Sherlock took a seat in his chair across from John only for a moment before arising quickly and pacing back in forth in front of the woman sitting in front of him.
"Mr. Holmes I-I know it's not the kind of thing you normally deal with but well, you see, I was just hoping that-"
"Oh just spit it out already! I have things to do and my rejection of your case would go quite a bit faster if you would be so kind as to stop moussing around that would be wonderful." Sherlock interrupted her causing the poor girl to be taken aback momentarily by his harsh comment. John gave Sherlock a look of disapproval.
"Sorry about him he's been on edge lately."
"I have not been 'on edge' John I've just been around idiots like her for too long." John took a deep breath in and let it out. Sherlock was going to get punched in the nose soon if he didn't get a case.
"Sorry," John told the woman giving her his best sympathetic look, "Please go on."
"I'm Violet. Violet Hunter. And I came here about a job-"
"Sorry not hiring goodbye," Sherlock tried to usher her out of the chair but she didn't get up to leave.
"No you misunderstand I was offered a job as a nanny to this child through my agency and it was the oddest thing. And I came here to see if maybe you could give me- " At this point Sherlock saw she was not leaving and took a seat if she insisted on speaking at the moment fine he really did feel like he was going mad in this place and there was something odd about this client. She seemed nervous but not enough to go to the police and the state of her single worn out golden bracelet told him she obviously had not much to steal so no theft. No, she looked as if she was seeking something other than just Sherlock's regular services of finding things, people, or solving crime no she looked as if she wanted.
"Protection," Sherlock said interrupting her sentence once again this time completing it for her instead of insulting her.
"Yes how did you know?" Internally Sherlock sighed even if he had told her the explanation of how her loose hair-do and tattered clothing screamed financially troubled, but not desperate, for money. She held herself in a way that he could tell that she wasn't in a relationship of any kind well that and her perfume which was far to flirty for a woman in a relationship which also meant that this was not a love affair case. She was still her knowing quite well this wasn't the place to go for real protection so she must have doubt in her mind of whether or not she was paranoid. So she came to a detective to an almost insurance move to ensure if anything odd went on someone might be there for her. The real thing Sherlock wanted to ask was what could have made such a clearly sane person to be so doubtful they would go to a detective.
"So what is it about this job that was so 'odd' Ms. Hunter?" Sherlock asked his hands now folded under his nose as they always did when he was reading people.
"Well it was a number of things really." Violet started "Firstly they were going to pay me double my salary to babysit only one kid which I found weird but I was not going to complain. Then they wanted me to wear a uniform but not just any uniform it is more of a dress to match their own clothing. I was wondering why that would matter and who wants their nanny to dress like them anyways? Then they also want me to cut my hair extremely short. I love my hair and I simply cannot see why it matters how long it is I mean it is my hair and-"
"Ms. Hunter you are clearly accepting the job so why come to me?" Sherlock cut in once again.
"Well I was hoping that with all this suspicious activity I could have someone to contact in case" her voice trailed off at this point but both Sherlock and John got the image. "So what do you think Mr. Holmes will you help? You know, if need be." John could almost feel Sherlock's rejection coming. A client coming in asking for protection from a slightly odd household what household didn't have its oddities. John could only hope Sherlock would be merciful and not too harsh to the poor girl.
"Yes of course you have my word I will be here if you are in need of my services." Sherlock said causing John to give a slight cough in surprise. "Please come back if you hear of anything else" Looking pleased Violet got out of her chair and thanked the two men as she walked out the door. Just as she left John turned to Sherlock a look of surprise on his face.
"What was that?" John asked when Sherlock said nothing as he continued to sit peacefully in his seat.
"What was what?"
"That. You, taking on a client who just has a case of pre-job jitters who will probably never even come back here!"
"Ah John, you really never do look further then the surface do you." Sherlock stood up re-buttoning is suit jacket. "She will be in by tomorrow afternoon."
"And how could you possibly know that?" John asked as Sherlock walked right into the kitchen grabbing a bag of what looked like mold out of the fridge.
"Because John, she will need a detective tomorrow obviously."