Officially, I didn´t write this story separately, rather it is part of The Big Secret of Sherlock Holmes and His Struggle Against the Organization. Sadly, I was a fool, thinking I could capture Irene Adler. After the death of Sherlock Holmes I discovered, in a traumatic way, that my wife, Mary Morstan, who went to Switzerland after that horrible event, is an agent of the secret service office. In my presence, she negotiated with Colonel James Moriarty, and in exchange for his freedom, he told us where Irene Adler was.
I participated in that capture operation, but she was already suspicious of us. Ah! And before I forget this, who are the Swindhit? They are a powerful criminal group, the right hand of the organization and the henchmen of the deceased Professor Moriarty. Some of them are members of Mary Morstan's family (incredible?). She, working undercover, defeated that gang, which is narrated in The Big Secret of Sherlock Holmes and His Struggle Against the Organization.
Now, I am going with the story...
On that morning of May 25, 1891, being in a hurry and without paying attention to the radiant sunrise and majestic landscape that I contemplated amazed for several days, I saw the time on my watch again, and wrote it down in my notebook: "7:00 in the morning." An exact time! Sherlock Holmes would have associated it with the seven days of the week! In a few minutes, Mrs. Watson woke up, dressed and finished packing her belongings. Nonetheless, it was obvious that our paths were going to separate. I didn´t know where she was going and obviously, my wife wasn´t going to tell me that, while I had to return to London, in order to try to rebuild my life without the company of Sherlock Holmes.
Despite my strange mental illness, that was one of the moments I don´t forget. This can be because of the before and the after. I remember earlier reflecting on the difficult conversation with Mrs. Watson the night before, and as for what follows, I am going to recount it.
By the way! I am Dr. Watson… And despite my neurological limitations, I am still qualified to narrate this interesting story.
Now, on that morning, Mrs. Watson was almost ready to check out and I was preparing breakfast. Unexpectedly, Mr. Emnhil Graham, with his characteristic politeness, gave two gentle knocks to the door, and when I opened it, he greeted us cordially. I noticed that the doorman was a bit nervous, with a small box in his right hand, and before asking why he was here, Emnhil Graham went ahead of me and said:
-There is an individual at the front desk who wants to speak to Mr. or Mrs. Watson.
My wife stated:
-We are leaving!
-We can´t have any more visitors!
-Why didn´t you tell him to go away?
-Those were my instructions!
-No more visits in this last week of stay!
The doorman replied:
-He is a colonel of the British army.
-He gave me this shoebox...
Quickly and instinctively, Mrs. Watson proceeded to take the box from Mr. Emnhil Graham, who had no time to react to this impolite gesture. She threw the lid of the box on the floor, and we were amazed by the content… A shoe with a diamond tied in a braid! That shoe was undoubtedly from Sherlock Holmes! Almost all his shoes are equal...
I didn´t hide my smile and felt an immense satisfaction, considering that I previously deduced that the detective would tie that jewel to one of his shoes. Although, I never imagined that the shoe with the diamond would appear in that way. I thought: "Sherlock Holmes… Why did you do this?" In these moments, I would have liked to have him in front of me and throw a few blows at that insolent and untimely guy...
Mrs. Watson was speechless and couldn´t believe what her eyes were revealing. It looked like she was going to pass out or have a panic attack. Certainly, my dear wife wasn´t in her right mind neither emotionally prepared to deal with this situation.
I asked the doorman:
-What is the name of the military?
Emhil Graham replied:
-It is the colonel James Moriarty, brother of the professor who died with Sherlock Holmes.
Without waiting for an answer from the astonished Mrs. Watson, I said to the cordial doorman:
-Excuse the rudeness of Mrs. Watson!
-She is distressed by other more serious problems...
-Mr. Emnhil Graham, please allow Mr. Moriarty to come to our room.
-We are not leaving today!
-I will let you know about our new departure date at the end of this meeting.
-And we should reserve a room for our distinguished guest, the colonel James Moriarty.
