Chapter 3
A/N Even though this fanfiction is getting less popularity than I thought it would, I still enjoy it. Its fun and fluff, basic stuff. Please review! It makes my day. Stolen idea from the amazing artist lexie find her on tumblr; artbylexie and tell her I sent you.
Sherlock was in bliss. He had never quite felt the way he felt now, light, and happy. Humming thoughtlessly and tipping his hat to random people. He sat down at the the bar and ordered a drink from Mrs. Hudson.
"I'm not the bartender you know." As she went to make Sherlock a cup of tea. Sherlock simply sighed and cradled his chin with his hands.
"My goodness! What has gotten into you? Has the great Sherlock Holmes finally found love?" Mrs. Hudson scoffed.
"Maybe." Sherlock shrugged and took an idle sip of his tea. Moments later, Dr. John Watson came bursting into the saloon with his fiancee Mary,following quickly behind.
"How'd it go last night?" John asked
"Can I have a cup of tea?" Mary asked .
"I'm not the bartender." She mumbled to herself as she went to grab a tea cup.
"We walked around town and then she showed me the stars." Sherlock shrugged. Mary sighed.
"That's so romantic! Nothing like when first started to court! John wasn't exactly a gentleman back then."
"Oi! I've gotten better haven't I?"
"Sure honey." Mary assured patting his back.
"So when will you see her again?" Sherlock shrugged. Just then Molly came bursting into the Saloon her hair windblown and her eyes bright with excitement.
"Ooooohh… she is a pretty one isn't she?" Mary murmured into her tea. John elbowed her playfully as Sherlock stood.
"Molly, what's the matter?" asked Sherlock
"There's been a murder." Molly said breathlessly.
"You look awfully happy for it to be a murder."
"I get to run the case." Molly explained.
"I was asked to fetch Dr. Watson and Mister Holmes at once." Molly brightly stated. John and Mary ran out leaving Sherlock and Molly alone. She walked over to Sherlock and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Sherlock's eyes stayed open in surprise.
"Let's go." She whispered as she dragged Sherlock into the sun.
At the scene of the crime…
A young girl with pretty blond hair was crying delicately while Mary soothed her. She looked up at Sherlock her green eyes glassy.
"He was so young." She whispered as tears fell freely down her face. Sherlock's brain went on autopilot, doing deductions at a rapid speed.
Married. No children. New Yorker. 20ish. At the same time, Molly's brain was doing the same thing:
Three siblings. Journalist. Gardener. Cook.
"Um… Mrs….?"
"Parker. Marie Parker." She said her voice milky.
"Will you tell us what happened?" Molly asked her sweet voice wafting around the room. Sherlock shivered and he knew it wasn't because there was a slight chill.
"I was just working in the garden, when I heard my husband's scream from upstairs. I rushed up there and saw my husband dead on the ground." Marie sobbed and went back to crying.
"The body's upstairs." Sherlock whispered to Molly.
"Race you." Molly said running out into the hallway and up the stairs.
Where the body is…
"Time of death… approximately…" John Watson looked over the body again
"9:30 this morning." Molly murmured
"How'd you know that?" John asked.
"When Mr. Parker fell, he broke his wrist watch. It stopped at 9:30. Sherlock smiled at John's disbelief and went back to examining the body.
"What did Mr. Parker do for a living?" Sherlock asked out loud as he checked his pockets.
"He owned a store." Molly said pulling receipts and records of stock out of his coat.
"Well perhaps we should give this store a little visit."
Mr. Parker's store…
"I can't believe he's dead." The young boy said.
"Yes a tragedy… Mister..?"
"Alcott. Benjamin, Alcott."
"What do you do in the store?" Molly asked. Benjamin blinked and focused on Molly. He blushed and Sherlock felt of a surge of jealousy.
"I'm 's apprentice. I do inventory and stocks. I'm also his third in command."
"Who's the second?" Sherlock asked
"Why, Mrs. Parker, his wife."
" I need to go back to work. I hope I could be a service." Benjamin said walking away.
"Dr. Watson, what did you say the cause of death was?" Molly asked
"Um, blood loss… he got hit in the back of the head with a blunt object."
"Like a gardening tool?" Sherlock exchanged looks with Molly.
"I think we left behind our most important suspect."
Back at the Parker house…
"You think I killed my husband? No."
"Mrs. Parker, you have no proof that you were in the garden. Wives have plenty of motives for killing their husbands: jealousy, greed, anger. What's to say you didn't kill him… unless you have a solid alibi." Sherlock said in his baritone voice.
"I'm afraid I don't." She said. Molly leaned over to Sherlock and Sherlock bent down to hear what she was saying.
"I feel like we're missing an important piece of evidence. Mrs. Parker and her husband have been married for 15 years. I don't think she killed him."
"Then who did?"
"I think someone framed with the intention of Mr. Parker being dead and Mrs. Parker behind bars." Molly said
"Who? Who would have a motive to kill two successful business partners?" Sherlock met Molly's eyes and something clicked.
"The apprentice!" They both shouted in unison as Sherlock kissed Molly's head and ran out the door.
Later…
"Mr. Holmes and Miss Hooper! For a job well done!" Lestrade raised his glass.
"Yayyyy!"
Sherlock smiled as Molly slipped her hand into his and Sherlock felt the surge of warmth and electricity that made the hair on his arms stand up straight.
"Cheers." Molly held up her glass to Sherlock's and clinked it softly.