Chapter 14
A/N:Thanks again to all you wonderful reviewers! And to Jen, (and anyone else who wants to know) crypnotizing is the process by which New Scotland Yard scrambles criminals brains so that they won't have criminal tendencies anymore. It's a lot like the procedure where they cut out part of the brain...but a lot more humane, and the people can actually function...
For more information on the 22nd Century, go to http://www.dnaco.net/~mobrien/holmes/ Maureen O'Brien has put together an extensive fansite, and if it weren't for her, I would have NO stories on the web at all.
Wiggins swallowed nervously as he stood within the threshold of the rather large room Mister Holmes and Inspector Lestrade had been given, after first climbing through the bay window facing a balcony with a trellis that was incredibly simple to scamper up. Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope had followed at a slightly slower pace. Now they were facing the detective himself, who, for his part, looked astonished to see them there. Inspector Lestrade was nowhere around, at least not anywhere Wiggins could see.
"You all have some explaining to do," Holmes said, his voice light, "However, that can of course wait until you've had some refreshment. An excellent job coming in through the balcony Wiggins. I did not even notice you until you were at the window. Let us hope no one else has."
Wiggins beamed at the praise, and then winced at the slight rebuke. Oh well, you can't win them all. He mentally shrugged and walked over to the wet bar. There were several non-alcoholic drinks available. In fact, they were all non-alcoholic. Wiggins supposed the people here, even if they were dirty money grubbing thieves, really did care somewhat about the children they sold to the highest bidder.
Once they had all settled themselves, Wiggins and the Stanhopes told Holmes the entire story, from Mrs. Stanhope's escape to the decision for the group to split up. The detective listened intently and politely, not interrupting. When the tale was done, he stood up and began pacing the room.
"There are few points that need clarification. Mrs. Stanhope, you said somebody came up to you, as though they knew what you were feeling." At her nod, a grim smile crossed his features. "It is just as I thought. Now, Wiggins, can you tell me anything more at all about this woman of whom you overheard? A peculiar accent perhaps?"
"No Mister Holmes," Wiggins answered, "She sounded just like all the other English people I've heard. Well, the well-educated upperclass other English people anyway."
"And that is a point not to be overlooked my boy. It tells us that she is one: well-educated, two: she was most likely born to and raised in a moderately well to do family in London---er New London that is. And it is one more point in my favor..." He abruptly trailed off and looked towards the bedroom area.
Wiggins and the Stanhopes automatically turned to look as well. Inspector Lestrade was standing just outside the door, her wig's red hair in disarray. She looked at Wiggins first, then at Mr. Stanhope and then at Mrs. Stanhope.
"Elaine?"
"Beth!" Mrs. Stanhope jumped up and ran over to her sister, gripping her in a bear hug. The two women stood like that for a while before Lestrade pulled back.
"Okay, what's going on?" Lestrade asked, a dangerous lilt to her voice. So, they told the story once more.
When they had done, Lestrade looked down at the ground. "I don't understand why you couldn't have told me..."
"Because, we didn't want you to have to deal with this...you were doing so good at the Yard," Mrs. Stanhope answered, "And, now I see that you didn't exactly have a choice."
The inspector looked up at her sister suddenly and grinned. "I believe I have something of yours..." She turned around and walked over to the corner of the room where a crib was situated that Wiggins hadn't even noticed. She lifted something out of it and walked back over to them, handing the bundle to her sister. "I...I've been calling him Jonathan," she said softly, almost shyly.
"That's a wonderful name...Jonathan..." The younger woman smiled as she looked up from the tiny form in her arms. Her husband grinned and put his arms around her.
"Yes, Jonathan is a fine name for a sturdy lad like this."
"Yes it is," Holmes agreed, "Now, I think I should go find Dr. Higgins. If you'll excuse me, I'm certain you all have quite a bit to catch up on." The man turned and walked from the room as he spoke.
Wiggins happened to catch the look on Inspector Lestrade's face as she turned back to them from watching Mister Holmes leave. It was hidden so quickly, he was pretty sure he was mistaken, but it was almost like regret. Then, before any of them could react, she suddenly sat down on the floor clutching her head.
It hadn't gone at all how he'd planned. He had known for quite some time that he was attracted to her, and he knew she felt some semblance of the same. However, he had certainly not wanted to take advantage of her while she was vulnerable. He had envisioned a more relaxed atmosphere, perhaps one day while they were simply talking--or arguing as the case might be. I suppose there are simply some things that cannot be planned out.
Holmes made his way towards Higgins office, promising himself he would have a chat with Lestrade when all this was over with. A certain anticipation filled him at the prospect, but right now there was business to be taken care of.
