31 years old

This had her name all over it. I leaned over the paper clipping staring at the photograph. It was definitely her work. She was probably the lawyer. Lestrade stood a little away from me.

"Well?" He asked.

"I need a new filing case," I muttered.

"Beg your pardon?" He asked.

I sat up straight and turned my attention towards the inspector. "I said, I'm sorry, Detective. But I feel that I can't help you here."

"But you… You're Sherlock Holmes!" Lestrade cried.

I stood up, "Yes, any other amazing deductions you would like to make?"

"Why aren't you helping us?" He demanded.

"Because," I said simply. "Because it is too easy. I don't know why you didn't solve it yourself Lestrade, save you the Taxi fare. No, I can't waste my time fluttering over simple matters as insurance swindles,"

"Insurance Swindles?"

"Do you need to write this down?"

"No, I'll remember."

"You sure? I speak fast and do not suffer fools gladly,"

"Sherlock!"

"Alright," I tucked the newspaper clipping into my breast pocket and walked over to my large stack of London Times that sat in the corner of the room. Smiling slightly, I lifted Yorik and placed him gently on the mantel.

"That's a skull…"

"Well done Lestrade those medical students you've been teaching won't know what hit them when you walk in on Monday morning and are able to point out what is the skull and what is the femur. Now… Where did I put it?" I shifted the top papers, before remembering that it was probably right at the bottom. Sighing, I ducked down trying to allocate the correct one. There! I fumbled about and pulled the paper out. The rest of them toppled over with an almighty crash. I stared at the mess on the floor.

"Ah,"

"Shouldn't you clean that up?" Lestrade asked.

"No."

"Right,"

I flicked open the pages and selected one. "There!" I cried triumphantly.

"'Doctor Who to return to TV next year,'" Lestrade read.

I sighed, exasperated. "Under that!"

"Oh," Lestrade squinted.

"Oh really Lestrade," I said. "Buy some glasses. Or at least get laser surgery."

"Sherlock!"

"Right," I cleared my throat. "'Mr Barry MacKenzie is taking his estranged wife Elsie MacKenzie to court over a battle with the expenses she tried to steal from him. Mr MacKenzie is a well respected solicitor in London fought for over forty years to try and stop his wife from claiming expenses to his company. Mrs MacKenzie worked for 16 years at the company as her husbands secretary. Her expenses reached from as little as £6 for stamps to over £4000 in travelling expenses.'"

"Insurance Swindle?" Lestrade asked. "She was killed, not him."

"Oh dear lord!" I sighed. "She placed all the money she saved into a secret life insurance coverage, to be given to her sons when she died. After the expense scandal was unearthed she had to find new ways of getting money. So she decided to sell her prized possession. A diamond necklace given to her by her husband on their honeymoon. He found out and went insane, and in his fit of rage, he shot her."

"That's… how did I not notice that there was an expense scandal?"

"Oh that was a while ago." I said. "Was it not given away by the blatantly obvious fact that Doctor Who would be returning to the small screen."

"Um…"

"Honestly Lestrade,"

"Alright, no need to be so cruel,"

"There's cruelty and there's necessity," I replied. "Please, leave."

"Can I have the –"

"No,"

Lestrade sighed. "Alright. Bee in your bonnet. I'll see you soon."

I gave him a curt nod and turned my back. He sighed, tapped his feet annoyingly for a few seconds then closed the door behind him. I looked out from the curtain watching him get into the police car and drive off. Slowly I made my way to my room, pulling out a green folder. Thumbing it slowly, I opened to the last page I had left off.

Carefully I pinned the newspaper clipping onto the page, my finger tracing over the photo of her sweet face. As perfect as the day we met each other.

The photo, if you are wondering, was taken shortly after my 17th birthday. It was me and her together. She was so high that day. We had such a night. Endless cigarettes and apple vodka. She had worn that green polka dot dress