One
Hey everyone this is my new Sherlock Fic and I hope it is as good as my last. Thanks to everyone who has been following my Fics… I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you guys.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters I this fic accept for Charlie, her family and a select group of extras I deem worthy of being in here. Wish I did however (as im sure do many other people).
John POV:
"Come on your stupid thing…" John muttered as the high pitched beep told him for the tenth time that the item he was trying to buy was not computing in its system.
"Oh for God's sake work!" He yelled and felt the stares of many people around him. Rapidly losing patience he stormed out of the shop without buying anything and muttering under his breath about London's lack of quality customer service. After a few minutes he calmed down enough to try again and managed to finally buy the groceries for his flat mates. A cab dropped him in front of 221 Baker Street and after thanking the cabbie, cautiously he might add, unlocked the front door and headed up the stairs of the apartment. He opened the door of 221 B on his two room mates who appeared to be steadfastly ignoring him.
"Hello John, get the groceries?" Sherlock asked. Charlie waved from her seat on the couch but kept her head down and studied the open book in front of her.
"No, I had a row with a pin and chip machine." He said and Charlie made a noise that could have been a quiet snort.
"Well I say row, it stood there not working and I yelled abuse at it." John muttered shamefaced as his roommates smirked at him.
"Any luck with cases?" He asked and Sherlock shook his head. Charlie stiffened momentarily and looked over to Sherlock who quirked an eyebrow in her direction. John couldn't see the right side of her face. She quickly returned her attention to her book before anything could be said.
"No." Sherlock said and John stuttered slightly.
"What about that one with the missing diamond…?" He asked and Sherlock shook his head.
"Wasn't interested… I sent them a message." He said and John noted that although the answer was rather blasé Sherlock looked a little tense. He watched as Sherlock began to type on a laptop that stood open in front of him on the coffee table either reading his emails or looking up the five components involved in asphyxiation until John recognized it. He had begun to head back to his room then whirled around.
"Is that my laptop!" He yelled and Sherlock looked up at him from behind the screen.
"Yes."
"Its password encrypted." John put out and Sherlock merely snorted.
"Not very well obviously." Sherlock retorted as John snatched the computer from him and stalked away with it. He placed it in his room before returning to the lounge room and catching Charlie and Sherlock in the midst of a stare off. He could finally see the right side of her face.
"Oh my God Charlie what happened?" He asked and she whirled to face him with a sigh. Her entire right eye was beginning to bruise severely, a lovely mottle of purple and pink which made her green eyes pop and clashed horribly with her crimson hair.
"I fell over in the shower." She said and John wasn't sure whether it was a lie or not… her hair was wet after all.
"I told you so." Sherlock not so wisely muttered and Charlie turned o him in an instant and too of them gazed at each other for a long time.
"Hey guys I'm still here you know." He said and the two broke their contact. Sherlock, for some reason, seemed to look rather guilty and Charlie quite embarrassed. John smiled to himself. Really the pair of them were that thick? He nodded and walked into the kitchen to unpack the bag of food he had bought. Charlie ad returned to her book by the time he returned and he suddenly felt rather embarrassed at what he was about to ask. He gave Charlie a small glance and saw she was rather engrossed in her book so he sat down opposite Sherlock.
"Sherlock I'd hate to sound needy or anything but I'm in a rather tight fix right now, is there anyway I can borrow … are you even listening?" He asked and Sherlock looked at him with a familiar vacant expression that told John his mind was far away from this apartment.
"I need to go to the bank, coming Charlotte?" He asked and the red haired girl sighed but nodded. She pulled a black vintage jacket with golden buttons over her white singlet shirt ad jeans before pulling on a pair of dark sunglasses. They hid the awful bruise from sight and John wondered whether or not the two of them were telling him everything. He himself grabbed his wallet and phone before following a fully dressed Sherlock to the door. He noticed a rather large scrape on the table but decided to say nothing as the three of them exited the apartment and down the stairs. Mrs. Hudson stopped Charlie for a moment and he watched in amusement as the two of them exchanged words.
"She says it's urgent." Mrs. Hudson was saying but Charlie shook her head.
"It's always urgent with her, couldn't get enough of it when I was a child and still doesn't." Charlie said and her aunt sighed.
