Chapter 12

"You were crystal clear" Sherlock replied, studying Irene face brazenly, "What is it?" she asked defensively crossing her arms over her chest, "For the first time in my life I agree with my brother" he smiled with a sly light in his eyes, "About what?" she tilted her head curious to know his answer, "You have a crush on Molly" Sherlock said not at all surprised or worried.

Irene raised an eyebrow and smiled at him enigmatically "I neither confirm nor deny", she looked outside the house again "You better talk to her. Say something", she went to the French window and opened it wide "Before she slips off your fingers", "That's why I'm here" Sherlock said, "To take her with me to Baker Street" Irene smiled and with a theatrical gesture of her hand Irene invited him to go outside.

The garden was less extensive than one would expect from such a large house. Under an imposing cherry tree stood a dark green wooden bench on which Molly and little Sean sat snuggled under a heavy grey-red checked wool blanket.

The child, unlike Molly, quickly realized someone was walking towards them. He lifted his head from the book she was reading to him and whispered in excitement "I can't believe it!". Molly sat up as Sean got rid of the blanket and jumped to the ground taking a few steps towards his mother and Sherlock with his right arm outstretched to introduce himself "I'm Sean".

Sherlock took his hand and crouched down to be on his eyes level, "I'm auntie Molly's fiancé" the kid added with a short nod towards her. Sherlock looked up and met Molly's eyes, she was closing the book and smiled sweetly at the child, then stood up. "You are a very lucky boy" Sherlock told him, "Nice to meet you, Sean. I'm…", "Sherlock Holmes, yes I know" he interrupted him shaking his hand "Mom says you love auntie Molly and that you want to be her fiancé. Is it true?".

They straight-faced at each other for a moment, then Sherlock took a breath "Basically yes. But it's not just up to me" he glanced at Molly noting her cheeks turning a soft red, "Oh! Grown-ups stuff…I got it!" exclaimed Sean going to hug his mother at her waist. Sherlock snorted a laugh turning his head away.

The same did Molly and Irene who, after whispering something in her son's ear, took him by the hand and walked back to the house. Sherlock had just taken a few steps towards Molly when heard himself called "Mr Holmes!", he turned his head to look at Sean who raised his right hand, brought his index and middle fingers to the level of his eyes and then pointed them at Sherlock, in a clear warning "I'm keeping an eye on you!".

"They both love you very much. It's unusual for Irene Adler to be so fond of someone without having a profit" Sherlock said putting his hands behind his back, "You think so?" Molly asked picking up the blanket and folding it up onto her forearm, "My understanding is that she is quite fond of a well-known detective" she added raising an eyebrow.

Sherlock cleared his throat blushing "Precisely, for purely personal gain, nothing more, Molly" he stated firmly, "There has never been anything between us and there will never be" he added staring his eyes straight into hers to make sure that any of her doubts were dispelled.

"What are you doing here, Sherlock?" Molly asked after holding his gaze for a few seconds, "Mycroft told me everything" he started to walk towards her, "Seems pretty obvious to me since you are here. But why did you come? Are there any problems with my autopsy report?".

Sherlock stopped "No, I haven't even read it" he answered then slowly started to walk closer, "I wanted to see you. I wanted…I need to talk to you, to tell you how I feel" he said hurriedly reaching out to take her hand, "And you left Sterling's case unfinished?" she asked in shock.

Sherlock stepped back as if he were a little boy scolded by his teacher for not turning in a school work, "Listen Sherlock" she whispered stepping closer, "I want to talk to you too and I promise we will" she spoke intensely but softly, "But now your priority is solving the case, giving Lizzie Sterling justice".

Molly gently placed a hand on his arm "And mine is to take care of Sean. I have to dress his arm's wound and I have to give him an injection in an hour and I can't leave him until I will not be sure that he will assimilated the medicine without problems", she gave him a beautiful smile, then she got up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

Sherlock closed his eyes feeling dizzy as her lemon fragrance entered his nostrils. He then lightly placed his hands on her hips and gently pulled her to him. Sighing deeply he leaned his forehead against hers, "Let's make a deal then, Molly Hooper" she nodded placing both hands on his chest, "I go back to Baker Street and get to work. You do everything you have to do here and as soon as you're done, you join me. At any time".

Molly nodded again "Okay, we've a deal, Sherlock Holmes". He looked at her intently, his parted lips a few inches from hers and his breathing becoming harder "Oh, my God, what have you done to me, Molly?" he swallowed hard, "Please send me away, because I can't let you go".

Molly smiled at him softly as she put her hands to his jaw "Go, Sherlock. Go away. Focus on the case. I'll join you later". He nodded and after lingering with his lips on her forehead, Sherlock turned on his heels and almost ran out of the safe house.

