"You ready to head in Little Elle?" Detective Inspector Gregory Lestrade glanced over at his precocious ten-year-old niece.
"Absolutely! I can't wait to see everyone again," Elle grinned, bouncing up and down on her seat in Lestrade's car, not even attempting to hide her excitement. She had had a consultant badge ever since she was five years old, and since then had become a fairly regular visitor to the Yard, so much that she was given special, limited, supervised access to the Cold Cases Room.
"Everyone eh? Even Detective Jones?" Lestrade asked, glancing pointedly at Elle.
"Is he still mad about the last Yard picnic?" she asked nervously, her smile fading as she began to fidget anxiously as they pulled into the Yard's private garage.
"Well the squad car doesn't smell like tuna fish anymore, if that's what you mean," Lestrade chuckled as he parked the car.
"It really was an accident," Elle insisted as they walked to the main offices of the New Scotland Yard.
"You've already said that. Elle, you were eight years old. If anyone's really blamed for that day it's your Uncle Sherlock. Relax sweetheart, today's going to be great," Lestrade promised.
Sergeant Sally Donovan rolled her eyes as Detective Jones continued to ramble on. Did the clotpole not realize she had been at the crime scene and knew that it was Sherlock and not Anthony Jones who had solved the case? Did the man really believe her to be that stupid? You date one nutcase, make one false accusation, and suddenly your entire professional reputation is in shreds and everyone believes you're as gullible as the newest cadet…
Shouts of "Morning Lestrade!" filled the office, causing Sally to look away from Jones. Across the way Sally could see her boss walking past the desks and cubicles, nodding to people as he passed and occasionally leaning over to talk to a young girl walking eagerly next to him.
"What's this, another intern?" Sergeant Sally Donovan joked as she smiled kindly at the child when the pair came into hearing distance.
"I'm not an intern, I'm a junior detective," Elle declared proudly, holding up her Yard consultation badge.
"That's right, how could I forget?" Sally snapped her fingers in recognition. Elle giggled at the Sergeant's antics and rushed forward to give the older woman a hug.
"Hi Sergeant Sally!"
"Hello to you, Elle. Here to lend a hand today?"
"Yep! Uncle Lestrade says that I'm finally old enough to come to work with him. I may even get to see some of the cold cases!" Little Elle was practically jumping up and down with excitement.
"Sounds like you'll have a fun visit today," Sally smiled at the child, her heart warmed at the sight. The youngest Watson just had a way about her that made nearly every adult want to swoop her up in their arms and give her the world.
"Since when are kids allowed in the main office?" Detective Jones grumbled.
(Well I did say almost every adult.)
"Hello Detective Jones," Elle said respectfully, suddenly looking nervous as she noticed the detective standing there.
"Watson."
"Do you have a problem with my niece shadowing me today, Detective Jones?" Lestrade asked formally, placing a protective hand on Elle's shoulder.
"Not at all sir. I'm just not sure this is really the best place for a child. Not really appropriate, if you catch my drift."
"Jones, have you finished filing the Dexter case? I've got some stool sample analyses that need reviewing," Sergeant Donovan interrupted in an attempt to separate the two men.
"No problem," Jones said gruffly without an ounce of sincerity before walking away from the others.
"He's still mad about the tuna fish, isn't he?" Elle looked up at Sally sadly.
"I don't know why, it's the best that squad car has smelled in years," she joked. Elle cracked a smile and with a smile of his own at Donovan, Lestrade took her by the hand and led her to his office.
"Now I've got a lot of work that I need to do today, but before I begin…"
"Check for bugs?" Elle asked sadly.
"Yep," Lestrade nodded.
"Mum and I thought we got all of them before I left, but then Uncle 'Lock gave me a hug before I left home. I didn't notice anything in my pocket or in my pigtails," Elle said helpfully.
"No jewelry today?" Lestrade inquired.
"Nope, just like Mum said," Elle nodded.
"All right. I'll get the metal detector. Shake your clothes out a bit, see if anything falls off, all right?"
Elle proceeded to do as she was told, twirling and whirling and even jumping up and down a few times for good measure. As was expected, a moment later a small device fell to the floor. Lestrade shook his head sadly as he looked at it.
"When will that git ever learn?" he muttered before picking up the listening device.
"Sorry Uncle 'Strade," Elle looked downcast.
"Not your fault. Just to be on the safe side let's give this a whirl," Lestrade held up the metal detector.
"Probably a good idea," Elle became thoughtful, remembering the last time she had gone to visit George with Uncle Myc and Uncle 'Lock had managed to fit ten different listening devices and cameras on her body without her knowledge.
"He's thorough," Elle sighed as the device left off a piercing fast beep.
"There's probably another one stuck to you somewhere, but I feel better having just gotten those first two off you," Lestrade said as he removed the bug from under the cuff of her jacket.
"Why does he think that I'll hear something interesting anyways? He's here at least once a week!" Elle complained.
"Lord only knows what goes on in his thick head," Lestrade muttered to himself. "Anyways, do you remember the plan for today?"
"I'm with you except for when you've got the meeting. Then I get to work in the cold cases room with Officer Belatove. No taking anything out of the room, just look through whatever files Belatove gives me and see what I can figure out from there," Elle recited dutifully. "And no talking about anything afterwards with anyone outside of this building. Including Uncle 'Lock."
"Exactly," Lestrade nodded. "Now then, let's start with the official tour."
