Wednesday, December 29, 2010

elementary

'It's preposterous, Holmes.'
'It's...,' he smiled now, 'don't make me say it...you know me, my dear Watson.'
'If you know, pick them up and take them over to the gentleman. This isn't murder!'
'Look at the darting eyes, Watson, he knows they are here."I was just here. They have to be here." That frantic expression, hopeless-eyed. Look. He's hiding his bare guilty hands in the overcoat.'
'Guilty?'
'Oh, yes, Watson. Look down. They're new, shiny buckle, finest unblemished leather in London, almost molded for a gentleman's hand. No scuffs. Perhaps a recent gift. He dares not to go home to his wife.'
'Pray tell, how do you know he's married?'
'Because he has a wedding band.'
'How can you tell? His hands are hidden.'
'I don't need to see his hands, Watson.'
'Holmes!'
'Look. He's young. Newly married I surmise. Lost a gift from his beloved. Overly careful now. No, Watson. He's removed his ring. Up in his vest pocket I deduce', he yawns, 'only to be worn under gloves now. Ah, the maître d' is shaking his head. Let's go, the games afoot.'
Holmes scoops up the gloves in his left hand, strides across the hardwood, presenting them with a flourish..
'These are yours I believe, sir,' extending his right hand for an introductory handshake, forcing the withdrawal of the man's left hand for the happy reunion. Both hands are ring-less.
'My work is done here, Watson.'

Outside, Holmes takes a deep, self-satisfied breath of fog-less air, Watson at his heels, blinking in the brightness. Across the stone-cobbled street, two of Moriarty's thugs approach, steely-eyed, hidden pistols inside coat pockets with sweaty trigger fingers beginning the slow squeeze of terror. A third man, approaching the famous detective and his associate from the rear, clears his throat, speaks shakenly..
'Excuse me, kind sir. These are not my gloves.'

10 Comments:

Blogger Words A Day said...

excellant! Completly in the language of the genre! really enjoyed reading this...hope you're writing more!

12/29/2010 4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh I so enjoyed this.. really witty and sharp dialogue..well done!!

12/29/2010 8:42 PM  
Anonymous ms pie said...

as a lover of holmes and watson that was good, so very good...

12/30/2010 12:02 PM  
Blogger The Bug said...

Oh that Holmes - so smug...

12/30/2010 1:19 PM  
Blogger Tess Kincaid said...

I'm thinking the elegant Basil Rathbone Holmes here. Nice one, Phil.

12/30/2010 6:12 PM  
Blogger Kathe W. said...

Hah! what a great write!

12/30/2010 8:42 PM  
Blogger Helen said...

Like your Magpie ... I feel as though I've been transported to jolly old England!

12/30/2010 10:53 PM  
Blogger Glenn Buttkus said...

Conan Doyle just gave you a high
five, sir; a stirring piece, and rife
with genre and humor. I think
your narrator, however could
be Jeremy Brit, or Nicol Williamson;
James Mason was too smooth,
as was Christopher Plummer.
Robert Downey Jr. is working
on his next Holmes film too.

12/31/2010 3:59 PM  
Blogger signed...bkm said...

so well written, love the dialogue here...the feel of fog and England.....takes me to the movie, both old and new one from last year with Robert D. jr.....bkm

12/31/2010 9:50 PM  
Blogger Trellissimo said...

A masterful tale!

1/01/2011 6:15 AM  

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