The Yellow Faces

Part II

Molly Hooper walked quickly, her short legs struggling to keep up with Sherlock's long strides. She wasn't really surprised that he'd asked her to come along. She knew he needed a so-called "normal person" to tag along with him and tell him how bloody brilliant he was, as if he didn't already know. Molly didn't mind. Sherlock was rude, obnoxious, and utterly clueless when it came to social niceties, but his brilliance more than made up for that. She could overlook his insults and even the fact that he called her John if it meant seeing him in action.

"So, the face made you change your mind?" she asked as she hurried along beside him. They were headed to the home of the Munroes to check out the smiley face spray-painted in bright yellow on Mrs. Munroe's kitchen wall. After agreeing to take the case, Sherlock had hustled Molly and Jackie Munroe out of the flat.

"I'll meet you at your home in one hour," he had told Jackie as he practically pushed her out the door. He had then turned to Molly. "The shop on the corner has acceptable coffee. You know how I like it." He had given her a quick smile and then rushed off to the bedroom to presumably change since he was still in his pyjamas and dressing gown.

Sherlock took a sip of his coffee before answering her. "The face certainly got my attention, but I sincerely doubt it has anything to do with Mrs. Munroe's husband's affair," he replied.

"Then why are we doing this?" asked Molly.

Sherlock sighed irritably. "Because I'm bored and I simply can't pass up a chance to poke about someone else's rooms."

"You're just humoring her before you break her heart then," Molly said shaking her head. "Giving her a little more time to hope and believe she's wrong before you devastate her with the cold facts."

Sherlock stopped walking and looked down at Molly. "Firstly," he began, "I'm not the one breaking her heart. Her cheating husband is. Secondly, it's never been my practice to disguise or hold back the facts. The truth hurts, but it's always better when it's plainly laid out and not prettily wrapped up in false hope."

Sherlock walked away and Molly let out a deep sigh. "Not always," she said to herself before hurrying to catch up with Sherlock.

Jackie Munroe was waiting in her kitchen when the detective and Molly arrived. Her house was spacious and grand, a testament to the couple's wealth. The kitchen was large and bright and looked as if it had rarely been used. The walls and cabinets gleamed bright white, giving the room a sterile, rather than homey feel. On a narrow stretch of white tile on the far side of the room, a vivid yellow smiley face grinned out at them.

"When was this discovered?" Sherlock asked Jackie.

"Yesterday," she answered. "It was here when I got home from work." Jackie frowned and began wringing her hands. "What does it mean?" she questioned. "Is it a warning?"

"A warning?" Sherlock asked, raising a thick eyebrow.

"Yes," continued Jackie. "You have one on your wall. Was that a threat? Is my husband involved in some kind of spy game or undercover work? I mean, he is into technology, but not anything top secret. Not that I know of-"

"Mrs. Munroe," Sherlock interrupted. "It's highly unlikely that your husband is working undercover. It's more likely that he is involved in an illicit relationship. Where is your husband, by the way?"

Jackie faltered for a moment as she absorbed the detective's words. "He's—he's out of town. On business."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. This was a waste of time. It was all there plain as day. Mr. Munroe was having an affair.

"But—the face…" Jackie choked.

"Probably means nothing. The one on my wall means nothing. I put it there myself because I was bored. Your husband was likely bored as well, Mrs. Munroe."

"Sherlock!" cried Molly.

"Oh, don't look so appalled," he replied. "It's a simple fact. Women cheat because they feel unappreciated. Men cheat because they're bored."

Jackie burst into tears and fled the kitchen and ran up the stairs. Sherlock looked to Molly for an explanation but she only shook her head.

"What?" asked Sherlock.

"You really don't know, do you?"

"Oh, that? That was the truth, Molly."

"No, Sherlock. That was cruel." Molly stepped toward him. "Look," she said, "I know you're agitated and upset that John hasn't been around, but that doesn't give you the right to project those feelings on to everyone else. You need to grow up and stop sulking like a child and find a better way to deal with your emotions."

"Sulking? Projecting? For the last time," Sherlock growled, "this is not about John. I don't care what he does or when he does it, and I certainly don't need you to rehash your latest lecture from your therapist!"

Molly said nothing, but turned and stormed out of the kitchen and to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Sherlock demanded.

"To try and console Mrs. Munroe," Molly shouted back to him.

"Fine. Analyze her. I'm sure she'll be so much more interesting than I am," Sherlock sneered.

"You can be a real arse, Sherlock Holmes," Molly called as she stomped up the stairs.

"That's what I've been told. Speaking of arses, I'm going to have a look through Mr. Munroe's financial records. I'm sure there's plenty there to prove to his wife that he's out of town for more than just 'business.'"

Molly grunted and disappeared up the stairs and Sherlock made his way through the spacious house to the room he guessed was Mr. Munroe's study. It was a tidy room with dark paneling and built-in bookshelves. Sherlock sat down at Mr. Monroe's large desk and opened up the laptop computer that sat on top of it. He quickly figured out the password and in under a minute was scrolling though the Munroes' financial records. There were the usual purchases: dinner out, theater tickets, household goods, cleaning services, etc. A few items, purchased within the last three weeks, stood out: women's undergarments, several MP3 downloads and a number of medications.

Sherlock was listening to the MP3s when Molly appeared at the door of the study.

"Interesting taste in music," she remarked. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a Kitty Davis fan."

"A what?" asked Sherlock over the strains of "Oh Baby, Shake That Thing."

"Kitty Davis. That's who you're listening to. You know, former child star turned bad girl rocker? Her father was a country singer or something."

Sherlock just stared blankly at her for a moment. "Oh, the music," he said finally. "Interesting. Mr. Munroe purchased that song a week ago." He sat back in the desk chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. "I wonder why he would do that."

"Why not?" asked Molly. "It's quite a popular song. All the stations are playing it."

"Yes, but a grown man listening to such an insipid song?" Sherlock shuddered.

"People have different tastes in music, Sherlock…"

"You have it on your phone, don't you?" Sherlock asked with a frown.

Molly's face went crimson. "It's my ringtone," she admitted and the detective groaned.

"Did you find anything else?" Molly asked, eager to change the subject.

"Yes, and it all points to the same conclusion," answered Sherlock. "The husband is having an affair." He showed Molly the odd purchases on the computer screen. "Mr. Munroe bought several items of an intimate nature, but they weren't for his wife."

"How do you know?" Molly questioned.

"Wrong size."

"How can you—never mind, I don't want to know."

Sherlock cleared his throat and continued. "Mr. Munroe also purchased some medications, Methylphenidate, for one."

"ADHD medication? Perhaps he suffers from the condition. Or perhaps his wife does."

"Perhaps," replied Sherlock. "You should ask her."

"I'll do no such—Sherlock, this is ridiculous. Why are you torturing that poor woman?" Molly blurted.

"I agree, Molly. It is ridiculous," Sherlock said as he rose swiftly from his seat. "Shall we put an and to it and give Mrs. Munroe the simple fact that her husband is a lowdown, dirty, cheating bast-" He paused in his tirade and stared out the window of the study.

"What?" Molly asked. "What is it?" She followed Sherlock's gaze out the window to where a bright yellow smiley face was painted on the white picket fence.

A/N:

Dun dun DUN! What is the meaning of the yellow faces? What's the truth behind Mr. Munroe's odd behavior? Will Molly end up punching Sherlock in the face? Tune in for updates to find out!

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