"So you see if…oh hi Uncle Lestrade!" Elle smiled brightly at her uncle from where she sat on the floor with Officer Belatove, at least a dozen cases open around her with the young officer listening in astonishment.
"Hello Elle. Thanks again Alex for keeping an eye on her."
"Any time, sir. Miss Elle here's got some pretty good ideas," Officer Belatove grinned cheerfully, reaching out and ruffling the top of the child's head. Elle beamed at Alex then turned to the man with her uncle.
"That reminds me, Dan, this is my niece Eleanor Watson. Elle, this is Commissioner Peterson," Lestrade remembered to introduce his boss and niece.
"Hello sir, it's nice to meet you," Elle stood up and offered her hand politely, remembering the manners that her mother and Uncle Mycroft had taught her.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Watson," Commissioner Peterson smiled at the cherubic girl.
"Please call me Elle. Everyone on the force does," Elle grinned.
"Thank you Elle. I see you've been doing some good work in here with Officer Belatove. Are you wanting to be a police officer like your Uncle Lestrade?"
"I'm not sure," Elle admitted with a thoughtful frown. "I like solving mysteries, like Uncle Sherlock. And I want to do good in the world like Uncle Lestrade. But Uncle Mycroft says that there's more to the world than police work and catching criminals. He wants me to…keep my head clear and my options open," Elle spoke as though quoting her uncle word for word.
"That's very wise advice," Dan Peterson said slowly, unsure of what to make of such a self-aware ten-year-old.
"I think so. Mummy says that Uncle Myc is very smart, but not always wise, so when he is wise it's important to pay attention," Elle admitted. Lestrade chuckled appreciatively at Mary's humor.
"Mums tend to be right about most things," Peterson agreed. He addressed his next question to Belatove. "Getting any work done today?"
"Yes sir. Miss Elle takes after her Uncle Sherlock. She has a few ideas on what we could do with some of these cold cases. She was just finishing explaining it to me, take a look," Belatove stepped forward to the Commissioner, offering the notebook where he and Elle had been keeping track of their various ideas.
The Commissioner smiled in a placating manner for a moment, but as he continued to read his expression changed to one of awe and wonder.
"Did you two come up with all of this just sitting here while we were in that blasted meeting?" Commissioner Peterson raised his eyes to take in the sight of the young man and little girl.
"Yes, sir. Officer Belatove was very good about explaining why some of my ideas could or couldn't work. He's very smart," Elle spoke up helpfully.
"We may actually be able to get justice for this one," Peterson said thoughtfully. "And blo– er, I mean…goodness we might just be able to catch Robbards with this!"
"Are you serious?" Lestrade's mouth dropped open in shock. "We've been trying to nab him for years!"
"Your brilliant niece and this fine young man may have just given the department exactly what it needs!"
"I thought you were only going to look at cases E through F," Lestrade turned to his niece and newest squad member questioningly.
"We did," Belatove spoke up quickly. "That was one of the cases in there. Elle asked a question about other similar situations and I mentioned that one from last month. She jumped up, walked around a bit, muttering to herself, then started writing down a bunch of ideas and well…came up with that."
"Brilliant," Commissioner Peterson murmured once more. "Miss Elle, if you're still interested in police work in five or so years, feel free to come here for an internship. We can't hire you on now, but keep thinking and making connections like this and we'll have a top spot for you some day. In the meantime, Greg, how would you feel about closing these cases that your niece assisted with?"
"My pleasure, sir," Greg nodded respectfully at his boss before beaming down at his niece.
"Uncle 'Strade?" Elle spoke up after a few minutes of quietly organizing files, just the two of them.
"Yes Little Elle?" Lestrade glanced up from his computer.
"Why do people call you Greg?" Elle asked with a tilt of her head.
"Because that's my name sweetie," Lestrade chuckled.
"You mean it's not Lestrade!?"
"Nope," Gregory Lestrade smiled kindly at his shocked niece.
"Oh. Then how come I call you Uncle 'Strade if Lestrade's not your first name?" Elle frowned in confusion.
"Well your mummy and poppa tried to teach you to say Uncle Greg, but Uncle Sherlock kept calling me Lestrade around you and the next thing I know you're calling me 'Unca Strade'. Nothing any of us could do at the time so the name stuck," Lestrade shrugged.
"Do you want me to call you Uncle Greg?" Elle asked thoughtfully. The detective paused, considering her request.
"Nah," he finally answered. "I'm used to being your Uncle 'Strade anyways. Although, if you ever want to confuse Sherlock, be sure to call me Uncle Greg."
"How come?" Elle asked.
"For some reason, your Uncle Sherlock with all his so-called intelligence can't seem to remember my first name!"
"Seriously?" Elle wrinkled her nose in disbelief. "But it's such a nice name."
"Well thank you, Little Elle, I happen to be fond of it myself," Lestrade preened a little. "Would you mind telling Uncle Sherlock that the next time you see him?"
"Absolutely," Elle nodded fervently.
The rest of the day passed quietly with Elle shadowing Lestrade and his squad around the room. The squad was never called out of the office, a fact that a few of the officers complained about, but Lestrade was silently thankful. He had no doubt that Little Elle could handle herself, but he didn't want the headache that the rest of the family would give him if they found out he'd taken her to a crime scene without clearing it first with John and Mary. And leaving her alone in the squad room was not an option. Not after the last time…