-I will confirm after this meeting...
Somewhat puzzled, the doorman asked:
-Dr. John Watson, do you know him?
I answered in an antagonistic way:
-Yes!
-And no…
I read one of his telegrams and owe him a big favor. Consider me as the good Samaritan, who pays the expenses of a person who has suffered a lot.
As the doorman retired and Mrs. Watson sat at the small table that we used for breakfast, examining the precious diamond and awaiting for this enigmatic personage, I continued reflecting and considered the possibility that the two arch-rivals, Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty, were still alive.
Earlier, I pointed out that each day another piece of the puzzle clicked into its place, but this time I was perplexed and bewildered. It was as if this game, 60% assembled, had fallen to the ground, and after rebuilding it in 30%, surprisingly other unknown pieces appeared out of nowhere and I had no ideas of how to join them. Of course, this was all Sherlock Holmes' fault! And as Mrs. Watson aptly thinks: "Dead or alive, Sherlock Holmes causes too much troubles!"
Beforehand, I suspected why the deceased professor Moriarty's brother was coming. It was not a matter of claiming only for that death, which was a tactic to distract and then raise other demands, rather the delivery of the diamond, planned by Sherlock Holmes, was part of a strategy for the criminal to negotiate with the British government.
However, the colonel James Moriarty was the new emissary and ambassador of these powerful criminal gangs and his visit didn´t bode good news... Even by the gestures of Emnhil Graham, he was willing to call the police chiefs, but there was no evidence to stop the rude military.
Indeed, Mrs. Watson was visibly upset because I gave permission for the mobster and left-hand man of the deceased professor Moriarty to meet with us. She wanted to hide under one of the beds or on the balcony, but I stopped my wife, and told her that this meeting fell within the parameters of the unusual plans of Sherlock Holmes, who must have sent that box to one of the Moriarty, days before dying.
Mrs. Watson had a shocked look on her face, and I made no secret of my concerns. Although it was essential to talk to the colonel Moriarty and try to solve and engage part of the complex puzzle, which Sherlock Holmes may have deduced before visiting the majestic Swiss Alps. I had no doubts that the detective cynically planned every last detail, including this meeting.
Also, I remembered that Sherlock Holmes, before coming to Switzerland, told me about the sinister professor James Moriarty. He described him as the Napoleon of crime and the mastermind who runs crime behind the scenes, dealing with various illegal businesses such as: forgery, robbery and murder. My detective friend hinted that his power goes beyond the Swindhit and that he could be the top boss of the organization. Before asking me: What is the organization? It is not easy to answer this… Although it is common for criminal gangs to compete and fight for their territories, those that are established make pacts with others and form alliances, being different cells that appear to be a single organization. So the de facto chief of the main crime bosses, in Britain and Europe, was James Moriarty. In addition, these groups are also involved in other lucrative activities: money laundering, smuggling, liquor and drug trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping and illegal sale of organs. If Sherlock Holmes was right, then the Swindhit were followers of the deceased professor James Moriarty. And others like Irene Adler and Godfrey Norton joined the organization, seeking its protection and opportunities to do new businesses.
I was still thinking. Within a few minutes, we saw the colonel James Moriarty, a tall, skinny, well-dressed man with glasses and a smart blue jacket, known for running a main railway station, at West of England, for over fifteen years. Nonetheless, I remember that on more than one occasion, Sherlock Holmes warned me that the trains were used to carry illegal goods. The military started the conversation:
-Mr. and Mrs. Watson, this is not going to be a pleasant meeting or a courtesy call!
-What impotence!
-What anger and pain I feel!
-I am very upset by the death of my honorable brother!
-Sherlock Holmes is a slanderer who deceived my distinguished brother, may he rest in peace!
-He defamed him before the police chiefs!
-And then he set a trap for my brother…
-Sherlock Holmes waited to assassinate him...
-I would have preferred that the detective were still alive to prosecute him! But… I know the police very well!
