The cab pulled up outside the house surrounded by a perfect white picket fence.
"Oh perfect." Sherlock scoffed reaching his hand back towards the cab. A small gloved hand placed itself in his own. Using him for balance Melody pulled herself out to stand on the pavement.
"What's wrong Father?" Melody asked looking up at the faded blue house.
"Well what can you tell me about the people in there before we talk to them?" Sherlock questioned.
"Ummmmm" Melody eyes darted all over the front yard and the house and down the street cataloguing the information.
'Swing set, for a child but it's slightly rusted so hasn't been used for a few years, so out of primary but not old enough to want to revisit childhood memories. Perfectly trimmed hedges, possibly the Father most likely the Mother feels the need for everything to look perfect. In a neighbourhood like this if something is off, the book club Mums will tear you to shreds. Father works all the time, doesn't spend a lot of time at home. When he is at home spends most of the time in his office; third window on the top story, obvious when compared to the state of the other windows his has to be clean.'
"Probably the perfect family that you read about in books" She chirped reaching for John's hand as the cab pulled away.
"Precisely" Sherlock huffed grabbing hold of her other hand and starting towards the house.
"Sherlock what is this?" Lestrade asked a look of surprise covering his features as he walked out the front door.
"What is your child doing here it's not exactly appropriate." Lestrade spoke quietly not wanting to upset Melody.
"Oh for heaven's sake! I just had this conversation with John. She is old enough and smart enough. It's not exactly a grisly crime scene." Sherlock growled before turning to Melody. "Do you want to do this? We can go home if you would like?"
"No Father, I would like to help these people if I can." The four year old responded seriously.
"There." Sherlock looked smug as he looked at Lestrade "Now that that's cleared up can we go in?"
"Right this way." Lestrade gestured to the front door a look of defeat on his face.
Upon entering the house Melody saw that the interior was exactly like the perfect family house she had visualized. Crème wall paper in the living room complete with soft white furniture and a dark coffee table sitting on a red furry rug, a scenic portrait painting decorated the empty wall. The living room led on to the kitchen.
The kitchen was also picture perfect a stylish marble counter reaching in a 'u' shape almost blocking off the whole kitchen.
In the middle of the kitchen stood a woman in her mid-thirties clutching a tissue, her make up running slightly as she recounted her story to an officer from Scotland Yard. Lestrade made his way over to the woman relieving the officer whom was awkwardly patting her arm in an attempt to calm her down.
"Right ma'am we know you've been through a lot but this man is a professional if you could recount your story for him it should help the investigation along." Lestrade smiled tightly gesturing Sherlock, John and Melody over.
"Well," the woman began reaching for another tissue "I heard a noise last night coming from the lounge. My husband wasn't home so when Tommy walked past my room towards the living room I pulled him in to my room before going to investigate myself. I came in to the room right as the thief left. So of course I called the police and they asked me what he took and that's when I realized my necklace was gone. It is diamond officer, very expensive and I need it back."
"Why would you want it back?" Melody asked a small frown pulling her eyebrows together.
"Because it's very important to me love" The woman said looking down surprised to see a child in her house with the police. The child looked very much like the professional P.I. Lestrade had just introduced her to. A long black coat, unbuttoned that cut off half way up the calf. Black gloves. A blue scarf hanging down to her belly button. Jeans, A white shirt with the words 'I Don't Understand' printed in black and reddish brown boots.
"But doesn't it just remind you of your husband's unfaithfulness?" Melody questioned her little voice rang clear as everyone fell silent. The woman gaped first at Melody then at John and Sherlock.
"I...I... What is this?" She asked turning to Lestrade "There is a child in my house! At a crime scene for god sake! Where are her parents?"
"Right. Well Mrs Wellims, I do hope they find the stolen items I believe myself and Melody are no longer welcome here." John turned to Sherlock and squeezed his hand before pulling Melody into his arms. "Oh and if you want really want your jewellery returned, it would be a smart idea to describe the thief to Sherlock" John advised her as he walked out of the kitchen "I'll see you at home Sherlock" he called as the front door slammed behind him.
