Case1 Four Families - ch6

"That guy ... suspect me."

Watson spoke after Inspector Lestrade left. Sherlock Holmes swayed his shoulders with a severe expression.

"He's a good sense. But know the lines that should not be crossed."

Sherlock Holmes thinks if Lestrade really wants to arrest Watson. There are other issues to talk about than Malcolm. His choice to go back without any more interrogation may be due to the cross-prohibited line's premonition. Or be considerate or trust him to be responsible.

"Holmes, just now, why you have to smell the letter?" Watson asked.

"Hmm, well, I just want to get to know the customers before coming and did not come alone as well. Maybe the three family descendants will come together."

Watson nodded. The first part used the pronoun 'I', but the latter part used 'We'

So they wait, Sherlock Holmes spent time sitting at home playing the violin. The first melody is bright and cheerful, like a group of birds hum for the trees, thanks all branches to let them rest wings. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and sent the senses through his fingertips, playing a melodious song. But when the second song started, the melodies are opposite. The song's mood was like the cloudy weather today; the rain's melancholy fell like tears. Watson sat quietly, he had no musical knowledge or aesthetics. However, he can tell the sound of the first two still are the song. But after the second song, the sound turning into a stuttering, disturbance sound, as if Holmes did not use the sensation to move the bow, but the thoughts in his brain were transmitted through the sound of the violin.

Finally, the guests they were waiting for had arrived.

Four people entered the house—a clean-looking woman with wavy auburn long hair. A thin boy with dark brown hair, his pale face emotionless. And two other men. One of them was dressed in fine clothes, with a handsome appearance, looking as bright as his fine blonde hair. The other man, the tallest, stood behind the boy. He had brown hair that was rough but matched with a serious face.

"Hello, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the blonde man. "I believe you have received the letter. We came here because of ..."

"The story of Mr. Malcolm and the curse of the devil," Sherlock Holmes continues, "Yes, I have seen his tragic news. Mr. Livingston."

The blonde-haired man couldn't speak. He was sure he hadn't introduced himself. But before he could say anything, Sherlock Holmes was facing the only lady in the room.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Rosevelt."

The woman widened her hazel-colored eyes and turned to look at the man standing beside her.

"Mr. Holmes, how do you ... know?" The blonde-haired man was speechless, impressed to the maximum. "You know this lady is Miss Rosevelt. In the letter, it was signed only Rosevelt did not say a man or a woman, and yet God ... How do you know my surname?"

Watson turned his gaze quietly on Sherlock Holmes, he too did not expect that Rosevelt who wrote the letter to be a woman. Since Malcolm said he had contacted Mr. Livingston and Mr. Rosevelt. But Sherlock Holmes, who still had a relaxed attitude, did not see anything exciting, began to explain.

"I know the surname Livingston because Mr. Malcolm said he had spoken to Mr. Livingston and Mr. Rosevelt. How I know that the person who wrote the letter is this lady, is because of feminine handwriting, and I can smell the faint perfume on the paper, which is the same Miss Rosevelt wore today. Also, I think Mr. Rosevelt, who contacted Mr. Malcolm was your brother. I apologize if I misunderstand; Miss Rosevelt's older brother now was not in good condition so he couldn't come along today. Is it correct?"

Miss Rosevelt raised her hand to cover her mouth, teary in her brown eyes, but she still maintaining a graceful demeanor, showing that she had been trained as a noble lady.

"As you said, my brother, Redmond, he's not just in bad shape. but now everything is so dreadful, I ..."

Livingston touched the woman's shoulder, consoling, and continued.

"We all met you today because I heard rumors of your great reputation. They say you are clairvoyant. So I use the letter to test you. I hope you will forgive my bad manners. Now I know that you are a man with insanely sharp eyes beyond the rumors."

"Rumors are always exaggerated," said the detective. "I'm not a clairvoyant to meet an unknown person and can immediately tell their name. Like the two of you."

Sherlock Holmes turned his hand to a young man and a boy who haven't opened their mouths to join the conversation or have an impressed expression.

"I can only say that this guy is a former soldier. This child is one of the four family heirs ..."

Holmes's eyes changed as he carefully examined the boy. He could tell that the man standing behind the boy was a former soldier from his standing style. But when he saw the green eyes of the boy, he recalled Watson's eyes. The case of this boy is even worse. The green eyes were empty and lifeless like a real doll. Sherlock Holmes had never seen a child with such an unhuman look like this before.

"Young master is Seamus Blake, and I'm his guardian, Travis Smith." A man with brown hair and eye color, Travis Smith. Introduce oneself "After that happened, Young Master cannot speak."

Even when Travis introduced himself, Seamus Blake did not react. That green eyes didn't move. It also doesn't show what focusing on, as if all of the senses are closed, Sherlock Holmes thinks the reason is probably post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Ahem, then before starting to tell what happens, Allow me to do a formal introduction."

The blonde man coughed up, change of scenery. Before pushing his hand towards the lady standing next to

"This lady is Miss Scarlet Rosevelt and I, Osborne Livingston. Mr. Holmes… the fame and reputation of your great talent are remarkable to Cotswold, my hometown."

Osbourne politely extended his right hand to Holmes before his eyes turn to severe.

"Mr. Holmes, our four family descendants, are in grave danger."

After everyone has sat down, the story that has passed through time are told.

.................................

Ten years ago, Malcolm, Livingston, Roosevelt, and Blake accidentally boarded the same cargo ship. But the ship, supposedly safe to land in England, suffered a sea disaster, wrecked to the bottom of the ocean. At that time, some people escaped into a small boat. The four families themselves were one of them. A small boat brought them as far as to a small island. The joy of surviving the shipwreck did not last long. They realized that they were just spared from death immediately to die slowly on this island.

Small boats are not usable. The former crew built a raft to escape from the island. Promise will return with help. So those waiting waited with hope. But many people died because of the poisonous snakes or spiders; some accidentally picked up poisonous mushrooms to eat, and others weaken to death. The rest of them were still waiting, but there was no help, not knowing if the people who had left had forgotten them or had gone to the depths of the ocean.

Despair penetrates deep into the heart. The fear of death trembles to the core of the bone. If praying to God but no care, it can be a devil to help. Just don't let them die here. Malcolm, Livingston, Rosevelt and Blake make a ritual to the devil as someone has taught them.

... If the four of them return to England safely. As a tribute, they will present the most valuable thing they find ...

The most valuable thing at that time, they didn't know what it was supposed to be. But shortly after making a contract, the four of them stumbled onto a treasure chest buried in the island. It emerged as if God gave it a test, or maybe a pirate had hidden it. But they found it, with only 4 of them, they made a promise: an oath to keep this secret, not telling anyone, even their family.

After finding the treasure, a merchant ship passed by, they all returned to England, back to their own regular daily life. Until about two months have passed, the four of them hired a ship to return to the island again. This time they brought the treasure back as well. They built a new treasure chest. It is a chest that requires 4 keys to open. If someone tries to open it arbitrarily, the mechanism inside the chest will destroy the treasure inside. They made 4 maps, which requires all 4 maps to find where the treasure chest is hidden.

The treasure in the chest belonged to the four of them. And will not give it to anyone ... even to the devil.

But the promise to the devil is not something that will be recalcitrant ...

After ten years, the devil returns to punish humans who break the contract. The fury of the devil began with Livingston and Rosevelt. Then Malcolm and Blake until the bloodline of renege is gone or have to give a tribute. Otherwise, the devil will never give up.