Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Diamonds by Steve Hayes, David Whitehead Page B

He kept drawing her closer until they were standing face to face, almost touching. There was something so intimate in the moment that the applause and cheering faltered a little and suddenly turned uncomfortable .
    ‘Better let me go before they get the wrong impression,’ she whispered through a smile. 
    ‘Or the right one,’ he said with a sly wink.
    With one movement he removed the loop and then turned and bowed. The good humour immediately returned.
    ‘More … more … do some more!’
    Encouraged by the reception, Howard threw the rope aside, unbuttoned his jacket and suddenly pulled out his ivory-handled six-guns.
    An uneasy silence descended upon the terrace. Even Elaina’s grin began to look strained.
    ‘All of you,’ said Howard, ‘keep well back.’
    Everyone quickly obeyed.
    Howard began to spin the guns by their trigger guards. They flashed and winked as they spun first one way, then the other. Then he started flipping them over his shoulders and under his arms, and soon the watchers started to clap and cheer appreciatively. The guns seemed to be alive as he flat-spun them, then made them cross in mid-air. He caught them by their barrels, spun them again and then, almost faster than anyone could see, they were snug back in their holsters.
    Acknowledging the appreciation of his audience with a casual wave, he set himself with legs spread and knees slightly bent. Then, almost faster than the eye could follow, a gun appeared in his right hand and a shot boomed out in the chilly afternoon. One of the flowerpots resting on the low terrace wall exploded, spraying terracotta and dirt everywhere . Howard’s audience, who’d never seen the like before, went wild. As they clapped and cheered he fired again, three quick shots, and one after another the adjacent flowerpots exploded in spectacular fashion. 
    The gun was back in leather before anyone saw it happen. Immediately, he drew his other gun and three more shots echoed through the afternoon. The heads of three flowers burst apart.
    ‘I say, good show, Howard!’ cried Landon.
    Howard grinned, feeling that he had at last gained the acceptance of these idle rich and, caught up in the moment, he aimed at the head of a fourth flower.
    But before he could fire there was another gunshot and the flower disintegrated. Howard spun around, eyes hooding like those of a cornered wolf.
    He saw Holmes and Watson standing in front of the French windows. They had clearly just arrived … and Holmes was holding a smoking revolver in his right hand.

CHAPTER 6

Jealousy
    F or one long moment no one moved. Then Elaina broke the spell, hurrying back to the house to greet the newcomers. ‘Holmes! I was wondering when you were going to show up,’ she exclaimed.
    As she approached, Holmes deftly spun the gun by its trigger guard and handed it back to Watson, butt first. ‘Here, Watson – your service revolver returned with thanks.’
    Watson accepted it with a look of disapproval. But Holmes only had eyes for Elaina as he pressed her hand to his lips. At last his keen eyes found those of Howard and he nodded with respect.
    ‘My compliments, sir. You are quite the marksman.’
    ‘You’re no greenhorn yourself,’ Howard said. Gun still in his hand, he slowly approached Holmes. ‘Accordin’ to my brother, you English don’t care to go around packin’ iron. And yet here you are, loaded for bear.’
    ‘We only go armed when the situation demands it,’ said Watson.
    ‘Like a tea party, you mean?’
    ‘Of course not. But when Holmes here tells me to carry myrevolver, I carry it. Had he told me that his only intention was to use it for show, however, I would have thought twice. Firearms should be treated with more respect.’
    Howard indicated the revolver. ‘You mind?’
    Before Watson could argue, Howard took the gun and examined it with interest. ‘Never seen one of these before.’
    ‘It’s a Webley mark two,’ Watson said stiffly.
    Howard hefted its weight,