Ch. 4
Changing the game
OD
As the cab pulled up to the entrance of the hotel, I got out and started walking to my room. Before I entered into the hotel, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I looked over to my right, but there was nothing there. Must have been my imagination... I thought, making my way up to my room.
When I walk in I see Lyra sprawled out on the armchair in the corner of the room with handcuffs on, behind her back (It's a hobby of hers to get out of handcuffs). I walk over to her, and try to take the handcuffs off, but after several failed attempts, I settle on positioning her body in a more comfortable position. I then go to my own bed and sit cross legged, getting out my laptop. I go onto my email to check my messages. There is one from my editor. Oh, is she going to mad.
I open the message and am presented with a coloring of many explicit words. I hadn't told my editor that I would be leaving to London until the day before I left, and that was only in a brief message. I had told her that I would be going to London for an unknown amount of time, and wouldn't continue with my latest novel until I came back. I knew at the time that she would be angry with me. After all, this isn't the first time I have had to delay my writing due to my adventures with Lyra. I exited out of my email, deciding to deal with my editor's wrath at a later date.
I slowly close my laptop and glance over at Lyra who is still in a deep sleep. She must be so emotionally exhausted. I continue looking at her peaceful face when I remember what Sherlock had said about her getting a text message. I creep over to the armchair and fish in her pockets until I feel the familiar shape of her phone and take it into my hands. I click onto her inbox, and there are several different conversations that adorn the screen. On one of them the number was blocked, so this must be it. I opened up the message and it read Did you miss me? –A. I stared at it, my skin starting to go cold. My mind starts so wonder back to the morning I woke up after I saved Lyra from Artimis.
My eyes started to flutter open, and were bombarded with blinding lights around me. It smelt like cleaners and plastic. I tried looking around, but it took me several minutes before I was able to lift my head at all. I was hooked up to an I.V. and a machine but my mind was still too fuzzy to identify it. At the foot of my bed, I saw a Lyra's sleeping with her face right by my feet. For a moment I didn't know what was going on. Why was I in this bed? Then it all came flooding back to me. The carnival, Lyra bleeding, the man. The shot. It was then that I realized I had wrapping around my torso and was in a hospital bed. I looked down at Lyra again. Both her wrists were completely wrapped up, and I could barely make out the stitches on her temple under her hair. She must have drifted off to sleep waiting for me to wake up. I smiled. How uncharacteristically sweet.
I slowly bring my hand up to stroke the hair on her head. I was so happy she was alright. Just thinking about how I found her made me sick to my stomach. She looked so terrified. An expression I had never seen her wear before. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost her. She was more than just a friend. She was like a sister to me, and at times I almost felt like her mother.
As I kept stroking her hair she started to stir and lifted her head up. A small smile sneaked onto my lips at her expression as she looked at me. She stared at me with wide eyes before pouncing on me and giving me a big hug, which took me by surprise. Physical contact was not her thing. I cringed when she bumped my stomach, and she quickly recoiled when she realized what she had done
"Oh my god! Olive I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, I should have been more careful. Are you alright?" She said trying to check for any damage she had done.
"Olive?" I ask with a smirk on my face. She had only recently started calling me Olivia since she had insisted on calling me Dougan for the longest time, which I completely detested.
"I'm so sorry. This all happened because of me. You got yourself hurt because of me! How could you ever forgive me?!" she rushes out, ignoring my comment about the new nickname.
"Lyra, Lyra! Calm down. This wasn't your fault." I say trying to calm her down.
"Of course it was! If I had just waited. If I hadn't just gone alone…" She says trailing off.
"Not it wasn't! You didn't pull that trigger, Artimis did. You can't blame yourself. I should have been more careful and checked if he was dead, instead of runner over to you like a chicken with their head cut off." I say giving her a small smile. "Besides, I will be fine."
