Chapter 1 - Meeting the Past

I walked over to the cottage it was around noon. I had the joyous task of being Landlady whilst my parents we're away cruising the world. Our second cottage was only five minutes walk away. I grabbed my purple converse and slipped them on, locked the door and headed over the ivy-covered cottage. As I walked I thought how nice it was to be back, the peace and quiet. I had room to think, and life was normal, I only wished James had moved with me. Apparently he had business to deal with but would come and see me for the weekend.

As I reached the cottage I saw a tall, dark haired man standing outside. Moneyed, but not fond of exerting his wealth, obvious from his clothes. He's with a companion, not sure if it's male or female. Intelligent, strikingly so, keeps him lonely, separate and isolated. I could feel his eyes analysing me, as I had done to him.

As I reached him, I asked: "Can I help you, sir?"

After staring at me for a few seconds, he replied as politely as he could manage, "I don't think so."

If he thought he was better than me, well I had another thing coming. I crossed my arms defensively and crossed my arms, replying, "Well, then, I'll have to ask you to get off my property."

The man looked at me with mild shock, so he keeps his emotions tightly wrapped, emotional trauma in his young life, he broke my train of thought by asking me a question.

"You're the owner?"

"Yes. I'm supposed to be letting in some renters." I replied.

"I'll take the key." he responded, holding his hand out for the key. I wasn't taking any chances.

"Excuse me? Do you seriously think I'm just gonna hand the key over to you?"

"I'm renting this place for two months. I would think that I would get the key." Was his curt reply.

I laughed a little at his comment. "You expect me to believe you? I'm renting this place to an old friend of mine, and just from what I've seen of you so far, I highly doubt you're the type she'd date."

He stared at me and lowered his hand. Ah, I thought, so his companion is female and he feels undeserving. This man was like an open book. He worries she is too good for him, he's afraid she'll disappear. Sweet really. A voice came from behind me.

"So, I called John, and Mrs. Hudson said she hopes we'll have a good time. Almost slipped up with John that you were with me..." The woman stopped as she saw me, and with smile called, "Percy!"

I was so pleased to see her, my parents hadn't mentioned who was renting, just a family friend and her partner. "Angie! It's been years!"

"I know! Look at you; you're all grown up! I thought you were off at Uni?" Asked Angie, smiling at me. It was wonderful to back together

"Just graduated this last year. I'm kind of centering my business here."

"You started your own business?"

"Yeah, designing costumes for different theatres around the country, but I'm mostly sticking close to home."

Angie smiled and turned back to the man "Sherlock, this is one of my best friends, Percy Richter. Percy, this is Sherlock, my...well, we're kind of...uh, together."

I raised her eyebrows, so Sherlock, that names unusual, sounds familiar, where'd I heard it? He seemed very uptight for Angie, Jessie was so relaxed. "Really?" I smirked at Sherlock. "Nice to meet you."

Sherlock stared at me slightly put off. "I'm sure."

Angie frowned. "Sherlock, don't start."

I handed Angie the key, and they all went inside. I loved this cottage; we had so many happy memories here from growing up. I could feel Sherlock's eyes on the back of my head; he was trying to read me. Like he was trying to get a grasp on whom and what I was, eyes that could read my life in a glance. There were only two other people I knew who could do that.

Sherlock kept looking at me and broke his stony glare by asking; "How is it that you've just come out of Uni and started a business, yet you already have this place to rent out?"

"It's actually my parents place. My dad's folks lived here, and this village was usually where we lived in between the moves, he used to be in the military." I replied, not liking the personal questions so early in our meeting.

"Everyone calls him the Colonel." chipped in Angie with a smile as she folded herself onto the sofa.

I smiled and perched on the arm of the couch. "And when he retired when I was 9, we settled here and Mum got a job as a history teacher at the local boarding school. Imagine having your own mother as your teacher." I added. If this Sherlock wanted personal, he was going to get it. I got a strange feeling from him.

"I liked having your mum as a teacher." added Angie

"She's not your mum. She's not expecting you to take after her and know so much about history." I replied, shuddering at the memories of being forced to take history to make her happy, and her disappointment when I to art college. I wasn't my fault I didn't like the same things as my parents.

"Well, she wouldn't expect you to be like her, considering...you know." Added Angie gently, knowing what I was thinking.

