Ida examined her face in the mirror of the public lavatory in Keswick station. She wet her fingers and tried to smooth back the unruly strands of hair that had never been very easy to tame, and ever since her attempt at curling her hair had become nigh impossible to control.

She looked as she felt – exhausted. The adrenaline rush of the previous evening's - in fact, the whole of the last few days' - excitement had worn off, leaving her completely drained.

After Dr Watson had seen to Clarence's cut, and Holmes, Watson and Ida had returned to the boarding house, Ida had told Prudence she would be leaving, for good, the next morning. Prudence had tried to insist on her staying out the week, but had dissolved into tears once more, and this time Ida had joined her.

They had finally managed to forgive and forget, and Ida was glad that they were friends again, but the loss of her job was still a reality, and she had decided to try her luck in a different town. So, here she was, at 8 o clock in the morning, a small canvass bag at her feet containing all her worldly goods, and a couple of shillings in her purse, waiting at Keswick station for inspiration.

Leaving the lavatory, Ida went over to the departures board, to see if any of the names caught her fancy, when she heard a familiar voice.

'Careful, Watson!'

'Carrying 3 suitcases at once is no mean trick, Holmes…'

'…well, I do apologise for my incapacity, but…'

'…you know, we could have waited a few weeks, had a proper holiday for once…'

'…London, Watson, London…just think of her…'

'Yes, the fog, the soot, the street urchins, I can't wait…'

Ida turned around, slowly, to see Holmes making his way painstakingly across the concourse on a pair of crutches, with Watson puffing behind him under the weight of 3 suitcases and a large cardboard box he was trying to balance… She saw as the box tilted, slipped, and slid towards the ground…

…it was the work of a moment to dart over and pick it up.

'Here you go, Doctor,' she said

'Thankyou…Miss Greene! I didn't expect to see you here!'

'Well,' said Ida, 'I'm moving on, can't work in a boarding house forever…'

'Do you have another position, then?'

'Not…as such…' Ida admitted, 'but…I'll be fine, I'm sure.'

She became aware of Holmes's eyes boring into her. She turned round, and looked at him, daring him to comment on spur of the minute thoughtless actions and their consequences. But he said nothing of the kind. Instead,

'Watson, we mustn't miss our train.' He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket.

'Miss Greene,' he said, 'you were of assistance in this investigation, so I think it only fair that I pay you for your time.'

'Oh, I couldn't possibly…'

He drew out an envelope, and handed it to her.

'As you can see, I intended to post this to you in any case…'

Ida took the envelope and saw that it was indeed addressed to her.

Holmes turned away

'Watson,' he said, 'come on…'

'Thankyou,' said Ida, simply, to his retreating back.

… … …

Ida went and sat on a bench near the parcel weighing machine, and tore open the envelope. There was a note inside, in a firm sloping copperplate

'Miss Greene, please find enclosed wages for the investigative work you carried out at my behest, and compensation for any inconvenience suffered.'

Ida shook the envelope again, and out fluttered 5 one pound notes. She clutched at them in disbelief. 5 pounds! This was nothing short of miraculous.

She sat on the bench for a good ten minutes, considering the new options which had opened up. The faintest glimmerings of an idea were forming in the back of her mind. She hardly dared to give them shape, in case gazing at them in the harsh light of reality made them crumble, but…

Ida looked again at the money in her palm, and counted once more. Then she walked, casually, over to the ticket office.

'Tell me,' she said, 'how much is a single to London?'