Chapter 1: At the End of the Road

On some mornings, I still wonder about my good fortune, and the path that led me to this place, Everett Ridge. Everett Ridge is my vineyard, a 17 acre parcel with 10 acres of symmetrical vines, and a very picturesque 60 foot waterfall near the edge of the estate. It is the last one, at the end of the road, fitting for someone like myself who desires such solitude. It is no small thing, running a vineyard, but I have managed to do just fine, with just Ralph my marketing consultant, Harold my one full-time employee/production manager, and occasional part-time workers when harvesting season comes.

My house is lonely, as I, my housekeeper Eliza, and my grapes have the estate all to ourselves. Since my return from an impromptu trip during the Christmas season to Los Angeles four months ago, however, I have given myself up entirely to the comforting country life with its peace, something I had often longed for during my years of being right in the thick of the dirt and grime and congestion that defines the very core of LA itself.

Of course, I could never deny that the city was still very much a part of me, and I was reminded of that very early one morning while out on my customary stroll around my estate. "Jake!" The familiar voice behind me stopped me in my morning walk around my peaceful little vineyard.

The drawl was unmistakable. "I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself. Jake Holmes, giving up the fast urban life for the crawl of the country?"

"Ah, Lestrade," I turned around, attempting to smile cordially at the man whose scratchy voice and heavy footsteps on the path had broken the quiet tranquility of the early morning.

The former LAPD detective turned FBI agent Lestrade was staring at me, incredulous. "You really did retire. I didn't believe it at first, but…" his voice trailed off as he gestured to me, and then to the rows of vines on the trellis next to the path.

Maggie O'Donnell, the tall redhead beside him, grinned at me. "It's good to see you again, Holmes," she said as she gave me a very brief hug, which I did not bother to return.

I smiled at her, however, this time with a bit more sincerity. A quick survey of the two agents immediately brought to my attention several key points, all of which indicated some critical situation at hand. "Yes, but I do wish it was under better circumstances. This case you want to consult me on must be a pressing one."

Lestrade and Maggie shared a look, before turning back to face me. "Yes," Maggie finally answered, hesitantly.

"For two FBI agents to have driven two hundred miles…" I briefly considered reiterating that I was retired for a reason, but there was something not quite right about the whole situation. Neither Maggie nor Lestrade would meet my scrutinizing gaze. This was an interesting development. Lestrade would normally be bursting with the case development already, wanting to pick my brain before running back and taking all the credit for something I'd consider but a trifle.

"Let's head back to the house, and you can tell me why you found it necessary to interrupt my morning walk."

I passed the steaming hot mugs of coffee to the two agents, who were, by the minute, looking more and more reluctant to be there. I made no effort to relieve them of their discomfort, as it gave me ample opportunity to observe them.

After fixing my own coffee, black with two sugars, I sat down deliberately in an armchair, and watched as they took the well worn brown leather couch next to me.

Maggie was the first to break the long silence. "We'd like to ask your opinion on a recent case."

I settled back in my chair and closed my eyes.

"Two nights ago, a man was discovered stabbed 5 times, twice in the chest, three times in the neck, right outside a bar. He's currently in a coma right now. There were no witnesses to the attack, and no one in the bar heard or saw anything," Lestrade began. "There's no trace evidence, no footprints, no fingerprints, no DNA, nothing at the scene."

"No forensics at all?" I opened eyes, a bit skeptical.

Lestrade shook his head. "Nothing in the preliminaries."

"No murder weapon?"

"No."

I sighed, leaning forward in my chair, fixing each of them with a pointed look. "It has been incredibly obvious to me, even before you've said anything about the case, that neither of you has found it important enough to tell me the entire story."

Lestrade and Maggie shared a deer-in-the-headlights look.

Triumphant, I cocked an eyebrow. "I don't see why I should care to offer my opinion. After all, not telling me everything will completely ruin any chance I have at helping you in the first place."

"Just let us finish it our way, at least for old times' sake, Jake," Lestrade implored. "Please."

Lestrade was never one to say please. Yet another intriguing development.

I leaned back into my chair, acquiescing. "Like anyone as the suspect?"

Maggie was the one who continued. "We think his fiancé might have something to do with it."

"How so?"

"For starters, she doesn't have a solid alibi for that night." Lestrade was looking rather uncomfortable.

I shrugged. "Inconclusive. Anything that really ties her to it?"

"She admits that the night he was stabbed, they had a huge argument before he left for the bar," Maggie added. "And that she followed him there afterward, saw him getting friendly with a waitress. She says that she confronted him, and then she left. Bartender and other patrons there said he left right after she did. He was found outside about half an hour later. We think she waited for him in the alley next to the bar, and then stabbed him."

Lestrade spoke up again. "He recently bought life insurance that all goes towards her. She stands to get two million dollars. I think that motive's as just as good as any for her flipping out on him. In addition to the relationship difficulties."

I repressed a laugh. "Then why are you here if you've got it all figured out?"

Lestrade and Maggie exchanged another long look, before Maggie finally turned to me. "We're here as a favor to her."

I raised my eyebrows, but didn't say anything. She was most likely involved with law enforcement, as FBI agents didn't drive two hundred miles for just anyone. I began to consider all the possibilities of the women I knew in law enforcement.

"She asked for you." Maggie's voice was deliberate, laced with an underlying message.

That narrowed it down considerably. I could only think of one who would ask for me.

I jumped up from my arm chair, grabbing my coat off the end table, not even bothering to hide my anger. "Let's go. The two of you can explain to me on the way to Los Angeles why you didn't come get me sooner, the moment you found out that Brian was hurt," I fumed, turning on my heels and heading out my door, with the two agents scrambling to catch up.

Special thanks to ACD, for Holmes saying "My house is lonely. I, my old housekeeper, and my bees have the estate all to ourselves" in The Adventure of the Lion's Mane.

AN: Thanks to everyone who's followed the story so far! I never really saw why the bees would be so interesting to Holmes, but something like producing wines (the quest for perfection and chemistry of winemaking) seemed much more fitting for a (semi) retirement pastime anyway. PLEASE, any comments, suggestions, questions about this new POV would be much appreciated! I also apologize for the shortness of the chapter as I'm in the midst of finals, and this is something I had to get out before I start writing the rest of it. Stupid plot bunny keeping me from studying...

HermioneHolmes: I agree. They are both idiots. But the good thing about idiots sometimes is that that they redeem themselves. wink

Moonrose1: Don't cry! Here, enjoy this.

Kittenchatter: I'm so glad you're not upset at me about the way the last story turned out. Hope you enjoy this one! And don't worry, you'll find out why he came back on Christmas.

Daze-dly: Was it that obvious what his true intentions were? I was shooting for the "totally ambiguous" ending. That's ok, I figure you guys might enjoy a sequel more.

L'Wren: I'm glad the ending wasn't too bad!

QueenofSpain: Yes, I've always wanted to write a story where he rejects the girl, because yes, he can be quite the jerk. And I'm apologizing for the shortness of the chapter, but this was the most I could churn out in this brief study break.

KentaDivina: I figure I should apologize to you about putting Brian through such a, hmm, physically challenging role, always being injured. I adore him too, but I couldn't see another way around it... he really is quite cool, isn't he?

Horsefeathers103: Hope this update was up to par!