"No, you won't be fine. That scar will be with you for the rest of your life. The doctor's that took you into intensive care said you only have a 30% to live. I almost lost you. I thought I did lose you." She gushed out, making frantic hand gestures in the air. They must have given her some type of drug for the pain. She would never be this emotional if she was in a rational state. I reach up and put my hand on both sides of her face, being careful not to bump her stitched.
"You didn't lose me Lyra. I'm right here and I am going to be fine. I don't care about some stupid scar left by some stupid man. Because that is all he is. A man. We will catch him, and I'll be right beside you the whole way. Whether you like it or not" I say looking her straight in the eyes. After a moment she slowly nods then goes back to her seat.
The rest of my time in the hospital, she acts more like her normal self, although she would still fret over me at the slightest things until I was released. Lyra and I went back to our normal routine. She didn't stop calling me Olive though. From that time on, we were never apart.
The night was still young, so before I go to bed I pull out a book and read for a while.
LC
My eyes flutter open as I start to overheat. I looked down to see a blanket over me and a sleeping Olive on her bed. I sighed as I easily slip my handcuffs off and stretch my now swore arms above my head. I push off the blanket and get up and slowly slip out of the room, not wanting to wake up the writer. I decide to take the elevator down to the parking garage where I take out my phone and text Artimis Meet me at the central park in ten minutes. –LC I closed my eyes as I hit send. I start walking towards the park, the night air biting my skin, making me shiver. I hug my jacket as I see the park within eye sight as I pull out my hair tie as my hair falls down to my shoulders. I take a deep breath as I walk to a bench at the edge of the park below a tree.
"I was surprised you texted me," The dark voice made me jump, as I turned to see Artimis siting down beside me.
"I didn't think you would show up. Knowing I'm here to catch you." I say as I look at him. There was a scar on his left temple where Olive had shot him. He chuckled as he leaned over towards me as he pulled my hair back behind my ear.
"I wouldn't miss my chance to see you my love. I think about you all the time." He smiles as he studies my body. I shiver at the thought of him touching my hair let alone thinking about me.
"I only asked to see you so I could warn you." I stand up and glare at him.
"I will catch you, and I will kill you." I said with anger, trying so hard not to kill him here and now. But I knew he had his people watching me, ready to shoot if I made any sudden movements. He looked at me as he raised his eye brow and laughed as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I admire you Lyra. So determined to kill me, but it won't be that easy love. You see, we're meant to be together." He grabs my wrist and rubs his thumb over my scar as he frowns at the thought of my skin damaged. I yank my wrist from his grip and started walking away as I shove my hands into my jacket pocket.
"Till next time Lyra Carter." He said softly. I ignored him as I kept walking, trying so hard not to run back there and kill him, not caring if I died along with him.
"For someone who claims to be so bright, that was a stupid idea." A voice said as it snaps me from my thoughts. I turn to see Scarf boy walking besides me. I roll my eyes and keep walking as Scarf boy just follows me, like he was trying to comfort me in his own way. I walked past the hotel as I found a great tea place and walked in, hoping cheek bones would leave me alone. But he followed and sat across from me at the table.
"Why are you still following me? Isn't Sweaters going to worry about you when he finds out your gone?" I said with annoyance as the waiter comes over and places two cups and a kettle. I flash her a smile as I make my tea.
"Olivia will be worried about you as well. But here you are, out at night meeting up with Artimis." He said as he glances out the window, not taking his tea. I take a sip and sigh.
"True. But doesn't explain why you were at the park." I said with curiosity. I could mostly read people well, but Scarf boy was difficult to read.
He looked at me for a brief moment then turned to look out the window.
"I had a hunch you would contact him. And from what I've read about him, he's stronger and faster than you. So I followed you to the park, just in case things got hectic. Media would be all over this case with an American killed on our soil. The case that was never solved." He said as he started fiddling with his hands.
"I'm not American. I just live there, I was born here." I said, as I twitched with annoyance. If he was as brilliant as everyone said, he would have researched me and would have known I was born here. But then again, I did cover my traces when I fled to America. I guess it worked after all.
