Chapter 8
7 September 2013 10:30am
Sherlock strides out of the house onto the street. He stops by an ugly looking gnome on the small patch of lawn in front of the house. 'May I smash this?' Commissioner Parker smiles and nods in assent. Sherlock grabs the garden ornament and throws it at the small garden wall with such force the thing smashes into tiny fragments making everyone jump.
'Jesus Sherlock.' John mutters 'All over a suit?'
'Not just any suit Doctor Watson.' The Commissioner interjects. 'We didn't like that little troll anyway. Mycroft gave it to us as a house warming gift.'
'Does Aunt Corin know about all this?'
'Yes and no, she's currently with your parents.'
'What are you going to do?' The commissioner looks at him. 'Mycroft. I would offer but I have no spare rooms.'
'I don't think I could cope with your mess Lock.' Sherlock grins and pulls the Commissioner into a hug. All bottom jaws of the attending police officials drop.
'There goes my uncaring sociopath image.' Sherlock mutters as he draws back. Parker clips him over the ear.
'Don't be facetious. The people who know you know that you care. Those who assume that you don't aren't worth the bother.' The Commissioner's gaze drifts from Sherlock to Donovan as he speaks the last sentence. She swallows nervously.
'I'll find them, Uncle David. I'll get them.' Lestrade and John quietly move past Sherlock and David Parker and start making their way up the street. Donovan follows her immediate superior
'He's ordered Donovan and me off our other cases to help Sherlock. He wants Sherlock on this case and not the police.'
'But you two represent the police when we interview suspects?' Lestrade nods.
'And he will be reimbursed for everything whether he likes it or not.'
'He'll say it's a favour for family.' John points out as the three of them duck under the second lot of police tape.
'Then we say that Parker ordered the force to pay him.' Lestrade sticks an arm out to summon a taxi. 'TAXI.' The first taxi stops and John, Lestrade and Donovan climb in.
'Where to?'
'Not quite sure.' John replies. 'He knows though.' John nods towards Sherlock who is striding up the street towards them.
'Scotland Yard.' Sherlock orders the cabbie after climbing in. 'Yes, I know the force is reimbursing me. Won't take no for an answer.'
'Remind you of anyone?' Sherlock frowns at Lestrade. 'You, Sherlock.' John clarifies. 'You take after him in that regard.'
'I do not.' Lestrade and Donovan snort in derision.
'Yes you do.' Lestrade retorts. Sherlock ignores him, preferring to scour the Internet on his phone. John and Lestrade smirk at each other.
Twenty minutes later the cab pulls outside the front entrance of New Scotland Yard. Sherlock looks up for a brief moment before returning his gaze back to the screen of his phone. 'John, Donovan go in.' John and Donovan glance at each other but climb out of the cab. John sticks his head back in.
'What do you want us to get?'
'I'll text you.' John rolls his eyes but follows Donovan into Scotland Yard. As soon as the two of them disappear through the doors Sherlock looks up at Lestrade but stays silent. Lestrade shifts uncomfortably under the intense gaze.
'What?' He asks finally
'Are you?'
'Am I what?' Sherlock doesn't reply and types out a text to John.
'You know what I'm talking about.' Sherlock casts a significant glance towards the police station.
'Nope, sorry, I don't Sherlock.' Lestrade avoids Sherlock's gaze.
'John.' Lestrade freezes. He attempts nonchalance.
'What about him?'
'The two of you think you're being discreet. You are, but that's not the point. Nice move of John to buy the same aftershave as you. Took me longer to deduce what happened.' Sherlock speaks emotionlessly. Lestrade stares at him.
'Have you talked to John about this?'
'He knows how to avoid the subject with me.'
'You have any problem with us?'
'Why should I?' Lestrade tries to analyse the expressionless face on the man sitting opposite him in the taxi. 'John's choices of women are deplorable. You however are a different matter.'
'Ummm… right thanks, I think.' Sherlock flashes him a smile and returns to his phone. Lestrade's phone beeps. He accesses the message and laughs. 'John knows you too well.' Sherlock raises his eyebrow. Lestrade brandishes the phone. 'He's worked out that you know. They've got the stuff you want.'
'You're not worried?'
'Not particularly, most of the yard worked it out early on.'
'Him coming in without me.' Realisation dawns on Sherlock that he actually doesn't know how long the two of them have been seeing each other. 'How long?'
'Since, the anniversary of your deplorable escapade. Really, it was John coming in while you were dead that told the yard not sans you.'
'Eight months.' John and Donovan appear at the door to the yard. John strides over and slips into the cab next to Lestrade making Donovan sit next to Sherlock. She sneers. 'Be nice.' Lestrade warns her. 'Where to now?'
'Whitehall.' The cab pulls away from the curb and drives towards the centre of London.
Thirty minutes later Sherlock strides down the corridors towards his brother's office. Mycroft's personal assistant, Anthea, attempts to stop Sherlock from entering his brother's office. 'It's family. Our uncle sent me.' He smiles and pushes past her and he opens the door. 'Before you say anything brother, Uncle David's got a problem.' Mycroft closes his mouth before his reprimand can be spoken.
'Excuse us gentlemen, this seems to be a very important family emergency.'
'Not just family, Mycroft, it's complicated.'
'Our family normally is Sherlock.'
'Can we speak about this privately?'
'Of course.' Mycroft indicates for Sherlock to enter the office and to make way for the other men to leave. Sherlock obeys and the gentlemen take their leave from Mycroft and exit the office. Sherlock closes the door behind them.
'Have you had information from the police force today?'
'No.'
'There was a quadruple murder committed in Uncle David's London home.' Mycroft's jaw drops. 'I know. It's get worse. You remember the suits we gave him when he was appointed Commissioner?' Mycroft nods mutely. 'They've gone.' Mycroft's expression becomes stormy. 'Exactly. Plus his navy blue two-piece, the waistcoat from the three-piece from you is still there.'
'Is he harmed?'
'No, he went in after travelling all night from Mummy's. Aunt Ginny is staying with Mummy until it blows over.'
'Where's Uncle David staying? I've got space. I take it he prefer to stay in London.'
'He was expecting to stay with you.'
'Out of interest, why can't you take him?'
'He would be sleeping on the sofa.' Sherlock laughs.
'John and I have a small wager, I intend to win.' Mycroft raises an eyebrow. 'I'm not allowed to sleep on the sofa for three months. We are a month into the wager.'
'Sherlock, I take it he had given you carte blanche to work for the yard?' Sherlock nods in acquiescence. 'Then the government is also behind you.' Sherlock gives Mycroft a genuine smile.
'Thank you.' Sherlock turns to go.
'Sherlock?' Sherlock turns back to face his older brother. 'Thank you for coming to tell me yourself.' Sherlock leaves the office and as he strides away from the office he hears Mycroft tell Anthea to clear his schedule for the rest of the day and to organise a car.
