"Now….about my case…"
Sherlock was perched on the arm of the sofa, sipping his juice.
"No," was all he said. Ms. Madrigal smirked. This is going to be fun working with Sherlock Holmes.
"What?! Sherlock! You haven't even heard the case." John exclaimed from his chair, straightening to the edge.
"I don't need to. Whatever it is, she clearly has the mental capacity to solve it on her own. Therefore, she does not need our assistance." Sherlock still had his arms crossed in front of his chest. "I assume you can see yourself out, Ms. Madrigal?"
She chuckled softly to herself.
"Something amusing?" Sherlock retorted, eyes flaring with rage. He did not take defeat well. He was a grudge barer in the worst way.
"Actually there is, Sherlock." His eyes widened at the sudden lack of formality. She could see his brain working to discern a pattern, a change, a system. Something. "Several things actually. First being, I very much do need your assistance. I already know that you haven't taken the time to observe me, but maybe neither of you thought to think: 'Hey, what's an American doing in London? And why is she coming to a British P.I. for her international case? Can't she just get an American Joe to do it?'" John and Sherlock looked at each other.
Dear God, she's right. I was so engulfed in my experiment and then her defeating me that I didn't even observe her.
Sherlock put the juice on the table and leaned forward, his hands pointedly under his chin. Ms. Madrigal stared with steely determination into his eyes.
Business formal attire. Executive position. Well-tailored, form fitting. Accentuates body type. Uses gender to gain power in her field. A field not typically dominated by women. Casual hair style, pulled fully away from face. Short, manicured nails. No polish. No make-up. Mysterious dust on fingertips. Slight carpel tunnel. Frequently at a computer. Extremely toned calf muscles. Not a runner. Thick insoles in heels. On feet a lot. Medical professional? Brief case: durable. Pill vile outlines pressing through bag: Pharmacist. There's a Pharmacy convention in London for the duration of the week. She must be attending that. She must be on a temporary visa and thus unable to make any swaying movements to influence this case. She needs us for citizen and legal sway.
Sherlock lowers his hands.
"Well, Mr. Holmes…Did you gather anything?" She held a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Damn, he is interesting.
"I will grant you that you are an interesting enigma, Ms. Madrigal, but I was able to gather some crucial information from my observations." She waved her hand to indicate he had the floor. "You are currently on temporary visa as you are in London for the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Convention. With your executive ties to Pharmaceuticals, it's only logical you attend. You need me for the case seeing as you have not legal sway in this country not being a citizen, where as I, being Sherlock Holmes, have an immense amount."
"Good, Sherlock, but let me fix a few things for you." Sherlock was stunned. His deductions are always right. Always. "One: 'executive Pharmacist'? Really?! That's the best you have? I'm lead Project Pharmacist for the Northeast region of the F.D.A." Ms. Madrigal pauses for a second. "Alright, there's no way you would have gotten that. I'll give you exec Pharmacist." She chuckles and Sherlock has a smug, satisfied look on his face. Almost as if he's about to stick out his tongue at her. She rolls her eyes. "Moving on from childish antics…"
"I'm not-"
"I'm highly amused that you think I don't have sway in this country. I have much sway in this country." She completely glossed over his attempt at speech. She lifted her head a little bit. "Think here for a second, Sherlock. I am a high-stakes government employee for the United States. And I was granted a temporary visa by the British government for international business in London. Now that business is proving corrupt. Who tends to assist in doing so?" She felt like she had to lead him to the answers to everything. This was growing tedious and boring.
His eyes narrowed, "You know Mycroft."
"I know Mycroft. Really, Sherlock….I thought you'd be more FUN than this. Ugh! Please! Don't make me hold your hand this whole time." She rolled her eyes and flumped back in the chair. Sherlock was clearly enraged. He stepped towards the woman.
"Do you have any idea with whom you are speaking." John stood up, ready to pull Sherlock back in case he got too aggressive.
"Yes, yes….The Greeat Sherlock Holmes…Honestly, sweetie, settle down. I'm trying to provide us both with a challenge here." She stood up. She was shorter than Sherlock, but it appeared to be not by much. Her high-heels provided her a great deal of height. "If you keep getting all pouty and fussy then no one's gonna get to play," She said the last part in a baby, kissy voice and went to pinch Sherlock's cheek. Sherlock quickly grabbed her wrist to stop her. John closed the gap between them.
"Sherlock, let her go." He was using his authoritative pull-rank voice. Sherlock didn't response. There was something flashing in his eyes that John didn't recognize. Something he'd never seen before.
"Mmm, you're a feisty one, aren't you, Sherlock. I like that." She wrinkled her nose seductively and snapped her jaws playfully at him.
"Sherlock….I'm not telling you again. Let. Her. Go." John's voice was firmer.
"Oh no, worries, Doctor Watson, he's not hurting me." Sherlock tightened his grip. "Oooookay now's he's hurting me. Down boy! Heel!" She pulled at Sherlock's hand around her wrist, giggling manically as she tried to worm her out of his fingers.
John slapped Sherlock swiftly and sharply in the back of the head. He let go of her wrist immediately. John was looking at Sherlock as if he'd been driven mad.
"Now….You insatiable woman. Get to the point of your case or I will personally remove you from the premises by force." Sherlock was unreadable at this point. Clearly escaping into his Mind Palace.
Ms. Madrigal sat in the chair rubbing her wrist. "Geez, all you had to do was ask nicely. I was just trying to have some fun." She looked like a child that was caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She sighed. "Alright…As a Pharmacist with the FDA, I am often doing quality control of American products and setting standards for medications that are sold on our markets. However, there has been a great influx of tainted products from overseas companies. There's one company in particular that I'm extremely concerned about. It's an Indian company called Leflux. It's a company that produces solely generic medications." She pulls several folders out of her briefcase. She hands one to John and one to Sherlock.
