Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and I apologize about the format of the previous chapters. I believe the problem might have been that I wrote it at school and emailed it to my self, thus having to copy/paste from hotmail to word, and it might have screwed up the encryption. But, I altered the margins (attempted) and retyped everything. So! On with the show.

It was decided that we should reconvene in three days in Hyde Park, being a central and inconspicuous locale. So, after nights spent in restless agitation, and days passed like years of nervous paranoia, the four of us- Holmes, Watson, Anne, and myself, met at the park entrance.

We strolled at a leisurely pace down Rotten Row, which truly, is quite adverse to its name, in the summer months, anyway. While in its prime, the Row blanketed in shadow and silence, a cool green canopy curving into a dim tunnel, today, the black trees reached with malicious intent to scrape at the gray sky.  A jealous wind ripped at our clothes, trying to embezzle our warmth, or pull us apart. Nevertheless, it only drove us closer together and catalyzed our conversation to a rapid exchange.

Anne's fiery conviction was concealed behind the dark smudges under her blue orbs, her electrifying presence hidden under a drained body; her exhausted legs stomped leadenly on the gravel path, the grinding pebbles syncopated with her speech:

"After three days, it would be more than a bit ambitious to say that I learned much. If anything, more information has made me more ignorant!  After leaving your company, I went immediately to the courthouse, or, should I say, I tried to. As I started up the steps, I saw my mother's car. She and my sister exited, and immediately came to my side, and told me that my father was missing. He left a note, confessing that he had been ringleader of a drug ring. Still is I suppose. Imports, exports. At the moment, my mother, ha, as you might imagine, is in a bit of a state. We all are," she added softly. "Further more, Father's note asked for a withdrawal of all the savings, to sell all stocks, cash all bonds…I digress, in short, it asked for all of the families assets to be consolidated and delivered too…this address." She removed a piece of paper from her coat pocket, gloved fingers shaking as she unfolded the worn creases, indicating many re-readings. "Mr. Holmes, while I had my suspicions, I had no idea my father was in this deep. I don't think I can turn in my own father, when…if we find him."

A single tear flowing down Anne's check seared in my mind a picture of humanity; not something I had often seen in my field. Watson gently put a hand on Anne's shoulder, and tenderly eased the paper from her taught grip, giving it a wretched glance before passing it on to Holmes.

The taller man took it in his fingers, reading it with a detached, interested look that made me want to buffet him, yet I admired his ability to tuck his compassion to the side. Perhaps the compassion was what Watson was for. After several moments, his calm voice cut through the wind, " Your father is left handed, was he not?"

Anne stared incredulously at his most random of questions. "No, he was…is not. He is most defiantly right handed."

With an undulation of his shoulders, Holmes exhaled a sigh of relief. "Then your father is not the one who wrote this."

~*~*~

Our random promenade found its conclusion on a park bench, the wind sweeping off Serpentine Lake; our reflections blurred in the murky waters.

"So Holmes," chirped Watson, "What's the plan?"

"The plan, old boy, should be as follows. Miss Madison will make her delivery. More likely than not, the true perpetrator of this crime will send one of his"

"Or her!" I piped in.

"Or HER cronies to collect it. We shall then follow them to their place of business. But first, I would like to take a look at the Madison residence, but more specifically Peter Madison's home study, as well as his chambers at Parliament. With your permission, of course, Miss Madison." He nodded in her direction.

"Yes, of course Mr. Holmes. Anything to get this resolved." She looked stoically over the dismal horizon, her eyes unseeing.

Holmes, in a sweep of empathy, covered her small hand with his. She snapped her head around to meet his sincere, ashen eyes. "Miss Madison, I shall do everything within my power to ensure that your father is restored to you safely, and that those who have him are brought to justice."

We departed for the Madison residence, when Holmes motioned for me to drop back. We walked side by side, and keeping his eyes on any other available point of interest, he cautioned me, " Miss Talbot, you will not write anything for your article until I deem it proper to do so, any leak of information could prove devastating to the outcome of this case."

Prepared to make a comeback, I readied my precedents for freedom of the press, but he was quick to continue. "Besides," said he. "We wouldn't want news of my sensitive side getting out. I'd be a laughing stock at the Yard."

Speculatively, I swung my head at an angle, to better observe the smile that had blossomed over his face. The two of us drowned out the wind with our laugher, and with the ice broken, we continued on.

(A/N) I used real places in Hyde Park as the setting for this Chap. If anyone wants to see pictures, here's a good site: http://www.whywaitforever.com/london/leisureg5.asp

Please review. ~A.Spencer