Author's note: Hey guys, this is an extra little update as I had to rewrite the first chapter. Updates will be weekly from now on, unless I get more finished. I don't own Holmes or anyone else for the most part, they belong to Doyle. Reviews are great and flames are used for Holmes' experiments.

"When you go in search of honey you must expect to be strung by bees."

Joseph Joubert

Chapter 2

For a moment the room was silent. All eyes were on Watson standing in front of us. To say that the news he had only just delivered to us was shocking was putting it very lightly. Not to mention that once word got out about the cause of death, we would be unable to investigate it further. However, I still found this to be a very interesting series of events. Holmes was the first to say anything.

"Watson, are you certain of this?"

The good doctor sighed and slowly nodded his head. "Doctor Mumford and I did a series of tests, and also examined the body more than once. The only toxin found were that of a bee called apitoxin. It would seem that he had been allergic to them."

"How could a bee cause someone's death?" Lestrade asked.

"The stringer of a bee holds a small venom. It causes an anaphylactic reaction to the body system that is deadly." Watson explained. "It was a honey bee."

"How did you not see a bee?" The inspector asked me rising his brow.

"Because there was no bee." I answered as I folded my arms over my chest.

"There wouldn't be. It would have been a worker bee and they are not prone to attack. However, if they felt threatened, then by all means it would. A bee's stringer does fall off, but they do not die. It's interesting really." Holmes informed.

Lestrade stared at him. "How do you know that?"

I sighed, "Holmes has decided that if he retires-

"When I retire, Cassandra, when." My mentor interrupted me.

"Fine, when he retires he will take on beekeeping."

"You can't be serious. The great Sherlock Holmes, a beekeeper, it is a bit mundane." Lestrade commented.

Holmes waved his hand. "This is not the time to have this discussion. We must focus at the problem at hand."

Conners changed the topic. "Then if Fraser did die of a bee string then there is no other reason for us to interfere."

I shook my head. "No, there is something else here entirely."

"What are you thinking, Cassandra?" Holmes asked.

"Remember the needle and syringe that was found beside him? Someone wanted us to believe that he had an overdose. Someone knows the true reason behind George Fraser's death and tried to hide it. I am also finding it hard to believe that he did inject himself with anything of the sort when he was alive. Someone had gone to the trouble of trying to convince us he was."

"What makes you say he wasn't?" Lestrade asked. "It may not have been the cause of death, but how can you be certain he wasn't an addict?"

"Watson, when looking at his body were there any other dots found?" I asked.

"No, not at all."

"So he had no markings." Lestrade replied folding his arms. "I fail to see what this has to do with anything."

I sighed and grabbed Holmes' arm. I rolled up his sleeve and pointed at his bare arm. "Look. There are old specks where he had injected himself. Often in the same area as it's right near the vein. This is what an addict's arm looks like. If Fraser was one, then he would have them as well."

Holmes dropped his arm and started to roll back down his shirt sleeve. "Tomorrow, Cassandra, you will speak with Ruth alone. This is your case and you have everything set before you. Now is the time for you to piece it all together."

He then picked up his violin and that was the end of the conversation. Lestrade took his leave and I led Conners downstairs.

"So that is all? We will go to the fair again tomorrow?" He asked.

"By we...Conners, you were not…" I sighed and shook my head. "I only did this to myself. Once involved in something like this, it is hard not to see it through. What's done cannot be undone."

"Shakespeare."

"Shakespeare." I agreed with a nod.

"What you told me back in the cab...I know now. Mister Holmes taught you. It's how you knew about…"

"Yes, he did teach me, still teaches me."

"When will I meet you tomorrow?"

"Conners…"

"Now, now wait a moment. Let's just say for a moment that whatever you have planned when you speak to this woman doesn't work. I could be a new approach."

"What will you do? Be the annoying man who asks far too many questions and has the urge to follow me?"

"No. Listen, I am a reporter. It is my job to ask questions. Give me a chance in the very least."

"If I say no, you will never leave me alone will you?" I asked with an annoyed sigh.

"I shall follow you on this earth until the day one of us dies. If it be you, I would follow you even then." He replied in a mocking tone.

I laughed. "Holmes will murder me for this, but alright, Conners. You can finish this case with me. However, do anything to ruin this case and I shall send you fleeing back to your mother country."

The next morning I rose early and set out to the fair grounds. There, Conners greeted me.

"Any reason why you wanted to be here at this time? Hardly anyone about."

