Lestrade came later to her apartment and took her statement to file a report. He he also gave her a polite lecture on the streets of London and made her promise to travel by cab only unless escorted by someone trusted. She agreed. She appreciated his care and concern. She had thought about talking to him about Mr. Holmes following her but she felt it best not to discuss him. She did not want to risk eluding to the fact he was her client.
The rest of Erna's week was filled with the usual client case load and research for her dissertation. She spent the morning at a local shop which was as close to a coffee house as she could get. It was just nice to get out. There was a kind old waitress that reminded her of a great aunt from back home. She had chosen the topic of abnormal psychology as a general topic that is why her professor suggested the Moriarty case as an example. He thought it was very unique in the aspects he had read. Erna had researched the papers and found the man was listed as a consulting criminal in contrast to Mr. Holmes who was listed as a consulting detective. It all sounded so odd to Erna yet fascinating. Both men seemed similar in their minds working yet polar opposites in moral thinking. The problem was there were limits to what she could know about Mr. Moriarty since he had died. And due to their professional relationship, there were restrictions to what she could use about Mr. Holmes. She was starting to feel hopeless. The subject matter excited her. She may need to find another subject. She sipped her coffee contemplating her next step in her paper.
"Ms. Halbeck?" came a voice next to her. She looked up to see a tall man in a suit. He seemed like an executive.
"Yes." she said hesitantly.
"May I?" he asked motioning to the chair across from her.
She shook her head. How would anyone know her? Maybe it was an associates of Ella's?
He took a seat. "I came to inquire about your sessions with Sherlock Holmes."
She let out a chuckle as a reflex. "I apologize. I'm not at liberty to discusss my practice and disclose any client or information about a client."
He smiled at her, "Yes. I'm sure you have your rules however, he and I are the exceptuon,"
She was a bit taken back by the pure arrogance of the man before her.
"That's nice." she said politely. "Are you a doctor or lawyer or something to that effect?" she asked trying to guage the situation.
He just smiled and stood to leave, "Thank you for your time. I'll be in touch."
Erna watched as the man left. As he rounded the corner she grabbed her phone and took his picture as he crossed by the front wondow. She thought she might ask Lestrade if he knew him. She was a bit on edge since the mugging. The kindly waitress came by with more coffee.
"Thank you." she said.
"You're very welcome." said the waitress. "Are you ok, dear?"
"Yes, thank you. Just getting used to this town." she replied.
"Well, take your time. I'm still getting used to it myself and I'm native." she joked walking off.
Erna laughed. Good, it wasn't just her.
"Mr. Holmes, we've had our traditionl five minutes of silence are you know ready to share now?" she asked not caring if she sounded professional or not. Her comments elicited a slight smirk from him.
"How is your arm?" he asked. "You look a bit pale. You should see a doctor to ensure there is no infection. Criminals are not usually concerned with the sterility of their weapons and the cut was quite deep."
"You, Mr. Holmes, we are here for you." she said rubbing her forehead.
"I was keeping tabs on you since you stated you were looking into the case with Moriarty. I hope you have dismissed that endeavor." he said answering the unansweree question of why he had followee her last week. She looked at him in surprise. He shared something about himself however much a sliver of information.
"I appreciate you sharing that. Thank you for you concern. May I ask why you feel responsible for my protection?" she asked. He sat silently looking at her. "And not just my protection, but it seems all of London's? That's quite a task."
"I am more than capable." he said.
"I didn't say you weren't." she said waiting to see what would come next.
"I don't like to be analyzed." he said.
"I know. You prefer to be the one analyzing." she said. "But that is part of what I do."
"And the other part?" he asked.
"I listen." she said. "And not just to words."
He again sat in silence.
He looked at her and then down. He seemed like a child getting ready to confess a truth after being caught yet she knew he was not that simple. She could see a glimpse of perhaps what he was hiding behind the wall. The need to protect everything around him seemed to reinforce that wall. Her question seemed stirred something within him. For once in their time together she felt hope.
His phone buzzed as he pulled it from his coat. She rolled her eyes as he looked at it. She knew what came next.
"See you next week." he said as he left. She took note that he left with no witty or smart-arse remark. He just simply left. She wasn't sure if that was a good sign or bad.
Sherlock hurried past the recpetionist.
"Mr. Holmes, same time next week then?" she called out to him.
"Yes." he said walking out the door. Ms. Halbeck's question had struck a chord and he did not have time for it. Of course he felt protective of London and most of those around him. He was burdened with a mind that could see things in ways that uncovered the darkness of those who meant to do harm. There were events out of his control. Events that haunted him. To keep the ghosts at bay and do justice to those ghosts he would do everything within his power to prevent anyone else from suffering at the hands of those who set out to prey upon the weak minded. How dare she question him. Perhaps this had been a mistake. His phone buzzed again. His work was prority and anything that detracted from that was not worth his time. He had not yet determined Ms. Halbeck's place but he would soon.