Surprise, Surprise
Claire was glad to be back in London, her weekend in the country was reviving yet trivial. She had not received a telegram from either her employer or her cousin, so she assumed that all was well. The weekend in Dorset made her realize how important Mr. Holmes's presence was to her healing from the scars of the past. Her heart leaped at the prospect of a new case as she ascended the steps of Bakerstreet. She opened the door, beaming only to be confronted with the prostrate body of Sherlock Holmes. She rushed to him, thinking he was dead, but saw him stir before she could cross the room. Claire took off her coat and sidled up to his side, she was aware that he was in a dressing gown on top of his regular clothes. He looked like any normal man, his head tilted to one side, casting a grey shade on the rest of him. Claire didn't want to wake him, but she had to know whether or not he was alright. "Mr. Holmes..." She whispered into his ear, in hope that he would wake.
At first he did not stir but he batted at an invisible fly and opened his eyes. His green eyes were blurred and soon became focused on the feminine form that was before him. He got up with great fervor and forced himself against the wall in surprise. "Miss. Watson, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Dorset, sipping tea?" His heart was starting to race again from the sight of her so close to him.
Claire rolled her eyes at his surprise, "I thought you would remember that I said I would be gone for only two days. It felt like two weeks to be honest with you, I am glad to be back in Bakerstreet once more." Claire was surprised he had forgotten, it was very unlike him to be surprised by anything. She narrowed her eyes at him as she paced around the room. "You seem out of sorts this morning Mr. Holmes, what has happened?" Claire ceased pacing but remained in front of the detective.
Holmes sneered as he lit a cigarette, "Of course, how silly of me to have forgotten. Forgive me for my reaction, Miss. Watson. I am unaccustomed to waking up and suddenly seeing a pretty young woman next to me." Holmes pushed back the folds of his dressing gown, now embarrassed for his lack of decorum.
Claire smiled, "It's quite alright Mr. Holmes, I would have done the same in your position. I was going to come later, but I missed this place so I got here early." She motioned towards the clock, which read half past nine. The young took her place behind the desk, and began the process of opening the mail that had arrived. After tossing a few letters that were mere fan mail, she smiled to see a note from Lestrade. "We should be expecting Inspector Lestrade soon; he said there is a case that might interest you." Claire handed the note to her employer who stared at it like it was a sacred text.
Holmes smirked, "I hope this case presents somewhat of a challenge, my mind has been starving for stimulation." He looked from the note to the clock; they had two hours before the inspector arrived. That was ample time to deduce about the assistant sitting to his left. He drew another drag from his cigarette as he poured himself a cup of tea. Holmes's eyes centered on Claire's face, ready to dive in, "Miss. Watson, I was hoping you would be willing to indulge me in providing me some answers to questions about your character." Holmes's tone was quiet but firm.
Claire looked up from a letter from a former client, her brow arched in surprise. "As much as I would like to, I can't help but wonder what your motivation is Mr. Holmes. I have been your assistant for a few years now, what is with this sudden urge to understand me?" Claire squared her shoulders and honed her focus on Holmes.
Sherlock took a step closer to his assistant, "You are mistaken, Miss. Watson I don't want to understand you. I need only to be able to judge you accurately." Holmes blew a stream of smoke to the side, with the knowledge that she would be affronted.
Claire narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you trying to get an emotional rise out of me, Mr. Holmes? Because if you are, I am sorry to inform you that it won't work. I have trusted you with sensitive information about my past already. But, please continue with your inquiry." Claire's heart felt heavy to be questioned with so little civility.
Holmes stared into her blue eyes; he could see the hurt in them though she did best to hide it. "Why did you start courting William Gardiner? He seems to be so different from your previous relationship with Jack Braceguard. He is proud, conservative and not to mention a liar and a cheat." Holmes kept his tone civil, for he knew that he had to be careful.
The young lady gave a deep sigh, "I don't know how to answer that question anymore. A few years ago I would have said it was because I was tired of carrying the weight of Jack's death and I wanted an escape from it. But, now I consider that it was because I was so broken from dealing with Jack and the betrayal from Alexander that I was willing to look beyond all of William's faults. He was a gentlemen to me at first and didn't require too much of me. I was numb to everything, his family's disapproval of me and how I was an outsider. I was glad to hear about the affair, because it gave me leave to wake up from the trance I was in." Claire exhaled and strode towards the window. She wasn't sad anymore, she was glad to get this out in the open at long last. Claire looked back at her employer, his green eyes shining in indifference.