"That's the point." I answered. "The only ones who will be about are those who are still set up here for the day or the curious."

"What is the approach that you will do today?" Conners asked.

I sighed annoyed. "Must you bother me with questions at this hour? I am to play the role of a very understanding woman. I doubt it will work."

"Why not?"

"If she needed a gentle hand I would have been able to have spoken with her yesterday. I really think I ought to be more firm with her."

"Why not talk to her as you normally would? Why play this role as you call it?" He asked.

"Because the right way will get answers. If I do not take on the right approach with her, I won't find out anything."

As with yesterday we found ourselves holding the questioning in the same cavern. However, Mister Fields insisted on staying in this interview.

"Sir, you do realize that Miss Sterns is to be questioned as she may be an interesting factor in this investigation." I informed Fields.

"Yes, I know. But you must understand she hasn't any family. I'm only here to give her support should she be in need of it."

"I admit that this is very unusual, but I see no harm in it. However you are to stay silent throughout my questioning, is that clear?"

"Yes, miss."

Ruth Sterns was not as fair as Claire. In fact she was a rather plan girl. Her dark hair was tried back loosely with a bow and her green eyes were still somewhat red. She was young, only fifteen, still a growing girl.

Still, I allowed a small polite smile to touch my lips. "Hello, Ruth. I am Cassandra Brennan and this is my friend Mister Finn Conners."

"Hello." She replied in a soft voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that you were not able to meet with us yesterday. But I believe that you are better today to speak with me."

"George and me...we were friends."

"Yes, Miss Claire mentioned that you got on well. She also told me how he was teaching you to read and write."

"He was that way with everyone." Ruth commented. "Always helped everyone with something and all."

"Ruth, is that what made you fall for him? His kindness?"

She did not say anything for a moment. "How do you know that?" She whispered.

"It is what I do. I look at and listen to what people tell me. You need fall for Mister Fraser didn't you? It's alright to tell me, I promise it will only be between us."

"Yes...well part of it...but Claire's his girl." She quickly answered. "Not me."

I frowned at this for a moment, but then changed topic. "And Claire, do you get on with her well?"

Ruth nodded. "She tries to look after me but...but I don't always let her."

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't need anyone looking after me! I ain't no little child." She insisted.

"Even if it is to see you did not get hurt? I am certain she did not mean to make you feel that way."

"Never thought of it that way." Ruth admitted lowering her head. "She wanted me to be witness to the wedding. I thought she was being cruel by doing this. Showing that she won and I hadn't."

Knowing that the pleasant questioning was over I moved into the day before. "Ruth, what can you tell me about yesterday?" I asked.

"Started like any other day."

"Did anything happen out of the ordinary leading to Mister Fraser's death? Did he seem strange or unwell?"

"How should I know?" She cried. "I wasn't with him!"

"But you were almost late for your performance."

"So was Claire. We walked in together. George was with her just before."

"So you did see him." I remarked.

"Only for a moment."

"How did he seem in that short moment?" I asked.

"I don't know." Ruth answered.

"Did you see him again?"

"No. Never."

"I need you to look back, Ruth. I need you to remember what he looked like."

"But, I don't remember!" She cried.

"You do remember." I pressed her. "You remember so well that you are afraid to say anything. Why are you afraid of telling me?"

"That is enough." Mister Fields demanded standing to his feet. "Clearly she-

I leaned back in my chair and glared at him. "Sit down, Mister Fields or you will leave."

"No, I will not. She was in a state and you will put her in another. I will not have it Miss Brennan."

"Why are you so protective?" I asked. "First it was with Claire and now with Ruth? Please do explain this to me."

"As I told you yesterday, we are all like family. We look after each other. I will not leave these two young women to be tarnished by you."

I said nothing to this. He wanted me to back off. But what was it I was becoming close to discovering? I was beginning to have doubts that Ruth may be behind Fraser's death while Fields was calling attention unto himself.

"Very sorry about all of this." Conners said speaking for the first time. "It's only a formality. Mister Fraser dying from a bee string and all, and we just wanted to know what his symptoms were. I know it seems heartless, but it's an interesting study. We want to prevent this from happening again you see "

I cast a glare at him while Ruth burst into tears. "A bee? It was a bee?"

She let out loud sobs and Mister Fraser gathered her in his arms. "Hush, now Ruthie, it's alright." He comforted in a soft voice. "It will be alright." To us he said. "I think it would be the best for you and Mister Conners to leave now."