-They will never accuse Sherlock Holmes!
-They prefer to stain the memory of my dear brother, may he rest in peace!
-Sherlock Holmes was a murderous psychopath!
-And you treat him like a hero!
-Did you know that my illustrious brother is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Arts and was a candidate to be knighted by Her Majesty?
-But… You insist on considering him as a criminal!
-My lawyers are evaluating suing the authorities in European courts!
-I will do everything possible to restore the honor of my dear dead brother!
-Almost a saint!
Although the colonel James Moriarty, a hypocritical criminal, was trying to save his family's honor, being upset because Sherlock Holmes discovered his brother and then co-participated in his demise, I gently and profoundly politely interrupted the conversation, beckoning to Mrs. Watson so she wouldn´t answer him. In this regard, bravely, I took the floor:
-Dear colonel James Moriarty…
-I read your previous telegram…
-I understand you position!
-On behalf of Her Majesty and the British government, we offer our condolences. We mourn your profound loss and are grateful for the services rendered by the Moriarty family to the Crown and Great Britain.
-Please calm down!
-Let´s talk frankly...
While the military man was surprised by these conciliatory words, I decided to send him a hard and unexpected blow, just as Sherlock Holmes taught me, since once the other captures our attention and lowers its defenses, we can fight back. Looking him straight in the face, I said:
-It is true that the gossiper Sherlock Holmes has made accusations against your brother, without showing evidence, and has told several people, including me and some police chiefs.
-He also wrote the accusations in some letters.
-I understand your position to argue that there is defamation!
-But… Both Scotland Yard and the secret service office have confirmed several of Sherlock Holmes' allegations and have proofs of some illegal activities of James Moriarty and his associates.
-Indeed or elementary!
-Professor Moriarty was the head of the organization...
-If you wish…
-You can go to Scotland Yard or the secret service office to check the evidence!
-We will accompany you...
-Also, where did you get Sherlock Holmes' shoe and the diamond of the criminal Irene Adler?
The colonel James Moriarty thought for several seconds, which seemed eternal. Obviously, he knew his brother was out in the open, his intimidation efforts weren´t going to work, and had to make tough decisions, in order to avoid his eventual capture. In the same way, this military man, a skilled negotiator, who accompanied his brother when he bought real estate and lands, had considered this scenario, and skillfully expressed:
-Mr. and Mrs. Watson, I know how far you want to go!
-But… I didn´t just come here to argue!
-As a gesture of good faith, I brought the shoe and the diamond that Sherlock sent to my brother, with this letter, which I read: "Professor James Moriarty, I know your criminal techniques and that you have been following me, I have suffered three attacks on your part. As an answer, here is a shoe of mine and Irene Adler's diamond, come for me, and I will give you the second diamond, in exchange for your unconditional surrender. Sherlock Holmes, the world's greatest detective."
-Now you understand!
-Sherlock Holmes set my brother up!
Immediately, Mrs. Watson decided that it was the right time to intervene and began to speak:
-Colonel James Moriarty...
-Irene Adler owned two similar diamonds?
-Where do they come from?
The military replied:
-Yes!
-They are two exotic jewels from Southern Africa...
-They are property of the Spanish Crown.
-My brother was a collector and he wanted to return them to the kings of Spain.
-He also wanted to deliver Irene Adler to justice.
-But as always! The unfortunate Sherlock Holmes foiled his plans!
Partially, the cunning colonel James Moriarty had achieved his goals because he was trying to reclaim his brother's name or have his bad image forgotten, and protect himself from further investigations. Of course, it was obvious that the military could turn over other members of the organization, if he were allowed to work in peace.
Calmer, and staring at the gangster, Mrs. Watson continued the conversation:
-Colonel James Moriarty...
-What do you want?
-Did you bring a proposal?
The eyes of colonel James Moriarty lit up and his gaze changed direction. He began to see the ceiling and then us. Earlier he was dodging us visually, and in a few seconds, he stated:
-Do you want Irene Adler?