Holmes snorted, "So you admit that this love for William was never genuine, that makes the situation between you two a lot clearer. Now, tell me was Alexander's betrayal that surprising?" He held her gaze, surprised how laid back she was acting.
Claire broke off the deep gaze from her employer, "No, he wasn't getting my full attention or cooperation. I had just had my world shattered by Moriarty; I just wanted to throw myself into my work. I thought if I did that job, I could forget about the pain I was feeling. As long as I kept busy, I could keep my heart out of the equation. You should know all about that Mr. Holmes." Claire felt her shell of relaxation break and she began to shake. She couldn't stop herself from letting these emotions that she was so successful at holding, finally break free. Her tears began falling fast, and she forgot that her employer was watching her carefully. "Alexander...used my emotions against me...he knew how to phrase a situation so that I would feel bad for something that was his fault. He had so much control over my actions... until it was too late. He shot me in a cab...because I was digging too deep." Claire wept into her hands, now embarrassed that she was vulnerable in front of Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes was taken back by the sudden onslaught of tears and emotion from his assistant, he wanted to reach out and comfort her. But, no that was wrong; to comfort her would let her know he cared for her. Holmes's mind was trying harder then it had with Irene Adler, but his heart was directing the detective towards Claire. He forced her to stand and lifted her chin with his hand. "You are not to blame for Alexander's treachery, he did that on his own. You freed yourself from his control, which I know takes courage. You will get your chance to be free of him and the rest of that gang, you have my word." Holmes gazed into her eyes to cement his words. She looked back through her tears and smiled at Holmes. Without another word, she hugged him, and let her head come to rest on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Mr. Holmes. You have no idea how much weight that has been lifted from my mind and heart. I will be with I will be with you every step of the way to bring Alexander to justice." Claire smiled in spite of the fact that she had been crying.
Holmes was caught off guard by her hug and wasn't sure how to react. He let himself relax and let his arms encircle her back. He was about to speak when they heard a rough cough behind them. He looked up to see none other than Inspector Lestrade standing in the doorway. Instead of springing apart from his assistant, he let her break the hug and turn around. His mind was of course reeling from being caught but he didn't let it show. Lestrade moved into the room, wary of what he just walked into.
"I apologize for interrupting, but I thought you should know about this right away. There has been a murder on the richer side of town. The victim is a Mr. Donald Burke, he was killed on his way home from being at his club. I thought it might have been a mugging gone bad but he still had his money with him. I hoped that you could come down and shed some light on it." Lestrade shifted his weight uncomfortably as he looked from Claire to Holmes.
Holmes shrugged, "I hope you haven't moved the body yet. Since my plate is clear, I will come down and assist the best way I can. We will fetch Dr. Watson on our way, I need his services." He motioned for Claire to prepare to leave and as he shrugged on his coat, he couldn't help but feel glad to move on from that moment. He didn't want to admit it but he enjoyed that fleeting feeling he had when Miss. Watson hugged him. His razor sharp mind turned on before he could decide what that feeling had been. Claire rubbed her eyes as she placed her hat on her head and headed for the door in front of the Inspector. There was a case, and she couldn't be happier that it had occurred.
The cab ride was quiet, Lestrade was too afraid of talking to Claire for he was still afraid she would bring up her past. He felt bad for the young lady, but he felt that things should be square between the two of them. As the cab stopped, Holmes strode out glad to be on the hunt once again. Back in the cab, Claire spoke, "Giles, how has your wife been doing? I hear the children are keeping her busy." Claire's tone was light and airy.
Lestrade was silent for a moment, unsure how to answer her. "She is holding up well enough. I know she misses me when I leave at odd hours but, our boy John has been keeping her busy." Lestrade was surprised still that Claire was behaving normally. The inspector shook off his thoughts as Watson and Holmes reentered the cab.
The doctor smiled to see Claire sitting opposite him, but then he recognized her eyes were red and puffy. He looked from her to Holmes, distressed at what could have occurred between them. "Claire what is the matter? You look unwell." Watson scooted forward to take a better look at his cousin's face.
Claire looked back at him, indifferent to his concern. "I am quite well, John. I just had an unexpected reaction to some news that is all. But, please do not pester me about it." She crossed her arms and looked out the cab window.
Watson sat back and looked at Holmes, "Would you care to shed any light on this Holmes?" The doctor hoped Holmes hadn't yelled at Claire or done something drastic.