"She sounded upset Charlie, I think it might have something to do with Francis…" She said and Charlie froze for a moment. John could see her mentally tallying something then she sighed again and a guarded expression fell over her face.
"Tell her I'm out… I can't talk to her right now see?" She said and pointed to the shutting door that had recently house Sherlock. Mrs. Hudson sighed and nodded, kissing her niece on her cheek and stepping back. John allowed her to go through the door before him and hurried to follow her into the awaiting cab.
Charlie POV:
The bank was huge. No enormous. The whole lace was constructed out of metal, glass and escalators and Charlie felt extremely uncomfortable in her rather casual clothes. Sherlock led them up to the front desk and leaned on the sleek counter as the woman looked up at them.
"Sherlock Holmes." He said and she smiled, waving them towards the side offices. Charlie was struck by a thought.
"Sherlock you mentioned you needed to go to the bank… why was that?" She asked and he smiled to himself as a voice called out from behind them.
"Sherlock Holmes!" They turned to see a middle aged man of approximately 35-37 years of age walking over to them with a smile on his face.
"Ah, Sebastian." Sherlock said and shook the man's outstretched hand. Sebastian smiled.
"Well it's been what… eight years since I last clapped eyes on you? Who is this delightful lady?" He asked and held out a hand to Charlie who, fighting not to roll her eyes, shook it in return. Sherlock tensed slightly but gave no outward appearance other than his usual expression of boredom cross his face.
"These are my friends, Charlotte Myers and John Watson." He said and Sebastian nodded and shook John's hand. He gave Charlie a smile that clearly said he thought she was something special, even a blind man could have seen that one. She dismissed him and turned to Sherlock.
"Friends are we?" She teased and Sherlock grimaced. She rolled her eyes and indicated for Sebastian to lead the way. He did so, taking the three of them into a spacious office that overlook a substantial size of London's highrise. She allowed her thoughts to drift back to her mother's phone call, honestly that woman needed to give her space or…
"So...you've been busy, traveling a lot. Flying all the way around the world twice in one month?" Sherlock observed and Charlie snapped back to reality. She studied the man in front of her and smirked at the expression on his face. The man laughed slightly.
"Right. You're doing that thing...we were in Uni together. He could do this little trick..." He began, looking over at John who merely nodded.
"It's not a trick!" Sherlock pointed out and Charlie whispered under her breath.
"Sure it isn't because you hate showing off." He ignored her and the smirk on her face broadened.
"Could tell you your whole life story in one glance." Sebastian continued.
"Oh we know, we've seen him do it." John said.
"Anyway this freak would see you once in the hall and know exactly who you'd been shagging the night before. We all hated him for it."
Charlie's fists tightened slightly at the old nickname. It was one thing for short minded idiots like Donovan to say it but she would have thought an old acquaintance would have known better. Carefully she removed her glasses and threw Sebastian a look that had him actually shuddering. John chuckled quietly and pretended to cough. Sherlock merely smiled, ignoring the comment like he usually did. Charlie replaced the glasses.
"I simply observed..." He said but was cut off.
"You're right though. Two trips around the world every month. I'll bet there's a stain on my tie from some sort of ketchup you can only buy in Manhattan or something..." He joked. Sherlock shook his head.
"No I've just been chatting to your secretary outside. She told me." Sherlock replied lightly. Sebastian laughed at that and started to change the topic.
"There is a stain on your tie though." Charlie piped up.
"Not Manhattan ketchup, just coffee." The man blushed and stuttered slightly before standing and brushing himself off.
"Oh and the secretary you've been shagging is pregnant… don't worry your not the father but I'd settle a few things before she tries to pin it on you." She said and noticed the man's eyes widen in shock.
"Oh God not another one." He muttered almost to himself and Charlie shared a victory smirk with Sherlock.
"Anyway, I'm glad you could make it. We've had a break in." He said and Sherlock leaned forward. Sebastian stood and lead them out of his office. They followed him up to a floor filled with people talking in various languages on phones and typing on computers.
"Broke in late last night." He said as they walked.
"And what did they steal?" John asked.
"Nothing. " Sebastian said.
"Just left a little message."
