Chapter 8: The Woman

You sit there on the couch,

"John... John just broke up with me..."

Sherlock looked at you, "That is what he tends to do... But I don't usually have to deal with the aftermath." Sherlock says truthfully.

You rub your arms and start shivering, "I can't believe that just happened... I mean... I didn't do anything wrong..."

Before you knew it Sherlock tossed a blanket over your shoulders and handed you the cup of tea that John left behind. He then awkwardly shuffled to the kitchen to continue his work.
You blush lightly as you hold onto the cup of tea, "I guess I need to leave then..."
"John won't be coming back within two to three days. That usually happens when he storms off. Besides, I need someone free from distractions to assist me."

"What makes you think I'm free from distractions?"

"You've been bored with him all along. You showed poor interest in the guy. Even a blind man could see it."

You sigh, "Yeah... I guess I'm guilty. But I still feel bad none the less."

"Well shake that guilt off. I'll need your full concentration in this."

He glares at you and you just nod at him.
"I can try... But no promises... None at all..."
You take a drink from the tea and stand up.

That night came and went in a flash of light. Before you knew anything else you were sleeping in a couch, waking up at the sound of beautiful music played in a violin. You sit up and rub your eyes to help you wake up. Sherlock finishes his song by the time you're standing and stretching.

"Quickly. We need to get on going and go interview a man called Troy Todd. He was recently checked out from a hospital with a cured shoulder. Might be the man we're looking for."
He turned to you and tilted his head,
"Are you ready?"

You push your hair into a ponytail and nod, "Yeah yeah, let's go."

You spend hours after hours of researching with Sherlock. You've gone through two interviews, three chases and one drop from a balcony to another. The results of all that we're quite useful.
Troy had been in a long distance relationship with a girl by the nickname of "_TheWoman_". You'd observe that every time the name came up Sherlock flinched or looked uncomfortable. This made you feel rather angry inside, why would that nickname be of any meaning to him? You thought to yourself.
Troy had apparently not known The Woman in person until that day in the alley, he didn't know much about her except that she was 31 years old and single, which was clearly a lie. As of our murderer, he knew nothing. But at least we were one step closer to finding him by identifying this woman.

Sherlock was sitting on his chair, thinking and thinking. You sat across him just staring at him. Trying to not disturb him or think of anything else but the case. He flexes his shoulders,
"The Woman... Why The Woman?"
"It's a rather erotic name. May mean many things, the woman of your dreams? Perhaps?"
"This is not Irene, she's in America and if she's smart enough she will not come back... But... Why the nickname..."
Your chest began to ache once he mentioned the name of another woman, "Who's Irene?" You ask trying to sound casual.
"The Woman. The real woman."
"And why do you act so jumpy when you hear her nickname or name?"
"I don't act jumpy."
"You're acting jumpy right now!"

Sherlock stares at you, tilting his head slightly, as if thinking of something.

"Don't look at me like that!"
"Look at you how?"
"Like that! Like if I'm a species you just discovered."
"You're being ridiculous."
"You're ridiculous."
"Stop acting like a child!"
"Stop being so heartless!" You stand up and glare at him. Your hands forming into fists out of anger.

Sherlock glared at you back before his expression softened.
"Oh why didn't I think of this before!"
He then jumped from his seat to his laptop and got onto a website. There were pictures of a seductive woman, or a dominatrix all over it.

"The girl. She should of been a fan... And her death wasn't too long ago so a comment in an article by our lady should be here. He might of deleted all her information but not her nicknames, oh no. Neither the minds of others, meaning this woman, by finding her username we can find people she knew, leading us to her identity!"

You sigh and take a hold of your coat,
"I need some air, I'm coming back at night."
You say before slamming the door shut behind yourself and leaving the building.