"Why live in America?" He said with curiosity, as he leaned forward, interested in my story. I took another sip of my tea and took a deep breath. There were reasons why I mostly blocked my childhood off.
"Because I had nothing left here. My family was murdered and I had no other relatives so I became an orphan. I got kidnapped into the drug business because they knew I was smart and decided to use my abilities. I helped smuggle drugs through London to Mexico, making plans and bribing the right people. One day I overheard the Boss making plans on framing me for a murder that happened in London that was connected to them. I got scared and smuggled myself out of the country and took my mother's maiden name Carter. I erased my records from the London database, so the mafia couldn't trace me. Thus ending up in America…beautiful place but nothing like London."
I sighed as I finished my tea and leaned back in my chair. Scarf boy continued to stare at me like he was wondering if my story was true.
"Did you ever find who killed your parents?" He said with interest as I glanced outside the window again. I shrugged my shoulders as I poured myself another cup of tea.
"Not that I know of." And honestly didn't care anymore. I blocked that night out of my head and shut off my emotions. They got in the way of everything and made it hard to see the facts. Cheekbones was about to say something when his phone went off. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled it out.
"Sherlock Holmes." He answered his phone. He nodded his head and placed his phone back into his pocket.
"Another case has opened up. So I must be going." Scarf boy got up and started walking off when I got up and placed money on the table.
"Oh goodie, I was starting to get bored. May I accompany you?" I asked as I followed him out of the tea shop.
"No," He said simply as he hailed a cabbie. I smiled and slide into the cabbie after him as I shut the door and ignored his glares.
"I always love a case. Need to stop by the hotel to grab my scarf. It's awfully windy tonight." I stared out the window, not caring if Scarf boy didn't like if I tagged along, but he really had no choice. I could hear him sigh as he didn't say another word till we reached the hotel.
I entered the elevator as cheek bones followed and pushed the fourth floor button. I was smiling with excitement, a new case, and if Lestrade called him, it meant it was a really good case. The door opened slowly as I dashed to the room, and slid the card key in and opened the door as I held the door open for Scarf boy to come in.
OD
I wake up with my book in my lap sitting on my hotel bed. I must have drifted. Why do I always do that? I wonder. I rub my eyes for looked at the time on my phone. 12:56am. I probably should go to bed. I am sliding under the cover's after I put on my pajama's when I realize something isn't right. Something's missing…
Lyra
I jump up off my bed and run over to the bathroom. Oh please just be in the bathroom, please, I mentally beg.
"Lyra, you in here?" I ask as I open the door to the bathroom. No one's there. Panic wrenches at my gut. If she got taken right underneath my nose, I will never forgive myself. I dash back to my bedside to grab my phone and punch in her number. Right before I can hit the dial number the hotel room door opens. In comes Lyra and… is that Sherlock?
I slam my phone back into the bed and stomp over to her so I'm right under her nose.
"Lyra! Where the hell have you been?!" I ask pointing my finger up at her face.
"I had something I needed to take care of." She says walking around my rage induced body.
"Take care of? What the hell could you have to 'take care of' its-"I stop mid-sentence when it hits me. She better not have.
"Please…please tell me you didn't do what I think you did." I say in a low voice.
"I could tell you that, but we both know that I would be lying." She says, as if it isn't a huge deal.
"You met with him! What were you thinking?! He could have killed you!" I nearly scream out at her.
"No he wouldn't have. He doesn't want me dead. Too attached to me for that." Lyra says in a level voice.
"How could you possibly know that for sure. He is a psychopath! How could you know what he was going to do." I say, starting to quiet my voice as I realize how elevated it was getting. She doesn't respond, and that is enough of an answer in my eyes. She didn't know. She stupidly walked right into danger without even thinking of the consequences. I couldn't even describe how furious I was with her right now. I was then, that I realized Sherlock still standing in the doorway.
