Love, Lies and Murder

Chapter Two: Questioning the Good Doctor

Mary slipped in between the arguing pair, feeling it was quite safe to be there and it would keep them from arguing with each other.

"Her last client of the day was a Mr. John Walton, a roommate of non other then Sherlock Holmes. See, he killed her and now Mr. Holmes is here to cover it up!"

Effie burred her head in the snow while Alex rolled his eyes and Randell groaned.

"That would be Watson." Mary corrected. "Mr Holmes' roommate is DR. John WATSON."

Holmes smiled at the girl. "Very good, little one. Nice to see there are some working brains here. Tell me...what's your name?"

"Mary, sir."

"Well, Mary, I only hope Effie keeps you around. God knows she could use a thinker in that bunch." He gave a pointed look to Timothy. "However, there is a good chance Mr. Walton was the killer but I highly doubt it. Too obvious. Moreover, why do it outside...he could have just as well done it inside. No... Anna was waiting for someone outside..."

Effie looked up at him then gave Alex and Randell a look before the boys cracked up laughing.

Timothy shifted in his pile of snow. "Well it was a good idea." he muttered.

"It was, except that Watson is my doctor as well as most of this side of town...hell Timothy he's your doctor!"

"Oh...yeah."

Mary rolled her eyes.

"He was dropped on his head as a child." Randell whispered to her, smirking.

Effie stood, brushing snow off herself. "So, Great Detective, who was Anna waiting for?"

"You." He answered simply.

Mary giggled.

"Effie killed her!" Timothy said, proud of his deduction.

Effie rolled her eyes. "God save me." She murmured.

"I would like to ask you a few questions." Holmes said, looking at Effie.

"Of course, ask away." Effie said stiffly.

Alex moved closer to his sister.

"You were suppose to meet Anna tonight, were you not?"

"Maybe."

"If you insist on being difficult I can have the yard ask you these at the station."

Effie sighed. "Yes I was to meet her." She muttered.

"At what time?"

"Five."

"And were you on time for this meeting?"

"No, I was late, I had a run in my stockings and my corset decided to cut off my air so I had to remove it." Effie said, knowing most of the gentle blanched at the mention of un-mentionables. Besides, it gave for nice imagery and threw a man such as Holmes off balance, as he probably never saw a pair of breasts in his life.

"So you have no alibis and could very well being lying to me. I am afraid that's not good enough. Is there any other reason you were late or should I just add you to the suspects list?"

"Do what you wish, I have nothing more to say to you." She said, her eyes cold.

Holmes nodded. "Very well then."

Effie spun around and stormed off only to be hauled back by two detectives.

Holmes was looking over the body with Watson.

The detectives placed her under arrest while Alex argued with the head Yard man.

Randell watched Holmes and Watson, eyes raising as their examination revealed a small dagger in the woman's side, with he initials E.L.G

Holmes bagged it for evidence.

Mary frowned. "She couldn't have done it."

"I don't think it's possible either but...it's all against her."

"Effie, where's your necklace?" Timothy called from a snowdrift by the body.

Effie's hand went to her neck and she paled. Alex stared at her. She never removed the gold locket, as it was the only thing they had of their mother.

"Looking for this?" Holmes held it up. "Also found near the body."

"She was with me at five."

Effie stared at her bloody necklace. "No..."

"Effie..." Alex said, stairing at her.

"Yes but she's wearing a different dress, she's missing her necklace which was found bloody, it's her knife..."

"Care to explain?" Holmes asked.

Mary frowned. Effie didn't kill her...but who did.

Effie gathered her strength and glared at him. "I have nothing to explain."

"Except for the fact your dagger is in her side and your necklace is in the snow and covered with blood. I would say you have quite a lot to explain."

"Sod off Holmes."

"Effie, there's blood on your stockings." Alex said softly.

"You can answer my questions...or the yard's...remember that."

"I will awnser no one's questions." She said and in a sudden movement twisted away from the two detectives and took off running.

Mary followed her.

Effie disappeared into a back entry way to her home, heading upstairs to get rid of the bloody cuffs.

"Did you kill her?" Mary asked softly, standing in the doorway.

Effie paused. "What do you think?"

"I don't think you did."

"I didn't."

"Good."

"But they'll never believe me."

"Unless you can find who did kill her."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"I dunno. You're a detective aren't you?"

"Yes, but even the great Holmes believes I did it."

"I don't think he does."

"Oh?"

"No."

"And what makes you think that?"

"I dunno. Just a feeling I have."

