Disclaimer: I own nothing except this plot and Esmereda, but everything it all belongs to Mark Gatiss, Steve Moffat and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who started it all.
Author's note: Ummm I have nothing to say except that I am reeaalllyy SORRY about the not updating anything. So I hope this will make up for and also please feel free to review any of my other stories even if it is completed. I need your reviews to keep me going.
Chapter 2- An awkward reunion
Mrs. Hudson woke up earlier than usual probably because of the conversation she had with that young woman, Esmerelda Moriarty. Mrs. Hudson shook her head and headed for the kitchen to make a cup of tea for herself since she can't fall back to sleep. It would be nice for a change to have another woman in the building and one who had been acquainted with Sherlock and John before. She couldn't wait to tell the boys about the new tenant moving in since they already know her.
Mrs. Hudson looked at the clock and saw it was eight o'clock already, and looked down on herself and saw she was still in her nightgown. She decided to change out of her nightgown first then tidy up 221C. When she got done with that it was around nine o'clock. When she was about to sit down she heard a loud clatter, that made her jump which then made her slip and fall on her bottom. She silently laughed to herself and thought, 'Well now we know Sherlock is up. Some things never change.'
She picked herself up and went up the stairs to see Sherlock on the ground with a bunch of... garbage surrounding him. "What is this mess?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "I was about to prepare for an experiment, but then I slipped and well... you can figure the rest out," Sherlock stated rather grumpily and than jumped back up and started picking some of the stuff up. "Where is John?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "I am right here," said John with brown grocery bags in his hands behind her. Mrs. Hudson jumped slightly at the sudden sight of him. "Sorry didn't mean to startle you. I was just out," John continued then he saw the mess, "well than Sherlock I hope that wasn't acid or anything else that is hazardous."
Mrs. Hudson just looked at the sight of the two for a few moments before saying, "A new tenant is arriving today and I want you two to behave especially you Sherlock." Sherlock poked his head out and asked, "What is the new tenant's name?" "Her name is Esmerelda Moriarty. I am sure you have seen her before," Mrs. Hudson answered. "What? Esmerelda is moving here? I wonder how she's doing?" John wondered aloud. Then they all heard the knocking on the door. "Well you can ask her that yourself, dear," said Mrs. Hudson as she walked towards the door.
When she opened the door Holmes and Watson saw a woman with nearly black long hair and bright blue eyes and she was wearing a close- fitting black shirt and a pair of casual jeans on. "Hello Mrs. Hudson, how are you," the woman asked. "I'm fine dear, how about yourself?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "I'm fine except for the lack of sleep I have been getting lately," answered the woman. "Why is that?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "It is because if a case I have been working on for Scotland Yard. It has been keeping me up all night," the woman stated. "And what would that be, Esmerelda?" Mrs. Hudson asked her. "It's not on the news? I am surprised the media hasn't grabbed this. I'll tell about it, but first can you help me with this stuff downstairs?" Esmerelda asked looking down at the four bags in front of her.
"Oh silly me, I completely forgotten about that," Mrs. Hudson stated then she turned to look at John and asked, "Could you help us carry one of these bags, dear?" "Sure," replied John as he walked down the stairs to them. Esmerelda looked at him for a second and asked, "Dr. Watson? How has it been for you?" Esmerelda asked. "It has been alright and Sherlock is still the usual Sherlock. I bet you have you have much of your strength back since it has been about seven years,"John said picking up one of the bags and he carried it towards the bottom floor. "I do have much of my strength back, but I still have A slight limp on my leg though. I probably should not have been putting as much pressure on it as I had done," Esmerelda replied.
After they managed to put her stuff away, Esmerelda and John went upstairs to sit on the chairs because there wasn't a lot of furniture in her flat. They sat down and Sherlock was doing an experiment and neither of them want to know what it is for. John went into the kitchen to make them both a cup of tea. When he came back, he handed her one of the cups and sat down in his favorite chair.
"So I heard you're a detective at Scotland Yard now," John stated. "Well it is better than being a consulting criminal at any case," replied Esmerelda. "They'll hire anyone at that place," said Sherlock in the kitchen. "Well, at least I am better than that liar Anderson," Esmerelda retorted. Sherlock poked his head out and stared at her and said, "Yes you are." "Did Sherlock Holmes just complimented me?" Esmerelda asked sarcastically. Sherlock made a face that was best suited for a five-year old.
John and Esmerelda laughed at that. Then John turned back to their conversation and asked, "I heard you say that a case I has been keeping you up at night. What is that about?" "Well, DI Lestrade called me to go to the Altaire's apartment complex's parking lot. When I got there, the sight I had came upon was not a good one. There was a woman that looked like she had just been dropped there. She had been stabbed thirteen times in the chest and her hands had been severed off," Esmerelda paused for a moment.
Sherlock was leaning on the side of the wall now. "Her name was Nicole Aria. She had a brother and a sister, but both of her parents are dead. She was on her way to one of her friends' house for a party, but apparently never showed up. According to the forensics' report she had been dead for three days, but the severed hands were more recent. So I am concluding that whoever did this wanted to put on a show. I honestly don't know why Lestrade hasn't told you about any of this," Esmerelda finished.
"Well, that is certainly interesting but why is it keeping you up all night?" John asked. "I feel like... I am missing something important. Something right under my nose, but I just don't know what it is," Esmerelda answered. Sherlock continued to stare at her than said, "It seems like our prayers have been answered, John. The game is afoot!" exclaimed Sherlock and ran out the door. John sighed but quickly followed suit.