The trio's walk was short, only a few shops away from the studio stood a modern looking cafe. The outside walls featured a climbing vine over painted purple bricks, three tables of wrought iron and glass stand out from a cushioned bench that separates the street from the shop front with high wooden backs. Entering the cafe, the trio are instantly greeted by a young brunette woman dressed in black who takes them to a table near the back, seeming to know the red headed woman as she hands the men each a menu. Looking down at the menu, John blanches slightly at the prices. Perhaps he had been wrong about her finances, he thinks to himself as he orders himself a cup of tea.
"John, don't worry about it" the woman sitting in front of him smiles encouragingly as she places a reassuring hand over his own. "Order whatever you want, don't look at the cost. Besides, I don't want to eat alone!"
Begrudgingly, he orders the cheapest item on the menu, eggs and toast, and waits for the other two to order. Sherlock shakes his head slightly towards to the waitress, indicating he doesn't want anything which causes their female companion to roll her eyes and move to stand. Sherlock's hand quickly grasps her arm, turning her towards him once more as he looks her straight in the eyes.
"You know the deal, Sherlock" the woman states exasperatedly. With a hesitant nod, he let's go of her sleeve, looking towards the menu in contempt before ordering some blueberry pancakes, knowing the redhead next to him would have some from his plate, and a glass of water. Sitting down once more, the redhead takes of her scarf and beanie, placing them in her large brown satchel handbag and turns to John, a smile growing on her lips.
"But," John starts in confusion, "you didn't order anything"
"Correct, although I was hoping your deductions would be a bit more thorough. Sherlock, would you mind terribly keeping count? I suppose I'll count that as one right" the woman smiles to the dark haired detective next to her. A taut nod encouraging her to face John once more. "Now, let's see what you've got!"
"What? Oh, um, right" John starts slowly, thinking back to the studio. "Well, the studio, as you called it, um, well, it seems to be a dance studio, maybe jazz or tap?" he questions.
"We'll call that half a point" she replies with a smile.
"Oh, ok" John falters slightly. Was she not planning on telling him what he had gotten correct and what was incorrect? Shaking his head, he continues his list. "I was going to say that you might, um, have financial difficulties..." he pauses, scared he was approaching an uncomfortable topic, however she merely beckons him to continue, "however, this place isn't cheap, and you seem to be familiar with the staff, so I guess that's not right"
"Another point" she grins towards Sherlock.
"You obviously work at the studio, and you knew how to put the music on, so either you've been cleaning there for ages, or you work there in another job as well, maybe you're a dance teacher?" he asks, encouraged by getting the last assumption correct.
"Indeed, two more points"
"Then there's the last thing, you seem to be very comfortable around Sherlock. I know he didn't have any friends at college, so you either met before or after that, my guess is the latter" John looks carefully over towards Sherlock, making sure he didn't offend him, however, his friend was focused on his phone.
"Another half point. Is that all?" she asks, as he nods. "Very well, that makes, what, five points, six, Sherlock?"
"Five points" he replies, not looking away from his phone.
"Very well, Doctor Watson, you have five questions to ask. There isn't much I won't answer, so shoot!" she laughs, playing with a stray wave of hair.
"Oh, well, um. I guess, my first question would have to be, how do you know Sherlock?" he asks, preparing for her to reject the question.
"Fair enough. We met through family, his parents and my own were rather close, well, as close as rich families can get. When I was seven my parents and I moved from our house in Essex to Buckinghamshire, the Holmes family was our neighbours. We all attended many dinner parties at one another's house, so I became well acquainted with both Sherlock and Mycroft. Next question?" she smiles, not giving away too much information.
"Oh, um, well, I guess, if you came from such a rich background, why are you working as a cleaner?" he asks slowly.
"Simple, I'm not a cleaner. Next?"
"Wait, so if you're not a cleaner, what were you doing before?" he asks, once again confused.
"Cleaning" she smiles, nudging Sherlock gently under the table, unknown to John.
"Alright" John sighs, "so what do you do for a living?"
"I own, run and teach at the dance studio we were just at" she replies simply.
"Why are you the person we're coming to for this?" he asks, hoping to get a helpful answer.
"Simple," she replies as three plates of food arrive; a plate of blueberry pancakes, some eggs on toast and a bowl of hot oats, along with a cup of tea and two glasses of water. The woman smiles to the waitress, handing her some notes, before turning back to the conversation, taking a spoonful of oats. "I can fit in, I am willing to do it, I enjoy doing it, and I like my payment" she grins cheekily, before tucking into her food.
"And what payment is that?" John asks.
"Sorry, Johnny boy, you're all out of questions" she winks before turning to Sherlock. "Speaking of payment, I was think 2?"
"Two days?" Sherlock asks, eyebrows raised.
"'Two days'" she repeats laughing, "dream on. I'm about as likely to make it two days as I am to willingly go to Mycroft's for Christmas! No, dear, two weeks"
Sherlock visibly gulps. "That's ridiculous" he counters, taking a small bite from his food as she nears finishing her own.
"It's not ridiculous, Sherlock, it's perfectly acceptable. Tell you what, two weeks, I'll cook and be there to make sure it all goes smoothly, and I'll help you with the case in any way you need" she offers, eyeing off a small pancake on his plate.
"Two weeks of you not attending work?" he asks sceptically.
"Yes, two weeks. I have people who can take over my lessons, and as long as I go in to check on the studio every day or so, it should be fine" she shrugs before stealing a pancake. "And don't give me that look, I'm only taking one, you have to eat the others."
Sighing, Sherlock slowly makes his way through the remaining one and a half pancakes. "Fine" he utters quietly, causing the red head to laugh.
"Good, now, as for tonight, what do you want me to do, exactly?" And with that, they fall into conversation about the exact plans, plans in detail to an extent that not only was what she was to wear planned out, but her exact shade of lipstick was also chosen for her. By the end of the conversation they had agreed she would get ready at Baker Street, so Sherlock could check that she was in fact looking right for the role, and from there they would move on, in separate taxis so as to remove suspicion, to the place Sherlock suspected to be the killers hunting ground.
Picking up her items, the woman stands up. "Well, boys, it's been a pleasure, but I have to organise some things for work for the next two weeks. I'll see you both later", she smiles, kissing Sherlock's cheek and holding her hand out for John to once again shake. "It's been a pleasure getting to know you, Doctor Watson."
Shaking her hand, John smiles, albeit a slightly forced smile. "Uh, yeah, you too"
Smiling, she walks out of the cafe, leaving a bored Sherlock and over thinking John. As soon as she was out of sight, John turns to Sherlock. "Who the hell is she?" he asks bemusedly.
Shaking his head, Sherlock starts to pick up his items and walk out of the building. It was only when they arrived back at Baker Street that John realised something, he still didn't know the woman's name.
A/N: Hey guys! So, It's only been up for about 24 hours and I've already received 4 follows and 1 favourite! Thanks guys (that may not seem like much, but for me it is).
I'm not going to bug you all by saying 'reviews would be amazing' because you'll either review or you wont, and that's your decision, I'm not going to pressure you to do so. However, the only way I can really know if you are enjoying this story or not is by whether or not you review!
As per usual, I own nothing... expect for the empty bottle of alcohol next to me, which I didn't even get to drink...
Hope you are enjoying yourselves,
Andy
