Chapter 3: Eleanor McShane
SHERLOCK'S POV
I left pretty quickly, too quickly for John. I could hear him mutter sarcastically under his breath as he raced after me. I had been aware that everybody has been listening to my argument with Avril. I don't know why she was so offended by that. I actually enjoyed it. The argument, I mean. I was a bit offended when she called me an idiot but I called her plain and she blew up! Went ballistic! And there was really no point.
As I thought all these things rapidly, I hitched a cab and said through the plundering rain, "London University for Juvenile Delinquents." I practically yelled at him. "Shortcut, please." He jumped in the back of taxi, and started to drive. "Stop for a second..." I told him, and I saw John running after the car looking irritated. He opened the taxi door- which luckily wasn't locked –And then glared at me. "You could've waited!" He snapped in a low voice. I shrugged, and smiled.
"You two look to sofistica'ed to be Delinquents?" The cabby said to us as he drove. I could almost laugh at his accent. So stereotypical. He had obviously been a delinquent as well, by the look of his dressing standards. "No no, we're not Delinquents. Not at all. My friend here is a military doctor – sorry, was a military doctor. There's been a murder, and a suspect of ours is there." I explained, not really concentrating on the driver. "And you need to get there quickly?" He asked. My head snapped up confusedly. "Why d'you say that?" Forgetting that only two minutes ago I had asked for a shortcut. I need to beat Avril! Otherwise she's one up on me. "Because, mate, you asked for a shortcut!" He reminded me. I cocked my head to the side and the cried "Oh!" at him. "That's just because..." I hesitated slightly. Should I tell him? Nah. "I've got other cases to do and I want to get this one done quickly." I lied. John raised his eyebrows and fought to keep back the laughter rumbling inside his stomach.
After another 5 minutes of explaining, we arrived. "That'll be 30 quid! More for deh shortcut." I handed him the money absentmindedly, eager to get inside and see if she's there yet. "John, do you want to be useful?" I asked, so I could come over to Avril alone. He nodded, and straightened up. I smiled, pulling out some paper from my coat pocket. "Go to this address," I said, giving him the paper, "And interrogate him." He nodded again, going back over to the taxi that had only just stopped. The cabby was about to set off again when John rushed over. Good. Now I'll check out the scene by myself.
I basically sprinted over, and when I reached the glass doors, I slowed to a walk. Then I pushed it open, and froze. "Damn it!" I muttered. There was Avril, talking with Lestrade. She had beaten me! Well, I guess she did leave first. Her head snapped over in my direction, then a school – girl grin appeared upon her face. "Sherlock! I was wondering when you would arrive!" She made it sound as if I was going to take forever! I bet she's happy. "I have to say, you took a while!" I smirked as I realized one essential thing about her. Something I had surprisingly not noticed before. "Iraq or-" I was about to ask, but she cut through me with a smirk and chuckle. "You noticed that, huh? Actually, it was Afghanistan. Front line." She explained. Her eyes suddenly took on a haunted look, full of pain and anger. I was a bit surprised actually. I didn't know that was her thoughts on her job in the army. "You resigned. You had been studying criminology before, and turned to being a consulting detective. Funny, I thought I made the job up?" I added. She laughed.
"And I thought I made the job up! We were made for each other, Sherlock. Think about it." She tapped her head, as if she was tapping her mind. I had to admit, she was right. She was just like my twin sister. Except I would never accept her for a sister. She's more like a friend. But she's not quite a friend, just a colleague. Accomplice. Acquaintance. "I knew I would beat you. But now, our little game is over, we shall get back to business?" She gestured toward a room, which I was guessing was the hall. She probably had a crowd of students gathered up. Then, a girl rushed up to us. I pointed to her. "Oh, this is Eleanor." Avril told me. I held my hand up as a hello, then I reached for her hand. She frowned. "Please," I asked. She sighed, then gave me her hand. "Hard finger tips, suggests she's a guitarist. About 20? Speak." I commanded. She stepped back, but she left her hand still on my palm. "Hey..." She said. That was hardly anything. "No no, read out a poem, or a sentence from a book!" I cried. She chuckled. "You know Sherlock, you don't have to read me." But he continued staring at me expectantly. "Fine, fine. Er..." Then she coughed, and began reciting a poem that I knew all too well. "Shall I compare thee to a summers day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer's lease hath all too short a date. Sometimes to hot the eye-" Interrupted her with a small chuckle and raised eyebrows. "Shakespeare fan?" She shook her head, and gave out a small smile. "No, not really. Avril made me learn it off by heart." Avril flashed an innocent smile at me, and I laughed. My laughs are always low and small, but this one was a little louder. "Singer." I said simply. Eleanor smiled brightly. "I can tell by the elegance in your voice-"I stopped abruptly. "Eleanor McShane! John's niece listens to you." I told her, smiling. Now everybody was smiling. Completely different atmosphere from last time I met Avril. "Eleanor is not just my favourite singer, but also my colleague. She's actually really good at it all, which I have to say, surprised me." Eleanor growled slightly under her breath. I smirked at this, then realized I was still holding her hand. I dropped it rather abruptly, then gestured towards the hall. "Shall we?" Avril smirked.
"God Sherlock you make it sound like we're going to a ball!" She commented. I laughed.
Sorry it's so long, but I guess that means you get more information, and story stuff...! Once again, I please ask you to search this rather long page for something that says "Review". I think it's not far from this writing. Remember, if you review, I'll put your name down here!
Yours Always,
Falling xx