Chapt 2

Violins and the Kirkland's

Francis had been quite right in believing that Arthur would be hard to live with. Iain had told him that his brother didn't have any friends and was a loner, but Francis had thought it was a mean comment one brother might say about the other. However he was wrong. The fact that Arthur didn't have any friends might have to do with the fact that he locked himself in his rooms for most of the two weeks that they had lived together. This behaviour and antisocial attitude was surely to harm any friend making skills Arthur could possibly possess.

But the most troublesome part of living with Arthur was his lack of consideration. He liked to play his violin at four in the morning, smoke cigars and opium to help him think, or so he claimed, and generally make life difficult. Secrets and hidden items where impossible in the house with Arthur around. To make things worse Arthur was a terrible drunk. He was loud and obnoxious and eager to fight anyone.

And while on the subject of the fighting, it was something to behold. It turned out this was another skill that Arthur possessed. He was a frighteningly skilled boxer and even seemed to know some martial arts. The end result was that he managed to enter street fights and win. Francis had a sneaking feeling that this was how Arthur had been getting his money lately.

"Good morning Bonnefoy, have you seen the paper?" Asked Arthur walking in after he had taken a bath, his hair still slightly wet and he was wearing a plain looking suit.

"Azzur, 'ow many baths 'ave you 'ad in the past twenty-four 'ours?" Francis asked pausing his train of thought and coffee drinking to hand Arthur the paper.

"Hmmm, about four or five I think." Was the reply as Arthur buried himself in the paper

"May I ask why?" Asked Francis

" There's nothing wrong with cleanliness. Besides cleanliness is close to godliness." Arthur murmured

"You don't believe in god."

"No, but I do believe in tiny bacteria." Arthur continued

"But to take five baths! I think your germ phobia iz bordering on psychopathic. " Francis exclaimed

"They say there's a thin line between genius and insanity."

Francis stayed silent to that. Arthur breathed an inward sigh of relief as he scanned the paper. The two sat in silence as breakfast continued. Francis knew that Arthur didn't like to be disturbed while reading the paper, but he just couldn't resist. He caught Arthur's eye and winked. Arthur quickly dived back into his paper and pretended that he wasn't blushing. Why did his flatmate have to have such an active libido?

A knock on the door interrupted Francis's merciless teasing as he inched closer to Arthur. Arthur had been watching Francis's attempt to tease him with mild amusement, and rose to answer the door to spoil his fun. Francis's face fell as Arthur disappeared down the hallway and opened the door. When he came back Francis heard a mixture of British dialects, the Scottish one he recognized as Iain's, but there was a Welsh one as well.

The door burst open and a harassed looking Arthur came in with a pale but smiling looking Iain followed by another blonde with longer looking hair than Arthur, and who was the same height and had Emerald eyes. Francis stood up and stretched out his hand to the other blonde who looked at it with amusement in the same way as Iain.

"How 'ave ye been with ma brother? Yer still alive, which is good, but ah am guessin the twa of yer are together now." Iain laughed while speaking to Francis

" Oh please!" Hissed Arthur

Francis smiled and shook his head at Iain. The other blonde however looked thoughtfully at Arthur. Arthur realized this and raised an eyebrow at him. The other blonde opened his mouth to say some thing but Arthur inturupted him by poking him in the chest with the bow of his violin which he must have picked up while in the hallway.

"shut up you. Why the devil are you two cursing me with your presence anyway?" Arthur said savagely

"Well thaurs been some trouble." Iain said looking sheepish

"Ok so your here to try and give me a case, but why is the other one here... oh someone important has died haven't they? Or maybe it is who the murderer is targeting? Judging by how pale Iain is this is quite a troublesome case. How can I be of service?" Arthur said smiling sweetly but his eyes seemed to say entertain me if you can.

Francis sat quietly. The three of them seemed to forget he was there. He was getting slightly irritated at being ignored, no one even bothering to introduce him to the longer haired Arthur clone, and started to pour tea for everyone to bring their attention back on him. Naturally Arthur took his actions for granted, as did the other blonde. Iain gave Francis his thanks. Once Francis had finished pouring the tea and had got Iain's attention he took a seat next to the Scottish man.

