A/N: Yay! Lookie another chapter. I did it! Hmmm… now I have to keep doing it. It's should be manageable. It's short again but it's better then nothing. Well here you go.

Chapter six: Clues and Rendezvous

When Holmes' pipe comes out any chance of conversation, or argument in this case, is lost. I fumed out of the room before the smoke had a chance to enveloped Holmes and his thoughts.

Grabbing my hat I headed out of doors again, thinking that a walk might cool my temper.

Out in the sunshine I allowed my thoughts to roam through dark paths. Why do I put up with him? seemed to be the thought that jumped out the most. Why when I could be sitting comfortably with my aunt, helping her with her duties and becoming the efficient and responsible woman that would get me married and settled down like most girls my age. I should just go back to Bakers Street and do what I was sent here to do.

The longer I walked and mulled over this idea the more I knew the answer. I wasn't with my aunt right now because I didn't really want to settle down. I enjoyed the capering that came with following Holmes around, and I loved the puzzles that constantly challenged me. Damnit! I hate it when Holmes is right! As I started to calm down, rational thought began to take over.

So maybe I shouldn't have been paying quite so much attention to Raymond Banks. That just meant that my timing was a little off. Well, maybe way off.

Not long after this realization I found myself half way across town, entering the shopping district. The streets where crowded with the evening shoppers who were bustling from store to store. I smiled to myself as I watched the people around me. Although I enjoyed my solitude every now and them, I love crowds. You never know what, or whom you will see among so many people; and the London streets held so much potential.

Ladies dressed in silks and ruffles, servants, workers. The high and low classes together, all making up the hodge-podge jumble that is city life. As I took a moment to watch people pass me by, I was surprised to see a familiar face. The face belonged to a young man who would appear at time at Bakers Street to speak to Holmes. He spotted me and waved me over. As I made my way over I tried to remember his name. Walker, Wesley, Wiggins. Wiggins that's what it was.

"Evening to you miss." He said gallantly tipping his cap almost to the floor and wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I smiled at him. His cocky attitude reminded me of Peter and days spent running free.

"Good evening Wiggins. Staying out of trouble tonight?"

He jammed his cap back on his head and returned my smile. "Naturally. I would never think of getting into trouble. I was just escorting my sister on an errand." With that he turned to the small blond behind him. "Pamela, this is Miss Garrison. She is a house guest of Mrs. Hudson over at Mr. Holmes place. Miss Garrison this is Pamela Wiggins, my older sister and the chamber maid to Old Mrs. Robins on Oak Street."

Pamela gave me a quick curtsy, "Pleased to meet you Miss Garrison."

I took an instant liking to this girl. She appeared to be around my age and everything about her told me that she was shy. "The pleasure is all mine Pamela. But please call me Mikael." She smiled at my offer of friendship; the same bright smile that lit up her brother's face.

Before we could say anything more, Wiggins asked if I know where Holmes was. Thinking that it might be best not to let the lad know anything about the current case I simply stated that he was working a case and would not be back to Bakers Street until it was finished. "Is there something you need relayed to him?" I asked.

"Just tell him that all is still quiet."

"I will do that the next time I see him."

At that Pamela stepped forward, poking her brother on the shoulder. "Come Thomas, I need to be getting back. Mrs. Robins will be wondering where I've gone off to. Nice to meet you Miss Mikael."

"Good bye." I said as they went on there way.

After they had left I laughed quietly at myself. I had been completely thrown off when she had called her brother Thomas. I had never thought that Wiggins name wasn't just Wiggins. With Holmes knack for addressing people by their last name it only made sense that this was also the case for his young informer as well. Thomas made much more sense then just Wiggins for a first name.

Feeling lighter of heart and thinking much less dark thoughts towards Holmes. I set off to do some window shopping. AS I paused at a window filled with hats and scarves I heard male voices coming from the alley beside the shop. The voice did not seem happy. Now to hear arguments in a city alleyway is not all that unusual, but to hear them in the day time when other people are around is. Looking around however, I realized that there really wasn't a lot of people around this particular shop.

My curiosity got the better of me. Pretending to be very interested in the items in front of me I listened in on there conversation.

