Sorry for the delay! I started watching a couple of films with Swedish subtitles on (Language student. We do things like that.) and wanted to finish them before I came back to this. It took a bit longer than expected! However, I do now know what 'Live long and prosper' is in Swedish...

Back to the point. I feel like the story is a bit slow going at the moment. Hopefully it will pick up again at the end of this one.

As usual thanks to my reviewers: Thymelady, shana. rose, RosesInJamJars, MsStellaCeleste, Lulah and chauffeuredinthetardis

Unbeta'd.

Enjoy :)

The text alert went off, capturing the attention of all three of them. Sherlock swiped the phone to get to it.

You have one new message. Four pips.

"First test passed it would seem. Here's the second." He turned the phone around for them.

"A Mazda?" Edith didn't see anything useful in the photo at all.

"It's abandoned, wouldn't you say?"

"I'll see if it's been reported." Lestrade quickly called through to a different department. Meanwhile the pink phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Sherlock answered, walking out of the room. Edith watched him go.

"Found it." Lestrade announced replacing the phone in its cradle. "Building site, just south of the river."

"Okay, I'll get him." Edith could see Sherlock staring blankly ahead of him, so she slowly walked up and placed her hand on his shoulder. "They've found the car." She told him. He nodded slightly.

"Come on, let's go. We've got eight hours."

As usual Sherlock hailed a taxi for the two of them as opposed to accompanying Lestrade in the police car. When they arrived, the area had been taped off and forensic teams were already investigating.

"The car was hired yesterday morning by an Ian Monkford. Banker of some kind. City boy. Paid in cash. Told his wife he was going away on a business trip and he never arrived." Lestrade reeled off.

"You're still hanging round him then?" Sally approached Edith.

"Yeah."

"Is he as hellish to live with as he is to work with?"

Edith smiled. "I'm used to it. The flat's never tidy, and I'm never bored, so it's completely different to Downton."

This time Sally's expression softened. "Is Downton Abbey really as grand as people say it is?"

"Sure, but then I'm biased." The two women laughed.

"So why Sherlock?" Sally wasn't going to let this drop. "Opposites attract, I s'pose."

"Opposites?" Edith couldn't help but think the first thing she'd look for in an opposite was straight hair. Sally was going to elaborate, but Lestrade called her over.

"See you around." Sally walked off, and Edith wandered over to where Sherlock was standing with another woman.

"This is horrible, isn't it? I mean, I just can't believe it." He said emotionally. "Can you darling?" Edith felt his arm settle round her waist, his hand just above her hip.

"Err… no. No."

"We only saw him the other day. Same old Ian, not a care in the world!"

"Sorry…" The woman looked confused. "But my husband has been depressed for months. Who are you?"

"Really strange that he hired a car. Why would he do that? It's a bit suspicious, isn't it?"

"No it isn't. He forgot to renew the tax on the car, that's all."

"Ah, well! That was Ian. That was Ian all over."

"No it wasn't."

"Wasn't it?" He said, his voice normal, although Edith could have sworn he sounded slightly… husky. And that his grip around her waist tightened before he let his arm fall to his side again. "Interesting." Edith followed him as he walked away from the scene.

"What was all that about?"

"People don't like telling you things. They love to contradict you. Past tense, did you notice?"

"Err…"

"I referred to her husband in the past tense. She joined in. Bit premature. They've only just found the car."

"Okay." She said slowly. "Where now?"

"Janus cars. Just fond this in the glove compartment." They whizzed across town to get to the garage. Edith stepped out of the taxi, when her phone demanded her attention.

"Hello?" She answered, irritated at the distraction.

"Edith, what time are you getting here tomorrow? I've got a couple of friends driving past the station if you need picking up. Or if you can get here earlier, you can help set up. Sybil's got most of the marquees sorted, but there are still loads of odd jobs."

"Wait! Mary. What?"

"The garden party. You are coming aren't you? Sybil said she'd told you about it."

