*Disclaimer: I do not own anything Sherlock, the original character Evelyn is of my own creation. That being said, enjoy.
Chapter One
John Watson paced back and forth uncomfortably in the 221B flat which quickly caught the attention of Sherlock sitting behind Watson's computer, "Expecting someone?" he mumbled, keeping his eyes focused on the computer screen.
"Why do you ask?" Watson stared out the window. He slightly regretted answer a question of Sherlock's with another question but it would keep his mind busy in the meantime.
Sherlock breathed in deeply, ready to begin his analysis. "Well first of all you are wearing a similar outfit, if not the same, that you wear for almost all your dates so I can assume you are waiting for a girl. However, you're nervous which you almost never are when going on dates so I can deduct that you know this woman from a past event in your life. You've styled your hair in a way that resembles an army cut so I believe your guest is someone in your company from the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers? Another doctor...no...a nurse. Am I right?" He shut the laptop and looked deeply at his friend.
Watson smiled as he saw his guest emerge from a taxi. He turned towards Sherlock and chuckled, "Spot on as always. Her name is Evelyn Mason, she was a nurse in my unit...and it's not a date. Evelyn has always been like a sister to me." Watson explained, fixing his hair. Sherlock nodded slowly, "I have a case for us."
"Not now Sherlock. I know you're going to be bored while I am gone, just try not to muck anything up. Watch some television for Christ's sake or go for a walk." Mrs. Hudson called from the foyer, "John! You have a visitor...a Miss. Evelyn Palmer, should I send her up?"
"Palmer?" Watson questioned under his breath, "Uh, yes Mrs. Hudson that would be wonderful. Thank you." He continued. "I thought you said her last name was Mason?" said Sherlock.
"Shut up! Maybe she's married now, I have no idea Sherlock. She just saw the blog and messaged me one day saying she would love to catch up and have some coffee." John defended.
A soft knock came at the door and small voice called out Watson's name, "...John Watson…" He turned to face the short brunette, who was beaming from ear to ear, "It's been so long, you haven't changed one bit." Watson stared at her in disbelief she had changed so much, he was beginning to wonder if this was the same nurse who served under him all those years ago. He had remembered a slightly tanned blonde woman, with a short pixie crop hairstyle and full red lips, now he was taking in the image of a more pale skinned woman with longer and curlier hair which had fallen perfectly on her red winter jacket. "I-i- i wish I could say the same." He stammered.
She began to unbutton her jacket which revealed a little black dress which rested high on her neckline, clung to her torso and flared just a little at the bottom. Sherlock shot a glance over at the woman, taking in her current appearance and trying to figure her out. "Well," she started, "no longer working in the desert sun has taken the golden skin tone away from me and my blonde hair was beginning to make me look washed out."
"Why is your last name Palmer?" Sherlock piped up. "He told me it was Mason just before you arrived, why Palmer? Are you married?...No, not anymore at least. No ring. Of course nowadays that means nothing...but you didn't bring a man with you or mention him at all to Watson so once again that affirms there is no current Mr. Palmer. Why did you divorce? I can't see him cheating on a woman such as yourself unless you are completely inadequate in bed. So maybe you left him -"
"Sherlock. Shut up." Watson cut him off and awkwardly smiled at Evelyn, "I am so sorry this is my friend and flatmate Sherlock Holmes. I should have mentioned in the email he would do that...it's best if you can to just ignore him." Sherlock let out a 'hpmf' noise and opened the laptop back up to check on the blog.
Evelyn just tried to smile politely, "Nice to meet you too Mr. Holmes. If my marital status is such a concern to you I should let you know that I am not divorced but widowed." she explained. "I'm sorry to hear that." John looked sympathetically at his friend.
"How?" Sherlock looked at Evelyn again.
"I'm sorry?"
"How. How did he die? Was he in the army too?" He further pressed. She bit her bottom lip uncomfortably, smearing her nude colored lipstick, "Suicide, I guess." She mumbled.
"You guess?" John and Sherlock chimed in confusion.
"The police never really gave it a proper investigation. Ruled it as a suicide…" she trailed off in thought, pushing back some her locks of hair.