No one's thought to give me my own case file before. John was very taken aback by her consideration.
"The problem with Leflux is that they are using extremely low quality materials to supplement cost cutting. This has been known since the company started. That's what people expect out of generics. Dirt cheap counterparts to their brand medications." John nods knowingly. Sherlock is studying the case file. This is something a little out of his purview. "Within the past 3 months, there have been countless recalls against Leflux for their medications. There's a packet in there listing the ones the FDA has caught. The main consistency is for finding metal shavings in the bottles." Ms. Madrigal reaches in to her bag and pulls out two identical looking bottles. She again tosses one to Sherlock and one to John. John reads the bottle Warfarin Sodium 2mg. "These bottles are each from different shipment lots. If you look inside you'll see the metal shavings."
"You seem to have acquired all the evidence for us, and I'm failing to see our usefulness." Sherlock was extremely intrigued but growing weary.
"Please…Just play along for a few more minutes? I promise the punch line is REALLY good." Sherlock sighed and waved her to continue. She squeaked happily, "I've already tested the shavings from both lots – however if you'd like to confirm my results Mr. Holmes, you may, there is plenty of sample remaining. It's Palladium." Her hazel eyes light up and she bit her lip to contain her excitement. Sherlock leaned forward very interested now.
"You're positive of that result?" Sherlock wanted to be sure. She nodded emphatically. "I will want to test again to be sure."
"I'm missing something. What am I missing?" John felt like he was being left out of some secret club handshake.
Sherlock sighed heavily, "Do try to keep up, John." Ms. Madrigal looked at John apologetically. "Palladium is an inexpensive metal alloy that has made a recent surge in the jewelry market as a cost effective alternative for gold. Since the price of gold is at an all-time high, there has been a feverish decent on this option. The fact that there is Palladium found in the Leflux bottles, and the Leflux headquarters are in Southern India – where there is an astronomical amount of jewelry production continually being exported, it stands to reason that to that two are connected. And the fact that this is emerging during the current convention – relating to the British government past ties to Indian trade – implicitly, Mycroft is involved."
"Did I mention that Leflux is a British company?" Ms. Madrigal smile sheepishly. Sherlock groaned and threw his head back.
"Is that in the case file?"
"Yes it is. The owner is Richard Callaway."
"So, this is where we come in."
"Correct. I can easily prove the taint drugs. Easily. But I can't prove the embezzlement and the supply chain to the jewelry company. I don't need to explain to you, Doctor Watson, how extremely dangerous it is to have these medicines contaminated."
"No need at all. I would hate to think of my patients getting this." John shook his head in disbelief. He had heard of the scandal, but now to be investigating it…
Ms. Madrigal turned to face John, "Actually, I'm hoping your medical background will prove extremely useful in this case, Doctor Watson. Clearly, I can't be seen being involved, and I have my conference to attend. Having someone that understands the medical nuances would be a boon to Mr. Holmes. There is a lot to know and a lot to be informed about. It's not like Mr. Holmes can cram six years of Pharmacy school, and…well….a lot of years as an FDA agent to learn all the laws and protocols." Sherlock looked snubbed, but John was beaming with pride.
"That reminds me…" Ms. Madrigal leaned into her bag and pulled out a red, thick, leather bound book. It was the size of a paper back novel. She stood up and leaned forward to meet John's gaze intensely. He swallowed dryly. "I am trusting you with this, Doctor Watson. As one medical professional to another. I could get in a lot of trouble if they find out I gave this to you. I could lose my license indefinitely." She hands him the book. "This is the FDA book of laws and regulations regarding Pharmacy manufacturing and safety. It's last year's edition, but trust me, not much changes. Please, do NOT let this out of your sight. I need this back intact after the case." She leaned in really close next to his ear, "especially don't let Sherlock get his grubby hands on it." John stifled a laugh. And she pulled back smiling and casting a sideways glance at Sherlock. He was pouting.
"Oh, don't pout, sweetheart. It makes you look awfully feminine." Sherlock's jaw fell open. "Flies, sweetie, flies." Sherlock closed his mouth immediately.
She is so infuriately audacious. She dares to say these things to me? Does she have no respect? Does she give no credit to my abilities? Apparently not if she feels she can walk into MY home and usurp me so easily. Flagrant disregard of a man's sanctity.
But she is incredibly interesting. She may be the toughest mystery that I have ever had to solve. I don't understand her. But I want to explore her. Probe her mind. Figure her out. She elicits things inside me that I didn't think were possible. She stirs a type of rage from being bested. Competitive nature that I have only felt with Mycroft. I want to best her. I want to prove to her that I can beat her at something. Anything. No. Not anything. It has to be intellectual. Or sexual. She stirs desires in me. Her movements and her ostentatious flirtations. But they're directed at me. Clearly, she finds me a challenge, as well. She admitted this. She wants me to be "fun." Evidently, she also grows bored easily. I imagine we would keep each other entertained for quite a while. Yes. Further documentation is needed. I must unravel this mysteriously infuriating woman.
Ms. Madrigal was gathering her belongings and throwing her blazer back over her shoulders.
"Well, fellas, it's been a laugh. My private cell number is listed numerous times throughout the case files. Please update me with any information regarding to case or any questions regarding the material."
She was about to walk out the door when Sherlock jumped up, grabbing his coat as he followed her out, "Let me escort you out, Ms. Madrigal. I have an inquiry about intellectual philosophy." He even bowed slightly.
"Please, I would consider us business associates now. Call me "Christiane."
John watched stunned as the first time in his history of knowing the man, Sherlock Holmes did something gentlemanly. He walked a lady out.
John turned to read the case file. Yup. This is going to be a fun one.