Chapter 13 – Incidentals and Alleyways
In which John gets brought up to date and the abductor is located.
Sherlock observed the way that John was looking at Lilly, an expression on his face rather like when he looks at those images of scantily clad women that he has on his laptop. It then occurred to him that Lilly was not properly dressed. At that thought, another of these foreign emotions built in his chest, and with quick precise movement, he plucked his suit jacket off the counter, dropped it over Lilly's shoulders and managed to slide her over to his other side, so he was between them.
John chuckled knowingly, which irritated Sherlock, as he was feeling a bit clueless about this whole Lilly situation. And he hated feeling clueless, so he swung back to face the microscope and decided to show off what he did have a clue about.
"Midazolam." He stated bluntly. He took in the confused look on John's face and decided to really fluster him in an attempt to get John's mind off what he thought he had walked into. "Really, John, as a medical doctor, I would think that you would be familiar with the name. Midazolam. Short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class. Rapid onset of action. High effectiveness yet low toxicity level. It possesses profoundly potent anxiolytic, amnestic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant, and sedative properties."
"What are you going on about, Sherlock? What does Midazolam have to do with anything?" John shook his head and tried to catch Lilly's eye over Sherlock's shoulder. He really was curious about this woman, so naturally, Sherlock had to get all technical and try to change the subject. But John wasn't having any of that. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your lady friend?"
"Fine. Lady Lillian Fairfax, Dr. John Watson. John, Lilly. Happy?" Sherlock smiled his bright cheeky insincere smile at John.
"It's very nice to meet you, Dr. Watson."
Lilly looked around Sherlock's shoulder to smile shyly at John, who smiled widely back at her and was about to say something, when Lilly interrupted him to excuse herself, claiming fatigue, heading back to Sherlock's bedroom and shutting the door. She was embarrassed to have been intruded upon in that condition but still enjoying very much the tingle on her lips from the kiss. It occurred to her that, finally at the age of twenty five, she had her first ever proper kiss. Sherlock's voice came through the door and she smiled. Poor Dr. Watson. It seemed as if Sherlock hadn't cared for the intrusion either and the good doctor would be paying the price.
"So, Doctor Watson. Lipid soluble? What does that suggest to you in terms of a sedative? Hmm?"
"Fast acting. Do we really have to talk about sedative properties right now?" John put his hand out, index finger pointing toward Sherlock to stop him from interrupting. Then continued, waving his hand around a bit, "I just came in the damn door, after only being gone two days mind you, to find you, Sherlock, in a lip lock with a beautiful woman, and you want to talk about sedatives? Really Sherlock? Because I think I'd much rather hear the story on Lilly instead."
John stood up straight with his arms folded across his chest, eye brows raised expectantly, his very body language shouting: Tell me everything right now, I'm not taking no for an answer.
"So. No luck with the lady doctors then. Pity." Sherlock said with mock sympathy and a sad smile.
"Actually…well, no. Not really." Now John was flustered. He dropped his arms to his sides and began to look a bit sheepish. Then he remembered to be annoyed with Sherlock and scowled at him. How could he tell that? Must just be guessing, right, never guesses…must have deduced. Ha! "You are not going to get me off the subject, Sherlock. You are going to tell me the story of that lovely young lady."
"This is the story of that young lady." Sherlock tilted his head a bit to the side and regarded John. Very quietly he asked, "Beautiful? Lovely? Do you really think so, or are you just saying that because you know she can hear you?"
"She can hear us?" John asked equally quietly. He looked down the hallway at the closed bedroom door. "The door's closed."
"Of course she can hear. She is listening at the door." Sherlock said in his normal voice and they both heard the dull thud of Lilly jumping back from the door. Sherlock winked at John and they both broke out in chuckles.
"Ah, John…it is good to have you home. So. Lipid soluble. Allowing it to go through the brain barrier quickly, fast action, but not long ranging. If one needed to keep someone sedated for more than 10 minutes, not good. Which brings us to this," Sherlock held up the slide he had been analysing before…um…Indeed. He cleared his throat. "Temazepam."
