Chapter Nine. The Perpetrator.
Lestrade's fingers were beginning to annoy. Holmes closed his eyes and gritted his teeth against the constant tap-tapping of the Inspector's fingers. Holmes felt his foot begin to bounce in time with the Inspector's fingers and he uncrossed his legs in order to avoid temptation.
"Lestrade for heaven's sake," Holmes' calm voice seeped into the tired man's consciousness and he abruptly stopped, placing his hands in his lap.
"Sorry Mr. Holmes."
"What on earth's the matter?" Holmes' voice was uninterested but polite.
"It's Dr. Watson."
Holmes opened his eyes slightly and looked sideways at the Inspector.
"Watson?"
"Yes, he's been asking a lot of questions recently."
"Has he indeed?" Holmes smiled gently and once more closed his eyes.
"Questions about…well about that time you said we were never to mention…"
Holmes' brows came together in a frown of annoyance.
"I thought he might."
"What should I say to him? He's awfully persistent." Lestrade was almost shaking in his anxiety.
"The truth my dear fellow, what else?!"
Lestrade jumped at Holmes' sudden change of tone. Holmes span around to face him, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"But…but you said…" Lestrade faltered.
Holmes waved his hand with a flourish.
"Oh forget what I said! Our good doctor is on a mission and how horrible would it be of us to deny him his lurid tale?"
Holmes rubbed his hands together, almost in a state of glee, while Lestrade looked on amazed. At that moment, the door to Lestrade's office opened and a nervous looking officer entered.
"He's 'ere Inspector."
Lestrade cleared his throat and stood up from his desk.
"Thank you Griffiths." He turned to Holmes who was blowing smoke rings into the air.
"Holmes?"
"Mmm..?" Holmes remained seated, his eyes closed and a cigarette placed elegantly between his quivering fingers.
"Are you coming?"
Holmes' head snapped forward, he crushed the cigarette onto the floor, much to Lestrade's disgust, and strode from the room, the Inspector close on his heels.
Throwing the door of the Interview room open Holmes strode purposefully in, to face the cowering man waiting.
"Tut, tut Jameson," Holmes remarked, a hint of amusement present in his voice, "You shouldn't sit there quivering like an old woman! You may be the solution to our case."
"Me Sir?" the frightened man stammered, casting a questionable glance in Lestrade's direction who remained motionless.
"Yes you, you miserable coward," Holmes hissed, bending close to the man's ear, "Tell us what you know about Martha Hudson."
Holmes righted himself and took a seat opposite the man, who was now sweating profusely. Lestrade sauntered over and stood quietly behind Holmes' chair. Holmes lit a cigarette and blew smoke, rather impolitely, into the man's face, he coughed sharply.
"I don't know any Martha Hudson."
"Oh I think you do, you must at least remember a woman you left for dead two nights ago."
The man significantly paled but said nothing.
"I don't understand." He whispered, avoiding Holmes' gaze.
Holmes slammed his fist onto the table and glared at the man.
"Do you take me for a fool!?" Holmes shouted. The man cowered backwards, fear consuming his face.
"I know it was you Jameson, I can't prove it yet but I know it and I want to know why."
Jameson drew his eyes away from Holmes and focused on a still silent Lestrade.
"Are you gonna let him talk to me like that? An 'im not even a proper police officer."
"Ha!" Holmes stood up sharply, causing his chair to clatter backwards and Lestrade to hastily jump out of its way.
"So you know who I am! And we've never before set eyes on each other."
"Well you know me sir, why shouldn't I know you?" Jameson remarked, enigmatically.
"I know you because I've been watching your…activities for a while. And when I watch someone I assure that I am never seen. Which brings me to my point, how did you know I wasn't a police officer?"
"Well Sir…I…" Jameson faltered at Holmes' knowing smile.
"I should say you've been warned about me haven't you? That your leader, whoever he may be, told you that Martha was working for me and where to find her that day, and you made sure you carried out your duties."
"Which were?" Jameson asked, the hint of a smile playing around his thin lips.
"To ensure that she carried whatever information she had gathered to her grave."
Jameson laughed quietly,
"You very nearly succeeded Jameson and you think this is funny?" Holmes' voice was calm but his eyes were icy cold. Lestrade took a step towards him just in case the situation should get out of control. Holmes noticed and put a reassuring hand on his arm, Lestrade took a step back. Holmes placed both his hands on the table and leaned forward so he was at eye-level with Jameson.
"You may go as Lestrade here doesn't have enough evidence to keep you, I personally would fabricate some just to keep an eye on you but fortunately for you the good Inspector possesses more morals than myself."
Jameson held his gaze for a moment before rising, the sharp squeal of the chair hit every wall. Holmes stood immobile, his back to the door.
"One more thing before you go."
Jameson turned,
"I will find out who you are working for and I will discover what Martha knew and when I do I will bring you all down and you will pay for what you did to her. Take that back to him with my compliments."
Holmes span around, still holding his cigarette tensely. Jameson smiled and bowed emphatically.
"Yes sir."
Lestrade raised an eyebrow at Holmes as he led Jameson out. When he returned Holmes was lying on the table, his eyes closed, a fresh cigarette between his lips and his hands clasped over his chest. Lestrade walked over to him and stopped close to his head.
"What are you doing?"
"Thinking."
"And you have to lie on my interview table to think?"
Holmes opened his eyes and took the cigarette from his lips, sitting up he smiled at the Inspector.
"No I don't have to, I was curious as to your reaction if I did."
"Holmes anyone else would have carted you off to a lunatic asylum before now, but I'm used to you."
Holmes laughed silently.
"Perhaps that is the best place for me. What did you think?"
"Of Jameson?"
Holmes nodded and crossed his legs.
"I reckon you're right, he did it. I don't know how you know and I'll wager I don't want to know," Lestrade held up his hand before Holmes had the chance to launch into a lecture on his methods, "but if evidence is what you're after then I'll certainly do everything in my power to help you get it."
Holmes jumped off the table and took the Inspector's hand.
"Thank you Lestrade."
Lestrade nodded and led Holmes to the door.
"Are you going to tell him?" Holmes asked throwing on his coat.
"Tell who what?"
"Watson are you going to tell him how you saved my life?"
"If you wish it."
Holmes laughed and drew his pipe from his pocket.
"The good doctor is already mystified as to my character, it may do him good to focus on my life before him for a while. At least it would divert his attention from my love life."
"Your love life?"
Holmes winked at Lestrade and bounced down the stairs waving his hand and shouting,
"Goodbye Lestrade."
He was gone before Lestrade had the chance to ask him precisely what he meant.
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I'm sorry for taking ages to update this story!! Life gets worse…anyway, I hope you enjoy please review and let me know. I'm not sure how long this story is going to run for, it may be short it may be an epic! Let me know what you think, thanks and much love as always : ) Music97 xxx