John walked down the small path and out the gate with Melody clinging to him like a koala.
"Dad?"
"Yes Melody"
"Can I walk now?" Melody asked wriggling in his arms.
"Of course" John said setting her on her feet before resuming his stride down the street, away from the picture perfect houses. Melody ran after him, her little legs working double time to catch up, and grabbed his hand.
"Daaaad." Melody began again tugging at Johns hand to make him slow down.
"Yes princess?"
"Did I..." Melody gulped looking down at her shoes "Did I say something wrong back there?"
"Oh princess, can I tell you something?" John asked crouching down till they were face to face. Melody nodded still looking at her the ground.
"You, my darling, are very smart for your age. You're smarter than some adults. Heck sometimes you're smarter than me!" John began.
Melody giggled, finally looking at him.
"But sometimes, even if you know something about someone, you don't have to say it out loud. Now your Father's not very good at that, but I've been teaching him and I'll teach you too if you'd like?" John said making it her choice.
"Yes please" Melody whispered.
"Okay. Now shall we go get some ice cream?" John asked standing up.
"Yaaaay" His daughter squealed running ahead of him only to run back and launch herself in to his arms, burying her face in his shoulder laughing.
John glanced at Melody's full plate.
"Eat your dinner, sweetheart."
"But Father isn't eating." Melody huffed.
"That's because Father is working on a case. He will eat when he is finished work, I'll make sure of that." John said.
"I'm meant to be helping." Melody muttered, glaring at her plate.
"Maybe you can help once you've eaten your dinner." John said trying to encourage her.
A few minutes later, Melody got up from the table and put her dishes in the sink, before walking into the lounge.
"The thief was around 5'6 or 6', wearing black clothing, isn't exactly a helpful fact, but they ran left after exiting the house from the window. So they must live somewhere in the southern region down town." Sherlock mused to no one in particular.
Melody's eyes traced over the wall covered in pictures from past cases, new pieces of paper had been pinned up. It didn't take long for her to figure out that her Father would be going after the thief that night. It took less time to figure out he definitely wouldn't let her join him. Melody blinked slowly her hand covering a yawn as she slowly sat down in Sherlock's chair. John noticed as their daughter tried to hide her exhaustion.
"Come on Melody time for bed." He said, smiling at her small figure against the hulking chair that Sherlock usually occupied.
"But I want to help." She argued feebly her eyes struggling to stay open.
"It's already past your bedtime." John pointed out "Say goodnight to Father."
Melody got up from the chair and stood in front of her pacing Father.
"Goodnight Papa" she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Goodnight Melody" Sherlock replied briefly pausing the case to kiss the four year old on the head.
"Shall I read you a story?" John asked as he and Melody made their way up the stairs, Sherlock was already pacing again.
"Yes please" Melody said.
"Well you get into your pyjamas and I'll go get the book" John said walking to his and Sherlock's room to retrieve the correct book.
Once Melody had brushed her teeth and was snuggled under the covers, John sat down beside her pillows against his back.
"What chapter were we up to?" He asked opening The Hobbit.
"Seven."
"Alright then." John flipped to the right page and began to read. As he read Melody's head slowly dropped to her pillow, eyelids fluttering.
"Goodnight sweetheart" He murmured putting the book away and kissing Melody on the head, pulling the duvet over her before leaving the room. John made his way back to the kitchen planning on having a drink of tea before going to bed himself.
Melody waited until she heard John's footsteps on the stairs before jumping out of bed and changing into the clothing she set aside earlier, when she was meant to be getting ready for bed. Pulling the beanie down over her ears, completing her black jeans and a jacket outfit, slipping on her gloves from earlier that day. Melody turned to the window, using all her strength she eased it open until she could fit her body through the gap. Dropping on to the fire escape then down in to the alley behind all the apartments as quietly as she could. Melody looked up at her house smiling at how quiet her decent was, praying that her parents hadn't noticed her absence yet. Sticking to the walls Melody made her way south. Exiting the alleyway Melody climbed up the closest fire escape that gave her a good view of 221B and the cover of darkness. She wasn't even waiting two minutes when the door of 221B swung open and Sherlock's tall figure stepped out on to the pavement his hands by his neck wrapping and tying a red scarf. Melody dropped on to the street following Sherlock.
