Right a HUGE apology is in order for the immensely long time it has taken me to update this story. My life has been turned completely upside down by uni and have only just got back into writing as a break from exam revision. Thank you to all those that have reviewed and kept with this story you inspired me to take it up again _ music-loving-penguin xx

Please be gentle first time I've written in ages, its 3 in the morning and any mistakes are my own.


Sherlock barged into Andrew Lloyd's luxurious office, slamming the thick wooden door into the wall as he shoved it unceremoniously open. John followed a little more sedately rolling his eyes at his companions over dramatic entrance.

'Mr. Andrew Lloyd. Senior partner of Thompson and Lloyd?' Sherlock asked the startled looking man sitting behind the oversized desk. He was in his early 50s, greying around the temples but in good physical condition. He looked pale and nervous as Sherlock stalked towards him.

'Yes,' he stammered. 'How may I help you gentlemen?' he asked. He rose from his chair to shake Sherlock by the hand but was ignored by the detective.

Coughing to mask the awkwardness he sat down and ran his fingers through his hair.

'It's about Becka isn't it?' he sighed. 'I knew it would get to me eventually.'

He stood up and walked to the window pulling the blinds closed.

'If you would be so kind as to tell us your relationship with Rebecca Daniels, Mr. Thompson,' Sherlock commanded.

I'll tell you everything,' he sighed again. 'As you are here you already know a little of what went on between Becka and myself.'

'All we knew before we walked in this office Mr. Lloyd was that someone of the name of AL had an arrangement with Mrs. Daniels that she called off the night before her wedding. That four months ago something happened between AL and her that caused her great distress. The only thing we knew about AL was that he was well off otherwise he never would have been able to afford such an exclusive customised fountain pen. The only reason that we are now standing in your office is that your initials are AL and you have a tenuous connection with Mrs. Daniels as her lawyer works for your company,' Sherlock summarised.

Andrew looked shocked and confused, 'That is all you know and yet you still found me?'

'No Mr. Lloyd that was all we knew. Despite your confession to knowing the late Mrs. Daniels there are certain clues around this office and your person that would lead me to that conclusion. Your pen for example; the same highly exclusive make with a very select clientèle. Too much of a coincidence I think. Also the obvious signs of lack of sleep and worry show you have received bad news in the last few days, the bags under your eyes and your badly shaved chin all point to this. Also her file on your desk is very suspicious, her lawyer is Miss Jones not yourself. You are far too important to be involved in such a matter, even if it is highly unusual.'

Andrew sighed and sunk a little lower in his chair.

'I will tell you know that I did not kill her Mr..?'

'Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective working with Scotland Yard on the Daniels case. My associate Dr. John Watson.'

John gave a nod and stood back to listen to the man's story.

'My wife Mr. Holmes left me fifteen years ago, we married far too young before we knew who we were ourselves, let alone before another could decipher us. We grew apart over the years and soon it was just our two daughters keeping us together. When the younger, Helen, was fourteen we decided to call it a day. Our arguments were getting out of hand and it upset the girls; we decided it was for the best.

I never remarried and this was a constant source of worry for my business partner Robert. He is an old fashioned sort of chap and for a man of our age to be unmarried is unthinkable for him. He began questioning my sexuality; if that was why Lorraine left me and why I had not re-married. I put him to rights many times Mr. Holmes but he kept raising the issue. He would not believe me that I still loved my wife. His pride is everything to him and when his first wife left him he hated her for "making him look a fool". This all came to a head about two years ago.

'That was when I met Becka. It was in a small coffee shop in the City that I frequented before it became a chain owned marketing machine. She was in front of me in the queue and she looked so distraught and flustered. She dropped her coffee as it was handed to her and she looked close to tears. She looked so similar to my dear Lorraine that I bought her a replacement coffee and sat down at a table with her to talk.

She explained that she had just been for a job interview in one of the big advertising agencies but she had been turned down. It was her fourth rejection in a month. She hated her current job and wanted to move up in the world and really make her name. I told her about my elder daughter Clare who was leaving her job in the advertising department at BT and that I would get her an interview if she liked. She was so pleased, she gave me her mobile number and went on her way.

