Author's Note: Sorry it's been awhile since the last update, but this week sort of got away from me. Anyway, it's a short chapter, so I'll update soon.
I don't own Sherlock, but all my plot are belonging to us.

The Man with Two Names
By the Salt Monster

Ch. 5
Nassau St., London, England

When we arrived at the scene by cab, the police were already there. Lestrade was on his cell phone as we walked up, yelling at someone on the other line.

"I don't care, Anderson! He's solved a large chunk of the case, so far- he can do whatever he pleases with the notes!" He hung up on whoever he was talking to and turned to us.

"'Afraid there's been another murder," he said grimly, "and another note addressed to you, Sherlock." In the dim blue light from the police cars, I could see a body slowly rotating, hung from a lamp post in a dark alley. I grimaced and turned my back on the grotesque image.

"How long has the body been there?" Holmes asked, gazing in its direction.

"At least two hours, maybe longer," Lestrade shrugged. "How did you crack the code, Sherlock."

"Do you have the note, Inspector?" Holmes ignored his question and held out his hand expectantly. Lestrade sighed, but handed him a folded up piece of paper, the same as before.

"I swear, that's watercolor paper," I told him as he read.

"Do you have your calculator?" he asked and handed me the note.

1475963 . 74178945123 . 74178945123 . 852789. – 1475963 . 74178945123. – 14863456 . 852789. – 1475963 . 527595. – 741963456 . 74123698 . 7412369 . 987456321 . 74178945123.

-Joe Green

I stared at the card. "That's going to take a while to decode."

"Oh, good, you taught Miss Baker the code, too?" Lestrade said happily.

"My name's Barber, and I was the one who figured out the code!" I snapped and turned back to Sherlock. He was amused by something. "Anyway…" I muttered.

"I'm sure Inspector Lestrade wouldn't mind you sitting in a police car for a minute while I examine the scene. You can decode in there."

"Now, hold on one minute, Sherlock!" Lestrade puffed at him.

"No time for that, Lestrade," Sherlock called over his shoulder as he strolled down the alley to the body. "I've a job to do."

I couldn't help but laugh as Lestrade gaped at the retreating figure of Holmes. "Insane," he muttered as he led me to one of the police cars. "No joy rides, Miss Barber," he commanded and shut the door, leaving me to my work.

I was halfway though decoding (I had the words "Meet me at—,") when the door to the driver's seat of the car was opened and a man entered.

"Have you thought about my offer?" a voice said. My head snapped up and I found the same man who had talked to me earlier in the day about spying on Sherlock. He had dark black hair and a weary sort of face. He was dressed very nicely, but carried around an umbrella instead of a cane. He reminded me very much of someone, but I couldn't quite place who.

"I have, actually," I replied casually, pretending to return to my work.

"And?"

"I accept. Just remind me when you'd like news, so I don't forget—I'm a very busy woman, you know," I said loftily, trying to seem distracted by my work.

"Yes, I know. I'll text you, then." He handed me a slip of paper. "Here's your cheque up front." I accepted it and slipped it into my coat pocket nonchalantly, but actually reeling from having such a sum of money. "I expect to be hearing from you soon, Miss Barber," he said and left the vehicle.

Once I had finished decoding, I walked down the dark alley to where the body was dangling, which not so coincidentally was where Sherlock was. I handed him the decoded message.

"'Meet me at my house'?" he read solemnly. "How will this work…"

"Well, we should probably start by where Joe Green lives," I suggested. He didn't answer. Instead, he was absorbed in his phone yet again. When I looked over his shoulder, he was Googling the name.

"Sixty-nine-million-eight-hundred-thousand hits," I said. "Do you expect to find an answer in that?"

"No," he confessed. "I think it's a pseudonym." I thrust my fist in the air, prompting an alarmed stare from Sherlock.

"Oh!" I crowed happily. "Who called it!" He gave me the strangest look, and I lowered my fist, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Well then," he said, more to himself. "What is the pseudonym for?"

"It could be another word that also means 'green,'" I offered. "Like chartreuse?"

"It could be," he muttered, starting to pace. "Or it could be something else. Another language?"

"Um…it could be like vert… grün… verde… grønt…" I listed the names for green off on my fingers. Sherlock froze and snapped his head towards me.

"What was that last one?" he demanded, walking over towards me.

"What—'grønt'? That's Norwegian. I learned that-,"

"No, no, the one before that!"

I counted on my fingers. "Verde?" I asked. "That's Italian. Or maybe Spanish-I could never keep-,"

"That's it!" he cried, clapping his hands together and cutting me off. "Oh, that's brilliant! Oh, why didn't I think of that?" I had never seen him this excited. It was a little bit scary. "I just love it when a serial killer knows what they're doing!"

"What? What?" I asked, really confused. He didn't answer me. Instead, he grabbed me around the waist and twirled me around, absolutely beaming. His smiling was contagious and soon I was grinning as well.

"I don't understand," I said through my smile.

"Oh, it's genius!" he yelled. "I'm a genius! We're genius!" He walked back out of the alley, a certain spring in his step. I stood frozen at first stunned by what I had just witnessed, but then remembered that he was taking me home.

"Wait, I still don't get it!" I called after him, running to catch up.

"The opera, dear Amelia! We're going to the opera!"

Author's Note: Used Sherlock's reaction to a new case in the beginning of Study in Pink as a reference of sorts for the last bit. It might seem a little OOC, but if anyone has suggestions on how to make it seem less so, please let me know. Still no romance. Ever.
Reader challenge time! If you're feeling up to it, I would love to know what you think Emily looks like. Just short little description, nothing too elaborate. I'd really like to know!
I'd still love to hear any comments, questions, or complaints. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Oh, hey. And thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys have made my week far more enjoyable. Thanks bunches!

~Salty