I frowned and nodded. Maybe they could help; I'd read that Angie was now a detective. "Actually, that's one reason I'm glad you're here. You're a detective, right?"

Angie nodded. "We both are." Ah, so there was the connection, and John of course. There relationship made a little more sense now.

"Good, well, you can probably figure out what I'm gonna ask, then." I answered, although I was a little worried they wouldn't know where to start or reject my case.

Angie nodded. "Yeah."

Sherlock looked between us, confusion marring his normally stoic features. "What?"

I smirked at him and crossed her arms and realisation hit, of course, Sherlock Holmes, I'd read John's blog and James mentioned him a few times. "You're the famous Sherlock Holmes, aren't you? Make a deduction. Or is it harder now that you're dead?"

There was humorous exchange between Sherlock and Angie as he said "No one will know, isn't that what you said?"

"I said I was pretty sure. You heard what she said, she just got back from Uni, she probably heard about it while she was there." Defended Angie.

Sherlock looked back at me, again staring, I could feel his eyes taking in every time detail. "I figured as much. She no doubt went to a school in London."

I frowned, not enjoying being on the receiving end of my own talent. "How did you know?" I asked.

Sherlock gave me a small smile and launched into his findings. "Those clothes you're wearing. Very distinct style, you can only get them at a certain shop, which is only in London. You probably wouldn't have wasted money travelling to London just to get them, considering how much they probably cost, therefore, you most likely were already staying in London, and since you already said that you wanted to centre your career here, and you said you had been at Uni, you obviously were in London because of school, therefore your university would be in London."

I stared at him; I was slightly impressed, non-on head done that to me for a while. "Wow, uh...okay." I laughed a little. "Okay, so..." I looked over at Angie. "Will you help me?"

"Of course!" she replied happily. Sherlock looked at Angie.

Angie glanced back at him. "Oh, she's adopted and she's always been curious about who her real parents are." A response, that seemed to confuse Sherlock further.

Sherlock nodded and frowned, asking. "How are you two best friends? You're years apart."

Both Angie and I glared at him for that comment. What has age got to do with anything?! "Only five. And what does that matter?" Bit back Angie.

I smiled at her. "I always looked up to Angie when I was younger."

Both laughing, Angie said. "Yeah, now I'm looking up to you."

Which made us both laugh harder whilst Sherlock just stood there, not quite sure how to react to the situation.

I looked down at Angie. "You're only a little shorter than me."

Angie shrugged. "I'm 5'6"."

I winced a little, ok so it was more that a little, but I shrugged my shoulders. "Alright, only three inches." Which induced more laughter from us both.

Sherlock just stared at us, again slimy bemused. I don't think he's used to this side of Angie. "I'm going to have to have access to a computer. And any information would be helpful." He walked out, mid conversation, just upped and left. How odd!

"Nice guy. What on earth do you see in him?" I said to Angie.

Angie sighed. "Sometimes I ask myself the same thing." Angie really does have the patience of a saint though. This thought made me laugh and we both left the cottage to be greeted by a huge black jeep. Not at all intimidating?! I got in the back and leant forward. "I'm sure my mum will let us use a computer at the school."

Angie turned the car on. "Alright." So Angie was driving and not Sherlock, interesting, he does like to be in control. I stayed quiet for the short journey as we drove towards the school. Sherlock glanced back at me. "I'm going to need some information. What's your full name?"

I looked at him. Oddly enough, I wanted to know who I was, but not have to divulge too much information. Also testing his true ability to deduct was quite fun, and I could tell it irritated him. He thinks I'm an idiot. "How do you know Percy isn't my real name?"

"That's not a girl's name, it's obviously a nickname, which would make sense that you have a nickname, considering your personality." He relied cuttingly.

"How do you know what my personality is like?" I said in sensed.

"I observed." The arrogance seeping into his voice, annoying me no end.

I sat back with a coy smile. "Yeah, I've observed some things about you, too. And, I'm guessing that Angie's the first girl to have enough patience to put up with you."

I knew I'd hit a nerve, and I felt bad, he was just awkward around people, it wasn't his fault. I noticed Angie glance at him, looking concerned. I bit back the gloating feeling I had and softly told him my name. "Persephone."

Sherlock looked at me and smirked. "Fitting."

I glared at him, my previous sympathy gone. "Why?"