He scanned a card and showed them into the room. Two seemingly random squiggles had been painted over the eyes and face of the bank's founder with yellow spray paint. He led them over to a computer and pulled up the security footage.
"These two shots are sixty seconds apart." He showed them the two pictures on the screen, one without paint and one with it.
"Whoever did this broke in, splashed paint around and left all within sixty seconds."
"How many ways into this room?" Charlie asked and looked around the spacious room.
"And this, my dear is where it gets interesting..." Sebastian said.
They all stood crowded around a computer as Sebastian showed them all the footage. Charlie gazed at the screen in puzzlement and Sherlock's hand brushed hers due to proximity and both of them jerked suddenly. They glanced at each other then returned their gazed to the screen. Charlotte could feel John watching with some amusement as Sebastian explained that all the doors in the bank were locked with that one computer. She sent him a warning look and he wisely said nothing.
"That door wasn't opened last night." Sebastian said and turned to face the trio.
"There's a hole in our security. Find it and we'll pay you. Five figures." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a cheque. "This is an advance."
"I don't need an incentive. Come on Charlotte." Sherlock said and gently placed a hand on her lower back. He carefully guided her out of the room and Charlie felt as though he place his hand touch was on fire. They both relaxed a touch as they stepped out of the office and back to the international section.
"Sixty second in and out of a room of the highest security and a) they didn't steal anything and b) were not caught on anything remotely helpful to us." She said and sighed as he removed his hand from her lower back.
"They'd have to be professionals, not thieves but something else. Let's take another look at that room." Sherlock said and they retraced their steps. Sherlock began taking pictures of everything in the room and Charlie was beside him scanning through the security images eve though there was no real point. Sherlock opened the window and actually stepped out onto the ledge, eliciting a yelp from Charlie whose furious expression hid the worry she felt. They were a long way up. He turned and saw her expression, stepping back into the room. He smirked and she folded her arms across her chest.
"Care to explain?" She asked and he shrugged.
"I wasn't going to jump." He protested.
"Well I wasn't going to stop you, I'm just worried about the poor person who'd have landed on at the bottom." She teased and he scowled.
"You think they climbed up?" She asked more seriously and he frowned at the window.
"It's a theory." He said and she smirked.
"What if they weren't looking for anything, those squiggles have got to be important…" She said and Sherlock jumped. He ran out of the room with Charlie on his heels. He began to move around the international calls room, jumping and twirling slightly as he made is way through the room. Charlie watched in quiet amusement as he did this then cottoned on as John turned up.
"What on Earth is he doing?" John said between laughs as he watched the tall man bob up and down like a dancer. Charlie smiled and pointed to where he was now pulling a piece of paper out of a doorway.
"Why leave a message to all these people when all you want to do is talk to one person?" She asked him and he frowned in confusion.
"Who is it?" She asked Sherlock as he walked up to them with a small piece of paper in his hands.
"How did you know Sebastian had traveled?" John asked the consulting detective.
"His watch; right time, wrong date. He crossed the international date line twice but forgot to change the date." Sherlock said and John sighed in annoyance.
"Don't fret John, Shirley here just enjoys a good tease." She said and John rolled his eyes.
"Yes thank you Charlotte." Sherlock jeered and the two began to squabble as they left the bank.
"That graffiti is a message. Find the person it's meant for..." Sherlock muttered and Charlotte grinned.
"And they lead you to the guy." John finished.
"But there are 300 people up there, who was it meant for?"
"Pillars." Sherlock replied as if it were obvious. John looked confused so Charlie took pity on him and decided to explain.
"Surely you noticed Sherlock's rather elaborate dance routine back there? He was checking around pillars to see who it was meant for."
Sherlock nodded at Charlie's explanation.
"The time is a clue as well. That was intended for someone who came in at Midnight." He waved the slip of paper before them.
"Can't be many Van Coon's in the phone book. Taxi!"
"I still don't know how you get a tax every single freaking time Shirley. I'd probably have to do a Lady Godiva before one stopped for me first time." Charlie said as she pulled out her wallet, phone, a tiny compact mirror and makeup kit. Lip stick, mascara and foundation was all she had and it would have to do. They were sitting in the cab and both men watched as she carefully applied makeup to the bruised eye she sported. It vanished beneath skillfully applied makeup and when she was done it could barely been seen even in bright light.