-I know where she is!
-With this diamond you can catch her!
Mrs. Watson spoke again:
-And what do you want in return?
The colonel James Moriarty replied:
-That the investigations against my family cease!
-A posthumous acknowledgment from Her Majesty to the memory of my brother.
-And…
-I can continue with my business of selling liquors and other merchandises!
Almost instantly, Mrs. Watson, who knew the position of the secret service office and the margins that she had to negotiate, answered:
-We can let James Moriarty rest in peace. We will protect his honor! Any document with evidence against him will be filed and classified as confidential.
-The second request is denied.
-We can´t interfere in the Queen's decisions!
-And the only way for you to remain free with your business is to move to an Eastern country.
-There you can distribute all the opium you want!
-And we will not know it nor will we be interested in knowing this…
-You must leave Great Britain and the European continent!
-These are the conditions!
-Do you accept or reject them?
I was sorry and it didn´t seem ethical that a delinquent would receive opportunities, so that he could continue harming humanity. Nonetheless, the world was dealing in a perverse, cruel, ruthless and inhuman way. It was all a matter of interests. On the one hand, the secret service wasn´t interested in further investigations against the deceased James Moriarty or giving details of his criminal activities. Nor did it matter that a distant country, outside the European community and the British domain, would be flooded with drugs, leaving that problem to other foreign authorities. And on the other hand, the military wanted to restore the name of his brother and continue dedicating to his illicit businesses.
The colonel James Moriarty accepted this deal and revealed the location of Irene Adler:
-Apartment 221A, Baker Street, London.
Immediately, I exclaimed:
-It can´t be!
-She was spying on Sherlock Holmes!
-But, he never saw her!
The colonel James Moriarty clarified:
-She just moved...
-You have to hurry up!
-She will leave that residence in a few weeks. Irene Adler has questioned collaborators of the Swindhit. She is looking for both diamonds in London, and I am not surprised that this lady has already entered Sherlock Holmes' empty apartment, evading the police protection.
Suddenly, I reminded the famous words of a contemporary author. In that sense, if it is necessary to hide something very well, there are two options: either it is placed in a distant and unreachable place, or in a site that is close and so obvious that it will not arouse suspicions. Certainly, the second case corresponded to Irene Adler's strategy. No one would imagine that she was the new neighbor of the apartment that belonged to Sherlock Holmes!
The colonel James Moriarty was not a reliable person, but the origin of this negotiation and the probable capture of Irene Adler was due again to the proactivity of Sherlock Holmes, who continued to dictate the course of events. Although there was a big problem: I was the ideal person to go to the detective's apartment, without arousing suspicions. Obviously, the secret service office would continue requiring my support, in order to apprehend this criminal, in accordance with the will of Sherlock Holmes, and in defense of the interests of the government of Great Britain.
I was flattered! I was going to participate in a great mission: the arrest of Irene Adler… On that occasion, it wasn´t convenient for Mrs. Watson to expose herself or return to London, but she was one of the few people who could identify her. I thought: "Elementary! Why didn´t I figure this out earlier?"
The meeting was over. The colonel James Moriarty took his leave and left the hotel for London.
That same day, before going to sleep, I remembered that Mrs. Watson told me that there were attempts to burn our house and Sherlock Holmes' apartment. In principle, like my wife, I believed that these events were revenge of the Swindhit, who had discovered the identity of Mrs. Watson. But… That wasn´t the reality! If Sherlock Holmes had been with us, he would have discovered it out sooner… The criminals didn´t want to destroy those homes… Rather these were acts to distract law enforcement officers, while Irene Adler or her accomplices entered in these residences, searching for the diamonds. Finishing these reflections, I told my dear and enigmatic wife that her identity was safe, although she wasn´t convinced of this.
After a few days, my wife left for an unknown destination, although just before leaving, while she was in the restroom, I managed to check some documents in her handbag, and realized that Mrs. Watson was going first to Norway and later to London.
