Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger Read Online Free PDF

it, Miss Belle.   Many people do.”
    She sighed heavily.   “You seem to forget, Mr. Holmes, that I saved Princess Elena from a terrible fate.”
    “ I forget nothing about you, Miss Belle .”   He stared intently at her before looking away.   “Most notably, I recollect that you allowed your revolver to be separated from you, unlike the princess of Montenegro who had the forethought to have hers within her grasp.”
    Will we ever put that behind us?   If Jesus forgave my sin, I should think that would be good enough for Sherlock Holmes.   She added in her own defense, “We did work together.”
    “Miss Hudson,” he turned to face her, his expression severe.   “I will admit that you have had every success on your side thus far—despite your inattention, incompetence, and carelessness.”
    “You are too kind, Mr. Holmes,” she demurred.
    “I am, Miss Hudson.   You have been astonishingly lucky.”   She saw his hand clenching his ivory cane and feared it might split in two.    
    Where was the man who had held her in his arms at Miss de Beauvais’ Christmas Ball, smiling down at her, congratulating her?   Treating her as an associate.  
    Almost treating her as an equal, if that could be imagined.   Sherlock Holmes didn’t treat anyone as an equal!   He had even called her the world’s first lady detective !   High, high praise coming from one so intelligent—and one who considered himself so far above others.  
    She would never forget the look of admiration in his eyes.   Almost gentle , if Sherlock Holmes could ever be called that.
    It had been a moment of heaven.   She stole a glance at the harsh profile of the man sitting beside her.
    That moment was gone.  

CHAPTER FOUR
A Wish Come True

    The Winter Circus

    “It appears you have a visitor, nyet?”   The beautiful woman scantily clad in scarlet chiffon harem pants, her face covered with a veil, opened the door to the tiger’s cage.   In this outfit she both blended in with the other circus performers—and was unidentifiable.
      “Are you insane?   What are you doing?” Beckham exclaimed in horror.  
    “Getting rid of evidence, naturally.”   With the door placed between herself and the tiger, she effectively gave Beckham nowhere to escape, the tiger now in between him and the gate she held onto.   In point of fact, the predator was fixated on the trapped man, with little to no interest in the gate or the woman behind it.   The scent she had rubbed on Beckham’s clothing was proving to be effective.  
    “M-me?   I don’t know anything!”
    “Soon you will not.”   She smiled.   “ Shishka! ” she murmured as the tiger inched towards him.
    He reached in his jacket for his gun, only to find that it was now gone.   “Where is my pistol? . . . how did. . .?”   His speech was erratic as the terror of his situation struck him.
    “You really should check for gun when you put your clothes back on, da?”   She advised.
    “You’ll never be able to cover your tracks, Mademoiselle!” he exclaimed, frantically looking about him for some form of weapon, the only thing available being a long wooden pole leaning against the wall, which he snatched up.
    “Oh, I think I will, dahling,” she purred.   “I already have, in fact.”
    “The British government will find you—and you’ll hang!   But it’s not too late.   Throw me my gun.”
    The woman laughed a taunting laugh even as the tiger advanced upon him, the animal’s curiosity now intense.  
    Beckham kept his eyes glued on the striped carnivore, even though the circus beauty was his only hope at this point.   The pole was a temporary barrier at best.   “Help me!   I promise I won’t say a word!”
    There.   That was better.   She resented his lack of attention on her.   This was the part of the game she like the best, when her victim understood her power.
    “ Nyet , Mr. Beckham, you should not have spied on me.   How you think you can