Simply Wonderful
"Forgive me for saying so miss, but you are rather young to be out on your own."
Holmes had relocated to the sitting room, where he watched with interest as Hayley sipped the tea he had given her and was swinging her small legs to and fro off the corner of the couch. She looked up as he spoke.
"I often go out on my own."
"Indeed?" Holmes smiled, "And how do your parents feel about this?"
"I have no parents." She replied quietly staring down into her tea cup.
"I am sorry."
She looked up and smiled.
"This murder you spoke of?"
"Oh yes Mr. Holmes, you must help me. I know who did it and you must catch him!"
Holmes sprang forward and caught the cup that was sliding freely from Hayley's grasp in her excitement.
"I am afraid you are going rather too fast for me. Pray tell me everything from the beginning."
Hayley sighed and allowed the cup to be taken from her hands, Holmes remained kneeling in front of her.
"My maid Clara, has been shot, she was shot by a man who loved her but she did not love him, he was jealous and in a rage he shot her, I saw it."
She sat back and folded her arms, a petulant expression on her face. Holmes sighed.
"You are, I think one of the most forthright clients I have ever had the misfortune to meet."
"Misfortune? I am telling you what happened you must be able to help me!"
"I will help you." Holmes stood and placed the tea cups on the table. He turned to find Hayley had wound herself around his legs.
"Oh thank you, I knew you couldn't be as awful as you are in those stories, everyone told me how cold you were but you're not you're simply wonderful!"
Holmes groaned and tried in vain to remove the girl, he was in the process of doing so when the door opened.
"Holmes? Why what on earth is going on?"
Damn, Holmes thought, Watson had a knack of turning up at the most inopportune times…..