Edith looked helplessly at Sherlock and gestured that he should go in without her. "She said something about a help for heroes event." She could practically feel Mary roll her eyes as she said it.

"We decided to combine it with the summer garden party. As a Crawley, you have to put in an appearance."

"But Mary, I'm busy!"

"Well, you'll have to stop being busy for tomorrow. It's going to be an occasion."

"Mary! Mary?" But the dial tone signalled that her sister had hung up. "Damn it!" She dialled Sybil's number. "Sybil! Hi. Mary just called me. What's happening tomorrow?"

"Well, Help for Heroes got combined with the garden party, but oh Edith, it's going to be amazing." Sybil said dreamily.

"I'm sure it will be good." Edith replied, somewhat confused by her sister's comment. "But I'm not sure I can make it."

"What?" Sybil replied sharply. "You have to be there!"

"Sybil, we're on the trail of a bomber here in London. I'm not sure I can spare the time."

"No, no, no, you have to. You'll want to be here. Please Edith, I want you to be here."

"Sybil, why? What's so special about this event?"

"Edith, I…"

"Edith?" Sherlock called, walking out of the building. She gestured for him to shut up and concentrated on her sister.

"I can't tell you. It's going to be a surprise." She paused. "But it will be a special announcement of some sort." She giggled. Edith couldn't help but grin when she realised what her sister was suggesting.

"Okay. I'll do my best to be there."

"Good! See you tomorrow. Bye."

"Edith. I need you to do something for me." Sherlock instructed. "Go in there and say you're in trouble. Say that a friend recommended the company. Ask if they can help you." She nodded, trying to push aside the thoughts of her sister.

"What sort of trouble?"

"Financial, marital, something like that. And Edith, if it gets too much, say you need some time to think about it and come out."

"Okay, but why?"

"Mr Ewart's a liar."

She went in and Mr Ewart asked her a lot of questions, such as 'Do you have life insurance?' and 'Do you have any relatives in Portugal or Columbia?' but didn't really give her any answer of help. She just hoped that what she had found out was enough for Sherlock. She couldn't stand the overly heated office, with that smarmy man for much longer. She relayed this to Sherlock, who had waited outside. He smiled at the information, seemingly satisfied.

"There's just one more test I need to do at the hospital. Coming?"

He tested the sample of blood Lestrade had sent over, while Edith made small talk with Molly. Very small talk, but it didn't seem to matter, as they were both content just watching Sherlock. It didn't take long until he was wearing that smirk that meant he was right about something. He didn't say anything, just got up walked round behind Edith and Molly, took Edith's hand in his and led her out of the room and out of the building, leaving Molly utterly shocked and somewhat jealous.

Outside the air was still muggy. Sherlock, with his free hand tried to hail a taxi, and almost got hit by the black car that slithered up behind them. Sherlock groaned, but opened the door for Edith anyway, before climbing in himself.

"Scotland yard, and make it snappy." He told the driver, ignoring his brother in the process.

"So, another case cracked."

"What are you doing here?"

"The Earl and Countess of Grantham have requested our presence, as friends of the family, to attend the annual garden party. Shall I pick you both up at nine o'clock? That should give us enough time to get there." He smiled. Sherlock looked to Edith for more information on the subject, but she looked just as stunned as he was. "Mr Matthew's spending has been extreme this month, so I'm looking forward to seeing the final result." Mycroft continued.

"Matthew?" Edith asked. "I thought it was Sybil's big event."

This time Mycroft looked surprised. "Sybil?"

"Yeah."

Mycroft whipped out his little book of information. "To the journalist?" Edith nodded. "Interesting." For the remainder of the journey the Holmes boys were silent and Edith couldn't fathom what to say in this situation. One or the other of her sisters would be getting engaged. She'd already ruined the surprise by badgering Sybil, and thinking back on the conversations she still couldn't figure which one of them it would be. However, her curiosity would have to wait because Sherlock was already exiting the now stationary car.

TBC...

Also Good Luck to anyone getting their results tomorrow! :)