Hours later Sherlock was totally focused on his laptop screen when a text arrived on his phone

I'M DOWN HERE – MH

He went down the steps two by two to open the door for her, "Sorry I interrupted you, but I don't want to wake Mrs Hudson" Molly whispered as she entered, "After she takes her herbal teas it is difficult for anything to wake her up" he smiled at her "Come on, let's go upstairs" he urged her climbing the stairs, "Did you find out anything from the autopsy?" Molly asked pulling out her coat, scarf and shoes as Sherlock went to sit at the desk where the laptop was.

"No. I'm sure everything revolves around her pregnancy", "Was it her boyfriend?" she asked doubtfully, Sherlock nodded negatively "Her boyfriend is not the father of the child. Lizzie Sterling was having an affair with a man" he said leaning back. "An older man? As a teacher or a family friend?" Molly pulled her hair up in a ponytail and started to walk closer.

"It could be. I just started checking Lestrade's email. There are some footage of the Sterlings' townhouse and their Villa" he concluded closing his eyes. Molly went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. She was used to his sudden silence which could last for hours, but Molly knew that his brilliant mind came at a cost.

She waited patiently for him to come back from his mind palace, taking advantage of that moment to get a better look at him. She found he hadn't changed physically. His body was always slender and athletic, his gaze always piercing and attentive, a few more wrinkles which, however, gave him an even more intriguing air.

But Molly sensed something different in him. She had noticed during the Villa visit that Sherlock had been less rude, and the way in which he had addressed people, however firm and commanding, was not aimed at showing his prowess.

While he still lingered in his mind palace Molly, standing next to him, was drawn by the freeze frame of the footage from the Villa's CCTV, "I know him!" she exclaimed bending over the screen to get a better look without realizing her breasts were resting on Sherlock's right shoulder.

He snapped open his eyes and they both stood still for a time that seemed endless then Molly sharply stood up and said "It's Dr Allen. He's a famous neurosurgeon", Sherlock shook himself from the transitory rapture and got up to go to the coffee table in front of the sofa.

He leafed through the various sheets of paper until he extracted one with a winning smile and read it quickly "Amy Allen, daughter of Dr Mark Allen" he proclaimed, "The two girls are classmates and…best friends", Molly looked again at the image on the laptop "And this explains why Dr Allen is at Villa Fleur-de-lis at half past midnight?".

Sherlock flipped through more sheets of paper "Tell me the exact day, Molly", she focused her attention on the strip showing the time and day data "October 16th". After reading he picked up his phone and typed something. Molly looked at him as always fascinated by the speed with which his mind connected events and dates, "Go on with the footage and tell me if you see him again" Sherlock told her.

Within an hour and a half they found evidence that Dr Allen was the man Lizzie Sterling was having an affair with. While Sherlock was talking on the phone with Lestrade explaining what he had discovered, Molly had sat on the sofa and had started scrolling, on another laptop, the photos taken on the murder's evening downloaded from Lizzie's friends phones.

Sherlock turned to tell her that the next day the bottom of a small lake near the Villa would be scanned, the murder's weapon allegedly had been thrown there. And Molly pointed out that Amy Allen in the photos posted by her friends after 10 pm was wearing a totally different sweater and skirt than the ones she wore earlier in the evening.

"We're close" Sherlock said sitting down again in front of the laptop. Molly stood up stretching and took her phone from her bag, "What are you doing?" he asked glancing at her, "I'm calling a cab", "Why?" he wanted to know, Molly giggled "To go home" she specified, "What for?" he insisted on knowing.

She smiled lovingly at him letting her arms fall to her sides "To shower and sleep. I barely slept three hours tonight and I don't have your ability to stay awake indefinitely", she bit her lower lip pausing for a few seconds "I know I promised you we would talk, but now I can't. I swear I'll be back in the morning and we'll clear everything up".

"You don't need to go home. My bathroom has a shower, even a bathtub if you like it more. My bedroom has a very comfortable bed and you have a wide choice of sleeping options. Shirts, t-shirts, dressing gowns" he looked into her eyes hoping to have convinced her, "I don't need to sleep so you have the bed to yourself".

Molly had to admit to herself that his proposal was sensible and practical, "Also, I know that hellish thing called washing machine has a specific program for freshening clothes, so they'll be as good as new in the morning" he added. Molly laughed amused "That's enough. You already convinced me saying the word shower".

"Good" Sherlock whispered pleased with himself as she put her phone back in her purse. On her way to the bathroom her eye fell on the coffee table next to Sherlock's chair on which a chessboard stood, "Is this the position of the pieces in our last game?" she asked with her back to him, "Yep, we had to finish it, remember?" she nodded and still turning his back to him asked, "Have you solved Irene's puzzle?".

"The tattoo? No, not yet", Molly took half a turn and said "Maybe I can help you", "How?" he asked frowning with a question look. Molly blushed and pulled off the right sleeve of the black sweater she was wearing. Sherlock froze in his chair as she raised slightly her bra's cup. And then he saw it.

Size of a fist, nestled just under her right breast, there was an image. A delicate, black inking of chess symbol of king and queen. The letter S above the king, the letter M above the queen. And the writing enclosing the two symbols said The King gives in…his Queen turns the tables on.