Chapter 1
Welcome to 221B Baker street
"Ach, yer always tryin to make me look bad arn't ye?" Sighed an exhausted red haired police officer from Scotland yard.
Scotland yard was of course London's police headquarters, and the red haired officer sitting in a large black carriage on a red velvet seat was detective Iain Kirkland. He was smoking a cigar while his wild emerald eyes glared at his companion. His companion didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by the frightening gaze that would have made many harden criminals feel chills run up and down their spines.
No, his companion, the shorter scruffy haired blonde with thick eyebrows and matching emerald eyes, was far more intimidating than any criminal. He was the detective's younger brother, and therefore gazes where ineffective. To also add injury to insult he was also known as England's most promising new detectives. He had just solved a practically brutal murder involving a family who had all been stabbed and harvested and was now moving to London.
"Well my dear brother, you shouldn't make it so easy for me to do." The blonde replied lighting a pipe
"Hmph" Was all Iain had to say for himself
The two sat in silence as the carriage bumped its way along the cobbled streets of London passing crowds of people from the street merchants to the wealthy out for a stroll. They could smell the polluted smells of the Thames, how unfortunate the wind was blowing this way, but where sometimes offered the relief of a bakery shop, or a restaurant or pub as they passed. They were still silent when the carriage shuddered to a halt in Whitehall.
"We're here" Iain announced the obvious
"Indeed" was the sarky reply
The two men stepped gracefully out of the carriage, Iain paid the cab driver, for the carriage they were in was a cab, and the two made their way up the steps into a large grand building overlooking the Thames on the Victoria Embankment. Inside it was like a bustling bee hive of activity. Blue uniformed men in blue hard hats scuttled to and thro some even stood at a large wooden front desk talking to average looking citizens.
"Ahh Inspector Iain good timing!" A man with rather large sideburns and moustache who was wearing a suit said while striding over to the brothers.
"It is. Tis here is ma wee brother Arthur Kirkland. He will be offerin us some assistance on a couple o' cases." Iain told the man while indicating the blonde haired man as Arthur.
"A pleasure Mr Kirkland, I have heard so much about you already you seem almost legendary. I am the chief inspector here at Scotland yard. " The suited man said while shaking Arthurs hand.
"Hardly legendary sir, I am just getting into the business." Arthur said in a slightly bored manner
"I see. Your brother Iain has informed me you have only just moved to London, do you have your own place to call home yet?" the sergeant asked
"Unfortunately no." Arthur replied He started to examine his surroundings.
"Well you are in luck, I happen to know that our doctor here at the station is looking for a boarder for his home on Baker street, number 221B I do believe. Why not drop by afterwards and see if it is to your liking? I will inform the doctor myself. I am sure your brother will be glad to get his own home back." The sergeant continued
"That is kind sir. I will defiantly stop by." Arthur answered
Even though Arthur said all this with a smile and pleasantly enough he couldn't help but want to scream at the man to be quiet. He could see his brother's temple twitch, a sign of jealousy at the praise his boss had given him, plus the man talked far too much. Once the man was gone Arthur raised an eyebrow to indicate just what he thought of what he assumed to be a terrible chief inspector. Iain shook his head and lead his brother on a tour.
Of course the place itself was impressive; it had its own gory history, and was amazingly large. Still it didn't impress Arthur. Arthur was a lone wolf, and all this following the rules just didn't fit into his agenda. Still if his brother was happy here...
Halfway through Iain's long talks about something or other Arthur drifted out and wondered what kind of man this doctor could be. Baker street was not in a bad area of London, and being a doctor he had to have some intellectual skill. This had potential.
Halfway though his own thoughts and half listening to his brothers rambling, Arthur wasn't actually paying attention to where he was walking and collided with someone. Both staggered back and Arthur muttered an apology. The long haired blue eyed blonde that Arthur crashed into stumbled but soon returned to his normal height which was the same as Arthur's own. Arthur was slightly taken back by the man's handsomeness. Iain watched the proceedings from the side.
"Francis imagine bumpin into ye" Iain laughed and greeted the blonde Arthur had almost knocked over
"Yes quite literally, really I am sorry about that old chap." Arthur joined his brother.
Francis looked at Arthur and smiled. Iain looked from his brother to Francis thoughtfully. Arthur could tell he was keeping something from him, but didn't care. He watched Francis thoughtfully. Both of them had an air of dangerous wild animals circling each other, whether to attack each other or not Arthur was unsure.
