The Bedside Conversation

 If you missed the previous episodes of this Time Travel mini-series, please click here for the first, here for the second, here for the third, here for the fourth, here for the fifth, and here for the sixth.

“TIME TRAVEL!” Watson exclaimed then lowered his voice. “Do you think it had anything to do with us?”

Julia caught the whispering, but not the gist of their conversation. She scolded Doyle (Holmes). “What are you boys up to now?”

Arthur (Holmes) smiled at her reassuringly. “Julia,” he said. “It is apparent to me there has been some dreadful error made. I must devote all of my intellectual attention to this very puzzling matter. Could you please inquire if there is a place where my friend and I can meet with a barrister in private? Time is urgent.”

“Barrister!” barked Julia. “You want a lawyer?”

“Yes, my dear,” responded Doyle gently, in the usual gentlemanly way of his custom. Then he added, “A spot of tea would be nice, too.”

Julia, more annoyed by the moment, glared at her boss. “This is going way too far. I refuse to share your fantasy game. I will be back in an hour with your lawyer and some Starbuck’s for you and your friend. I suggest you talk to no one and if you can manage it, stay out of trouble.”

Julia hoofed down the center isle of the charity ward. Her high heels were clicking loudly on the linoleum floor as if to emphasize her anger. Holmes and Watson watched as she bulldozed through the double doors and left the ward.

“Holmes,” declared Watson. “I perceive we are in some type of trap. It may involve Moriarity for sure. I can’t believe we have followed him halfway around the Earth to another continent into the future.”

“Watson,” Holmes drew his attention to himself, “As fantastic as it may sound, I believe it!”

“What have you told them?” queried Holmes.

“Not much,” declared Watson, “I deduced when I awakened here that things were different including time. The fact is they only know the name and address I gave them.” He hesitated, “There is more, however.” Lowering his voice some more he said, “There is another man being guarded. I have listened carefully to his interrogation. It seems he was arrested on the property of Arthur Doyle, the very man whose double you are in this new time and place. They suspect he had something to do with an attempt on Doyle’s life and even have accused him of stealing files from Doyle’s desk; files on Moriarity!

“Is it not strange that your double in another century and continent would be keeping a file on a descendent of Moriarity?”

Holmes acquired a mask of seriousness on his face. He held up a finger to his lips to shush Watson. He cocked his head and listened and his eyes darted about examining the large room. Then said to Watson, “What if it was not a descendent of Moriarity, Watson? What if it was that devil himself?”