Prompt from Wordweilder: Scotland Yard takes bets.
Wager
"Come on," Constable Peters hissed, holding out his palm insistently.
"He ain't done," countered Constable Ballard. "Doctor is still asking questions, ain't he?"
Sergeant Harper frowned at the pair of blue caped men. These two were normally very professional. What had gotten into them? True, the criminal had been hauled away ten minutes ago, but Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson were still speaking with Holmes and the doctor.
The pair of constables were so focused on whatever they were talking about, they did not notice as the tall veteran sergeant approached.
"He didn't say it," Peters hissed and patted his palm with his other hand. "He ain't going to say it. He never says it."
"I've heard him say it before!" Ballard countered.
"What's all this then?" Harper growled in that particular way a senior sergeant adopts when he feels discipline is lacking. Both constables jumped and turned wide, guilty eyes on him. "If it's worth talking about, let's hear it."
"Well, Sergeant…" Peters trailed off, looking to Ballard for help.
"Um… Right, sir," Ballard began but was unable to find the words to explain.
"Come on," Harper prompted, clasping his hands behind his back and rising up on his toes for an instant while he regarded the pair with steely eyes. "What is it you two are on about?"
"It's Mr. Holmes, Sergeant," Ballard finally admitted.
"What about the gentleman?" Harper's tone was less a growl this time. Always better to ease up on the lads once they started cooperating.
"Well, sir," Peters began, glanced at his friend and continued, "Mr. Holmes uses certain phrases, see? Particular words."
"And?" Harper asked, not seeing where this was going.
"And… And we…" Ballard could not finish.
Peters jumped in. "We have a bet, Sergeant."
"A bet?" Harper's brows lifted interrogatorily.
"Yes sir," Ballard said hurriedly. "I said Mr. Holmes would say something like 'Elementary, my dear doctor.' Or something close to it."
"And I said he wouldn't because he never says that," Peters said.
"Yes he does!" Ballard insisted. "He says it."
"He ain't said it tonight and that was the bet!" Peters hissed, seeming to forget the sergeant was standing there.
"Ahem!" coughed Harper, scowling at the pair. This drew their attention and they subsided. Harper, in a low voice, asked, "What's the wager?"
"Sir?" Ballard asked, surprised.
"A bob, sir," Peters said.
"Right then." Harper's expression smoothed. "Pay up, Ballard."
"Sergeant?" The young constable drew back, clearly reluctant to surrender.
"Mr. Holmes has said nothing like that phrase," Harper said. "He isn't going to. He never says that. At least, I have never heard him say it."
"But…"
"But nothing!" Ballard was grinning, his palm out insistently. "Sergeant said to pay up. Now pay me!"
"Ballard!" Harper snapped, bringing both constables to rigid attention. "Right. Peters, pay up. Ballard, thank him. The two of you, get back to work and don't let me catch you doing this sort of thing in front of the inspectors again."
"Yes Sergeant!" the constables said in unison.
Ballard could not keep the grin from his face the instant Sergeant Harper turned his back. With poor grace, Peters fished a coin from his pocket and placed it in his friend's palm.
"Come on, Peters," Ballard whispered. "I'll buy you a pint when the shift's over. What do you say?"
Brightening, a surprised smile on his lips, Peters nodded.