Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that are part of the BBCverse of Sherlock. I wish I did. But I don't. So I merely write this for fun. Please do not sue.
Title: A Scandal In Belgravia- A Different Take
Genre: Drama, mystery, angst, general, friendship
Warnings: Language, Death.
Spoilers: The name of the fic is the name of the episode of Season 2.
Summary: The wife of a self made billionaire has been murdered in her hotel room, in Belgravia. Sherlock is called in when there seems to be a connection to the wife, and he then reveals what the connection is, causing quite the scandal in itself. While Sherlock and John work the case, Sherlock reveals to John what his connection is to the woman. Meanwhile, the men are still recovering after the events of their face off with Moriarty at the end of The Great Game, and coming to terms with what the other means to them.
Author's Note: Due to season 2 being delayed for over a year, and season 1 being set in 2010, I'm going to keep in line with the time line. This case is taking place in the year 2010. So as stated in prologue the date was August 21st, and the year 2010
Previously: Lestrade reveals the truth about Kendrick Kingston's wife to the widower. Sherlock tells John about his past with the now deceased Irene Adler.
Chapter 6: Lestrade Is Told The Short Version
Location: 221B Baker St
Time: 6:33 pm
Lestrade takes a seat as he watches Sherlock type away on his laptop with one hand. Doing it quite effortlessly too.
"John, I need you to send a text."
"I'll be out in a moment. You can wait."
Sherlock mutters something and Lestrade smirks.
"Quite good at typing one handed."
"Had lots of practice."
Doctor Watson comes out then, handing Lestrade a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Doctor Watson."
"Anytime. All right, Sherlock where's your mobile?"
Sherlock pauses in his typing and points to his mobile. Just a foot away from him.
"At least it's not in the coat you are wearing this time," Lestrade hears Doctor Watson mutter as he picks up the phone.
Lestrade realizes he keeps on thinking of the man as Doctor Watson, even though by now he knows him well enough to call him by his first name... He supposes it's the way the man carries himself.
"The number?"
Sherlock pauses again, and points to his screen. The doctor leans closer to get a look, glancing from the screen to the mobile.
"Have you sent it?"
"Hang on. There, sent."
"Perhaps I can have your attention for a bit, Sherlock?"
"I'm almost done."
"How did Kingston take the news?" Lestrade hears John Watson ask him and he looks over at the man who moves a pillow out of a chair before sitting down.
"Like most men who find out their wife is not who they think she is."
"So he was shaken up?"
"And resigned to it once it completely sunk in. Apparently there were clues to it all over the place, he just never put them together until we revealed to him the evidence."
"And the prenup?" Sherlock asks, apparently not caring about the Kendrick Kingston's current state. So it's back to business as usual.
"They had to be married for five years for her to get anything in the event of a divorce, and she would had to have proof of whatever she would accuse him of."
"That's a long time to run a con," John Watson murmurs.
"When the man you're conning happens to be a self made billionaire, and you could probably get half of what he's worth, then the long con would be worth it in the end. She would have taken him for whatever she could have, and then would have never had to do another con again. Retirement. Unfortunately for her, she decided to come back to London."
"So she definitely had enemies then."
Sherlock's attention goes from his laptop to Lestrade. "Oh yes," the consulting detective drawls softly. "And one of them might be one you really don't want to hear about."
"Please tell me it's no one political."
"Well he's not a politician.. but no doubt he's got some politicians in his pocket."
"For God's sake spit it out Sherlock."
"John?"
"Yes?"
"In my bedroom there's a small black case in the bottom drawer of the nightstand on the right side of my bed."
"You want me to get it?"
"Why else would I mention it?"
"You know you can get it yourself. Your legs are not broken."
"John."
"One of these days," the doctor mutters, and gets up from his chair. "I'm going to request hazard pay if I have to continue navigating your bedroom," he calls out as he goes through the kitchen and into the hall.
Lestrade stares at his cup of tea, doing his best to not laugh out loud at what must be a continuing theme in Sherlock and John Watson's arguments.
"Think it's amusing do you?"
"It can be.. the two of you. Like an old married couple," Lestrade teases, smirking at Sherlock's eye roll.
"You have two nightstands on the right side of your bed!" John Watson calls out. "Or what you could call a bed."
"The black one!' Sherlock clarifies.
"How are you two doing?"
Pale blue eyes connect sharply with Lestrade. He tries not look away. It's hard not to. "What do you mean?"
"With..everything. I know.. I know you don't like talking about it Sherlock, especially with what Moriarty tried to do.. but the man is dead now."
He watches the young man clench his jaw, and the look in his eyes tells Lestrade that he doesn't believe Moriarty is dead.
Truthfully, Lestrade doesn't think so either.
Sherlock doesn't answer, and John Watson comes back into the main room, with a small black case, setting it down next to Sherlock and he goes back to his chair.
Sherlock opens the case with his free arm, and Lestrade sees what looks to be a photograph.
"One of your possible suspects," Sherlock says roughly, handing him the photograph.
Lestrade raises an eyebrow at the... rather interesting picture. He recognizes the woman. This one is Irene Adler. And the man with her that's... well...
Oh hell.
"No, Sherlock."
"Oh yes."
