A Tale of Deduction
Chapter 4
*Emily's and John's POV*
Okay, it's just two sentences. That's all. Just say "Hey, John. Would you like to get dinner sometime?" Emily slowly walked into John's office.
She knocked on the doorframe, "Hey Joh-what's wrong?" He stuffed his phone into his pocket and stood, looking for something.
"I need to go. Ms. Hudson, my landlady, is in a bit of trouble," he grabbed his jacket and quickly put it on.
"Oh. Is there anything I can do?" She was a bit let down. John saw this, but didn't have time to ask why.
"Just…tell Sarah what I told you," he squeezed past Emily and ran out, leaving her a bit confused. She told their boss that John left, and she muttered something about Sherlock and "always getting into trouble".
*John's and Maria's POV*
John tried to hail a cab, but it seemed that each one didn't care to pick him up. How does Sherlock hail one on the first try every time? Eventually, one stopped for him. He jumped inside and told the cabbie the address. The car pulled out, leaving John time to think while he waited.
Who would want to mess with Ms. Hudson? She's just a poor old lady. He didn't even realize they had stopped until the driver told him to get out.
Stepping out, he paid the man and slammed the door closed. He ran up to the door of his flat and barged in. He heard voices upstairs. Not knowing if Sherlock had a gun to his head again, John kept a hand on his, ready to take it out if necessary. He slowly walked up the stairs, trying not to make a sound. He began to understand what the voices were saying.
"She's not the one that got him executed," John heard Sherlock say.
"Then who?" an angry voice replied.
"Who do you think?! Perhaps it's the one that worked his case." John could hear the "Oh, you're such a moron" in his friends voice. He heard footsteps behind him, grabbed the handle of his gun, and turned. A woman with light brown hair and clear blue eyes appeared behind him.
She held one finger to her lips and slowly approached. Her eyes seemed to have the same kind of curiosity and joy John sees in Sherlock, when he's presented with a case.
'Are they upstairs?' She mouthed. John nodded, and began to ascend a few more steps, when one creaked.
"What was that?" a strange voice asked. Maria pulled John into a shadow on the staircase and stood in the middle. Quickly, she made herself look frightened. What is she doing? John wondered, about to pull her into the shadow with him.
A large man appeared, with an aggravated look on his face. "Who the heck are you?"
"I'm here to see my grandmother. What's going on?" John was ready to step out, when he noticed something. She looked at the man the same way Sherlock looks at people like that. He saw her wrinkle her brow for a second, and then put back on her 'fear face'. Was it possible that there's another person like his flatmate?
"Well, you came at just the right time," He stepped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her up. She gasped and struggled, but he just lifted her off her feet. John stepped one foot out when he saw her mouth, 'Stay and listen.' She had a smirk on her face as the large man carried her up the stairs.
Oh, no. John thought, Another Sherlock.
Maria saw the look of realization on the short blond man's face as the man carried her. She began to think of the information her brain was feeding her about the guy carrying her. Large man, approximately 347 lbs. Got an 'All-American truck driver' look to him. Recently divorced. Youngest in the family. Does all of the 'dirty work' for them. He's been on the road. Tired and weak. A blow in the stomach or knees would knock him down.
He almost literally threw her into the chair beside the old lady she saw on Sherlock's phone. Looking around, she saw two more men looking exactly like the truck driver, but bigger. Sherlock held a look of anger, but a hint of excitement, on his face.
"Who is she and what is she doing here?" the largest man asked, looking her directly in the eyes.
"I came to see my grandmother," she grabbed Ms. Hudson's hand and held her frightened look. "What's going on?"
"These men are a bit upset about their brother's passing. Six years ago." Sherlock walked around the flat and tapped on random things. Ms. Hudson turned to Maria, about to say something, when she knew to play along.
"Can't you just let her go? She didn't do anything wrong," the old woman turned to the three men.
"Naw," the middle-sized one said. "We'll keep her. She's pretty cute," he walked up and ran his fingers through Maria's hair. It took her every ounce of self-control not to punch this guy in the gut.
"When I first saw that bikini top on her, she's poppin right out of the South Georgia water. Thought, 'Oh good lord, she had them long tan legs!' Couldn't help myself so I walked up and said:" Maria's phone started singing Cruise by Florida Georgia Line. Everyone looked down at her as she dug her phone out of her pocket and answered the call.
"Hello? Em?" Maria said into the phone.
"Hey, no call-" The youngest started to grab for her phone.
She snatched it out of his reach and said, "Don't you know it's rude to do that?" Sherlock smiled a bit and said, "Let her answer the call. It's just her friend calling to ask her to pick up some food," he winked at her.
"Fine," the youngest gumbled, walking away.
"Maria?! What's going on?" Em was going into full-on panic mode.
"Chill. I'm okay," she lied. "Are you?"
"Where are you?" Maria heard rustling in the background.
"I told you I don't like the baker on our street," Maria looked around, hoping no one realized what she was doing.
"What?" Em sounded confused. A few seconds passed before she knew. "You're at Baker Street? Where at there?"
"I already said no. I'm not buying the €221 dress, BEE-cause I wouldn't wear it again," Maria prayed that she would understand.
"221B, Baker Street. I'm coming." She heard a door close.
"No, you don't need to help pay for it. I don't even want it." She glanced around the apartment and saw Sherlock in the corner, silently laughing. He's laughing at the men's stupidity. She choked down her own laughter and hung up the phone.
What's going on up there? John thought, after listening to the conversation Maria had on the phone.
"Sorry. Em likes to try to hook my loner self up with guys," he heard her say. He immediately thought of Sherlock for some reason. Strange…
"If you need someone-" John heard a thud upstairs, followed by a pistol being cocked. Now! His mind screamed. He quickly walked upstairs and drew his gun, pointing it at the one who carried the woman up the stairs.
"Oh, John. How nice of you to join us. We're just having a nice little chat." Sherlock looked at him, and mouthed, 'Ms. Hudson's ex-husband's brothers'. "Now, can't we get on with why you're here? I'm getting bored"
"Not until he drops the gun," the youngest glared at John, then looked at his brother moaning on the ground beside the woman. This must be Emily's flatmate, Maria. He thought.
She looked at John and said, "Oh, just drop the gun. They're Americans like me. Won't back down 'less you do first." A few seconds passed before John slowly dropped the gun and raised his hands. "Now, yours?"
He tossed the gun on the coffee table and sat down beside it. John could almost hear Ms. Hudson click her tongue.
"Finally. Now, you three mind filling me in on why you're here terrorizing my poor grandma?" Maria looked terrified, yet brave. Fantastic acting John thought. Maybe better than Sherlock.
"Sure," the oldest spoke, "She got our brother, her husband, in jail and killed in Florida."