Effie snorted. "You'll learn dear that it doesn't matter what you become, just what you are...to all those men down there, I'm still a whore in the stews."

"I think Holmes sees you as more."

"Yeah, an annoying pain who's a whore in the stews."

"Fine. If you're not going to find out who killed her *I* will."

"You?" Effie said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. Me."

"With who's help?"

"No one's." She looked at Effie, totally unaware of how young she probably looked.

Effie laughed, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh that IS good...for that, I will help you."

"You don't think I can do it?" She pouted, making her look even younger and making it too easy for Effie to shoot back some teasing remark.

"Who are you going to interview? The nursery maids?"

"What do they have to do with this case?" she asked, totally missing the joke.

"Their the only people who will talk to someone as young as yourself."

"That's not true." However, in 1800's London it was. She was a child to this society and would be told the run home to mummy.

"It is true child...now glance out the window and tell me if the detectives from the yard are still down there.

Mary looked down. "They're gone."

"Is HE still down there?"

She looked down again. "Nope."

"Good." Effie threw open her wardrobe, revealing racks of clothes in every state imaginable. She selected two well cut, but very...showing styles and slipped one on. It was obvious she was dressing as a whore considering more of her body was being shown then hidden. "Put the other on."

Mary looked at the dress. She was soooo not developed enough to wear that.

"Put it on."

She did and thought she looked absolutely ridiculous. She turned and looked at Effie.

Effie smiled and stuffed the top, fondling her fake breasts until they looked even. "Perfect, put on the cloak." she said, holding out a matching cloak. She had already put hers on and once fastened it did everything it could to enhance the bust area.

Mary smiled. She looked a bit better.

Once fully dressed Effie took her hand and lead her back to her detectives.

Alex stared at them. "Effie no..."

"Relax, I'm not working, just, hiding out for a bit, we need to clear my name and they won't talk to the yard."

"But..."

"We'll be fine Alexi."

Randell stared at Mary.

Mary smiled.

Randell just stared.

Effie convinced Alex to take care of the agency in her absence and she started walking away. Randell took Mary's hand and followed Effie, every so often glancing at the girl out of the corner of his eye.

Mary followed.

Soon they were in the worst of London, the stews.

Mary stuck close to Effie and Randell.

Effie and Randell lead her into a small house. Sounds could be heard from every room and Effie hurried them down the hall and into a room.

Mary stayed close, following.

Effie lead her into a small apartment type room. "We'll stay here for a bit, this is Anna's room and it's already been checked over."

Mary nodded and sat down

"We'll find our awnsers here...Randell will stay with you as your guard while I'm off."

"Why do I need a guard?"

Effie turned to look at her. "Because without one you'll be forced to service any man who enters this room."

"Oh...Eww..."

"Yeah." Effie said, sitting down at the vanity and applying make up carefully, making her look more beautiful then she normally did.

Mary watched.

"I think I'll pay Watson a visit, do you want to come?"

She nodded.

"Good." Effie said, standing and adjusting herself.

Mary headed towards the door.

Effie followed, and Randell sighed. "This is a BAD idea."

"Nah."

"Her...Holmes...one house..."

"It'll all work out."

Randell shook his head. "I hope so."

Effie rung the knocker, pulling her cloak down to hide her face, doing the same for the other two as the door was opened by the land lady. She lead the three up to the study to await Watson

Mary followed. It was so odd to be in her house...but it wasn't hers.

Effie roamed around the room, snooping into Holmes's desk.

"Effie!" Randell hissed softly and Effie smirked. "What, not like he'll let me do it any other time...ooo, want a cigar?"

Randell glanced out the door before accepting one, pocketing it.

"I'm sure he will." Mary said with a smirk.

Effie snorted then gasped softly. Randell joined her behind the desk and whistled. "Could get a pretty shilling for that stash."

"Mr. Holmes has quite an addiction."

"Put that back." Mary said softly.

"No..." Effie said, pocketing the bag. "Serve him right to go through withdrawal for a bit." She said before moving to the couch.

"Please put it back."

"Why?"

"Because...it's not nice."

'It's also very good quality." Effie said, smirking. "And he deserves it after running off with my flute after a performance." She looked up as Watson came in.

Mary rolled her eyes.

Watson walked in, followed by Holmes.

Effie's head lowered quickly and Randell shifted.

"What can we help you with?"

"We wanted to question you Mr. Watson, regarding your visit with Miss Drell." He raised his hand. "Nothing to break the privilege you have with your patient."

"Effie...if you're going to ask questions...lower the hood." Holmes told her, lighting his pipe and settling in his chair. "And put down my cocaine please."