"And what are you doing here? This wasn't your idea was it? After all you said that you saw the text." I say accusingly. If he gave Lyra the stupid idea to do what she did, he is a dead man walking.
"I was in the neighborhood." Sherlock says in his calm deep voice. I was about to retort when Lyra interrupted.
"Scarf boy didn't have anything to do with this Olive. I chose to go." She said not even looking at me anymore. Instead she was rummaging through her suit case for something.
"What are you doing?" I ask momentarily forgetting some of my anger.
"I am going to a crime scene with Cheekbones. He got a call from detective inspector Lestrade about a murder. Don't worry, its completely unrelated to Artimis." She says, getting frustrated that she can't find what she is looking for. I nod after a moment and turn my attention back to Sherlock. I haven't really been able to talk to him at all since I met him, and take the opportunity to speak with him.
"So Sherlock…you're a deductionist too?" I ask.
"Yes, that is correct." He replies, giving no elaboration.
"Well, let's see it then. Tell me what you see." I say taking a step back and holding my arms slightly out away from my body. I don't know if he know's, but I am quite used to this type of thing from Lyra and found it fascinating. I couldn't help to see if he was as good as Lyra. Sherlock just stared at me with a strange look on his face before he spoke.
"Well, your clothes obviously indicate that you come from a wealthy family and life style. Your job as a writer has been successful but you feel a sense of emptiness in your carrier. That's why you have stayed with Lyra for years now, even though it has impaired your writing. But, it's just not the excitement that entices you, it's a bond you both share. I would say longtime friends, but that cant be right because of your service in the American army judging by how you carry yourself, not to mention the dog tag you constantly adorn. No, I would say your heavy attachment to Lyra is from a near death experience. At first I thought the scar that your hands continually gravitate toward was from your time in service. Now I see it occurred after you were relieved from active duty, while accompanying Lyra with on one of her cases, hence the bond between the both of you. You are regularly uncomfortable around other people particularly the male gender, as you often fidget and look at your feet. It's not because of any past relationships, because you are not afraid of commitment or have been impaired from the lack thereof. This indicated that the problem most likely orginates from your family. You had strict parents with high expectations during your childhood. Your mother was distant with you and yooooour, two siblings growing up? She was often gone, likely on business. Your father always expected more from you, and you would seclude yourself whenever you fell short of those expectations. You still have anxiety when interacting with superiors, so your relationship with your father has never really changed. Your presence here at this current case with Artimis is due to more than just your presence at his last attacks. No, he has affected you on a deep level. So, that scar on your abdomen must be from him." He says, finishing his analysis. The entire time he spoke, it all sounded like one congruent thought. How curious! Lyra is the same way.
I continue to stare at him for another moment before breaking out into a smile.
"Wow, you and Lyra really are incredibly alike." I say I awe. Sherlock's face sour's as a say this. I hear a scoff from behind me. Lyra must have found what she was looking for. Lyra looks at Sherlock and rolls her eyes.
"If you're ready now, I would like to go." Lyra says in annoyance to Sherlock. They both start to head for the door when I reach out and grab Lyra's arm.
"We will talk about you seeing Artimis later" I say sternly before adding, "Please be careful and don't go off on your own. I wouldn't be surprised if he follows you in the shadows." She looks at me for a moment before giving me a nod.
I watch them leave then head back over to my bed. Thank god she was okay. I then slip under the covers and turn in for the night.
My dreams were restless. I would wake up every hour in a cold sweat. My nightmares were riddled with me and Lyra being chased and tormented by Artimis. Almost all of them ended with a searing pain in a familiar spot on my torso. I hadn't experienced nightmares this bad since I first came home from active duty. Maybe it was the unknown of what is going to happen is what's making me have these dreams. I gave up on sleeping by five in the morning. If Lyra was here she would give me a round of applause.
I got out of my bed and headed for the bathroom to take a nice hot shower. After I had washed my body and hair, I stood underneath the nozzle until the water ran cold. Reluctantly, I got out and proceeded my normal routine. After getting my hair, and make up done I went and change into a casual outfit. I put on some plain dark blue jeans, and black willowy tank.