"That's why you contacted John isn't it? Hoping he would take on a pity case and could look into the "murder" of your husband?" Sherlock, now standing, approached the younger woman studying her facial expressions.
"Maybe we should head for that coffee." Evelyn avoided Sherlock's gaze and buttoned up her jacket while John grabbed his own coat. "Agreed. Goodbye Sherlock." Watson placed her hand on the small of Evelyn's back and ushered her out the door gently.
"I am so sorry for his behavior, I wish I could say that's not how he usually is. If you do want help trying to put rest to the case with your late husband I would be happy to assist you." John tried to assure her, he then quickly waved down a taxi.
"That's very kind but the past is in the past now." Evelyn gave John a faint smile. Although she was trying her best to forget the meeting she just had with Mr. Holmes she was struggling to get his voice out of her head and all of those invasive questions.
As the taxi pulled to the curb both John and Evelyn stepped inside and headed to a small coffee shop that John suggested to her in email. She sat in silence staring out the window, when the taxi stopped at a red light her eyes caught the burning gaze of a younger dark haired man standing at the corner. He didn't move, just stared back at her. He was well dressed but had a hint of something crazy and sporadic about him. When the light turned green he smiled and took out his cellphone and turned to walk away.
I'm bored. - S.H
Watson's phone lit up with text after text from Sherlock, he was expecting this to happen until he would return back to the flat.
Deal with it Sherlock, I'm with a friend. - J.W
Where? - S.H
A coffee shop. - J.W
Which one? - S.H
Oh no, you're not joining. Goodnight Sherlock. - J.W
Are you going to Staffords? - S.H
John sighed, that is where they were heading. Sadly his pause in text messaging Sherlock led to him figuring out they were indeed on their way to Staffords.
I take that as a yes. - S.H
...Goodnight Sherlock - J.W
I'll see you in 10 minutes - S.H
John looked over at Evelyn, "So, Sherlock...he may try and meet us at the coffee shop. I suggest we get our coffee and maybe go for walk. We may be able to avoid him that way." Evelyn nodded in agreement, "I don't think I could deal with him again tonight." she laughed.
Her phone vibrated in her purse and she searched around to find it, she unlocked the screen and saw a private number text message lit up on her screen.
That red jacket looks fantastic on you.
She looked over at Watson, "John," she started, "Did you just message me?"
"No, I don't know your cell number."
"Sherlock wouldn't...would he?"
"No, well, depends...what was sent to you?" John questioned curiously.
"That red jacket looks fantastic on you…" She read aloud.
Her phone went off again.
I am not Sherlock Holmes. You'll meet me soon enough. Let's keep this a secret beautiful.
John Watson laughed out loud, "Sherlock would never compliment anyone, let alone a woman. Probably just a wrong number or some friend playing tricks on you." He explained, "Did this mystery person have anything else to say?"
Evelyn searched for an excuse, "Oh- yeah, it was just a friend of mine. I forgot I sent her a photo of me in the jacket when I bought it…" Her phone vibrated once more.
Nice lie. Feel free to send me pictures of you in things you buy.
Who are you? - E.P
Don't worry about it love. How are your legs not freezing in that itty bitty black dress?
Don't worry about it. - E.P
Evelyn didn't know why she was playing along with this mystery texter but there was just something about them that was calling her out to play. She thought for a second it had to be the cab driver but he was a old man who could barely speak English and had his hands on the wheel the entire drive. The cab pulled off to the side in front of a small cafe. Watson paid the driver and the two exited the cab.
Buzz
You just let me know if you need someone to warm you up later tonight.
Evelyn laughed quietly to herself, normally you report these kinds of text messages but for being so mysterious and intrusive they seemed kind of innocent.
You'll be the first I message mystery person. - E.P
Good. Goodnight Evelyn, enjoy your coffee. - J.M
So she had initials, J.M, she knew nobody with a name that could bear those initials. She shoved her phone in her coat pocket and walked into the store to order a coffee with Watson, both were unsurprised when they saw Sherlock standing at the counter order himself a coffee.
"John, fancy seeing you here." He joked, grabbing a seat at a table that could comfortably sit all three of them.
Evelyn took off her jacket revealing her long slender arms and sat down at the table. While nobody in the store was looking directly at her she felt that same burning glance upon her from earlier.