"Arthur, this is ma friend Francis Bonnefoy. Francis this is Arthur Kirkland." Iain introduced them
"Kirkland... Iz ee a relation of yours mon ami?" Francis asked in a heavy French accent
So Francis was French, well it couldn't be helped. Arthur decided to withdraw his judgement. Still the way that Francis was eyeing made him feel like a dessert infront of a greedy child.
"Aye ma brother."
"Then I will ask yer permission before asking im out." Stated Francis boldly closing the gap between Arthur and himself.
"That's enough of that, you have no idea how much maintenance I would be. Good day Mr Bonnefoy." Arthur said and walked briskly away
Iain was laughing as he jogged to keep up. Did he perhaps think Francis was joking? Arthur could tell that the Frenchman wasn't. The man's body language spoke of confidence and desire and he was the object of those emotions. It made him uneasy to say the least. So much that he almost sighed in relief when he arrived at the lovely stone and typically Victorian styled terrace row on Bakers street and walked down the pathway to 221B.
It was handsome with a black iron fence around a small garden, the walls where a polished white colour and the front door was black to match the fence. Arthur knocked on the bronze door knocker while Iain stood just behind him. The two waited for a couple of seconds before an elderly looking lady opened the door.
"Good Afternoon my dear lady. Is this the doctor's house?" Asked Arthur
"Yes it is. You must be the young gentlemen who were coming to see the house. I am the landlady, Mrs Hudson, the doctor rents this house. He seems to be looking for a roommate. The doctor is a marvellous young man. He is a real gentleman and eager to help anyone." The elderly lady told them while leading them into the house.
Arthur took note of this. Maybe this doctor was nothing more than a people pleaser. This was depressing, as he hoped a doctor could bring him more interesting conversations. This was not to be the case if he was a simple minded people pleaser.
The house was really nice. He had a large room and his own study. The living room, dining room, sitting room and kitchen would have to be shared. That was fine in Arthur's books as he planned on living in his room and study. It was tastefully decorated as well, as well as having medical models and posters scattered in an organized way around the house.
"This is good. I will pay for the first month's rent and the down deposit." Arthur said in a commanding tone
"How wonderful. Welcome to Baker street Mr Kirkland." Mrs Hudson welcomed him
It hadn't taken long for Iain and Arthur to move all of Arthurs possessions into his new home. Arthur's study and room already looked like a mess, as if a hurricane had hit it or he had just carelessly thrown his things into the rooms. The rooms where filled with small piles of items. It was this sight that greeted Francis as he pushed open the door to Arthurs study.
"Mon dieu, what 'ave you done?" Asked Francis
Arthur paused in his shuffling through a pile, and slowly straightened to look behind him. Francis slowly walked into the room. Arthurs eyes narrowed.
"Oh please tell me that my deductions are wrong! Ah but of course they are not." Arthur pleaded
"Deductions? And what deductions ave you made mon cher?" Asked Francis
"Mon cher... I should really hit you for that, but then you wouldn't be able to eat for weeks. Anyway my deduction is that you are the doctor of this house. The fact that you entered the house without ringing the doorbell indicates that you have a key. By the way you just touched your right pocket ( Francis sheepishly removed his hand away from his pocket) I can assume I am correct and that is the location of your key. Not only that, but being Scotland Yard's doctor would explain your presence there earlier. Oh and the fact that you're concerned by the way I organize my rooms. Is all this correct my dear Francis?" Arthur replied
Francis nodded. Arthur felt slightly disappointed that he wasn't impressed with his deduction skills; instead Francis continued to look around the room in distress. Arthur followed his gaze and noticed that it was flickering between the piles of things seemingly thrown into the room. He watched as Francis picked up a slipper and a package of tobacco fell from it on to the floor.
"Iz zis ow you plan on living? In zis squalor? " Francis asked
"Squalor? Most certainly not! Have you never heard of the chaos theory? It is the theory that things that seemingly have no order actually do have order. This room is a prime example." Arthur said indignantly
Francis sighed as he watched the British man scurry across his room, putting this and that in certain piles. Francis had no idea what kind of system he was running but hoped it wouldn't carry over to the rest of the house. It looked like living with Arthur Kirkland was going to be quite the challenge.