It was difficult to make out what was being said as their voices where low and the general hum of the city was behind me. As I was about to turn away the voice grew suddenly violent.

"Either you get the money by Friday or I finish the boy."

I was shocked. The conversation could only have to do with one thing but what could it mean?

I strained my ears to hear more. There was some stammering that was undecipherable. Then the first voice again.

"No excuses! Bring the money to Devon street or else."

As much as I wanted to know who was in that alley I didn't feel safe making myself known to these men. I ducked into the shop and asked the clerk for paper and quickly wrote down the name of the street.

Although I knew I should probably head straight for Holmes I decided to do a bit of my own detective work.

I headed back out onto the street determined to keep and ear out for the voice I had hear so as to put a face with it.

I wondered around for a half hour without success. I walked around the corner intent on my task and right into a man and landed promptly on my rear.

The man was Raymond Banks. He smiled as he helped me to my feet and I turned bright red. I stammered out and apology. "Oh Mr. Banks. I'm so sorry I was um preoccupied and didn't see you." I didn't think it was my place to tell him that I had just overheard his brother's captors and perhaps murders. I shuddered at this thought. He noticed my shudder and placed his hand on my elbow.

"Are you all right? If you're hurt I can go for a doctor."

I shook my head and protested that I was really fine. By now I was pretty sure I had blushed clear down to my toes. He gestured for us to walk forward and I accepted the invitation.

We walked side by side for some time speaking lightly of various subjects. As we found ourselves reaching Regence Park I realized that once again Holmes was right. Here I was flirting with this man when his brother was in danger and I had information. We were now quite a ways from anyone else so ventured to mention his sad business at home.

"Mr. Banks I'm so sorry for your brother. I'm sure Holmes will have him home safe in no time. But this must be a horrible strain for your family." When he turned to look at me I noticed for the first time just how dark his eyes were and that there was something in the look of them that was a little unsettling. But this was quickly forgotten. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "Please call me Raymond." Then unexpectedly he kissed my cheek.

This time I was sure I blushed to my toes.

"Sir," said I, "that is hardly appropriate. We just met this afternoon." But I was smiling when I said it. He turned slightly red himself and smiled back at me.

Turning away from me he looked at his watch. "It's getting late." He said, "May I escort you home?"

I thought of my aunt back at Bakers Street and then again of the paper I had shoved in my pocket. "No thank you I just remembered I had a dinner invitation at a friend's house this evening, and I should probably head straight there so they don't worry."

As we headed back towards the street he hailed a cab and handed me into it. I gave the address to the driver and allowed Raymond to pay the cab for me since he insisted and waved goodbye to him.

When I returned to Mycroft's I found Holmes still sitting in the parlor. Although the pipe was no longer lit the room was still thick with the smoke. I coughed after I entered and attempted to fan the vulgar smell away from me.

Holmes looked over his shoulder at me. "Ah I was wondering when you would return. I think I may have found a key to where the boy is located."

"Have you now. Because I have found the exact street that he is at and I did it without this foul odor around me." I opened the window to try and clear out the room. When I turned to face Holmes he was staring at me in surprise.

I caught Holmes up on what I had been doing all evening, including my attempt at matching a face to the voice. "Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful and I wasn't able to keep trying after I ran into Raymond." Opps. I hadn't meant to let Holmes know I was waking with Raymond today. Not after the argument earlier.

Holmes who had been sitting back listening to me, sat bolt upright at this last part.

"You saw Raymond Banks while in town?"

"Well, Yes but.."

He cut me off. "How far where you from where you had heard the voices in the alley?"

"Um About a block or so. But what does this…"

Once again I wasn't allowed to finish.
"That makes perfect sense!" He said jumping up from his chair. "Mikael you may have just solved this case."

"Huh?" was my intelligent reply.

"Don't you see?" Holmes was really on a roll now. "The voice that you couldn't understand in the alleyway; that was Raymond Banks. Every since our meeting this afternoon I've been thinking his lack of concern over and you have just confirmed my theory. Young Mr. Banks is in cahoots with his brothers kidnappers."

I had been shocked into silence and disbelief. This now changed. "Now wait just one damn minute. What do you mean, Raymond is in 'cahoots'?"

But rather then answering he dashed out the door and into the night.