" oo ez zat man Azzur ez talking to mon ami?" Francis asked

"Hmm? Oh, thas Arthurs twin brother Tristain. Yer see both of em are quite talented and have the same skill o' deduction. Tris is a wee bit smater than Arthur, but Arthur is less bone idle and mixes with people a bit better (Francis looked incredulous at this) than him. Yer see whaur ah mean in a sec." Iain explained taking another sip of his tea.

Francis watched wide eyed as the two brothers where arguing again. Arthur claimed that Tristain was spying on him and Tristain played the poor wounded brother routine. It was almost comedic, but when two people who had such high intellect argued they soon left the other two in the dust by bringing the argument to a completely new plain of thought. Iain finished his tea and placed the cup on the saucer with a gentle clack of china.

"Thas enough ye twa, ah am here to say tha now ah am the new chief inspector of Scotland yard. The old chief inspector has met an untimely demise. Tha is what ah came here to talk to ye aboot Arthur." Iain said loudly finishing his younger brothers argument for them

Both brothers paused. Arthur was recalling the man in the suit he had met on his tour of Scotland yard. Francis had paled, as he had known the man well. No wonder Iain looked like he hadn't slept. The poor man had taken his old bosses place before he even had time to grieve.

"Well I suppose some congratulations are in order for you Iain. How lucky for you to be working even closer with me. Pay attention you may learn something. However I don't see how his death involves me, Scotland yard can take care of this." Arthur waved his hand in dismissal

"Because his death is one of many. Some of our British politicians have met similar ends. As you can imagine this is quite troublesome for me. Oh and Arthur, there seems to be no connection between the victims, none of them had met each other before. There are also similar murders of lower class people as well. Don't you want to know how they are all connected? What the motive is? This is a slightly interesting game for you. I will give you a lovely little check for your trouble and Scotland yard will as well." Tristain tried to tempt Arthur

Francis noticed that he waved the check for a huge amount of pound sterling in Francis's direction. Obviously he didn't think Arthur would be interested in the money, and he wasn't as he told Tristain that he didn't care for the money. Francis was glad that he was seated, as he might have fainted at the fact that Arthur had turned down such a huge amount of money.

"You're not going to take the case?" Tristain asked

" I never said that. You know as well as I that the victims have to be connected somehow, are you lying to me Cymru?" Arthur hissed

"Cymru?" Francis wonderd out loud

"Aye, Tristains nickname." Iain whispered

" I'll take the case, but I will require Francis as my assistant." Arthur demanded

There was silence as the two other Kirkland brothers looked at each other in surprise. Arthur ignored his siblings and went back to his paper. Francis looked at him in surprise as well, but then smirked. Arthurs expression was unreadable to everyone apart from himself and Tristain. Tristain was looking at his brother with interest as if it was the first time seeing him.

"Of course, he must be a good doctor if you require his assistance on these cases." Tristain said his eyes lighting up in jest

"Yes, yes he is a fine doctor. He was also a fine solider. I can tell he was a solider due to his organized ways, his deep love of the bottle, used to drown certain memories, and that lovely military issued hand gun in his closet." Arthur recited

" Well I will leave you to it, good day to you gentleman." Tristain said taking his leave

"Arthur ah expect tae see ye at Scotland Yard tomorrow." Iain instructed his brother who was still reading the paper.

"Yes." Was the murmed reply

As soon as his two brothers had left and the front door had shut Arthur threw down the paper. His eyes where sparkling with interest and joy. Francis looked at him a little angrily, after all it was someone that he knew who was lying dead in a morgue somewhere. Arthur ignored his companions anger and was rummaging around in the desk that was next to the window opposite. He drew out his gun, a Webley Bulldog, and placed it in his pocket.

" You ave a gun?" Francis said in alarm

"Of course, you do as well. We are going to probably need them so get it ready for tomorrow." Arthur demanded

"Why did you say you wanted me to elp you in ze case? Ave you fallen for me?" Asked Francis with a wink

"No I think you may be of some use that is all. Sorry to get your hopes up." Arthur smirked as he left the room

Francis heard Arthur crashing around upstairs. He smiled a little and wondered if perhaps Arthur was lying. Then again, Arthur had never shown any proof as to even having a heart never mind using it. Francis sighed, at least life was never boring.