Chapter 1
"Ha. Look at me, Joan," Joan's friend Emily wore a deer hat. When Joan turned her head and took a glance at her friend. They both laugh in chorus when their eyes met.
"What? I think it looks better on you," Emily said jokingly, trying out the hat on Joan's head. Joan kept laughing and trying to stop the "attack" from her friend. She proceeded to the Christmas card section. She stared at the cards and lapsed in thoughts… to the Christmas a year ago.
"Joan, Joan, sweetie…are you alright? "Emily shoke her friend's arm.
"Ya. I am alright. Just thinking," Joan faked a smile. "Come on, 't you think you can fool me?" She knew the past is still haunted her friend "That is the past already. I am with you! now "
"Ya,I shouldn't have remember…" When she hadn't finished her sentence, a card with a cup of tea and gingerbread cookies caught her eyes. 'She loved that card. The cup of tea is just the symbol of Sherlock and the cookies are the symbol of her, accompanying him…and even a perfect match. " She thought to herself.
"What am I thinking? We are just partner…maybe friends…maybe …" She stopped herself from imagination. They aren't a couple.
"Let's go, Joan," Emily called. "Wait, I want to give this to Sherlock," Joan picked the card and paid.
"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart but the very day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears, I gave it to someone special." When they left, the mall was playing Last Christmas.
When Joan got back to Brownstone, she found Sherlock sitting on the floor, studying the latest case. Sherlock heard the footsteps but he didn't lift his head.
"So, Do I miss anything?" Joan was accustomed to his "calmness" already.
"Nothing so far. Captain Gregson just sent the medical record of Brandson during his day in the hospital," Sherlock replied, still focused on the files.
Joan put her coat on the hook and came closer. Sherlock handed her the record and let her examine. Joan stopped at one page suddenly and flicked through the pages.
It was the photo of some cells from Brandson. Sherlock noticed her observation and asked "What's it, Watson?"
"You said Brandson once suspect himself having a tumor?" Sherlock nodded "Well, he did have a tumor. The medical here indicated he was injured on his elbow, " She pointed to Sherlock and went on "There are no any proliferating cells nor rapidly -multiplying cells. His elbow was not healing. Those cells were malignant cells. The doctor must have made a mistake."
"OMG. Watson, you are brilliant, "Sherlock exclaimed while Watson was blushing over his compliment.
"That can explained why Brandson was in contact with the gang. He hired someone to kill him so that his wife and kids can get the insurance…" Watson finished his sentence, " and I will call captain Gregson and let him handle the case. Meanwhile, you have to get some sleep. You have been up for nearly three days, Sherlock."
To her surprise, Sherlock didn't argue with her and went straight to the sofa.