As he reached the fern covered patio which led to the room converted to an office space, he noticed Marcus watering. The man looked up, saw Holmes and waved tentatively. Holmes waved back, then gestured for him to walk over. Marcus blinked twice and cautiously did so.
"Is Dr. Higgins in?" he questioned the man as he reached him.
"Yes. He just now got back but..."
"Good," Holmes said, cutting the man off, "In about five minutes I want you to set that bush on fire accidentally. Make enough noise so that Higgins will come out, and keep him out until you see me walk out. Got it?"
"Well yes but.."
"Good." Holmes turned and walked inside the building.
Higgins was sitting hunched over his desk, scrawling something out on paper rapidly. He looked up when Holmes cleared his throat, barely hiding his annoyance.
"Yes Mister Johnson? Is there any problem with the baby?"
"Well, not really. I just wanted to make sure we were doing things right, you know?"
Higgins visibly relaxed, and then grinned. "You're doing fine. Don't worry, new parents are always like this. It's an experience you can't beat...." The grin slowly faded, and the man got a far off look to his eye. "No, you can't beat it...but you can miss out on it, because of stupidity." He looked Holmes straight in the eye. "I don't care how much you love your wife Mister Johnson. Make sure you know what she's doing at all times with that child...what the?"
Right on cue, Marcus began yelling at the top of his lungs, a very panicked sound. Holmes winced to realize it was no act.
Higgins jumped to his feet, and motioned for Holmes to stay. "Stay a bit longer...I....want to tell you something...and I think I can trust you." He ran out the door.
Holmes frowned as he stood up and walked over to the filing cabinet. It was an easy manner to pick the lock and rifle through its contents. He wondered if Higgins would trust him as easily if he knew who he really was. Then he came across a hidden compartment in the cabinet.
"Hello, what's this?" He pulled the top up and took out the contents. The first piece of paper was a birth certificate for one Serena Juliet Garret, daughter of Joshep Lestrade and Elizabeth Garret. The next few docments were child support payment stubs. There were also two degrees for genetic engineering, one bearing the name of Serena Garret, the other Martin Fenwick.
One of the last documents was a marriage certificate for Garret and Fenwick. Holmes really did not want to consider the implications of that, so he looked at the final documents. Fake licenses, all made out with the name John Higgins.
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Go back to the Fanfic page
A/N:Thanks again to all you wonderful reviewers! And to Jen, (and anyone else who wants to know) crypnotizing is the process by which New Scotland Yard scrambles criminals brains so that they won't have criminal tendencies anymore. It's a lot like the procedure where they cut out part of the brain...but a lot more humane, and the people can actually function...
For more information on the 22nd Century, go to http://www.dnaco.net/~mobrien/holmes/ Maureen O'Brien has put together an extensive fansite, and if it weren't for her, I would have NO stories on the web at all.
Wiggins swallowed nervously as he stood within the threshold of the rather large room Mister Holmes and Inspector Lestrade had been given, after first climbing through the bay window facing a balcony with a trellis that was incredibly simple to scamper up. Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope had followed at a slightly slower pace. Now they were facing the detective himself, who, for his part, looked astonished to see them there. Inspector Lestrade was nowhere around, at least not anywhere Wiggins could see.
"You all have some explaining to do," Holmes said, his voice light, "However, that can of course wait until you've had some refreshment. An excellent job coming in through the balcony Wiggins. I did not even notice you until you were at the window. Let us hope no one else has."
Wiggins beamed at the praise, and then winced at the slight rebuke. Oh well, you can't win them all. He mentally shrugged and walked over to the wet bar. There were several non-alcoholic drinks available. In fact, they were all non-alcoholic. Wiggins supposed the people here, even if they were dirty money grubbing thieves, really did care somewhat about the children they sold to the highest bidder.
Once they had all settled themselves, Wiggins and the Stanhopes told Holmes the entire story, from Mrs. Stanhope's escape to the decision for the group to split up. The detective listened intently and politely, not interrupting. When the tale was done, he stood up and began pacing the room.
"There are few points that need clarification. Mrs. Stanhope, you said somebody came up to you, as though they knew what you were feeling." At her nod, a grim smile crossed his features. "It is just as I thought. Now, Wiggins, can you tell me anything more at all about this woman of whom you overheard? A peculiar accent perhaps?"
"No Mister Holmes," Wiggins answered, "She sounded just like all the other English people I've heard. Well, the well-educated upperclass other English people anyway."
"And that is a point not to be overlooked my boy. It tells us that she is one: well-educated, two: she was most likely born to and raised in a moderately well to do family in London---er New London that is. And it is one more point in my favor..." He abruptly trailed off and looked towards the bedroom area.
