"What was that?" exclaimed John. Sherlock answered.
"I kinda hoped it was a nice juicy murder, but it's just the boys mum. She isn't happy."
I unlocked my flat door, pushing it open, and stepping inside. The flat was cold, despite the reds and blues that I'd coordinated. Warm colours. That was why I liked them.
I walked into the kitchen, a warm cup of cocoa on my mind. As I put the kettle on, my mind wandered to the unconscious kid at school, and the strange little dart, so tiny you could hardly see it. Then my mind decided to wander some more until I found myself thinking about John and Sherlock. Dad. Sherlock. Dad? Sherlock? Could I call him dad? How about "Uncle Sherlock?" -Did he even deserve that title? I didn't even live with him. And I've no idea what happened to my mother. "Mum" seemed like such a strange word to me.
The telephone rang.
"Hello?"
"Oh, yeah, hi. It's Bryony."
"Hi Bryony." I said, hearing the kettle reach boiling point in the background.
"I was just quickly ringing to ask if you wanted to come over later. Or now. -Whichever you prefer, really." She laughed.
"Oh yeah. That's cool. Can I come over later? I'm kinda busy right now." Lie. Unless a cup of cocoa counts as "busy". I just didn't fancy leaving my flat for a while.
"Right, OK. Can you come around six?"
"Six is fine." I smiled.
"We're having pizza."
"Yum."
She laughed. "See you then."
"See you!" I hung up, and went back through to the kitchen, wondering why Bryony had suddenly decided to invite me round. She wasn't that good a friend. I didn't really have any proper friends I guess, just sort of people who I talked to. I would never tell them about my dad, or that I lived alone. I said I lived with my uncle if I was forced to mention my house.
I poured the hot water into my mug of powdery cocoa and stirred. Two hours until I had to leave.
"Which way?" John asked, looking down the corridor. Sherlock and John had been looking around the school for over an hour. They didn't even know what they were looking for, although John thought Sherlock might have an idea.
"Left. I think we should check out those store cupboards. Nice hiding places for something." Sherlock answered, taking a left turn and heading down the corridor. John followed.
"What about the headmaster's study? We haven't looked there yet." John looked at Sherlock.
"John, I think you have forgotten the reason for which we came to this school in the first place. Those stock cupboards could be the goldmine for the missing Garnets!" He saw the look on John face. "Fine, we'll check the headmaster's study first."
He pushed open the door. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing unusual was in there, unless you count the bright pink waste paper bin (in a man's office) as unusual.
"See, nothing here. Now we go and see those stock cupboards." Sherlock walked out the door, with John following in his wake.
The stock cupboards were like walk-in wardrobes, except there were shelves instead of clothes racks. The shelves were piled high with boxes, all cardboard brown ones. All of them were empty.
"Why is the stock cupboard filled with empty boxes?" asked John, looking confused.
"They've been used. For holding something. Like..." He sniffed one of the boxes. "Smells like... Chicken? Why does it smell like chicken? They can't have been keeping chicken in here, it's nowhere near the kitchen. So why does it smell like chicken?" Sherlock looked puzzled.
"Beats me." sighed John. "Come on, it's 10:00. Can we go back now?" Sherlock sighed and turned towards the door.
I rang the doorbell. Bryony answered it, ushering me in. She led me up to her bedroom on the top floor. We sat down on her bed.
"Is it OK if we have pepperoni pizza? Oh, and chips of course." She looked at me.
"Sure. Cool. So, what are we gonna do? Do you have owl city's new album?"
Five hours later I slumped down on the sofa in my bedroom. That pizza was good! I guess Bryony isn't too bad. She even lent me Owl City- Ocean Eyes!
I checked my mobile. 3 missed messages. From: Dad, Dad, and Lauryn. What did Lauryn want? She was my counsellor. I don't even know why I have a counsellor. Probably something to do with the fact that I live on my own. I can't believe they haven't put me in a care home yet!
I decided to ring Sherlock, and to ignore Lauryn.
"Hello. Sherlock Holmes, at your service."
"Hi. Sherlock, it's Sam. You called earlier."
"Oh, yeah. I need you to meet me at the school gates tomorrow at 9:00. If I'm late, wait for me. John and I found something very fishy at your school, but it's not a matter to discuss over the phone. See you tomorrow." he said, then hung up.
''Well, that was a nice little chat.'' I thought as I went up to my bedroom.
As I got into bed, my phone bleeped. Lauryn-calling. Uh. Why can't she leave me alone? I answered the phone anyway.
"Hi." I tried to make a good impression.
"Sam, I need to ask you a quick question. Have you been in contact with your dad?" I didn't know whether to lie or not.
"Why?"
"Because the whole reason you live alone is that we believe your dad is dangerous. Please answer my question truthfully. Have you been in contact with your dad?" Oh yeah. I had forgot about the lie we had told the authorities when they came looking. I still don't know why they don't dump me in a children's home.
"No. Why d'you ask?" I had decided to lie, mainly because I would have to go live with someone else if I said yes. I had never been a very people person.
Lauryn sighed with relief. "That's really good, because CCTV has seen him walking about in your area, so we're all glad that you're OK. If he does come knocking, just call me, yeah? Gotta go now. Bye." She hung up. ''Another nice little chat.'' I thought in my head as I pulled the covers up over my shoulders.
AN: Thanx for reading my story! I'm going away for a few weeks tomorrow, so don't go anywhere. Promise more chapters soon! xxx