Sticking to the shadows, Melody tried to keep Sherlock in sight. They had been walking for about ten minutes when Sherlock stopped cocking his head to the side, Melody froze pressing her back into the stone wall. Sherlock continued slower this time, Melody let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and waited for a few minutes before continuing after him. Sherlock stopped again but this time he pressed himself to the wall hiding in the shadows. Melody watched curiously as someone all in black jogged past Sherlock hands covering their stomach and their head down. On instinct Melody knew it was the thief or at least a thief, no law abiding citizen would look so guilty and be running around town at this time of night. Melody saw where the man was heading and as he was going back the way that she had followed her father she could see the path clearly in her mind. Knowing Sherlock would have figured out that this was the thief, Melody calculated the places that Sherlock would trap him. Remembering the alleyway from a couple of streets back Melody once again found herself climbing the nearest fire escape but this time she pulled herself up on to the tiled roof. She had barely gotten her grip on the tiles when she heard Sherlock's feet slapping the pavement below her. Melody quickly tracked her way to the alley trying to stay low but moving quickly. When she made it there, the sight that met her took her breath away and her eye sight blurred as tears built up. The thief had a gun and it was trained on her father, Sherlock's hands were in the air in obvious surrender. Barely thinking Melody clambered on the tall wired fence that had trapped the thief.
"Calm down." She heard her father's voice speak softly below her.
"I... I can't let you go you'll run to the cops... Or you are a cop." The man stammered his hands shaking.
Melody watched in silence her eyes glued to the gun. Knowing that her father probably wouldn't be able to the thief out of shooting him Melody acted without analysing what she was about to do. The fence was about a meter above the man so Melody had a fair amount of force as she jumped aiming for the thief's shoulders. She landed in a heap, her foot had clipped the man's head and he collapsed giving her a cushion.
Sherlock froze in shock, one second he was going to get shot and the next some bundle had landed on the man ready to pull the trigger.
Melody took a deep breath preparing to get chewed out by her father. But as she took a step she found herself on the ground again a small whimper escaping her lips.
"Melody?" Sherlock asked not believing his eyes.
"Papa." She cried grasping her foot.
"Where does it hurt?" He asked quickly snapping into action and crouching beside her.
"My foot." Melody whispered waiting for the fall out.
"Ahhh yes I would assume you may have stretched some of the muscles in your foot when you hit his head. It was a well-placed kick I must say." Sherlock said pulling at her fingers trying to get a good look.
"Melody can you walk?" He questioned gently.
Melody nodded furiously using Sherlock to help her up.
"I'm going to help you around the corner okay?" Sherlock informed her, holding out his arm for her to use for balance.
Melody but down on her lip as the made their way slowly around the block until they found a pile of rubbish bags. Sherlock helped her sit down nestled between the rubbish until she was invisible.
"Wait her for me, I'm going to call in the monkeys, and then I'll come back for you and we will go home." He told her. Melody nodded in understanding and watched as her father walked away pulling out his phone.
Melody stayed huddled against the wall as she heard the sirens and saw the lights flash down the street. It wasn't long until a tall figure made a beeline straight for her.
"Melody?" Sherlock spoke softly nudging her gently.
"Hmmm." Melody sat up rubbing her eyes.
"Let's go home." Sherlock said scooping her up in to his arms, cradling her to his chest.
"Father?"
"Yes?"
"Did I do okay?" Melody whispered.
Sherlock stopped frowning at the child in his arms.
"You did wonderfully. You saved my life." He admitted a proud smile pulling at his mouth. Before a frown pulled his features down once again.
"We can't tell John." He informed her.
"Okay" the four year old agreed sleepily before yawning, nestling further into Sherlock's chest and falling asleep.