When we stepped out into the sunshine and out of ear sight, I let my fury go. "Conners, what the bloody hell was that?" I shouted. "You twit! I gave you an order to say not a word-

"But your approach was not working."

"And that made you want to say that a bee is behind Fraser's death. Don't you realize what you did? They will never let us talk to them again and the Yard will take it down as an accident!"

"It was her reaction!" Conners interjected as I advanced on him. "I thought it curious how she became upset learning it was a bee that did him in. You questioned her hard yes, but she gave out after that statement."

I stopped for a moment and then shook my head. "I don't believe that I am saying this, but you might be right."

"I think it may also be the reason Mister Fields is overprotective of her."

"Explain." I demanded curtly.

"Why didn't he let us speak to her alone? Why did he lash out the way he did? Something is not right about this. I think that somehow Mister Fields is behind it."

A small smile touched my lips. I knew there was something more about this reporter. "Now you have a point. Follow me."

I led Conners until we stopped in front of another wagon. The young reporter looked at me with questions in his eyes.

"What are we going here?"

"This is, if I remember from yesterday, is Mister Field's wagon. I need you to boast me to that window there."

"What?"

"Well, I haven't my lock picks-

"Why are we breaking into a cavern? It's a crime I'm sure."

"Of course it's a crime." I remarked. "I need to search for something. I don't trust Fields, he is hiding something. You have made a point about Fields and there may be something in there that will be the answer to everything."

"I-

"If you don't want to do it, I will just find some other way."

Conners sighed, but he placed his hands together and knelt down. I placed my hand on his shoulder and used it to lift up. My right heel rested on his hands and I used it to jump. I grabbed a hold of a corner to lift myself up to the windowsill and pulled myself inside.

"Keep watch." I ordered.

I searched the room quickly. I knew we did not have much time so I didn't bother to place things back. I found small notebook on a table and a take a quick look before pocketing it. I had to search through a chest to find a small case. Finding what I needed, I climbed out the window and jumped down.

"You there!"

"What now?" Conners asked as a heavy set man ran at us.

"Now? Now we run."

We raced out of the fair grounds and into the busy street market. "Stop them!" The man shouted.

I grabbed Conners' hand. "This way."

I led us through the crowd, trying not to bump into anyone. The sound of whistles sounded. Everyone was stopping and turning to the sound trying to see what the matter was. I knew this would be the time to sneak away unnoticed.

Pulling on his hand, I bought Conners into an alley and we raced down the cobblestones. I led us down another and then another. Finally we reached a different street and caught our breath. We smiled at each other and laughed. A shadow fell over us. I looked up and found a constable glaring.

About an hour later, I was sitting in a holding cell at Scotland Yard when Lestrade walked in. He stood in front of the door and shook his head. "Breaking and entering?"

"The strong man assumed that I had broken into a cavern. I was merely standing there with Conners. We were talking about bees."

"With who?"

"The reporter from last night. Do keep up, Lestrade." I dryly remarked.

"Since when do you talk to reporters? Or even work with them for that matter?" He asked. "You and Holmes hate the lot of them."

"Oh I do hate them and I don't work with them at all. But I like this one."

Lestrade folded his arms over his chest. "You won't after I tell you...I spoke to him not long ago."

"And?"

"He admitted that he's a libel."

I laughed. "Is that all? Lestrade honestly, you seemed like you were about to tell me he murdered a man. An Irish libel ah? Nothing to worry about. If I believed in politics then I would be out in the streets protesting with others on the vote for women. Strangely enough it would just put me back in this place. Now as much fun as this may seem to look like with me sitting here, I would be very much happy if you were to work on dropping the charges."

"I already did." Lestrade replied unlocking the door. "Same goes with your friend. I still want to know the real reason you ended up in here, don't think I would forget."

"All in good time. Inspector, first I must relay what I learned to our dear Holmes. It seems that I shall also have to explain to Holmes why I brought along the reporter."

"Go easy on the lad. He's had a bad enough morning having spent it with you."

I laughed as we walked out of the women's hall. "Ah, Conners how does it feel getting arrested?"'

The young man stared at me. "I've never been arrested before."

I smiled at him. "It's thrilling isn't it?"

"It is something, through I am not too keen on it being on record, you understand." Conners admitted.

"Don't worry, I have it in good confidence that this will not be on your clean record. Even all my visits here are not on record."

"At least once a month she ends up here." Lestrade commented.

"Ignore him, Conners. He becomes testy after being stuck inside all day doing paper work." I said. "Now, we must face Holmes and explain everything that has happened."