After sitting around in my hotel room for about an hour, I decide to go out for coffee. Maybe I can do a little shopping too. I doubt Lyra will come back for a while, I think. I grab my purse and head off to a local café. I go to the main hotel lobby and ask the woman behind the front desk if she has any recommendations for any good café's in the area. She tells me of a place called Speedy's Cafe about a mile from the hotel. I get the directions from her and decide to walk, thinking the fresh air might help clear my troubled thoughts from earlier on this morning, instead of hailing for a cab.
The walk is pleasant. At least for how London weather is. The sun would peak out every now and then, and the streets weren't too crowded with drivers yet, so there was still a somewhat calm atmosphere. It took me about thirty five minutes to reach my destination. The café was a quaint little place. Quiet and had that local business I absolutely loved. Back in New York, my favorite restaurants to go to were always family owned. It always felt like, in some way, I was getting to know a little bit about the peoples' lives, from the foods they would sell. And then there was always to great service they provided. I stayed lost in my thoughts of home for a while until a small older woman came up to me.
"Hello dearie, I haven't seen you here before. Did you just move here?" she asked. She seemed like a very sweet lady.
"Umm no, I'm just visiting for a while. A lady at my hotel told me this was a good place for coffee." I say with a smile on my face. I don't know why, but this woman just made me happy. Maybe it was her grandmotherly smile.
"Oh, you're American! I knew a young American once. Such a nice boy. Always would ask me if I needed help with anything." She said with fond smile playing on her lips. I gave out a small chuckle and held out my hand to her.
"Olivia Dougan." I say. She takes my hand and shakes it.
"Martha Hudson, I'm the land lady here." She says.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Hudson, would you care to join me? I would love the company." I ask her hopefully. I don't want her to leave yet. She was already making me mood so much better.
"Oh yes, of course, I would love to dear." She says sitting down across from me. "So, tell me a little bit about yourself."
I proceed to tell her about my home in New York and my career. I then start to tell her about shadowing Lyra when she interrupts me.
"This girl sounds a bit like the boys." She says.
"Boys?" I ask a little confused.
"Oh yes! The boys living in 221b. They do detective work too. Sherlock's always causing such a ruckus…" She says excitedly then trails off. I freeze with my coffee mug halfway up to my mouth. It couldn't be.
"I'm sorry, but…did you say Sherlock?" I ask, not trusting my ears.
"Yes, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. They even work with the police sometimes. Such dear boys."
"Oh my god…" I say in a whisper before I start laughing. Ms. Hudson gives me a funny look.
"Excuse me Ms. Hudson, it's just I have already met John and Sherlock. I'm working with them on a case. That's why Lyra and I are in London." I say, still shocked that I have been talking to John and Sherlock's land lady.
"What a small world!" Ms. Hudson says enthusiastically.
"A small world indeed." I say. The rest of our conversation, Ms. Hudson rambles on about all the messes Sherlock makes with his experiences. I listen intently, laughing often at the pairs antics. After about ten more minutes Ms. Hudson starts to stand up and I follow.
"I best be going dear. Errands that have to be taken care of and all, but it was wonderful talking to you." Ms. Hudson says smiling at me.
"Thanks for joining me. Have a good day," I reply smiling back at her, and grabbing my purse.
"You too dear." She says as I leave.
After I leave Speedys, I decide to go shopping for some different shoes. These heels were killing me. It takes me a while but eventually I find a shoe store. The store is relatively small, and smells strongly of rubber. I browse through different shoes and try on at least twenty. After a while I start to develop a migraine. I sit down on one of the low stool and bow my head over my knee's. Where was this headache coming from? I felt fine earlier. Maybe all of this stress from this case was really starting to get to me. Messing with my psyche. After I few more minutes I get up off the stool and pick which shoes to buy. They are mid-calf high, flat heeled black boots that have flaps at the top that fold down to make them look like a type of pirate boot.