Wiggins and the Stanhopes automatically turned to look as well. Inspector Lestrade was standing just outside the door, her wig's red hair in disarray. She looked at Wiggins first, then at Mr. Stanhope and then at Mrs. Stanhope.
"Elaine?"
"Beth!" Mrs. Stanhope jumped up and ran over to her sister, gripping her in a bear hug. The two women stood like that for a while before Lestrade pulled back.
"Okay, what's going on?" Lestrade asked, a dangerous lilt to her voice. So, they told the story once more.
When they had done, Lestrade looked down at the ground. "I don't understand why you couldn't have told me..."
"Because, we didn't want you to have to deal with this...you were doing so good at the Yard," Mrs. Stanhope answered, "And, now I see that you didn't exactly have a choice."
The inspector looked up at her sister suddenly and grinned. "I believe I have something of yours..." She turned around and walked over to the corner of the room where a crib was situated that Wiggins hadn't even noticed. She lifted something out of it and walked back over to them, handing the bundle to her sister. "I...I've been calling him Jonathan," she said softly, almost shyly.
"That's a wonderful name...Jonathan..." The younger woman smiled as she looked up from the tiny form in her arms. Her husband grinned and put his arms around her.
"Yes, Jonathan is a fine name for a sturdy lad like this."
"Yes it is," Holmes agreed, "Now, I think I should go find Dr. Higgins. If you'll excuse me, I'm certain you all have quite a bit to catch up on." The man turned and walked from the room as he spoke.
Wiggins happened to catch the look on Inspector Lestrade's face as she turned back to them from watching Mister Holmes leave. It was hidden so quickly, he was pretty sure he was mistaken, but it was almost like regret. Then, before any of them could react, she suddenly sat down on the floor clutching her head.
It hadn't gone at all how he'd planned. He had known for quite some time that he was attracted to her, and he knew she felt some semblance of the same. However, he had certainly not wanted to take advantage of her while she was vulnerable. He had envisioned a more relaxed atmosphere, perhaps one day while they were simply talking--or arguing as the case might be. I suppose there are simply some things that cannot be planned out.
Holmes made his way towards Higgins office, promising himself he would have a chat with Lestrade when all this was over with. A certain anticipation filled him at the prospect, but right now there was business to be taken care of.
As he reached the fern covered patio which led to the room converted to an office space, he noticed Marcus watering. The man looked up, saw Holmes and waved tentatively. Holmes waved back, then gestured for him to walk over. Marcus blinked twice and cautiously did so.
"Is Dr. Higgins in?" he questioned the man as he reached him.
"Yes. He just now got back but..."
"Good," Holmes said, cutting the man off, "In about five minutes I want you to set that bush on fire accidentally. Make enough noise so that Higgins will come out, and keep him out until you see me walk out. Got it?"
"Well yes but.."
"Good." Holmes turned and walked inside the building.
Higgins was sitting hunched over his desk, scrawling something out on paper rapidly. He looked up when Holmes cleared his throat, barely hiding his annoyance.
"Yes Mister Johnson? Is there any problem with the baby?"
"Well, not really. I just wanted to make sure we were doing things right, you know?"
Higgins visibly relaxed, and then grinned. "You're doing fine. Don't worry, new parents are always like this. It's an experience you can't beat...." The grin slowly faded, and the man got a far off look to his eye. "No, you can't beat it...but you can miss out on it, because of stupidity." He looked Holmes straight in the eye. "I don't care how much you love your wife Mister Johnson. Make sure you know what she's doing at all times with that child...what the?"
Right on cue, Marcus began yelling at the top of his lungs, a very panicked sound. Holmes winced to realize it was no act.
Higgins jumped to his feet, and motioned for Holmes to stay. "Stay a bit longer...I....want to tell you something...and I think I can trust you." He ran out the door.
Holmes frowned as he stood up and walked over to the filing cabinet. It was an easy manner to pick the lock and rifle through its contents. He wondered if Higgins would trust him as easily if he knew who he really was. Then he came across a hidden compartment in the cabinet.
"Hello, what's this?" He pulled the top up and took out the contents. The first piece of paper was a birth certificate for one Serena Juliet Garret, daughter of Joshep Lestrade and Elizabeth Garret. The next few docments were child support payment stubs. There were also two degrees for genetic engineering, one bearing the name of Serena Garret, the other Martin Fenwick.
One of the last documents was a marriage certificate for Garret and Fenwick. Holmes really did not want to consider the implications of that, so he looked at the final documents. Fake licenses, all made out with the name John Higgins.
Go back to 13>
Go back to the Fanfic page