And following instructions from the secret service office, I had to wait a few days until they confirmed that it was safe the return to London. Later, I went back to Sherlock Holmes' apartment.
As was my custom, in order to keep track of the dates, I recorded them in my notebook, after reading a London newspaper. My first mission entry was as follows: "First day of the operation: June 11, 1891, there are many people going in and out of that residence. The postman told me that the new owner sells jewelry. She doesn´t even go out to the market. The butler and the driver run errands. Nothing is known about her husband."
The other days were similar. Persons were coming in and out of the apartment 221A to buy and sell luxury goods. On one of those days, a Scotland Yard officer, under a false identity, entered the residence and offered the owner some diamonds. In the same way, he identified her: tall, not so white, black hair too coiled, with a beautiful face, very long jaw, fine gestures and dressed in black with her wedding ring. This was the description of Irene Adler or Mrs. Norton that Sherlock Holmes had provided to the authorities, similar to that collected by other European security agencies. Additionally, she refused the jewels that the officer brought and made a very particular request, giving him a photo of the diamond she wanted, indicating that in the world there only were two objects of that nature.
For Scotland Yard there was no doubt that she was Irene Adler. However, two serious problems remained. The first was that since this was a secret operation, they could not ask for a search warrant to enter Irene Adler's apartment, because any collaborator of the Swindhit or of the organization, who is in the courts, being a worker or a lawyer that works in other cases, would alert the countess of crime. I even remembered a phrase from Sherlock Holmes: "The Swindhit have eyes and ears everywhere." While the second was that they had no hard evidence that she was Irene Adler, and if they went in and arrested her, getting the wrong person, the scandal would be huge, it would grab the headlines of British and European newspapers, forcing the Queen to dismiss the heads of Scotland Yard and the secret service office.
This was the subject of a strong discussion between both institutions. Scotland Yard wanted to go ahead, break into apartment 221A, with or without a warrant, and arrest Irene Adler. While the secret service office warned that they could not act like this, without being certain that Irene Adler was there. A Solomon's solution was to encourage her to leave that residence, and once seen by a reliable witness, they would proceed to arrest her. Although, after Sherlock Holmes, there was one person who knew her well, interacted with that woman at a Swindhit party, and obviously, I am referring to Mrs. Watson.
Back then, at that celebration, of which I don´t remember the date and the name of the honoree(s), neither the reason for the party... Sherlock Holmes told me with a huge smile and reflecting a face of having achieved one of the great goals of his life: "Elementary, my dear Watson! Irene Adler is here, dancing with other guests! I am going to catch her!" Next, the detective began to dance, and for each turn of the dance, he changed of partner. My friend was approaching to her pursued... But, she saw him, and was doing the same, changing the dance partner, and moving away from the place where Sherlock Holmes was. Unexpectedly, there was a blackout... The pragmatic and rude detective strongly pushed his last dance partner, who fell on the floor, and immediately ran quickly to capture Irene Adler... But, as expected, she fled... In a few moments, the electricity returned and no trace of the famous lady was found anywhere. Although my great friend was able to rip the handbag from her arm, and now I realize that inside this bag… There was one of the two precious diamonds of the countess of crime.
So, at some point Sherlock Holmes had in his possession the two favorite diamonds of Irene Adler!
Returning with the operation, after a few days, the undercover officer showed Irene Adler a photo of the diamond that the colonel James Moriarty gave us, indicating that it was in the Phenix jewelry, located in the center of the city, and already he had booked it. Over and over, she asked for the jewel to be brought to her, even showing off briefcases full of pounds sterling. Patiently, the agent explained that she had to go to the site and sign some documents, so that the diamond would be delivered to her. Irene Adler wasn´t convinced, but this delinquent finally agreed and indicated that the next day, exactly at four in the afternoon, she would wait for him at that jewelry store.