When I made her that offer it was purely out of the kindness of my heart. I had no ulterior motive – another weakness of mine Robert like to throw in my face. When I returned from my lunch Robert was in my office, he just wanted a friendly chat but it soon turned to my singe status and it infuriated me to the core. He threatened to disband the business – force me out of my share as he is the primary partner.

That was when the arrangement popped into my head. Becka had said she would do anything reasonable to help me and I desperately needed her help. I rang her and told her of my predicament with Robert and if she would be willing to act as my mistress and in return I would help her prepare for her interview.

She was career driven Mr. Holmes and agreed on the terms that if she only had to pretended for a few functions every now and again she would consent to it as she deeply loved her boyfriend Will.

Becka continued to come to me for career advice after she obtained the job and as time wore on I began to fall for her. I begged her to leave Will and marry me but she was too devoted to him and intent on marrying him.

Six months ago Becka arrived unannounced at my door the night before her wedding and called off the agreement. I begged her to reconsider everything but she would not hide anything from Will once they were married. I am ashamed to say that I did not give up easily, I did not contact her directly at her request but I kept a close eye on her.

Four months ago Will was called away on business and I saw my chance. I admit I had a drink to give myself a bit of Dutch courage before I ventured to her house and I am afraid I rather over did it. She was shocked and angry to see me and our discourse became heated.

I did not intend for it to happen but the drink and my suppressed feelings overcame me and I lashed out at her. I missed and she ran upstairs to escape me. She was trying to bar the bedroom door but it was flimsy and I broke it in my attempts to get to her. I held her down on the bed and, and …Oh God Mr. Holmes I .. I…' Andrew Lloyd broke down sobbing.

'You raped her Mr. Lloyd and she fell pregnant with your child.'

'Yes!' the despondent man cried out. 'I offered her everything to make it up to her but she would not acknowledge me at all, not that I blame her. I deeply regret it and I am so terribly ashamed. I will come clean for that charge I admit it openly and I will serve whatever punishment I am given.'

'I will hold you to that Mr. Lloyd, but this gets us no further to working out who murdered the unfortunate couple,' Holmes cried in frustration.

'Did you tell anyone of your drunken mistake Mr. Lloyd?' he asked rounding once again on the shaken man.

'Yes I told a half truth to my partner replacing the agreement with an affair but he was deadly afraid of another scandal. A few years back he had been accused of sexual misconduct and it greatly affected the company.

You see Becka was devoted to Will and I knew she would not lie about the paternity of the child, she was not capable of it. Will was a possessive and passionate man Mr. Holmes and would not let this go by unheard of. He would have ruined me and in the process ruined the company. Our reputation already tainted would have been beyond repair and it would have been the end.'

'Did you know that the morning after she was murdered she had booked in for an abortion?' Sherlock asked with an ice cold stare.

Andrew Lloyd's world seemed to dissolve around him as his lips formed a soundless no.

'She never told her husband, only her mother knew of the pregnancy and she knew nothing of you and the crime you committed. Mrs. Daniels was trying to protect you Mr. Lloyd. Despite everything she still cared for you as she kept the pen you gave her and did not drag you down. She didn't want it to affect either of your lives more than it already had.'

The lawyer had visibly slumped and was furiously running his fingers through his hair. A tense silence crept over the room as Sherlock settled down in a chair to think

After a few minutes his head snapped up from studying the man's shoes to look into his eyes, 'Did you include the part about breaking down the door to your partner?'

'Yes, is that important?' Andrew asked incredulously.

'Mr. Lloyd, that and the small size of your feet are the most important pieces of information that you could have imparted to us.'

With the Sherlock brushed out of the office leaving a bewildered, distraught lawyer and a floundering doctor.

'We'll be in touch,' John sighed before turning and walking quickly after the retreating back of Sherlock.

"Where are we off to know Sherlock?'

'To the home of the man who conspired to murder that young couple.'