10:17
I knocked on the door a few times before it opened to a scruffy looking man, glaring at me threw the small opening he made.
"Whaddaya want?" He slurred, staring intently. He's stoned, homeless, and hasn't cleaned himself in over a week is what I deduct from what I see.
"Sherlock Holmes sent me." I respond curtly.
"You're his bitch then, eh?" I cringe at that and glare, stone cold.
"I'm nobody's 'bitch'. I would appreciate if you either lead me to where I can get what I came for or step out of my way." I snap, arms folded before the door opened enough for me to squeeze threw.
You could really smell the stale cigarettes and see the used syringes litter the floor the moment you walked in.
"It's up dose' stairs over dere'." He tells me and as I turn he is lighting up a joint of marijuana. I nod once.
"Bring me to it." I tell him. He steps around me, leading the way, painfully slow. The staircase was long and narrow, the house itself had potential though if it weren't a crack house. At the top of the stairs, a skeletal teen was passed out in her own vomit.
"Crazy night last night was," He mumbles as we step over her. Threw the open hallway, we stepped over more, drunken and/or high bodies passed out.
"Is this ordinary?" I question, staring down at them as we walked past.
"Not bloody quite, Sherlock wouldn't in sight." He says and I feel my stomach churn. Of course I saw the potential of a drug addict but this was far from what I pictured. I imagined him sneaking a joint into the washroom every blue moon or maybe on the weekends he went to a specific alleyway to shoot up something.
This was weird. This wasn't Sherlock.
Finally he led me into a room, empty besides the two girls curled into a sleeping bag in one end of the room. He got to a closet door where he knocked a couple times.
"He left it in the closet under lock and key he did," The man tells me, fumbling for what I assumed to be a key in his pocket. "told me not to open it unless it was a certain someone here to pick It up." And as he finished, he pulled out a switch blade, holding it out in front of him. I roll my eyes annoyed. "Who is ya?"
"Consulting detective Enna Burk here to pick up something for Sherlock Holmes." I tell him. "Now lower the blade or I will break your neck." Slowly, he did as he was told and put the blade back in his pocket.
When he finally took out the key and unlocked the door, my eye caught on the brown leather brief case sitting on the floor. I knelt down, examining it before putting my hand on the handle and raising it into my hand. When I tried opening it, I saw that it was protected with a combination lock.
"Thanks," I say finally, swinging it under my arm and getting out of there as fast as my legs would allow.
10:56
I threw the case onto the table in front of Sherlock.
"Was that all?" I ask him. He spins the case toward himself and stares intently before spinning the dials to open it.
"Yes." He responds, standing.
"So is it over then?" He looks up at me, grinning as if amused. "What?"
"You thought I was sending you to the goods?" He laughs, pulling out clothes and laying it on the table. "Not quite." I roll my eyes, folding my arms. "Turn around." He says and I do as I'm told.
I spin and can see his reflection in the glass of the interrogation room, quickly I fix my eyes on the clock. Yes, I have seen him naked but no, I didn't want to seem him naked at the moment. Why? It's a distraction. A huge distraction, even for someone like me. And right now I had bigger problems.
Like proving his innocence. If he let me help that is.
"Turn back," he says finally and as I turn I watch him buttoning up his blouse. "so you really want to help?"
"Yes of course," I reply to which he nods.
"Call John, let him known you are going to be late." My head tilts at this. "Yes Enna, I know you have somewhere to be, need I get down to explain my deductions?" My eyes drop as I pull out my phone, dialing John. I give him one last look before turning.
"Enna?" John asks as soon as he picks up. "Are you fine?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." I respond. "I'm just going to stay here, I didn't sleep much last night and I kind of want to just lie down for a little. Can we meet for dinner somewhere. Say 5:30?"
"That can be arranged, of course. Where would you like to go?"
"You choose," I tell him. "text me when you have it figured out. OK?"
"Of course." He replies simply
"Thanks John." I say before hanging up and putting the phone back in my pocket. Behind me, Sherlock chuckles quietly. I turn around, raising a brow.
"Enlighten me on what you find so funny," I say, my arms folding across my chest.
"Your lying skills," he responds, pulling his jacket over his shoulders. I roll my eyes.
"Of course, now, where do I-"
"Enna Burk," I'm interrupted mid sentence by the door swinging open and 3 F.B.I agents stepping inside.
"Elizabeth Parker," I say, 'correcting' them. Two step to the left and the other steps to the right to clear a path for Labranski to step in.
"Burk, it's over. Come with us." he tells me. I flash a look to Sherlock before walking around the table.
"Give me a moment," I demand as I approached Sherlock, putting a hand out. "until next time, Holmes." I say. As he takes my hand I slip my phone out of my sleeve and into his hand nonchalantly before walking past him.
"You're in a heap of trouble," Labranski tells me as I step past him, walking out of the interrogation room.
"Why? Cause there's a new sheriff in town?" I mock a Texas accent. "This isn't the old western Jesus Christ," I didn't have another second to speak before he had grabbed me from behind and threw me up against the wall. I flinched and my eyes squinted shut against his hands that slammed against the wall on either side of my face.
"Do you even realize how many laws you have broken?" he snaps. I nod once.
"Three." I say before I begin chuckling softly.
"Is that funny?" he yells in my face. I shake my head.
"No, no, I'm sorry. That isn't what's funny at all." I tell him.
"Then what?" he humors me. Stepping back and folding his arms.
