Eventually the trio made their way into Scotland Yard, Sherlock leading the pack as it were with his usual confidence, barely glancing at the security guards as I followed, and John pulled up the rear, glancing at the security guards with a smile and a nod of his head, at least being cordial to them though they have already been told the three will be coming in. And they've been working there long enough to know who John and Sherlock are anyway.
Once in the elevator, I sighed, feeling a little sleepy after all the activity from the morning, combined with the amazing lunch that left me with a rather full stomach. I leaned against the back of the elevator, closing my eyes and tilting my head back against the wall.
"Are you alright?" John asks with concern, ever the doctor, while Sherlock just glanced me over and made his own determination. Not that I saw this with my eyes closed, but I could feel his gaze on me, it's electric.
"'M fine.. just a little tired, that's all. I'm still working on getting my strength back, remember?" I pointed out as I opened my eyes, straightening wearily when the elevator came to a stop, making an effort to not drag my feet and walk normally across the office, glancing at the officers curiously for a few moments.
Sherlock knocked an then immediately stepped inside Lestrade's office, moving off to the side a little as the others come in. "Lestrade." He greets, sounding bored.
Lestrade looks up from behind his desk and chuckled a little. "Blimey. I ask for you to bring in Ms. Charles, and I get the cavalry as well." He note as he looks at the other two. "Nice to see you again, you look a bit better." he says as he offers his hand to me and I took it.
"I'm a little tired, but I'm still trying to work my stamina back up. But thank you, Detective Inspector Lestrade." I said after returning the shake of his hand, looking around the office for a few moments, noticing that John strategically placed himself closest to the door and Sherlock had his back to a wall where he could see the entire room. I had to admit I found it amusing. "I'm sorry.. I'm a little uncomfortable going out on my own, and Sherlock and John have taken it on themselves to be my bodyguards." I tried to joke a little with a sheepish smile.
Lestrade released my hand after shaking it, looking at the others. "I see that. Never seen these two act like that, you must have them wrapped around you little finger." He jokes, ignoring Sherlock's glare, and 'hmph' sound. John just blushed and avoided everyone's gaze.
"Well, like I told Sherlock, we discovered your wallet in an unrelated drugs bust. We've already got all the information we can out of it, and so it was brought to me, your name was associated with our case of course, and so I thought I should at least return it to you. Give you some form of ID back." he says as he unlocks one of his drawers and pulls out the evidence bag, opening it to pull out the simple wallet and hold it out to me.
For a moment, I can't help but hesitate, since I'm not sure I want to see what's inside the wallet. Still, I reach out and take it, opening it slowly and looking at the identification inside. No cash obviously, only the ID and two cards, one a credit card and the other belonging to a bank, probably an ATM/debit card. "I'm surprised the cards are still in here.." I admitted as I looked at them. "Thank you, Detective Inspector." I said quietly, trying to figure out if I was happy or not about this, turning the wallet over in my hands as I looked at it. "Looks new." I mused softly, muttering it mostly to herself.
Sherlock couldn't help but roll his eyes. "It is new. You'd probably only had it a short time before it got stolen, a week at most." he says before reaching out and plucking it from my fingers, looking it over in detail, sniffing it before he looks at the cards inside. "Well, at the very least you should be able to access your accounts now that you know where you banked, assuming they weren't automatically closed when you were declared dead, I very much doubt you had thought to have a will, not many people do at your age. John, you really should have one made, in our line of work." he says, skipping from one subject to the other.
"Sherlock.." John warned quietly to try and keep the detective on track.
I just watched this play between them, not having seen them in what was surely their work environment. "How can you tell how new it is?" I found myself asking as I watched him.
John groans a little. "I was wondering when you might ask something like that.." he says quietly, putting his head in his hands for a moment.
Sherlock looks almost put out as he looks at John. "Come now, John, this one is easy, even Sofia knew it was a newer wallet. Still smells very strongly of detergents and leather. good quality, but the cards stick, they don't slide smoothly into place. No wrinkles in the leather, not even in the spine, so it hasn't been opened and closed very much. No scuffs, which is unusual because a woman who carries this size of a wallet means that she either carries a very small purse or doesn't usually carry one at all. Given what I know about you, I would wager you preferred not to carry a purse, and kept your wallet in your pockets of either your jacket or your trousers." he says, speaking quickly as he turns the wallet over in his hands. "There's also no pressure marks anywhere in the leather where cards or money or anything has been placed, and when you pull open the flap here it still squeaks." he says as he demonstrates, the wallet creaking a little as he pulls open the billfold part. He then held the wallet back out toward me. "So, brand new wallet. I guessed a week since you had bought it because of the sheer lack of wear." he says simply.
John shook his head slowly. "You never cease to amaze me, Sherlock." He notes with a little smile.
I must have looked dumbfounded as I took the wallet back because Sherlock was looking at me a little oddly, almost seeming embarrassed. "Oh my god." I finally managed as I stared at him. "I.. how.. you.." I looked down at the wallet, pausing for a moment.
"My god, I've seen you render a lot of people speechless, Sherlock, but I don't think I've ever seen it to this extent." Lestrade says with a little laugh as he watched me try to form a coherent sentence.
"That was absolutely bloody brilliant, Sherlock Holmes." I finally said slowly and in a surprised tone, staring at the wallet in a whole new light before I looked up at him, stepping up to him and leaning up to give his cheek a quick kiss. "Brilliant." I said again as I stepped back.
The kiss, apparently, was more shocking than my lack of whole sentences, because Lestrade's jaw dropped almost immediately, looking between us with wide eyes, and even John looked taken aback for a moment, then just amused as his gaze shifted to his best friend. And the tall, lanky, brilliant detective? His eyes just got a bit bigger, and his cheeks tinged with a light blush, looking away from me for a moment. "Have you had any other breaks in the case?" He finally asked brusquely to try and break the awkward silence.
Lestrade shakes his head a little. "No, but I'd like to talk to Sofia alone for a few moments if you don't mind. You two can wait outside, get yourselves a cup of coffee or something." he says, motioning a little. I was a little surprised, not having expected that, but I just smiled at the two. "I'll be fine." I said to the questioning looks.
John nodded, taking a step toward me to touch my arm lightly. "Just give us a shout if you need us." he said in a tone too soft for the DI behind me to hear, before he walked out behind Sherlock, closing the door behind him.
Taking a deep breath, I turned, and sat down slowly in one of the chairs across from the DI. "Well then.. Detective Inspect Lestrade.. what can I help you with?" I asked, prepared for a long line of questioning...