On the morning of the next day, looking at the previous day's page in my notebook, and confirming the date by reviewing a British newspaper, I wrote in my dairy: "Twelfth day of the operation, June 22, 1891." That day became boring and endless. Why does that woman make us wait so long? Around two in the afternoon, the time I wrote in my notebook, disguised with glasses, a fake mustache, a gray suit that I never use, and without hat and cane, I left the apartment 221B. The coachman was waiting for me and took me to a park in front of the most famous jewelry. I sat down on one of the benches, as ordered. I knew that Mrs. Watson, essential to identifying Irene Adler, was already hiding in the back of the premises.
I was looking forward to the success of this mission!
At least one of Sherlock Holmes' last wishes would come true... Nonetheless, I reflected and with that sense of smell that I inherited or learned from the detective, I perceived that something was wrong... A long time later, a luxurious carriage arrived, with the butler and the driver, who had faces of thugs, the woman got out, she looked everywhere and watched me for a few seconds. Despite my disguise, I don´t know if she recognized me! I was at that Swindhit party, when Sherlock Holmes chased her… Or could it be that she saw me in one of these family photos that the Swindhit took at those celebrations? After a while, Irene Adler entered the jewelry store, accompanied by her two servants. Inside was an officer and of course, Mrs. Watson. They closed the door, as was usual for security reasons, and carefully, two secret service agents boarded the vehicle.
Within minutes, I heard a gunshot… I ran across the street, and with the help of the officials we quickly broke the lock and entered. What a sad reality! The officer, Mrs. Watson and the employees of the jewelry store were tied up… The truth is that Irene Adler had another carriage parked in the back of the jewelry store, perhaps she was tipped off by someone from Scotland Yard or the secret service office, and fled with the diamond that the colonel James Moriarty had given us and many valuable objects from that jewelry.
This was the heist of the century!
Also, days ago, the colonel James Moriarty, who fulfilled his part of the deal, had left the country, free to harm citizens of other nations. And obviously, between Scotland Yard and the secret service office there were strong discussions. The idea of authorizing the military's departure was to prevent him from contacting Irene Adler, but the secret service office didn´t like that decision, and the facts suggested that somehow the cunning colonel James Moriarty was involved in Irene Adler's escape. Likewise, she took the most expensive jewels from that emblematic place and the shot was fired into the air when they were leaving, in the other vehicle, to make fun of us with these messages: "Thank you for these gifts! We are leaving now!"
I got the impression that Irene Adler, leaning on Sherlock Holmes, who is usually wrong when confronting her, conceived a perfect plan: she waited for my detective friend to send that diamond to James Moriarty, convinced the brother to give it up in exchange for his freedom, or they agreed on a sensational plan that would benefit them, and finally, with accomplices in government institutions, she planned the robbery of the Phenix jewelry.
I like to reiterate some important points: Who is Irene Adler or Mrs. Norton, wife of another felon? She is the only woman who has been able to fool Sherlock Holmes, knows intimate secrets of the kings of Europe and various nobles and aristocrats, and I discovered that this criminal also knows a great secret that puts the famous detective to shame. At that time, she had escaped three times. The first, in the story of A Scandal in Bohemia, the second, during a party of the Swindhit, and the third, after appropriating collections of valuable jewels in the main jewelry store of London, under the noses of Scotland Yard and the secret service office, who underestimated this operation and didn´t send enough agents neither took the necessary precautions.
Unfortunately, she, along with James Moriarty's brother, put another spin on Sherlock Holmes' plan, thwarting both captures, while the organization was being restructuring, despite the fact that their main associates, the Swindhit, throughout Europe, were being arrested and others went underground.
In this regard, sadly, difficult times were coming, which would mark the end of a previous era and the beginning of a new stage, in which criminal gangs would be orphaned without their great leaders, who were more cautious than their subordinates, and thus, an unprecedented wave of violence was almost certain to break out in London and the major European cities, further exacerbated by the lucrative drug trade businesses and the absence of the fearsome champion of justice, the ruthless Sherlock Holmes...