In spite of his wanting to get Sherlock back on the subject of Lilly, John felt himself pulled into the narrative. "An intermediate-acting 3-hydroxy; orally administrated, it has rapid absorption, long ranging effect, 8 or 9 hours. Class C drug, controlled substance. Prone to abuse. Street names: temazies, tammies, temmies, beans, eggs, knockouts, no-gos to name a few. Why, again, are we talking about this?"
"It also is detectible within stomach acid." Sherlock gestured with the slide again. "Have you not been paying attention, John? Sedatives. Short and long acting. Both prescription Class C drugs. Both also fairly accessible on the street. Oh, please, must I spell it out for you?"
"That might be helpful, as I have no idea what you are talking about. I've been away, Sherlock. Surely you noticed that no one was here to make you tea?" With that, John gave Sherlock a cheeky grin.
"Sarcasm does not go well with that jumper you are wearing, John. You may wish to rethink it." Sherlock smiled a bit at the sight of John looking down in irritation at his clothes. "Much has gone on since you decided to absent yourself from Baker Street. I must say it was most inconvenient for me when I was forced to take care of Lady Lillian at the expense of the investigation. Really very thoughtless of you, John."
"Take care of Lilly? Investigation? Are you saying that Lilly is a case?"
"Oh good. There is a very nice echo in this room." Sherlock rolled his eyes toward the ceiling with disdain. "Yes John. She was abducted approximately 28 hours ago, drugged, and left in a stone building within the confines of The Reigate Cemetery. I received various bits of information which led me to the location where I found her. Had Molly not been available to assist me…"
"Molly? You took Molly with you?" John felt a twinge of jealousy flare. Funny how the thought of Sherlock taking Molly with him on a case bothered him. Relax John, he told himself, you're not getting replaced by Molly.
"No. I did however make use of her car. She was of great assistance to me after I returned to Baker Street with Lilly, who was in need of medical attention. As it was not in her best interests to involve the police and assorted medical personnel, it was…"
"Wait. Wait right there, Sherlock. Are you telling me that the police aren't involved in this investigation? You haven't called in Lestrade? Anyone?" John paced to the door of the flat and back to the kitchen, running his hands through his hair. He looked sternly at Sherlock. "Please tell me that you have called Lestrade. Why would you not involve the police, Sherlock? I can't believe you! If she was abducted…My god, Sherlock! That's a serious crime."
"They are all serious crimes, John. I did not say that Lestrade was not involved in an investigation into the abduction, just that he is not involved in mine. To the best of my knowledge, Scotland Yard is investigating the matter and working closely with the Fairfax family and members of the household. Which is exactly why I am not."
"You think this has something to do with her family? That someone in her family or someone close to the family is involved in the abduction?" Sherlock could almost see the light go on over John's head, which began nodding up and down as understanding dawned. "Ah. And you are trying to keep her safe by hiding her."
"Good, John. You are finally using your mind. Yes. I believe that someone very close to Lilly is behind all of this."
"And the sedatives are a major clue?" John was very pleased that he had followed Sherlock's train of thought with the whole sedative thing.
"No. Of course not." Sherlock wrinkled his nose a bit, as if John had suddenly begun to smell bad, instead of just missing the point. Again. John shook his head and wondered why he even tried to figure out where his flat mate was going in that head of his. Sherlock sighed long and loud, before continuing, "They are merely another bit of information to file away. Both drugs could have been obtained through legal or illegal means. Which might help, or might not. If one of the household has access to one or both, it doesn't really prove anything. Motive, John. We need to answer the question of motive. Then we will know who is behind this. I have a very strong suspicion, but I need to give it further thought."
Sherlock moved into the lounge and threw himself down on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with his fingertips together, resting them on his lips. John realised that he might be going to his mind palace and if so, he might not get any information from him for a while, so before Sherlock could get too into it, John loudly asked, "Has she eaten recently? You have fed her, right, Sherlock? And what about her injuries? Are they serious?"
As John was asking, a text came through on Sherlock's mobile. He slipped it out of his pocket and read the display. Finally. The text that he had been waiting for. His homeless network had identified the abductor.
