JWP 2019 | Day 25

[thesadchicken]

Title: More Words.
Author: thesadchicken
Rating: PG.
Universe: ACD.
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes.
Summary: Holmes stops a bad guy from doing more bad things. Watson saves the day.
Word Count: 530.

Warning: Blood and guns.
Author's note: I used all 11 words! Yey!

Prompt: Day 25: More Words, Phrases, and All the Things: Use at least three of the following words and phrases in your work today.

I felt the wind slip beneath my coat as I followed the fiend outside. The rain was dripping off the brim of my hat. There was a roar of thunder and a flash of lightning, and for a moment his silhouette was outlined against the night sky. Even from afar, I could see that he was pale with dread.

He entered the pub – by the back door, like I knew he would – and again I followed. I heard his nervous footsteps, his knuckles rapping against a concealed door, and then a weary voice saying, ‘It’s half past three! What is it? A fire?’

The pub was empty. I hid behind the counter and waited. I saw the villain and his companion whisper to each other. Their hunched figures looked rather grotesque in the dim lamplight. Even Lestrade would have deduced their intentions by now: they were planning their escape. It was time to reveal myself.

‘Judge Northcott,’ I said, my voice filling the empty room and making the two men start, ‘I’m afraid you will be missing your train.’

Northcott and his companion – whom I recognised as George Lester, the fraudulent owner of the pub – both shook their heads at me.

‘You can prove nothing, Holmes,’ Northcott spat, but I could see his hands trembling with fear.

‘I have all the evidence I need,’ I replied, ‘Did you truly believe that the crimes you’ve committed would go unpunished? Is the blood of the British workman so worthless to you? Or are you accustomed to your horrors? Do you see no evil in them?’

The judge tried to snort derisively. ‘“Vox populi, vox dei”? Is that was this is, Holmes?’

‘You use the phrase to mock the naïve notion that the people must always be right, but in truth the expression itself implies that the will of the masses – good or evil – is too powerful to resist. Now come quietly and preserve what little dignity you have left.’

‘What malapert remarks, from a man with no power,’ Northcott bared his teeth, mad with rage and fear, ‘You may think that you are important because you are clever, Mister Holmes, but in my world you are nothing. Yes, the blood of men like you is worthless to me. I have no time to waste on vermin.’

I realised my mistake the moment I made it: as I moved to block judge Northcott’s way, George Lester jumped over the counter and reached for his gun. I heard the bullet and closed my eyes… but no pain followed the sound.

I looked up to find Watson, standing at the door, his fuming gun pointed straight at Northcott’s chest. In the corner, Lester lay unconscious.

‘How will it feel, I wonder, for the judge to be judged?’ Watson said.

We exchanged a quick glance – his eyes asked if I was injured, mine reassured him that all was well, and then before he could see the pride and affection that surely flickered in my gaze, I looked away.

The corrupt judge was soon taken away by the police. I stared at Watson as he examined Lester’s body, and I vowed to have him by my side, always.