Holmes turned slightly to look at his friend, "If Miss. Watson does not wish to tell you then it is not my duty to reveal it. I am not one for divulging unless it has to do with a case." Holmes was desperately trying to lock away the feeling of comfort he felt when he hugged Claire. The cab jerked as it stopped in front of the alley, and the troop entered the narrow space.
The victim lay on the gravel, covered with a sheet from the coroner as a constable kept watch. Holmes crouched down and removed the sheet to reveal a older man's head; his face was pale in contrast to his dark hair. As Holmes examined the body and the surrounding area, Claire kept a watchful eye on the street before them. It was along a side street, so it was possible for someone to be killed with no witnesses. But, then again there was plenty of people who passed this way so there had to someone who heard a shout or something. Such was Claire's thinking as she approached Lestrade.
"What time was he found in the alley?" Claire asked him, unaware that Watson was watching her intently.
The inspector flipped through his notes and shrugged, "He was found by young gentleman this morning at about seven o'clock. Why does that matter?" Lestrade was confused that Claire was asking questions like she was in charge.
Claire looked at the body and its relation to the main sidewalk. "Because if he was killed sometime in the night, I would think someone would have heard him. This area is fairly populated, and since he is visible from the street, I am surprised no one reported him earlier." She put one hand on her hip, in hope that this case was worth her energy.
Lestrade was about to answer her when Holmes interrupted him, "You know as well as I do Miss. Watson, that it is possible for people to turn a blind eye to murder. Someone may have heard something but they probably don't want to be mixed in with this. You can take away the body, Lestrade." Holmes wrote a few things down and turned towards the good doctor Watson. "Tell us Doctor, what time do you perceive that Mr. Burke was killed?"
Watson took a look at the body and the temperature, and sighed. "He was killed between 10pm and 1am last night, that's the best I can do now. To get a better time I would need the autopsy report." Watson shook his head at the dead man and let the coroner take the body away.
Holmes then turned to Lestrade who was instructing the constable. "Tell me Lestrade, where is the gentleman who reported the body?" His hazel eyes glinted in the sun.
The inspector shrugged, "Sent him on his way after he answered all the constable's questions. I have the answers for you, if you want them. The man was cutting through the alley to catch a cab, and almost stumbled on the body." Lestrade hoped that letting the boy go was the right thing to do.
Holmes looked at the scrawled answers and then at the inspector, "This Mr. Roberts knows more than he is telling, I want you to find him and bring him to me." He gave the notes back to Lestrade who was taken back. Claire was about to suggest that the interview be done at Scotland Yard, when she heard a familiar voice in her ear.
"Good to see that you came to witness my handiwork, Claire." He snarled into her ear, and his right hand closed on her arm. He whirled her around, making her face him. His tawny hair had more grey in it now, and his wicked grey eyes pierced her soul. Claire could say nothing, her mouth opened but nothing came out. She was paralyzed with fear and could only prey someone would look her way.
The gentleman smiled wickedly, his thin frame clothed in a dark brown suit and matching bowler. "I knew sooner or later that we would cross paths again. I must say I am a little disappointed it took you this long to run into me." The man took a step forward to touch her cheek, but Claire stepped back.
"You have spent too many hours on orchestrating this murder to find me. Once you shot me you severed whatever bonds we had. If you are the murderer, Mr. Holmes will find you and see you are hanged for the countless deaths you have done." Claire had found her voice at last, was not going to spare him.
The man chuckled, "I have no doubt that your precious employer will solve this murder, but I doubt he can tie it to me. As for you and me, Claire you can't think I will let you walk away. I have my own employer to keep happy and he wants me to keep an eye on you." The stranger tipped his hat and then walked into the teeming crowd. Holmes appeared behind Claire's left shoulder, and stared at the man's back.
"So, that was the one and only Alexander Knight, he is older then you described him." Holmes observed as the brown suited man disappeared from view.
Claire turned to him, "He just looks that way, the man has gone grey early in life. I would bet its working for the professor that has done it. Take note Mr. Holmes, next time I see that man, I aim to kill him." Claire glared at the direction he went and then turned back towards the body.
Holmes spoke again as they walked, "Miss. Watson, next time you two meet I doubt you will get the chance to shoot him. You will have to prevent others from doing it before you." The detective caught a smile from his assistant, and couldn't help but share her fervor. They were going to find the murderer, no matter what surprises lay before them.