"Well, in Ancient Greek mythology, Persephone ran off with Hades, the rebel type." He looked at her again. "Although, I think those colours would be a bit much in the underworld."

I rolled her eyes, so superficiality would be the great deduction, wonderful. "I'm sure you would know. Especially since you're dead." I was being spiteful, but I hated being judged because I dressed a bit differently. Again, I could see the guilt in his eyes though the wing mirror of the jeep. Sherlock looked back out the window. "You probably shouldn't keep bringing that up."

"Why not?" I asked as petulantly as possible.

"It's annoying." His response, just as childish.

"Again, you would know." Just so I could have the final word.

I saw Sherlock tense up a little, looking aggravated, he didn't like being shown up. Hah! This was going to be such fun! Thankfully, we finally arrived at the school, and we went to one of the computer rooms and Sherlock sat down in front of one. "Any other information that might be helpful, and then don't talk anymore. That would be extremely helpful."

I really was very close to punching his stupid face. How did Angie put up with him?! I roll my eyes and took off my locket and handed it to Sherlock.

"There's a family crest on the back, but I don't know who the family is supposed to be. My real mother gave that to me before she gave me up. And this." As I said this, I showed him the moonstone ring my birth mother had left with me. The stones were set in silver and formed and eternity sign, for eternal love.

Angie smiled and said. "I always loved that ring."

I smiled back at her. "I tried to give it to you once." remembering how young we were, I must have been only 14, I didn't understand where the ring was from or whom; I just though it was a pretty present to give my best friend.

"And I told you I wasn't going to let you give away one of the only connections to your real family. Besides, I don't wear rings." Angie replied.

"You used to." I said back, wondering if Sherlock knew.

"I was married. It was a wedding ring!" Angie was right, but still my point stood. We looked at each other and laughed. Sherlock sighed, and tensed up again, a sore subject. Poor Sherlock, this was really hard for him. I saw Angie look at him and frowned. She looked at me and lowered her voice. "He doesn't like it when I mention that I was married before."

I nodded, still having little sympathy for him. "Probably just jealous. After all..."

Angie held up her hand at me. "Percy, please don't start."

I conceded. "Alright, I know you don't like that sort of thing."

"And yet you always make jokes like that." Angie scolded. I had enough grace to look at little sheepish.

I changed the subject and was dying to tell Angie the good news. "Oh, and there's this guy I've been dating since Uni. It's kind of been off and on, cause sometimes he would just go off somewhere and not tell me where he was, and I did break up with him a few times, but we always ended up back together, but he's coming into town tomorrow, and I want my best friend to meet him."

Angie shrugged, feigning indifference. "What's that got to do with me?"

I laughed and hit Angie's arm. "Shut up! You know I mean you!"

Angie replied, happily. "I know. We can all go out to dinner. I'd leave Sherlock at home, but I'd be afraid that he'd get his hands on a gun and start shooting the wall."

I stared at her. How do you respond to that?!

Angie sighed. "He gets bored."

I nodded, understanding completely. Life can be so ridiculously boring. "That's a little extreme for me. I go outside."

Angie smiled. "You use a bow and arrow, too, not a gun. And you live in the country, not the middle of London."

I laughed, this whole situation was so surreal. "Doesn't he have something else he can do to keep from getting bored?"

"Uh, yeah, doing weird science experiments with cadavers."

"Cool." I responded, thinking of Kevin, my skull that I stole from Bart's hospital morgue when John was training there.

Angie laughed and shook her head. "Of course you'd say that."

I smiled and laughed. "Yeah, but you love me."

"Yeah." she replied.

"So I'll come over tomorrow night and we can all drive over to the restaurant. He's gonna meet us there." I offered.

"Okay." We had a plan, and I was alike excited. James and I and been together for so long, I really wanted him to meet Angie, she'd been like my big sister for years.

We sat back and watched as Sherlock worked on the computer, trying to figure out what the family crest was. He was so engrossed in his search, flipping between pages so quickly. Watching him I could see where his passion lay, solving the riddle, catching the bad guy. Helping a victim get justice. He was compassionate and dedicated to his craft and so good at it too. I understand the campaign across London about believing in Sherlock now, whilst watching his brain decipher the minute details of a case he's at one with his mid. It was extraordinary to watch.

I just hope he finds something.