'il est avec Interpol. Si tu as confiance en lui, moi aussi." "Emanuelle, I trust you. It doesn't matter to me if he's with Interpol. If you trust him, I do too"
*Manuel turns to Sherlock*
"Est-ce que vous êtes avec Interpol?"
*Harry goes to translate but Manuel holds up a hand. Harry falls silent.*
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 17:33:58 GMT
Non. Je suis...indépendant.
*while his French is a bit out of practice, he pulls the accent off perfectly*
Je parle français. J'ai vécu près de Marseille dans mon enfance. Et je ne suis pas stupide.
*he flashes his "get on with it" smile, a clear sign of wanting to get in and out in a hurry. He still thinks Moriarty may have tracked them there and knows that to take out the group of them would be a major insect out of Moriarty's hair*
Dites-moi ce que vous savez Moriarty. Rapidement. Précisément. Maintenent.
((sorry if my French is rubbish--been out of practise for five and a half years...))
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 18:46:20 GMT
*Harry can't help but grin at Manuel's look of shock. She shrugs at him, trying not to laugh and follows her former boss through the door*
*The whole place is enormous, and largely empty, except for a neat pile of crates at the far end, and a desk at the end nearest to the group. Manuel gestures for the pair to come to the desk, which he sits behind. Silence falls while Manuel lights a cigarette, offering one to Harry.*
*She takes the cigarette, lighting it gently, with no intention of smoking it. Resistance is difficult, but Sherlock's watching eyes are good enough motivation, and she lets it burn down as they talk, gesturing with it but never placing it in her mouth*
"Vous voulez l'information sur Moriarty?" "You want information on Moriarty?"
Yes - oui. Il doit d'argent à moi. Yes - yes. He owes me money
"Biensur. Combien?" "Of course. How much?"
Cent mille. A hundred thousand
"Livres?" "Pounds?"
Oui.
"Pourquoi?" "Why?"
*Harry raises her eyebrows and stubs out the cigarette. Manuel knows she's unlikely to give out that information, and he relents*
"Donc tu veut mon aide, c'est vrai?" "So you want my help, is that right?"
Oui. Tu peut acceder ses comptes. Yes. You can access his accounts
*Manuel looks Harry straight in the eye as it begins to dawn on him what she's asking. She shrugs again*
Tu as une autre idée? You have another idea?
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 19:14:32 GMT
*bored and irritated*
Why have I come? I thought we'd be needing my talents, not making arrangements for blackmail like a common criminal. At this stage, I can't see why I was needed at all.
*his eyes are darting around the room--he has clearly lost interest for the moment and is focussing on potential escape routes*
*Quinn was clearly not prepared to be in the middle of an unknown but obviously criminal situation. He is fidgety, and pulls out his thermometer. Manuel's men jump to grab it, expecting a weapon.*
"It's a thermometer. He's ill."
*Quinn, who doesn't speak French, ends up gesturing like an obnoxious tourist and eventually the message is clear*
*Sherlock sighs impatiently as Quinn takes his temperature with the temple-thermometer. His temperature is slightly low, still, but nothing dangerous--in fact, essentially normal*
Is there going to be something worth my while eventually? J'ai très faim.
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 20:41:43 GMT
'Beaucoup'.
*Harry corrects instinctively, before translating Sherlock's words - diplomatically omitting the part about the common criminal. Manuel makes a sligh inclination of his head and two people appear with coffee and cake.*
"Qui est lui? Pas un petit ami?" "Who is he? Not a boyfriend?"
*Harry laughs as she takes a cup of coffee*
Non! Je n'ai pas changé Manuel. Il m'aide. Il est intelligent - c'est presque incroyable. Il est un sort d'inspecteur. Privée. No! I haven't changed Manuel. He'a helping me. He's smart - almost unbelievably so. He's a sort of detective. Private.
*A phone rings and Manuel quickly excuses himself. Harry rounds on Sherlock*
I swear to God if you don't shut up, you're going to wish you had been shot. It's going to take time, but he'll never give us everything we need. Moriarty's good business. So it's your job to get... deducing, or whatever it is you ramble about on your blog. Which is terribly dry, by the way.
*Despite having had a gun pointed at her and being back with people who made her life hell, she's in a remarkably cheerful mood.*
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 21:10:49 GMT
*his reply is hissed--he's tired of being brushed off*
I'm in a wheelchair. I can't move except for the tiniest amount. I'm at the mercy of my own body, which, depending on how it feels, is either roasting or freezing me, not to mention spontaneous exhaustion and wildly varying appetite. I'm being dragged around a country mostly in the dark about what's going on by a reckless pregnant woman that, quite frankly, I can't stand. The only reasons I'm here at all are because I need to stop Moriarty and because you're John's sister and he'd be cross if I left you here. So you can imagine I'm a bit cross.
*he's breathing hard, one of those fits of spontaneous exhaustion suddenly hitting, and his head falls forward before he catches himself, jerking awake*
And at present, there's nothing for me to deduce. Everything's painfully obvious. My blog is informative. I can't help it if you don't appreciate my efforts to better the world of criminology.
*smirks, almost sinister*
Though if you want information, I'm sure I could deduce something about Manuel that could get him to be a little more cooperative.
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 21:43:09 GMT
*Harry takes a deep breath, her nostrils flared and her voice is equally scathing, although she can't really think of an adequate response, so just comes up with..."
I am NOT reckless.
*She feels like hitting him. The uninvited protectiveness she had felt earlier has vanished, and she's fed up of being spoken to like a child. John did it her whole life - he still does, and the feeling is unwelcome*
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
|
Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 21:58:29 GMT
Really?
*gestures with his eyes to his own condition, which he fully blames her for, then looks at her abdomen before locking eyes*
Could have fooled me.
*Quinn steps between them before they come to blows, or rather before Harry comes to blows as Sherlock would be unable to defend himself*
"Come on. We need to focus on whatever it is that's going on here. Okay?"
*Sherlock's nostrils flare*
Fine. Yes. Obviously.
*he breaks eye contact with Harry and looks towards the French party*
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Harriet Watson
Teacher of languages and general trainwreck.
Posts: 787
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Post by Harriet Watson on Mar 6, 2012 22:15:49 GMT
*Manuel comes back from taking his phonecall, and Harry only has time to snap back;*
And if you're only here because I'm John's sister, you might as well just leave - Manuel. Tout va bien? All is well?
"Oui. Pas important. Alors, vous savez que je ne peux pas vous donnez les informations du banque. Mais peut-etre je peux vous aidez." "Yes. It wasn't important. So, you know that I can't give you any bank details. But perhaps I can help you."
*Harry looks at Manuel with interest*
"Je n'ai pas confiance en Moriarty. Donc j'ai fait le suivre. Je peux vous donnez toutes les informations. Et les details de nos...négoces." "I don't trust Moriarty. So I had him followed. I can give you all the information. And the details of our... negotiations."
*Harry nods and smiles, glancing at Sherlock*
Qu'est-ce que tu pense, mon inspecteur? Acceptable? What do you think, my detective? Acceptable?
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Sherlock Holmes
Consulting Detective
The world's only consulting detective
Posts: 1,230
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Mar 6, 2012 22:37:37 GMT
Oui.
*now that there's a chance of something he might be able to do, the anger in his eyes fades and there might even be a hint of excitement--he even starts to half-smile at the thought that he'll soon have more information on Moriarty than he expected. Provided nothing went wrong, of course*
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