Free Sherlock Holmes in 2012: TIMELESS DUEL by Mohammad Bahareth Page B

package!” Sherlock shouted. “Don’t you see-I thought it was clear as day-this David Penny planted a decoy and watched you from a distance to ensure that you were indeed following him and that you in fact found an empty box.”
    “And why would he go through such an elaborate deception if he was only planning to blow up the underground line-the device could have exploded by the time he was out of reach or even out of sight.”
    “He could, yes, but that’s not the ultimate goal,” Sherlock replied. “He’s planning something much bigger somewhere else-I am now certain of it.”
    “And what would that be then?” Mycroft asked.
    “I am sure you are aware of the 2005 bombing in London..” Mycroft nodded. “And that bomb killed several people, didn’t it?”
    “Yes, of course it did, but what has that bombing to do with today’s problem?” Mycroft asked.
    “Only two things. First, that bomb did not kill enough people, and second, the man assigned to develop a dirty bomb, presumably under orders from al Qaeda, is now ready to defuse his devastating evil upon the people of
    England.”
    “And what’s the name of that person,” Weisberg asked, somewhat curious now.
    Sherlock turned to the agent. “You know him, Agent Weisberg, your FBI agents have been hunting him for some time now and yesterday you have ordered the hunt to start again. But this time, Adnan Al Shukrijumah has chosen to complete his task, not in the States, but in Britain.”
    Mycroft stared at his brother. Once again, he could not come to grips with the fact that his brother was sitting across the table from him, for one thing, and that his mind was making deductions equal to those he had made when he had known him a hundred years ago, for another.
    “DEBKA is well acquainted with Mr. Adnan, yes,” Weisberg agreed. “However, we have no confirmation that he has moved to England at this point.”
    “But you do, Weisberg, you do-you just don’t want to admit it!”
    “No, Sherlock, I have no such admission to make, because I have no facts to support it, no!”
    “Alright, gentlemen,” Mycroft intervened, “no need to get into a debate at this point. Let’s just say that I will take the matter into serious consideration and alert MI5 and MI6 to increase their vigilance and surveillance on this man Adnan. Would that appease your fears?” He looked around the table. Most of the agents nodded while Sherlock shook his head. Mycroft knew his brother would not accept such a back-door exit on his part.
    As soon as Mycroft exited the conference room, he observed his brother disappearing down the side stairs of the building. He wanted to rush after him but was stopped by Weisberg, who asked to have a word with him out of earshot from the other agents who had now filed out of the room.
    “I am terribly sorry, Mr. Holmes, for having brought you all the way from England to listen to the ravings of a lunatic who pretends to be your brother.”
    “I told you there’s no need for this sort of apologies, Weisberg. In fact, as you often say in America, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
    “But you can’t seriously think Sherlock’s assertions are anything else than pure imaginings on his part.”
    Mycroft looked down at the floor beneath his feet and then raised his gaze to his interlocutor. “Tell me something, Weisberg; did you or did you not resume your surveillance of this Adnan fellow lately?”
    “Well., that’s difficult to confirm.”
    “Don’t start pussyfooting around with me-that was a simple question that only demanded a yes or no answer-so what will it be?”
    “Hum, as I said DEBKA is in charge of the surveillance-if any-and their latest report is only stating that Adnan has probably been enrolled by al Qaeda during his stay in the States, and that he has been assigned to carry out a radiological bombing attack in America. Other than that, I have nothing.”
    “Why then are you so afraid to believing Sherlock-he is very