After my shoes are purchased I catch a cab back to the hotel. I'm feeling light headed as I sit in the back of the cab and a tad bit nauseous. The drive seems to take forever. Once I finally make it, I sluggishly walk back up to my room, trying to go slow so I don't pass out of my way up. As I approach my room, I reach in my purse to find the room card. Then realization hits me when I remember Lyra has it. She took it with her when she left with Sherlock last night. Damnit it all to hell!
Slowly I head back to the elevator so I can get another card at the front desk. I press the button with the down arrow and wait for the elevator. As the elevator door open's I see a very worried looking Lyra standing in front of her. When she sees me her face lightens, then darkens just as quick.
"I have been trying to get a hold of you." She says incredulously.
"What? No you haven't." I ask confused.
"Yes I have, four times see?" She says whipping out her phone and holding it out in front of me. It says my name with the calling out symbol next to it and a little number four in parenthesis. I stare at it for another moment, scrunching my eyebrows together before pulling out my own phone. I push the button to open it up when it appears to be just turning on.
"Really? You shut your phone off? I didn't think you were that angry with me." Lyra says looking down at my phone.
"I didn't shut it off! The battery must have partly come out or something…" I say trailing off trying to find what was wrong with it.
"Are those new shoes?" she says looking down at my legs that adorned my new boots.
"Uh, yea I did some shopping this morning…" I say putting my phone back into my pocket when I can't figure out what had happened to it.
"You? Out shopping? This early? Are you all right?" Lyra says not believing me.
"Just because I'm not sleeping this early you automatically assume something it wrong with me?" I ask raising an eyebrow.
"Well, yes." She replies. I give an exasperated sigh, when I realize why was standing here.
"You have the room card right?" I ask.
"Yes" she says.
"Give it here, I couldn't get into the room because you took it with you." I say holding my hand out.
"Oh no, I came here to come get you. The case Lestrade called in to cheekbones is absolutely brilliant!" Lyra says excitedly.
"Lyra, I'm not feeling very well." I say.
"Well that much was obvious, you're not sleeping. That was enough of an indicator of that little fact." She says ignoring my protests as she dragged me in the elevator. I give her a glare. She's making me sound like a chronic sleeper.
"Come on Olive, there is nothing that lift's your spirits then I good case." Lyra says stepping around me and pushing me on my back, into the elevator.
"Lyra!" I say in protest, though not really putting much effort into it. I knew Lyra wouldn't take no for an answer. Besides, maybe she was right. Maybe all I need is something to distract me.
We catch a cab back to the crime scene her and Sherlock were at earlier. We pulled in front of an eloquent looking building. There was crime scene tape outstretched in front of the entrance. We walked into the building, flashing our passes as we walk by the officers standing out front.
When we get inside, there were outlines drawn on the ground where the bodies had laid. They must have taken them all to the morgue by now, but there was still blood on the floor. So much blood. I look around me, to count the number of body outlines under our feet. There had to have been at least eleven victims. It was then, that Sherlock and John started to walk over to us, with Lestrade trailing behind.
I watch them approach and ask, "What happened here?" Lestrade is the one to answer me.
"Eleven victims, and no known suspects. The shooting appears to be at random. Last night a large trade company was hosting a donation dinner here. Eight dinner attendee's and two employee's."
"What of the eleventh?" I ask, realizing he only mentioned ten victims.
"That's where things get complicated…"Lestrade says rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.
"Complicated?" I ask
"Yea. It's just that the eleventh victim, is also the perpetrator." He says, looking like he is in deep thought while he speaks.
"If the person who did it is dead, then why is it still under investigation?" I continue.
"Because the shooter appears to have been exposed or spiked with some kind of poison. Sherlock believes that both the shooting and poisoning are linked." Lestrade finishes. His phone then rings and answers talking to the other person on the line for a minute before hanging up.
