Chapter Three. The Girl in the Tent.

Hutchins looked up as we entered and nearly fell of his seat in surprise.

"Mr. Holmes!" he exclaimed rising to his feet, but not getting very far before Lestrade pushed him back down, "Oh I knew you would come, they said you would not but I knew you would! I've been telling them you would."

Hutchins was getting rather agitated and Lestrade's hand upon his shoulder was, in my opinion, becoming rather too restraining. I placed a hand on Lestrade's arm and waved him away, he did so with a grunt.

"Mr. Hutchins calm yourself." Holmes' soothing voice interrupted the scene and seemed to calm the man, who settled in his seat, his eyes fixed on my friend. "I am here more out of chance I had no idea you had been arrested."

"No idea? But then…?"

"We were pursuing the investigation as I promised you, it was only when we arrived and ran into the Inspector here that I knew anything about your predicament."

Hutchins was becoming agitated again and was swivelling around in his chair like a lunatic. Holmes placed a strong hand on the man's arm and he immediately stopped.

"But I am here to help you Mr. Hutchins and I promise you I will."

Holmes smiled gently at the man who returned it before dropping his eyes to the floor.

"I do not know what to do Mr. Holmes, they mean to hang me." Hutchins glanced at Lestrade stonily who glared back. Holmes glared at them both.

"Nobody is going to hang you just yet, not until I say so anyway."

Lestrade muttered something under his breath but a severe look from Holmes silenced him.

"First we must establish what happened. Do you think you can tell me?"

I would have expected Holmes to lose his temper with this rather pathetic figure of a man, but to my surprise he was being as gentle with Hutchins as he would be with any woman. I fear Lestrade shared my surprise for the small smiles he was constantly throwing in my companion's direction. Holmes ignored him and continued to focus his attention on Hutchins.

"This other lady that has been found dead? Do you know who she is?"

Hutchins sniffed and wiped his face with the back of his sleeve.

"Yes I know her, she was one of the trainers, she put together our routines sometimes, her name was Elise. Young I think, about mid-20s other than that I don't know anything about her."

"She wasn't a regular at the circus?"

"No, like I said she used to help us with our routines sometimes but no sir she wasn't here regular."

"When was she last here?"

"She was here a few days ago sir helping me with a new routine."

"Was she acquainted with your fiancée Mr. Hutchins?"

"I don't believe so, do you think their deaths may be connected Mr. Holmes."

"I think nothing yet."

Holmes was biting on a finger nail and staring at a point on the far wall. Lestrade coughed.

"Well if that will be all Mr. Holmes, we need to move Mr. Hutchins here down to the station."

"What? Oh yes Lestrade that is all for now."

"You're not going to let them take me away Mr. Holmes?!"

Hutchins panic stricken voice awoke Holmes from the reverie he had slipped into.

"I'm afraid there is nothing I can do Mr. Hutchins, but do not worry you will not be there for long."

Lestrade shot Holmes a glance that was full of ice, I sighed the war between these two I feared would never end.

Lestrade pushed poor Hutchins through the doors and down the steps of the precarious caravan we were in. When we heard their footsteps march away Holmes suddenly sprang up at me,

"Come Watson while he's gone."

I followed him out of the caravan and across the field to where a rather dour looking police constable was standing.

"Is the body in there?" Holmes asked in the most authoritative voice he possessed.

"Yes guv, but you can't go in, orders sir."

"Yes I quite understand," seeing that authority was going to get him nowhere Holmes had now turned on the charm, I stood back and watched with amazement as my friend worked, "I do have Inspector Lestrade's full co-operation, do I not Watson?"

Holmes shouted back at me over his shoulder all the time smiling at the man in front of him.

"Watson?" the man muttered, daylight was beginning to glimmer, "Mr. Holmes sir! Why I didn't recognise you!"

"No people seldom do," Holmes smiled, "May I?"

"Certainly sir, take as long as you need."

"Thank you." Holmes winked at me over his shoulder as I followed him past the still smiling policeman.

"I see your not averse to using your fame to your own advantage Holmes." I said as we entered a dimly lit canvas tent.

"Is anybody?" he asked with a smile, "This must be the unfortunate Elise."

As we approached the body a chill swept over me, I had seen death many times in its various forms and never once had I felt such a chill as I did at that moment. I shivered.

"Is something wrong Watson?" Holmes asked, the sheet covering the body held in mid-air.

"No, no carry on." I shook the feeling away and watched as Holmes uncovered the body. Lying quite serene was a girl of about 25 a slight smile on her white lips, golden hair lying in curls around her shoulders. Holmes hissed through his teeth.

"A beautiful girl Watson."

"Yes." I said, I could not shake the feeling that I had seen her somewhere before. Holmes was examining the mark on her neck, it was red and blotched. She had been strangled. He sighed.

"There is very little to be gained here Watson ,the body has been cleaned. Shall we go?"

he led the way out into the open air and I breathed in it gratefully, my head felt light. I felt Holmes' hand on my arm.

"Watson are you alright?"

And then I remember falling and hitting the ground, I remember Holmes' voice and I remember being carried and then I remember….nothing.


Eek I'm so cruel to poor Watson…an update finally an update! I'll try to be more regular with it I promise you all put me to shame!

Reviews always welcome!