A/N
Hey my lion headed Sphinxes!
So here's the second chapter as promised. Thanks to JaybiePepper who commented on my last chapter, and also to HermioneWP who inspired me to write this.
On with the story!
Chapter 2
I wake the next morning to the sound of my alarm. I quickly switch it off and roll over.
Then I realize why I'd set the alarm.
Shit!
I have a meeting with a very important publisher to discuss the publishing of my newest novel. I sigh and quickly drag myself out of bed before getting ready. Once I'm dressed, my hair's done and I've got enough make-up on to look presentable, I grab my bag and rush out of the door. I turn to head to the publishing offices and find myself running into a wall. Well, at least I thought it was a wall when I ran into it. It felt solid enough, but when I lift my head, I see not a patchwork of bricks, but a person.
Sherlock looks down at me, trying to look annoyed, but of course, I can see past this and see the amusement in his eyes. He raises an eyebrow as I take a step back.
"Oh, Sherlock," I say, straightening my blouse, "Sorry, I didn't see you there." He scoffs.
"I was coming to find you anyway," He says dismissively, "John's gone to see some old friends, or so he claims, so I need someone else to come with me to the crime scene."
"What?" I ask, as Sherlock begins to walk the other way.
"Come on!" He yells out in no general direction and I have no choice but to go rushing off after him.
"Sherlock, as much as I'd love to go to one of your 'crime scenes', I'm kind of busy right now. I've got a really important meeting in around ten minutes!"
"It'll have to wait!" He calls behind him as I stop to puzzle things over. Finally I sigh and rush after him once more. I whip out my phone and call the person I was supposed to meet. After a short re-schedule and countless apologies, I hang up and look up at Sherlock, who simply steers me to the edge of the road, where he hails a cab. He instructs the driver on where to go as I put my phone back in my bag.
We arrive at the scene of the crime not 15 minutes later and after a long awkward journey, I'm glad to get some fresh air. We step out of the cab and once Sherlock's given the driver the money, we head over to where Lestrade is stood waiting.
"Ah, Sherlock, and, oh, where's Watson today?"
"Absent," Sherlock informs him with a flick of his hand, "And he will be so for around a week."
"Oh, and this is…" He asks, but as Sherlock has no intention of telling him, I speak up.
"I'm Heather, Heather Walters. I've just moved in next to Sherlock, unfortunately." I say bitterly. Sherlock says nothing and continues with his rather bored façade.
Lestrade however, simply beckons us inside and I see that the 'crime scene' is nothing more than an average semi-detached house. The only difference is that there is yellow police line tape strung up across the front fence, and no open fence. We slip under the luminous tape and trudge almost in unison, across the tiny front garden. Once we reach the door, Sherlock lets me enter first, acting like he's a complete and utter gentleman, which I know for a fact isn't true. When inside, Lestrade leads us to what appears to be the living room of the house, where a body lays.
It's like nothing I've seen before, nothing I've seen on T.V could have prepared me for this bloody massacre.
I taste bile.
My head spins, but I quickly get a grip on things and take a proper look at the corpse. It's strewn across the floor, limbs bent at odd angles. Cuts and bruises blossom across the figure's exposed flesh and blood soaks their clothes. It's a man, I can tell that much, but there's something about his position that unsettles me. It's a clue, but I just can't work it out. Then I look again, and see something I didn't before. If a spear or long object is placed in his left hand, his position mirrors that of the Scorpio star sign. Also, a deep cut is located on his right forearm, perhaps where a tattoo once was. Then I see that the dots of blood on his face also depict the Scorpio constellation. That's probably why he has adorned many cuts over his body; the killer needed enough blood to finish the job. The bruises however, could suggest a fight, a struggle. The cut on his forearm, and the rest of the cuts for that matter, have clean edges, meaning a sharp edged knife was used to create them. His flesh is cut deep too, so it must have been a medium sized knife, not like a penknife, but not quite a sword, and it must have had a curved edge.
I look beside me and see Sherlock trying to make deductions too, but he appears to be struggling, unable to make sense of it all. Then a brief glint catches my eye and I turn to see shiny silver edge poking out from under the filthy, torn couch.
The knife.
I also notice that the gashes in the settee are fairly new, meaning they must have been from the murder.
Lestrade looks to us with a questioning look and I start to make more deductions.
"Well, either the killer or our victim is a Scorpio," I say and when Lestrade gives me a 'how do you know that' look I explain, "The position he's in is that of the star sign and so is the blood on his cheek. There must have been some kind of tattoo on his right forearm and the bruises suggest he put up a bit of a fight. The cuts were mostly for getting blood, but what killed him was probably the stab to the back which I'm sure you'll find when you flip the body over, but don't move him yet. I'll need a pair of gloves and around two minutes to give you any more info."
Sherlock finally looks at me, a little surprised at how I'd made sense of it so quickly.
"The only thing you missed," He says, "Is the blow to the head, which must have knocked him out while the killer worked. If there is a stab to the back like you suggested, then the killer must have put it there so as not to ruin his masterpiece."
Lesstrade gives a quick nod, and soon I find a pair of blue disposable gloves on my fingers. I straightaway move to the knife I spotted under the couch and pull it out carefully with delicate fingers. It's covered with blood and I hold it up for the rest of the crew to see. I also notice that a scorpion is engraved into the handle and almost smile to myself.
"There's another scorpion on this, more proof that our killer could be a Scorpio. I reckon that blood matches that of the victim, but by all means take it off to the lab for analysis," I tell them, and not five seconds later, the knife is taken away for examination. Soon enough, Sherlock and I are excused with a large stack of papers to look over for the case. Before we leave, Lestrade stops us.
"I can only assume you've already got some experience with these matters," Lestrade tells me, and I just shake my head.
"No?" He seems generally shocked, "Well, we'd be more than happy to have you continue your work with us, even when Watson returns."
"Thank you for the offer, but I think I'll go back to my writing if you don't mind."
"Well, that's a real shame," He says, generally disappointed, "I would have liked to have you on our team."
I smile and nod once, before Sherlock and I head away from the house, but rather than hailing a cab, Sherlock starts to walk down the road.
"Where are we going?" I ask, curious as to where he's taking me.
"Shush, I'm thinking."
Ah.
He's thinking over the case, half in his mind palace and half out, just enough to see where he's going. It's at least ten minutes before he sighs and looks at me.
"I still don't get it."
"What?" I ask.
"How you do it."
Oh.
He wasn't thinking over the case, he was wondering how I can hide from him. I sigh and look up at him.
"I've had a lot of practice," I tell him. A small smile plays on his lips when I say this.
"Enlighten me."
"Uh uh. Oh no, I'm not telling you that, you'll only use it against me."
He scowls at me and I grin widely.
"What am I thinking?" He asks.
"I'm not a telepath you know."
"But you knew yesterday," He states.
"I only read your expression," I tell him.
"Then read me again."
"Oh no mister, you're going to have to suss me out first," I tell him, an impish grin on my face.
"Game on."
A/N
It's me again!
So that's the second chapter done, please tell me what you think. And don't forget to follow and favourite it if you think it's worthy!
Until next time!
Sphinxy
P.S
I don't know how long it will take for the next chapter to be uploaded, but I'll try to make it snappy!