Read Sherlock Holmes in 2012: TIMELESS DUEL for Free Online

is the fact that Mr. Sherlock Holmes came to my home three days ago.”
    “Did he indeed?” Irene asked, visibly surprised.
    “Yes, he did, Miss Adler, but at the time of his visit, and for reasons of my own, I refused him access to the machine.”
    “Where is the machine stored?” Irene interrupted impatiently now.
    “In a disused house at the back of my property.”
    “Are you telling me that Sherlock has taken your machine and has disappeared with it?”
    Wells’s mouth fell open-agape. He was taken aback by the fact that Irene had already deduced what the problem was.
    “Yes, Miss Adler; that’s exactly what happened. Mr. Holmes came back during the night that followed our meeting and if my deductions are correct, he has chosen to travel in the future-the date he chose, or the location of his landing, are still unknown to me.”
    “I must admit, Mr. Wells, this must be of great concern to you, but what do you expect me to do, in any event? I could perhaps tell you the place where Sherlock may have landed, and possibly arrive at some extrapolating conclusion as to the date of his arrival, but how else could you expect me to help you?”
    “I noted that you have not asked me how I knew that Mr. Holmes traveled in the future and not the past.”
    “Simple, Mr. Wells, if the reports are correct, they made several mentions of traveling into the past to correct our mistakes-or some such things-but none mentioned the machine being capable of transporting one into the future. And knowing Sherlock the way I do, he would not have been interested in the slightest in any travel into the past. He would have come to visit you for two purposes only; one, to know where the time machine was stored, and two, to confirm what he suspected, which is the machine being capable to travel into the future.”
    Wells shook his head and smiled. “Those were his concerns exactly, Miss Adler.”
    “Yes., so I thought. What’s more, given the fact that you refused him access, he had to find out for himself if he could use the machine-without your assistance.”
    “And he did indeed, Miss Adler.” Wells shook his head ruefully.
    “All right then, since we have described the problem, I must iterate my question; how do you expect me to help you?”
    Wells lowered his head. “Would you be prepared to travel to the future and bring him back?” he mumbled.
    It was Irene’s turn to stare. “Did I hear you correctly? You want me to chase Sherlock into the future and bring him back to this date? How marvelously intriguing-and fantastic-if I may say so!” Irene exclaimed, all smiles. “But that would imply that you have a second time machine at my disposal, would it not?”
    Wells nodded.
    “Perfect, Mr. Wells, absolutely perfect!”
    “Does this mean you accept my proposal?” Wells asked, still amazed at Irene’s response and at her reaction all together.
    “Of course, Mr. Wells, of course I accept. But we have-I mean I have-some work to do prior to my departure. First, I must ascertain the date and place of Sherlock’s landing, and then I must prepare myself for such a voyage-I could not possibly arrive in a strange land, in an even stranger time, in apparel such as the one I am wearing now.” Irene’s hand went from her dress-coat lapels to her hat. She smiled demurely at the thought..
    As soon as Irene returned to her home and before she prepared to leave on the time machine the next day, she needed to call on the man who would be most interested in this latest development. She went upstairs to her private apartment, which was comprised of two separate rooms. The first was a small parlor, some sort of anteroom to the second-her bedchamber. She sat down at the desk and picked up the ear-piece from the telephone device.
    “4-7-3 in Chelsea,” she said to the operator.
    “Yes, Madame, I will connect you..”
    In less than a minute the party was on the line.
    “I must see you.,” Irene said, and listened to the response.