Sighing, Lestrade stood up and looked down at the footprints. Holmes and Watson. It was his duty to go directly to Baker Street and arrest them for breaking in, burning the papers, and... murdering? Had they really murdered him? Even if the man did have the ability to potentially ruin hundreds of noble families, he found it hard to believe that the consulting detectives would murder.

He decided to talk to them. See if he could get them to explain. But until then-

He smudged the footprints until they were barely discernible, then headed back to the house to find the housemaid, named Agatha, whose fiancé had disappeared.

She sat inside, with several other maids, clutching a handkerchief. "I don't understand," she said tearfully. "Escott hasn't spoken to me since yesterday morning. We were engaged then, and he when he left I wrote him a letter. He is always quick to reply, only a few hours most times, and I have not seen him since."

"Where did you address these letters to?" asked Lestrade.

Agatha turned white. "I'm sure he would never kill anyone! He is so honest, so sweet-"

"Please don't upset yourself. He is a suspect and I must look at all options."

"He never told me where he lived. He works as a plumber at a company in London, and I always addressed my letters to there, and the return address was there as well."

"Thank you. Can you give me a physical description?"

He's pretty tall, thin, with a goatee beard. His hair is brown, and he has dark, intelligent eyes. He resides in London, but had a Northern accent. Oh, I'm sure you're mistaken, he has a heart of gold!"

So Holmes had been planning this move for quite a while.

Several of the policemen glanced at each other, murmuring about how the fiancé matched the description of the murderer. He nodded and sent inquiries to the company in London before turning back and getting a cab to London and heading to Baker street.

On the way back, Lestrade argued with himself that there was still the possibility that they were innocent. After all, the shorter man might have been hurt by Milverton, or the slivered boot might have been a coincidence, or Holmes had just not wanted to frame the murderer/ burglar, or -

It was too big of a coincidence.

When he got out at 221b, he hesitated before knocking on the door. Did he really want to do it? While standing in the threshold, their landlady, Mrs. Hudson, tottered up and gave him a sweet smile. "Mister Holmes and Doctor Watson are out right now, Detective. You're welcome to come in and wait for them, if you like."

Lestrade leaned against the doorway and smiled nervously at her. "They're out quite a lot, aren't they?"

"Oh yes sir. They think I don't notice, but I sure do. Why, it was raining last night, and they went out at nearly midnight and were gone for hours!"

"Do you know where they went?"

"Oh no, they never tell me. ' Don't you worry, Mrs. Hudson,' they say, ' It's for the greater good. We always work for the greater good.' As of they would do something that was evil! They are excellent men, Detective. They are excellent men."

Lestrade nodded pensively. "I do believe you're right. They know what they're doing. Good day."

With that, Lestrade turned and walked away.

A/N- There we go! Please favorite or review if you enjoyed it. Do you think Lestrade acted in character? I appreciate it all, and thanks for reading.