It took me a while to update the story. Hope you like it.
Something's up
Lestrade had spent most of his day asking questions. Had they seen a man that fitted the description, had they noticed anything unusual that day, someone behaving oddly? He'd interviewed Mycrofts co-workers, waiters in the coffee shop across the street, bankpersonnel, and people living in the adjacent apartment building. He had learned nothing. The DI was almost giving it up when he literally stumbled on something that looked like a breakthrough. Leaving the coffee shop he bumped into a woman with blond hair and blue eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." she started out.
He had met her before briefly. It was the woman that worked at the banks information desk. She had been busy all day and had frequently asked him to wait with his questions while she served customers. Now it looked like she was available for a quick chat.
"Just the woman I've been dying to talk to all day." he said and smiled.
"Detective Inspector." she said politely and nodded, recognizing him.
He let her make her order, and as they sat down he noted: "I guess it's pointless to ask you if you've seen a middle-aged man, with dark hair, black suit, umbrella..."
She nodded. "I see people dressed like that come and go all day."
"Exactly. Have you seen anything unusual today, something, anything at all? Have someone been behaving oddly?"
She took her time really pondering the question. First he thought that this was going to be a dead end too, but then her face lighted up.
"There was something..." she hesitated.
Lestrade could feel his pulse raising. Moments like this is what he lived for. After a days work there where results. After the darkness there was light.
"Go on." he said eager to hear her story.
"Well, as you probably noticed, my employer has been renovating. The bank bought the property next door, teared a wall down, and are now expanding their business."
He hadn't noticed. His mind had been occupied on other matters. He was now increasingly curious to hear where her story was going.
"There was something odd about the painters that caught my eye. I'd forgotten all about it..."
"What was it?"
"They had clean outfits this morning. And when they left for lunch they hadn't a drip of paint on their clothes. I thought that was curious, when I renovated my flat, I had paint all over me..."
He never heard her finish. He rushed through the door.