Thanks for the reviews/favorites/followers! You all make me smile :) Hope you are all enjoying this story. It's always nice to know people are reading. Not sure how long this fic will be, but I've written up to Chapter 15 so far. Anyways, without further ado...Chapter 7!
Chapter 7
John sat in a stool at the lab quietly talking with Molly. Neither of them wanted to disturb Addie, and especially Sherlock, in their research.
"They're creepily alike, those two," Molly remarked.
"Well, they are siblings," John said cheekily.
Molly shot him an annoyed look. "No, I mean, it's just weird that there are two of them. Pretty sure the world can barely handle one. Two might make it implode," she joked.
John chuckled and agreed. "Yeah, they're two peas in a pod. They're always at it. Constantly. Feels like I should add "referee" to my resume. Stubborn gits."
"We can hear everything you're saying. Neither of you possess the art of secrecy," Sherlock said from across the room.
"And quite frankly, I'm offended," Addie added. John and Molly looked guilty. "Saying I'm just like Sherlock, when everyone knows I'm the smarter Holmes."
Sherlock outright laughed at that. Addie scowled and sent another crisp his way. Sherlock's quick reflexes kicked in and he caught it mid-air before he chucked it back at her.
It hit her in the eye. "Oww! Joooohn! Sherlock hit me in the eye with the crisp!" Addie whined.
Sherlock smirked and looked up innocently at John and Molly.
"If you two aren't going to eat those then throw them away and get back to work," John sighed.
"Yes, father," mocked Sherlock.
Suddenly Addie's text alert went off.
John is right. Stop behaving like children and focus on the case.
-MH
"Big brother is watching us," Addie said, mixing her substances in a test tube. She texted back.
Isn't this some kind of invasion of privacy? Not to mention it's downright creepy.
-AH
Another text alert
It's not creepy, it's protective.
-MH
Addie made a face at the phone and set it down.
I saw that.
-MH
Addie, more than a little freaked out, pushed the phone far away from her in a hurry.
"So, what have you two accomplished so far? Other than making a complete mess of the lab?" John asked.
"The DNA found on the sleeve of the dead scientist, matches that of the museum manager. Most likely he was annoyed about the fame the scientist was getting and felt as if he was due his own share of fame considering he's the one who gave the scientist his big break. A case of juvenile jealousy," Sherlock said.
"What did the security guard say?" John asked.
"Nothing much. He was an idiot. Got his injuries from a bar fight the night before. I believed him. He's too stupid to be involved somehow," Sherlock answered.
"So the manager killed the scientist out of envy, so he could start getting the money and fame he felt he deserved?" Molly asked.
"Exactly."
"There might be more to it though," Addie began.
Sherlock whirled around to face her, a shocked and angry look on his face.
"The records keeper told me that the manager had been spending a lot of time with the secretary. At first he though they were seeing each other, but then he said he saw them exchanging information with each other often. He didn't mention it, but I'm sure the manager was paying the secretary to spy on the scientist. The secretary, being in a position that involves the passing and handling of information would be the perfect accomplice, seeing as how no one would suspect a secretary's desk to be covered with papers and notes and no one would look twice at what those notes contained," Addie said.
"Wow. So the manager and the secretary were in on it together? And all this time their plans for the murder were right under everyone's noses?" John said.
"Yep."
"Brilliant! I'll go contact Lestrade," John said walking out of the room.
"So did you find all this out before or after you seduced the poor records keeper?" Sherlock asked. "Nice to know you come to your deductions by such honest means."
"No need to be bitter, Sherlock," Addie retorted. "And you're one to talk. It was you who taught me to act and lie to get the information I need."
"Yes, well, I'm so lucky to have your talents assisting me on my cases."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous. You're jealous and annoyed that you didn't figure it all out for yourself."
"Don't be ridiculous. I am neither bitter nor jealous," Sherlock scoffed.
"Fine. Just don't go hiring a secretary to plan my murder with," Addie joked.
"Oops, too late," Sherlock replied.
John walked back in closing his phone. "Lestrade is pleased. I told him to arrest the manager and the secretary. He gives his thanks to the 'Holmes duo' as he calls you."
"Uggh, is he going to refer to us as that from now on?" Addie asked.
"It is revolting, not to mention insulting," Sherlock said.
"He seemed to like it. I think it's rather funny," John said.
"You would," said Addie rolling her eyes.
John ignored her and began gathering up the empty crisp bags. "Well, are we done here? Can we finally go back to the flat?"
