Half way across town, Derek had found a place. A non-descript pub with werewolves as regular customers. This place was the no man's land between the two rival packs. Fights that broke out here were never reported and the dead bodies were never found again. It was chance that bought Derek Hale here.
He had discreetly followed Molly, Sherlock and Stiles till the garage. He had seen a man coming out from the place grumbling about rude people and "that funny hat detective". This grumbling man had been halted by this tall blonde man who had asked him Augustus was in or out. When the man furthermore complained about Sherlock, the blonde man had laughed and jovially asked if they could go have a drink at Pleine Lune. Derek had no intention of following them but then tall guy made a comment.
"I don't like what Augustus is doing Doug."
Shorter guy had replied, "But he is the boss and Vlad, you don't get to say such things. He will kill you."
Vlad? He is in Jablonski's pack. Derek wondered why he would bitch about his own leader because Augustus Lowndes is the de facto leader now. He decided to follow them.
They get on Vlad's motorcycle. Derek hails a taxi and follows them as they speed through town. When they are halfway across, Vlad swerves in a narrow lane. The taxi driver complains so Derek gets down and follows them on foot. He sees the motorcycle opposite a dark brown door. He cannot figure out if it is a residence or a private establishment. He pushes the door and realizes it is a pub of some sorts. The interiors are too dark but that is no hindrance for him. And neither is it a hindrance for the other few patrons. They are all werewolves, even the bartender.
Derek slides in a seat on the long counter. He is just two seats across Vlad and the short guy. He orders a beer and settles in for some old-fashioned eavesdropping.
"What is Augustus up to nowadays? He doesn't come along the other garage anymore," Vlad inquires.
"Don't know, but, I guess we profit more than you guys do!" Doug laughs.
Vlad joins in as well. He stops and continues, "What funny hat detective you were talking about?"
"Some dude named Sherlock Holmes." Derek sits up straight. He wants to hear this. Doug continues, "Said something about Igor. Gus got all white and asked them to follow him to the office. Then I went away to work on the Porsche. But man was that hat detective rude!"
Derek stifles his heartfelt comment on that. He has fathomed one thing. It seemed as if Vlad was too, on his own accord investigating Augustus Lowndes. Maybe if he could…Derek gets distracted as his phone starts ringing. He fishes it out of his jacket. It is Jackson.
"What." Derek says.
"Dude you gotta come back to Baker Street," Jackson says.
So, Derek, Sherlock, Molly and Stiles all stare down at the envelope in Jackson's hand. Derek smells the blood and eyes Sherlock's bandage. He feels a bit smug that Sherlock got hurt because if he had accompanied them nothing would have happened. But at the same time he hopes it is nothing serious.
"So who-" Sherlock and Derek say simultaneously. They both glare at each other. Molly and Stiles roll their eyes. Stiles decides to do the talking. He asks, "So who came by to give us this?"
"A girl rang the bell and Mrs. Hudson collected the envelope. It had Sherlock's name on it. She gave me this. I recognized the company logo right away. It is from Gus Lowndes. I did not open it though."
"Why? Is it booby trapped?"
"No," Derek groans.
Sherlock snatches said envelope from Jackson's hand and tears it open. He glances inside to see two stiff rectangles of ivory paper. He shakes them out. He reads the words written on the sheet in black. "This is to invite you to the joyous occasion of the truce and merger of Jablonski Corporation and Akraka Industries. Date June 27. Admit two."
An eerie silence covers the room. Stiles speaks up, "Well day totally not wasted."
"Yes," Sherlock mutters, "Unlike some of us who spend their afternoon in bars."
Derek heard that comment all right. He narrows his eyes and says, "Bars lead to great stories as well." He snatches the invitation cards from Sherlock's hand and says, "There are two cards. I am going. Vlad is revolting against his own boss." He returns the cards and takes deep pleasure at Sherlock's baffled expression. He continues staring at Sherlock, "I followed you three. From there I followed Vlad and Doug, the guy you managed to piss off to this all-werewolf bar called Pleine Lune. I want to talk to Vlad alone," he sees Sherlock opening his mouth, "because I don't think he would talk to you."
Sherlock shuts his mouth. He sees Derek's point. He may not like it but he has no other alternative. Stiles says, "So two cards mean four people can go. Jackson can't go, so I could be Derek's plus one."
Another pregnant pause descends on the room as every head turns to look at Stiles. Sherlock looks at him but his mind is elsewhere by now. Molly looks at him with her eyebrows arched. Jackson tries to control his laughter. While Derek…well he looks ready to murder him.
"Yes," Sherlock says, "Molly can go with me. And you two can go together." Sherlock tries to keep the smug grin off his face.
Stiles's knees start shaking. He mumbles, "Bathroom, I need the bathroom."
Sherlock points the way. As soon as Stiles is gone, Jackson starts laughing. He holds his sides as doubles over in laughter. Molly starts giggling as well. Derek just glares at everybody.
Sherlock is lost in his own mind palace. He gets more suspicious still. Derek notes the look on his face.
A/N. So sorry for not updating sooner! Writer's block mixed with a mini family holiday and technological glitches left me with no time! So sorry, I promise to update regularly from now on.