" Come on, back to the station. We just got the video footage from the security cameras." Lestrade tells all of us before walking away.
"Video footage? A restaurant has video footage?" I wonder out loud.
"Oh course, this is one of the most renown restaurant's in all of London. Only the wealthy can afford to come here, so it's obvious they would install security camera's." Sherlock answers as if I was an idiot.
"Oh…right." I reply feeling stupid for asking. I wasn't too unused to feeling stupid when at crime scenes or during investigations. After all, I'm no private detective, I'm just a writer. I had asked plenty of questions that Lyra thought were stupid and annoying, but that was Lyra. Getting that from someone else was just embarrassing. Especially someone I had just met. It reminded me how out of place I was. I shifted from one foot to the other as Sherlock and Lyra started walking off. I think Sherlock was saying something about wanting Lyra to leave because she wasn't needed and this not being related to her at all. She was having none of that of course. Good ole stubborn Lyra.
"They seem a little bit alike don't they?" John asked me. He was so quiet the whole time I forgot he was there.
"Yea, strange isn't it. Never thought I would meet someone like Lyra." I reply smiling at the thought of someone having something in common with her.
"Same here. Maybe it will be good for them. Maybe if Lyra keeps on getting on his nerves he will know how everyone else always feels around him." John says shaking his head with a smile. I laugh at that.
The entire way over to the police station, Lyra and Sherlock were bickering. At first I thought it was funny seeing someone that Lyra got so easily irritated by. I guess not. Their stupid banters were starting to give me a headache. And to make things worse, their banters aren't even going anywhere. I couldn't even tell you what it was about. I was already feeling lightheaded from earlier today, I don't need more adding to it. I couldn't wait to get to the station so they would both be distracted and just shut up. I look over to John, and I can tell he feels the same.
Once we arrived and were in Lestrades office, Sherlock and Lyra finally stopped. I could already feel my headache subsiding. There was a TV in the corner of the room where Lestrade was putting what I assumed was the security footage. He turned it on, and started skipping through the video to the time of the shooting. When he hit play, the screen showed the restaurant. Nearly all the tables were taken up with women in fancy dresses and men wearing expensive suits. It all seemed very normal.
"Now, look at the man in the far left corner." Lestrade says pointing at the screen to a man sitting at one of the tables. All of the other people were talking, but the one Lestrade had pointed out was fidgeting in his seat. The footage went on like this for several minutes, during which the man kept drinking his water and you could faintly see the man sweating. Eventually he excuses himself from the table and off the right side of the room and disappears off of the cameras view.
"Here, he goes to the bathroom for a few minutes." Lestrade explains while skipping ahead several minutes. The footage rolls for a second before the man comes running out of where the bathrooms were, back into the main room. He scrambles across the room, tripping twice and falling on a waiter. Once he gets back on his feet, he appears to be yelling at the waiter who was trying to help him to his feet. Then he started yelling at everyone else in the room. His eyes look wide and his movements are hysteric. Then he pulls out a gun from the inside of his coat jacket and starts shooting wildly. People hurry to hide underneath tables or run for the door. After about a minute the man starts to double over and coughs violently before falling to the ground. He doesn't get back up.
"Oh my god…" I say as I let out a breath. I have obviously seen worse, since I have been in combat, but it still wasn't easy to take.
"Any ideas?" Lestrade asked facing Sherlock, but was answered my Lyra.
"Five at the moment." Lyra says still staring at the screen. "Let me see when the dinner first starts."
Lestrade stared at her, then at Sherlock who was giving her a cold stare before rewinding the footage. The screen showed the people arriving and greeting each other as they entered into the restaurant, including the man who went insane.
"Just as I thought. That man, he seems to be perfectly fine at the beginning of the dinner. I would say poisoned." Lyra says.
"That's what Sherlock had suggested to me while you went to get Olivia earlier." Lestrade says. Sherlock appeared to be about to say something when Lyra quickly intercepted, so she could speak first.
