Life and Death on the Orient Express I received the following letter from good ol’ Watson. “Holmes” it began, “I am sorry that I have been so busy here with my practice that I have not made the time to visit you since last year, nor even met with you since your unexpected overnight stay with us last summer. I know we have kept in touch, but that isn’t the same is it? “How would you like to go on a European vacation with Christy and I, on me? I will pick up the transportations and hotels. We are crossing the Channel and staying a few days in Paris, my dear Christy has never visited the Eiffel Tower or Louvre. We then will catch the Orient Express to visit Vienna. We intend to continue to Athens then head back home via Venice. A grand tour that Christy says I richly deserve, and one I would like to share with her and you my good friend. “It will still be spring, and maybe still chilly in the mountains, but I am sure the valleys will be awash in colorful flowers. Your bee-farm can keep while we are away I am sure. “Another treat I hope, is that my nephew John wants to meet us in Vienna. He painted such a splendid illustration of its beauty that Christy is most anxious to see it. You didn’t know I had a nephew did you? I have never before mentioned him to you I am sure. We kept in touch but he has never met Christy. John’s mother sadly left my brother before his alcoholic death. I don’t blame her. She moved to the Continent and remarried. John took his stepfather’s name, Grimm. He is a decent chap and I think you will get along quite well with him. “Let me encourage you to join us, I am sure we all will have an enjoyable experience. Sincerely your old friend Watson.” I of course suspected the trip was in fact initiated by Jack’s suggestion and elaborate description of the elegant time they would have traveling Europe. He was using the cover of Watson’s trip to meet with me. Although Watson did not mention it, I would lay odds that Jack brought up that he would enjoy meeting the man that Watson had made famous with his writings. He would not mention that to me because of his fear that my humbleness would off set me from the trip. If Watson had not bitten on that line, I am sure I would have been contacted to worm my way onto the trip from my end, surreptitiously of course. I wrote Watson that I would be most happy to accompany him and his wife, but I of course would not burden his wallet with my expenses, for although I was retired, my practice, especially with my previous services to the rich on the continent had left me well off. That and some wise land investments I thought to myself. He knew he could not insist that I allow him to cover the costs, but asked me to allow him to make all the arrangements and paying for the tickets and rooms in advance, and we could settle up when we return to England. I agreed, and we were set to go. I conferred with Mycroft who had not been able to receive anything from Jack since he had been contacted about what we had found in the Cambridge house. Mycroft was of course anxious to get the latest from Jack and gave me some agents to contact in various nations in Europe should I need fast but confidential aid. The message had gone out that anyone giving them a specific password would be given the highest priority of immediate assistance, even to the death of the agent. The channel crossing was delightful, I see the waters so much from the beach below my villa, that it makes one want to cross over to once again to see the lands on the other side. The French countryside was so green with new growth and the customary light tan homes with orange tile roofs were scattered everywhere. Metropolitan Paris was bustling with people enjoying the spring air and sun after a long winter. We spent several days wandering the massive corridors of the Louvre. I pointed out that although the Mona Lisa enigmatic smile was well publicized, if you trouble your self to find the other Leonardo paintings of women, they all sported similar characteristic smirks. I think that is just how he did female smiles. We had a lovely lunch high over Paris in the café near the top of the Eiffel Tower. And we immensely enjoyed the Seine dinner cruise past Notre Dame. Watson obligingly took Christy to some not-inexpensive shops, while I went to the central Paris library and did some background study. I must say that I found