Sherlock nodded and started putting away the equipment with the help of Molly.
"Addie can clean up the crisps. She started this little idiotic food fight," Sherlock said.
"Hey! You participated, thus contributing to the mess," Addie replied.
"Someone just clean up the bloody crisps so we can go home," John sighed.
"Fine!" Addie began clearing the crumbs and sweeping them into the trash, grumbling and cursing Sherlock the whole time.
At the door John thanked Molly and shook her hand. Addie also thanked her and nodded. She elbowed Sherlock then gestured towards Molly. Sherlock rolled his eyes but thanked Molly all the same. Molly looked positively elated to have been thanked by Sherlock and she closed the lab door dreamily.
The next morning at 221B and 221B and a half, as Addie liked to refer to her room, all was quiet and content. Sherlock was in his room, either sleeping or on his website, the latter the more likely of the two. John was sleeping most definitely judging by the snores she could hear coming from upstairs.
Addie was extremely bored in her room so she decided to walk around the flat and see if there was anything to do. She wandered around 221B, not encountering much besides a bookshelf, some magazines and newspapers, Sherlock's annoying experiments, and his violin sitting on its stand. She contemplated picking it up and trying to play it, but she didn't particularly fancy being killed, so she kept walking by. Finding nothing to satisfy her boredom she wandered into the kitchen to grab a snack, hoping that John had the sense to go to the store because she knew Sherlock wouldn't.
She opened the fridge and nearly screamed at the sight of a human head staring back at her. She closed her eyes and quickly closed the door.
"It's quite disturbing isn't it," she heard a voice behind her say.
Addie jumped and turned toward the voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear. Did I startle you?" an elderly woman asked her, a sweet smile on her face.
"No, I'm fine," Addie said shaking her head. "I don't think we've officially met yet. I'm Adelaide. You're Mrs. Hudson I presume."
"Yes, I am Mrs. Hudson. Pleasure to meet you Adelaide. Or Addie, is it? Your brother mentioned you prefer Addie."
"Which one?"
"The proper one who carries the umbrella," Mrs. Hudson replied.
"Ah, Mycroft."
"So, you're the housekeeper then?" Addie asked, watching Mrs. Hudson unload groceries into the cupboards and the fridge.
"Not your housekeeper dear, just the landlady."
"Well, not many landladies would go buy us groceries," Addie said helping her put everything away.
"Poor John looked too exhausted to do it earlier, so I stole the list from his desk and decided to do it for him. Someone has got to look after you three," Mrs. Hudson smiled.
Addie returned the smile.
Sherlock walked into the kitchen in his pajamas and dressing gown and started fumbling around for some milk and biscuits. "Did you buy the raspberry scones this time?" he asked.
"You're welcome Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson shot back at him. "I was just having a chat with your lovely sister here. Such a charming young girl."
Addie smiled at Sherlock haughtily.
"There's no need to be so falsely kind Mrs. Hudson. You don't need to flatter her," Sherlock replied, biting his scone.
"Awww, Sherlock, you don't think I'm lovely and charming? I'm hurt!" Addie said placing her hand on her chest.
"Sherlock, what are these holes doing in the wall?"
Addie and Sherlock exchanged nervous glances. "Hey, this is all on you big brother," she said before backing further into the kitchen.
"This will be coming out of your rent young man!"
Addie snickered at him from the other side of the table.
Mrs. Hudson reappeared to finish putting the groceries away. She took a large bottle out of the bag and placed it on the counter.
"I got you a little something extra. Thought you might enjoy it on the off hours that you are home and relaxing. The man at the store called it the best wine in London," she said.
Sherlock actually looked appreciative and smiled at her as a thank you. Addie took the bottle and looked at it.
"Thanks Mrs. Hudson. I'm sure we'll enjoy it very much," she said.
"Who says you're getting any?" Sherlock asked raising an eyebrow.
"You know you look like Mycroft when you do that," Addie said. Sherlock looked disgusted and immediately wiped the Mycroft look off his face. "And, I'll have you know, I am more than of age to drink alcohol Sherlock."
"I bought it for all three of you. Be sure to share," Mrs. Hudson said, giving Sherlock a pointed look.
"We'll see. If she behaves I might let her have some." Sherlock warned.
"What are you, my mummy?"
"Why? Do you need one?"
Addie was about to tell Sherlock exactly what she needed and what he could do with it when Mrs. Hudson interjected.
"Well, that's it for me. I'll be off. Play nice dears," she said walking out of the kitchen.