A/N: Ok so before you say it yes I am a bad, horrible person who neglects her characters. I know it's been over a year but I've been really busy. I'm so sorry. So this update is kinda short but it's something at least. Enjoy!

Chapter Five: An Interview

When I came down stairs later that morning the men were already eating. Mycroft stood and pulled out a chair for me which I gratefully accepted. Holmes acted as if nothing had happened and rattled along about what he had planned for the day, the last part caught my attention. "Tonight we are meeting Mrs. Banks at the Starlight restaurant."

We! Holmes willingly putting me in his plans?! This I had to question, "What time will we need to leave?"

He responded immediately, "I would like for you to be ready to leave at half past four." I could have leapt for joy at his words; he was finally letting me help ungrudgingly. I smiled broadly and set back into my eggs. As much as I wanted to I knew it would be unprofessional to celebrate openly, although I could have sworn that I saw Holmes attempt to hide a grin.

I was ready promptly and four-thirty, clutching a small hand bag that contained a note pad and pencil in case I was asked to take notes. "Shall we be going?" I asked Holmes who was waiting at the foot of the stairs. He merely nodded his head and stepped out the door. Once outside I saw that Holmes had already taken the liberty of fetching a cab for us. Holmes astonished me by opening the door and helping me into the hansom cab, something that he had never done before. This chivalrous attitude that he was displaying was truly stumping but I figured it wouldn't last long, so I chose to enjoy it while I could.

After we had begun moving I noticed Holmes staring at me in deep concentration. He was thinking over the different situations that would come up in our visit with his client no doubt, but none the less it soon became unnerving. There was something different in his gaze, almost as if he was attempting to penetrate my thoughts. I began wiggling in my seat. He must have realized what he was doing because he abruptly shifted his gaze out the window. I too peered out at the passing city streets and shook off the strange feeling Holmes' gaze had left me with.

Upon arriving at the restaurant we were shown to a table where we waited for Mrs. Banks to arrive. As we sat there I could feel myself becoming apprehensive. I was worried on how she would react to having another person there. She obviously trusted Holmes with this touchy situation but would she be comfortable with me being there as well. I reached into my hand bag for my note pad and pen, Hoping that maybe if I kept my hands busy I wouldn't ruin this meeting.

"Mikael, do try to relax; you fidgeting in your seat will not make this any easier on you or the client." Holmes said. Looking down at my hands I saw that I was rattling my pen against my palm. "Right, sorry." I said. So much for that idea I thought. Obviously having a pen in hand might not be the best idea.

A few minutes later Mrs. Banks arrived. As she approached the table, Holmes rose to greet her and I did likewise. Trailing along behind Mrs. Banks was a young man in about his early twenties with dark brown hair and eyes and a nicely trimmed beard. Both clients said their hellos to Holmes and I learned that the young man was the Banks' eldest son Raymond. Raymond, I must say, did not look thrilled to be there and I noticed that both the Banks' were looking over at me warily.

Holmes seeing the uneasy glances they were casting at me promptly introduced me. "This is my associate Miss Mikael Garrison. She has been helping me with your son's case."

Mrs. Banks cast one more glance in my direction before taking the seat offered her by Holmes. She fidgeted in her seat waiting for Holmes to start the meeting and he, as usual, took his sweet time about it. "I trust things are holding up fine at home?" He queried. At this tears began to well up in the woman's eyes and Raymond quickly jumped to his mothers rescue. "Just exactly how fine do you expect for things to be in my house right now? My little brother has been kidnapped, and you have yet to tell us what you have done to help retrieve him."

"Unfortunately Mrs. Banks, as much as I wish I could tell you now that I know exactly where your son is that is not at this time the case." The unfortunate mother sank down in her chair visibly heartbroken at Holmes' words. I looked from Holmes to the pair sitting in front of us wondering if I should say something. Before I even had the chance to however, Holmes added. "I have however found some interesting leads that are well worth pursuing." Since I no longer felt that I needed to say anything I simply smiled encouragingly at them not knowing what else to do after listening to Holmes blatantly lie to them about evidence and leads that did not exist.

While Holmes went on weaving his web to lift the mother's downtrodden heart I turned my attention back to the son. Rather then listening intently to Holmes, Raymond Banks had his attention fixed firmly on me. I thought that I had felt his gaze on me and when I looked him in the eye he gave a soft smile. Although I know I should have been wondering what he was doing looking at me rather then listening to Holmes for information about his brother, no matter how fake it really was, I felt myself smile back and flush as I looked down at the tablecloth.

By the end of our meeting Mrs. Banks seemed slightly steadier on her feet, I was thoroughly red, and I'm pretty sure the Raymond had no clue what had been talked about.

After seeing them off in there cab Holmes flagged one down for our own ride home. We rode back with Holmes keeping a stony silence and I did not even attempt to break it. Once we were safely tucked away inside the Bakers street parlor however, the silence was broken.

"Might I remind you Mikael that the purpose of interviews such as the one held tonight was for the purpose of gleaning any new information and checking up on our clients. NOT for playing with the affections of young men."

"Now that is unfair." I countered. "I was not 'playing' with his affections as you put it. It's simply that Raymond Banks is an attractive young man." I received a snort in response as Holmes dropped into his chair. "And there was nothing wrong with my actions. Most girls my age are either all ready married or are being courted."

"Yes and most girls your age have no brains." He spat. "I brought you along so that you could learn. You certainly didn't see me batting my eyes at young Mister Banks did you?"

I glare at my companion, "Well I sure hope not or you need some serious help."

I swear I could see steam coming out of Holmes at such a remark. "Besides," I continued, "so what if my behavior was unprofessional. Is blatantly lying to them considered to be professional?"

Holmes avoided the question, already off on a different avenue of thought. "However, I must say that his being more interested in you then in the welfare of his brothers does bring up some questions."

This was the second time in a three day period that Holmes had make it seem impossible for me to attract someone's special attention and I had had about enough of it. "Now listen here you…" But I was cut off; my companion, having pulled out his pipe, seemed to have completely forgotten that I was even in the room.