"A lady what?" Sherlock asked and she quirked a brow in his general direction as she replace the kit into her numerous pockets.
"Lady Godiva was a queen who struck a bargain with her husband to lift heavy taxes on the lower classes. He agreed to lift the tariffs if she agreed to ride through the middle of town naked as the day she was born; which she did." Charlie said and Sherlock's eyes widened slightly.
"Pulled her hair down and used it as a cloak of sorts, she covered everything of importance as she rode through… true story." She added at their twin looks.
"You would run naked though London to catch a cab?" John asked and Charlie nodded sarcastically.
"Oh of course John because I seriously have enough hair to cover me don't I?" She said and he smirked.
"I think it must seriously be those gloves…" She said almost to herself.
"Definitely worth experimenting with." Sherlock smirked and she sent him a glare.
"Some of us can't actually afford to be late to work Shirley." She said and he nodded.
"Yes, but if I recall correctly, which I always do, I did say waking earlier helps prevent you from being la…" He began but Charlie merely lifted the lipstick she still held and lunged at him. He had nowhere to go and Charlie tackled him against the seat, covered his lips in a thick layer of the stuff and snapped a picture of his face with her phone. John roared with laughter as Sherlock hurriedly began to wipe the damn stuff off his lips and Charlie sat back with a satisfied smirk.
"If you say 'I told you so' one more time I will send this picture personal to Anderson and Donovan to thank you." She said and Sherlock's eyes widened.
"You wouldn't?" He asked and she gave a look that clearly said 'want to try me?'
"Fine." He said and she smiled. The cab stopped and they got out at Van Coon's address and walked up to the front door. Charlie ran the buzzer and they waited. No one answered.
"So what do we do now?" John asked.
"Sit here and wait for him to come back?"
"Just moved in." Sherlock stated as his eyes flicking to the other labels.
"I beg your pardon?" Came Charlie's lady-like reply. I sound like Mother. Charlie thought and suppressed a shudder.
"Floor above, new label." Sherlock continued and pointed at said label.
"Could have replaced it." John said and Sherlock gave him one of his patented 'Idiot' looks.
"No-one does that." Sherlock muttered and with that he pressed Mrs Wintle's buzzer. They waited.
"Hello?"A female voice asked.
"Hi er... I live in the flat just below you. I-I don't think we've met." Sherlock said, in a completely different voice. Charlie gave him a weird look which he ignored. There was a pause.
"Well actually I've just moved in." Sherlock smiled triumphantly and Charlie shook her head exasperatedly. Damn that man was a good actor.
"Actually...er...I've just locked my keys in my flat." Sherlock continued.
"Do you want me to buzz you in?" Mrs. Wintle said.
"Yes please...and can I use your balcony?" Sherlock asked.
"What?"
Sherlock POV:
In the end they ended up on Mrs. Wintle's balcony. He had to then clambered down into Van Coon's own balcony which was just below it. Charlie followed her petite stature and thin frame helping her ease down. He had begun to open the lock when an intake of breath had him whirling around. She had slipped at the last moment and Sherlock had rushed to catch her. He slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto the balcony. As he pulled away he thought he saw a small smirk on her face but dismissed it as shock from falling.
"Thanks." She said and he nodded, slowly removing his arm from around her waist. He was extremely glad John had remained behind, psychosomatic or not apparently his leg still hurt. Sherlock opened the fridge which, in classical rich guy style, was full of champagne. The buzzer went. That would be John.
"Sherlock? Charlie? Could you let me in? Are you okay?" John said. They opened doors, scanning the rooms for human life. There was no one around.
"Any time you two feel like letting me in..." John continued but the two of them ignored it. The searched the house but found nothing until Sherlock came up against a locked door. He banged against it with his shoulder until it burst on its hinges and opened and he stumbled into the room. He stopped suddenly at the sight before him.
"Charlotte." He called and she came up beside him.
One dead banker.
One bullet in his temple.
One gun on the bed.
One possible witness gone.
"Shit! There goes our witness." She said and he nodded. She put a hand into the crook of his elbow.
"I guess we'd better cal the police." She said and they went to open the door for John.