"It must have been his drink." Lyra says while giving Sherlock a smug look for being able to beat him to the punch. I think Sherlock muttered something, but I catch what it was.
"Why do you say that?" Asks John from beside Sherlock.
"Well, it would either have to have been in his food or drink. That's the only thing that could have infected his system from the beginning of the dinner to the shooting. It's not his food because he hardly even touched it. He kept drinking his water. The more he drank, the more he got infected. Detective Lestrade, you may want to find out all of those who were working their last night. I doubt any of the employees did it, but one of them might have seen something." Lyra says, turning to John then at Lestrade. The detective looks at her then mutters a 'right' before walking off to talk to other officers in the building. Sherlock have a loud huff.
"Something the matter cheekbones?" Lyra says, noticing Sherlocks attitude. Before he can retort, the women I saw talking the detective Anderson the day prier walking in.
"Hello freak…" She said looking at Sherlock. Sherlock didn't react, but I saw John's expression tighten. I knew by her expression that that name had no endearment in it. The way she said it could only be interpreted as distain.
"Donovan…" Sherlock said rolling his eyes but not looking at her. She gave him a glare before noticing me and Lyra. When her eyes land on me they narrow even more ever so slightly.
"What are you two doing here? This isn't the Artimis case." She spits out. She must not like bring unfamiliar with people she works with or something.
"We thought we could assist with other investigations while we are here. Lestrade doesn't seem to have a problem with us here. I assume you were told about me before I arrived, so you must know at least a little about my track record. So maybe instead of acting arrogant and prude you should try focusing on finding the murderer detective." Lyra said, staring straight into her eyes with a scowl played across her face. Oh no. Lyra didn't like detective Donovan one bit, I could tell. When she strongly dislikes someone her 'sensor' as I call it, is completely shattered. What I couldn't figure out was why she held such distain towards the detective. Lyra has dealt with much more difficult people in the force back in the states. Why was it bothering her so much now?
Detective Donovan raised her eyebrows at Lyra and folded her arms across her chest.
"Last I checked, you were just a visitor here. And what makes you think I can't get you kicked off the investigation?" The detective says raising her chin up just a tad higher.
"Because you haven't." Lyra answers simply with a small, smug smile sneaking onto her lips. She knows she had just won. Donovan looks furious but says nothing and storms out of the room.
"Now you have done it Lyra. We have to work that woman and now she absolutely hates us." I say to Lyra once Donovan is out of sight.
"She was being unprofessional. She needed to be reminded that she isn't as much of a big shot as she clearly thinks she is, especially after how she referred to scarf boy and how she looked at you." Lyra says with no guilt in her voice. In fact, she looks completely at ease with herself.
"Well, if the both of you are done wasting my time, I will now be off." Sherlock says from behind us and starts to walk out of the office with Lyra following behind him.
"Wait a second now, you don't think you can get away that easily do you?" Lyra says, clearly trying to annoy him. "Like I said last night, I am coming with you whether you like it or not, so you might as well get used to the idea of me tagging along. And don't think you could evade me, I already know where you're going?"
"And where would that be exactly?" I ask the pair, not following.
"He is going to the lap to test samples of the dead man's blood." Lyra says not looking at me, but instead is still facing Sherlock.
The four of us all headed to the lab. Lyra and Sherlock quickly get to work, often getting in the way of the other and just as often giving the other foul looks. John and I just sat out of the way unless they asked for assistance, and when I say assistance I mean 'give me this thing' assistance.
Eventually it was nearing lunch time and Lyra and Sherlock still made no signs of finishing. I was really starting to get hungry. Coffee can only sustain me for so long. Another half hour passes by and I am still sitting here. Suddenly my stomach growls. I hear John chuckle next to me. He must have heard it. How embarrassing.
"Would you like to get something to eat? There is a cafeteria up stairs, I can show you." John says.
I give out an embarrassed laugh and nod my head. As we leave I glance back at Lyra and Sherlock who were still working.