"I'm about to break two more." Without anymore comment, I threw my first punch which heavily disoriented him as I took off down the hall. I banged into three officers before one finally stopped me.
"Burk?" Lestrade.
"Lestrade! Hi! I'm sorry I can't stay to chat but we will be in touch!" I say, running past him as Labranski yells out behind me.
"Stop that girl!" He squealed moving fast to catch up. Unfortunately for him, this hallway is narrow and I'm smaller and much, much faster.
Every step I took was with precise precision, every turn had to be carefully planned out. I knew this building inside out. Where could I go that was not permitting for him? Where? Where?!
Oh, of course! I took the next left and I was in the area of cubicles. Now to confuse them. I ran in one isle then a left and into another.
"Where is she?!"
"Find her, there is one of her and four of us you imbeciles!"
I laughed at this and had to respond. "Even with the numbers the statistics of your success is low!" I ran threw another isle until I saw one at the end running for me. I took a right then, jumping onto a desk and over a cubicle earning squeals from some of the female workers.
My next move wasn't as carefully planned as I had hoped. An agent waited for me as I got over. Of course, I retreated quickly. With him behind me I figured my only option was right but when I was about to make the right turn, another agent. Quickly, I turned to my left. Another one. Straight ahead than.
I ran, as fast as my little legs would carry me and there it was, in all it's glory, the garbage shoot. I had to make it down there and soon would be good. Three feet by four feet, I was the only one possible to fit inside. It had been my plan from the beginning to be honest. As soon as I was discovered I had been planning my escape.
Or not. Of course, I'm 5 meters away and there stands Labranski. Think Enna! THINK! I reach to my left as I run by and grab a stapler, pulling my arm back and with one good throw I chuck the thing, hitting Labranski in the nose. His head snapped back and my next initial move was to give him a big enough shove to move him. Of course, he was stiff as a board. I had to throw a kick to the back of the knee. He was down then and out of my way. I threw open the garbage shoot cover and jumped inside. I almost even thought for a second I was safe, before my hair was grabbed anyway. That was the only thing holding me from slipping down. Labranski's goon holding onto me by a fistful of hair.
Of course, I screamed, pretty damn loud to be honest. My hand threw up and grabbed his, with everything I had, I squeezed. My nails dug deep into his skin until he howled in pain and released, the cover closed shut and I was on my way down. It was dark, slippery, dirty and smelled terrible. Unfortunately for me, unlike the movies I had no cushion to my fall. I fell on hard concrete from about seven feet in the air. God was I dazed, but I couldn't stop. I had to keep moving.
I limped out of the alley way, one hand against the wall to steady myself as I signaled a taxi with the other. A taxi hailed almost immediately and I jumped in.
"Address?"
12:00
I slowly walked up to the doorstep, my body in agony as I knocked a couple times. It wasn't long before the door swung wide open.
"Ms. Burk?" Carrington asked me, his face filled with horror.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, I just need to come in for a moment." I tell him. He takes my arm quickly, wrapping it around his shoulder and helping me inside.
"What happened to you?" He demanded to know, leading me into his living room and settling me down on the couch. I sigh heavily, leaning my head back.
"I got chased by a few F.B.I agents while working a case and to escape I threw myself down a garbage shoot." his eyes widen with disbelief. "It really isn't how it is in the movies," I say as he quickly exits, coming back with ice and first aid kit.
"I'll clean you up and have you back out there working that case in no time." He assures me. I smile warmly.
"Thank you Carrington. That means an awful lot."
"Despite the fallout we had my dear, I'm still your loyal butler." He tells me, rolling up my pant legs to clean up my bloody legs. "It just would have been nice to hear from you. One call is all I needed,"
"I'm sorry, it was hard with Sherlock being dead and stuff." I respond as he pours alcohol rub on my legs.
"I hear he is back though," Carrington says. "That's great." I nod.
"It is definitely something."
1:45
"I appreciate your help, Carrington." I say as I stand in the porch of his comfortably small home.
"Anytime, please do call. We must have tea soon." he takes my hand, holding it in both his as he smiled warmly. I nod.
"Of course." I say, walking out the front door.
2:30
I finally made it to a pay phone, undetected from what I could tell and I hastily punched in my cell number and then sent a text.
Out and Safe. Wounds cleaned and I'm ready. Tell me where to go.
EB
The reply showed across the tiny screen seconds later and even with my glasses, it was difficult to make out. From what I gathered, it was a no.
You're being a fool. I need you to give me the address.
EB
You are the fool in this situation Ms. Burk. I actually cannot believe you went down the garbage shoot. That and of course the crazy idea that you can help me.
SH
I wasn't given much of an option. I can help you if you let me.
EB
Window then roof and with a running start you could have made it onto the building next door, then down the ladder where a taxi was hailed waiting for you.
Another time, I will grant you permission to help .
SH
That's absurd! They would have caught up easily and not to mention I would have died from the fall. I would appreciate the permission to help right now Sherlock. You know you can't do this on your own. You need me.
EB
I suppose you could have but only if you misstepped. I trust that you wouldn't.
SH
You trust I wouldn't misstep but you can't trust my intellect on this one? I can help.
EB
This is different.
SH
Can I bring back the 'On The Ledge' case?"
EB
No.
SH
Sherlock. Address. Now.
EB
791 Abernacey road. Don't screw this up. The Game is On, Ms. Burk.
SH
Finally, I memorized the address then stepped out of the telephone booth and onto the street ready to get this done and over with. Of course still be on time for dinner with John afterwards.