Fandom Traveler (Sherlock Holmes)

The Blind Banker (Part 7)

221B.

Sherlock leads them into the living room and immediately stares at the pictures over the fireplace as he takes his coat off.

"They’ll be back in China by tomorrow." John said.

"No, they won’t leave without what they came for. We need to find their hide-out; the rendezvous." Sherlock replied.

He walks closer to the photos, staring at them intensely. John also gazes at the pictures while Sarah hovers nearby, forgotten by the pair of them.

"I think Sarah should go home." Vaness said, getting John's attention.

"Well, I, sure." Sarah said.

John looked at Vaness confused, Vaness gave him a look.

"Okay I'll call a cab." John said.

"No!" Vaness said. "I've changed my mind."

"Er, Vaness, what's happening?" John asked.

She looked at John, "Trust me." She turned to Sarah, "stay downstairs, with Mrs Hudson. Don't come out no matter what."

"Wait, why do I..." Sarag begins to ask.

John took her hand. "Let's go downstairs."

Sherlock turned back to the fireplace and runs his fingers over the main picture of the painted brick wall.

"Somewhere in this message it must tell us." He said.

He and Vaness fall silent.

John came back, walked towards Vaness, "What's happening?" He asked.

"No point asking John, she won't tell." Sherlock said.

Sherlock has sat down at the dining table which is covered with photos, notes and drawings of various pictograms.

"Look at the pictures from the museum. Soo Lin did something." She said.

John looked at her, "What did she do?"

"John." Sherlock called. "John, look at this."

He takes the photo out of the evidence bag.

"Soo Lin at the museum – she started to translate the code for us. We didn’t see it!" He said.

"Why didn't you say sooner?" John asked.

"Timing." She answered.

Written in fine pen, a word has been written across each of the first two sets of symbols on the photograph. Sherlock reads them out.

“NINE,” “MILL.”

"Does that mean ‘millions’?" John squinted at the small writing.

"Nine million quid. For what?" Sherlock asked.

He turns and goes over to where he had dumped his coat and scarf.

"We need to know the end of this sentence." He said.

"Where are you going?" John asked.

"To the museum; to the restoration room." Sherlock said putting on his coat.

He grimaces in exasperation at himself. "Oh, we must have been staring right at it!"

"At-at what?" John asked.

"The book, John. The book – the key to cracking the cipher!" He brandishes the photo at John. "Soo Lin used it to do this! Whilst we were running around the gallery, she started to translate the code. It must be on her desk."