"You are telling me that Jackson Brightman is a suspect."
"Indeed."
Lestrade feels a headache coming on. "Jackson's father in law is a QC! His mother in law is a-"
"Highly respected socialite who is on the board of several charities. And his wife is a publicly adored former model, now a fundraiser. I know."
"How? How? I mean the picture certainly is um... well.."
"Can I see?" John Watson asks curiously. Sherlock nods and Lestrade hands the photograph to the doctor who stares at it.
"Well." He clears his throat. "Quite the picture. How were they able to.. . you know what, never mind, I don't want to know."
"You remember Jeremiah Brightman, Lestrade?"
"Yes, of course. Big public figure. He and his wife were well known and quite well liked before they died." Lestrade sees the question in John Watson's expression. "Car accident. Drunk driver hit them. Last year."
"Jackson Brightman took over the family interests when his parents died," Sherlock continues. "In September of 2006, Jackson Brightman and Fiona Hardwick were just days from getting married when his father contacted me. He needed me to do something."
"Do what?"
"Jackson had the misfortune of getting involved with Ms Irene Adler for a few months a year before Jackson and Fiona started publicly seeing each other. It was quite the affair from what Mr Brightman said, and one that could be rather damaging if it was made public."
"All right then."
"Irene Adler showed back up in London a few days before the wedding, had a meeting with Jackson. She had some items that she was quite willing to put into the public eye, that would ultimately ruin Jackson's image, and prevent the wedding from taking place. That photograph turned out to be one of the items. Unless he paid her, she would take their affair public."
"So Mr Brightman hired you to get the items so she wouldn't have anything to hold over his son and the wedding could take place."
"Oh good, you follow. Yes, he did."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Come on Sherlock, tell me." At this point Lestrade notices that Sherlock doesn't really want to say anymore, and he catches a smirk from John Watson.
Something happened with this Irene Adler.
"Sherlock."
"All right," he snaps irritably. "To make a long story short, I took the case. I attempted to retrieve said items. She somehow knew. I got set up, twice in fact, one resulting in me being arrested."
"Hang on.. wait, September.. 2006." Dates finally splash into place with Lestrade and he nearly wants to smack himself. "That was her? That was the case you were working on? You know I had to call in a couple favours to get everything sorted and get you released."
"I figured as much. Yes that was her."
"What about her assaulting you on the twenty seventh?"
"A last ditch effort. Also, as I mentioned in your office, I admit to calling her an improper name."
"So what happened in the end then? Since it seems you didn't get the items and succeed in your case." Which actually makes Lestrade feel good. Sherlock can fail at something, nice to know. It also seems he underestimated her, and this Irene Adler bested him.
That's not something that can be said about many people when it comes to Sherlock Holmes.
"No, I didn't. And I don't know what happened, maybe she had a change in heart. I don know that the Brightmans never paid a pound to her, and that on the day of the wedding Irene called me from an aeroplane on her way to the States. Mainly to gloat."
"I feel like I should admire this woman."
"Admire her?" Sherlock snaps. "Why?"
"She bested Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh for God's sake! Enough with that blasted word!"
"He's rather moody about the whole thing," John Watson speaks up. "Perhaps a few more years from now, he'll find a way to admire how she outwitted him."
"She had talent, I'll admit to that, but it does not matter," Sherlock mutters, obviously sulking now.
"Does Jackson Brightman know about your involvement of his past affair?"
"Yes."
"Well then, when I go question him, you two might as well come with me. It'll save everyone the trouble and cab fare." He gets stares of surprise from both men. "Oh don't look at me like that. I know you Sherlock, well I know enough to know that you're going to question him anyways. And you'll have John Watson with you. So it just saves us all some time."
Sherlock's mobile buzzes then, and he grabs it. He smirks at the text, and whatever it is, Lestrade figures he must have gotten something.
"So, who else could be on our enemies list? Do you know?"
"Of course I know."
Lestrade rolls his eyes. "Of course."
"From my sources, before the Jackson Brightman affair, she had conned at least ten different men, from three different countries. Two of those men happen to be brothers, and are living in Belgravia. Both have reason to meet with Kendrick Kingston, so if they had the chance to meet his lovely wife before she holed up in her hotel room, they may have recognized her."
"Who are they?"
"Sarino and Lavard Søndergaard, twins. Dutchman. They created a new computer program that they wanted Kendrick Kingston to incorporate into his company. Irene Adler apparently took them for ride as well."
"Fantastic. And they are here?"
"Yes. In fact their residence-" Sherlock turns his laptop around to show the map that he brought up, "is in fact just ten minutes away from The Berkeley Hotel."
"Could be coincidence," John Watson speaks up.
"Well I don't like coincidences," Lestrade growls. "So I have three people to question."
Sherlock's mobile rings then and he snatches it up. "Sherlock Holmes."... "Excellent. When?"... "That is fine with me. Thank you." He ends the call and sets his mobile down.
"Well, Lestrade, if you want, you can come with John and I in about ten minutes when the car arrives."
"A car is coming for us?"
"Yes, John."
"Sherlock, who was that?"
"The personal assistant to Sarino and Lavard Søndergaard. They agreed to meet with me about Irene Adler. Tonight."
TBC