**Found tosser: Donny Thomas. Home address if needed. Petty crimes, assaults, sometime drug dealer. Not as nasty as could be. Tailed to pub off Coldharbour Lane in Brixton. Thomas inside playing pool. Continue tail? Advise. - Bix**
Bix was one of the more reliable in the network, and Sherlock knew he would keep an eye on him as long as he was needed. But why keep the man waiting.
**Stay. Will Come. 10 mins. Meet in front. Require use of your jacket. – SH**
"I have to go out." Sherlock slipped his mobile into the pocket of his shirt, walked over to the doorway and started pulling on his coat. John looked up sharply at Sherlock's blunt statement, and got up to grab his own jacket.
"No. John, you have to stay here with Lilly. Do some doctor things or what have you. She may be hungry. I don't think she has had anything to eat or drink since Molly was here this morning. She likes tea, two sugars, I believe. Perhaps toast with some of that marmalade. I will return as soon as possible." Sherlock appeared distracted as he looped his scarf around his neck.
For some reason, the way Sherlock was acting was making the hairs on the back of John's neck stand up. Something wasn't right. Something about Sherlock was off. But John couldn't figure out what. "Where are you going? You said Molly was coming back after her shift, can't it wait for her to get here and then I'll come with you."
"It would be best that you do not come with me, John." The expression on Sherlock's face was one that John hadn't seen before, but it didn't look friendly. In fact, John thought it was a bit scary looking. What he said next had John wondering, not for the first time, if Sherlock could actually read his mind. "Trust me. You don't want to know."
John stood, staring at the closed door that Sherlock had just walked through and thought that maybe Sherlock was right, it might just be best if he didn't know where he was going, who he was going to see and more to the point, what he planned to do once he got there. Shaking his head, he turned into the kitchen and set about making Lilly some tea and looking for the marmalade.
7%7%7%7%7%7%
Bix was waiting outside the pub on Coldharbour Lane when Sherlock walked by him and headed into the alleyway. Bix followed him without a word, unbuttoning his jacket as he went. By the time he turned into the alleyway, Sherlock had removed his coat and was holding it out, along with some £20 notes, which Bix accepted with a bow, handing his jacket over to Sherlock.
"You need your back covered? Or should I wait down the way?" Bix nodded in the direction of the road.
"Down the way will do nicely, Bix. Thank you. I will return your jacket shortly." Sherlock pushed his arms into the old discoloured seaman's jacket, rubbed some charcoal from a stick he took out of his pocket under his eyes, ran his fingers along the wall to pick up some brick dust to wipe across his cheek and chin, then ran his fingers through the front of his hair to make it stand up at different angles. Showtime.
"Yeah, mind you don't get it all bloody this time." Chuckling, Bix shook his head, slipping his arms into Sherlock's coat to keep him warm while he waited. "Were a bugger to get it out last time, ya know."
"I will do my best." Sherlock grinned as he opened the rear pub door accessing the alleyway.
Closing the door behind him, he waited a few seconds to get his bearings and allow his eyes to adjust to the dimness. Hunching down into the jacket, he shuffled into the main room of the pub, looking around nervously from under his lashes, clasping and unclasping his fingers on the sleeves of the jacket. Out of the three men at the pool table, he picked out Donny Thomas immediately. Work Boots. Hovering near the table, one of the other men noticed him, and spoke up, "Well, looks like you 'ave a customer, Donny Boy."
Donny Thomas looked up from the table and took in the pitiful looking wanker, waiting, he figured for him. He did a quick inventory of his stuff in his head and thought he might have what the druggie was looking for. Handing his pool cue to the man who had spoken, he gestured with his head to indicate that the bloke should follow him outside to conduct their business. Turning his back to walk away, he didn't see the sly smile and sharpened gaze on Sherlock's face. Pity, that. If he had, he might have stood a chance. As it was, he had none.
A/N: I had a request to make the chapters longer, so there you go, about a thousand more words. Enjoy.
Just a bit of warning: There will be some (possibly graphic) violence in the next chapter.
Thank you to all the lovely followers of this story, it is a joy to write it, and I appreciate the support. Scarlett, you really must get an account, dear. Incognito? In disguise? No worries, I will take your kind reviews anyway I can get them.
Help keep your author out of the vacuum! Please review. And wipe your feet before entering. Thank you and goodnight. - RS