Chapter 1

The new flat was in the heart of London, not like the old one that was just on the outskirts. "Dad there's no way we can afford this place." Dad didn't exactly have a steady job.

"It's okay Mrs. Hudson's giving us a special price, plus it's in a really good school district."

"I don't want you to go bankrupt just because I'm bad at making friends."

"Well we could all ways get a flat mate."

"Please dad the only person worse at making friends then me is you," I say as I pick up a box of books, "witch one's my room again?"

"The one on the right."

I open the door to my new room, the walls are a dull gray color and there's a window with a lovely view of an ally way but to be fare it's about 100 times nicer then some of the places we've lived in.

I set up a mattress as a bed in the left corner and a book shelf in the right, books are my one true love, I organize them by author then by year published with a small section dedicated to my favorites, A Wrinkle In Time, Harry Potter, 1984, A series of unfortunate events and The Scarlet Letter. A strange selection I know but they all have one thing in common, I can escape into all of them and anything I can escape out of this hell hole called life I love.

And then I get to the music box, it's the only thing my mother left me, but inside is so much more, my salvation. Three little blades small enough to hid but sharp enough to escape. My father is truly a brilliant man but I'm his baby and I have him wrapped around my figure, even with his deductions skills he can't see past his daughter.

I didn't start at my new school till next week so after I had my room set up I decided to take a long nap. Dad stuck his head in to tell me he was going to Barts but apart from that I spent the rest of the day in peace, resting and trying to ignore my emotions.

I manged not to wake up till after 7 and when I did I could hear two voice one dads and the other, a male late 20's, sounded like a military background, I checked my hair in the mirror to make sure it wasn't a complete mess before leaving my room to investigate but it wasn't, my hair never was it looked like I'd straightened it 5 times, one of the only things I'd inherited from my mother.

I can hear dad and the other man talk as I walk threw the hall way "That's a skull." oh god I'd prayed the skull had been lost in the move.

"Friend of mine..."

"Well when he says friend."

The man looks up at me, yes defiantly a military background, his limp seems to be psychosomatic, interesting.

"Alice Holmes, nice to meet you."

I say as I stretch out my hand.

"um, John Watson."

John says as he shakes my hand before turning back to dad,

"I'm sorry you didn't tell me you had a daughter."

"Mmm, didn't I? It must have slipped my mind."

"Not that I have a problem with it." He says turning back to me.

I shrug, John seems like a decent flat mate, better then the last one we had, a overweight man who had an addiction to crisps and pointing out that my dad was a "freak."

"Oh, Sherlock, Alice. The mess you've made."

I head Mrs. Hudsons sweet voice says as she enters the room,

"Hey don't blame this one on me! I've barely been down here!"

I say as I walk over to the kitchen to poor myself a glass of water, I lean agents the table still listing to dad and Johns conversation.

"I looked you up on the internet last night."

"Anything interesting?"

"Found your website, The Science of Deduction.

"What did you think?"

"You said you could identify a software designer by his tie and an airline pilot by his left thumb."

"He can." I say reentering the room, my glass of water in my hand.

"Have you eaten today?" Dad asks, as if that's a normal question to ask your daughter

"Three times." I reply as if it's a normal reply to your father.

"Wait I still don't understand, how can you tell a software designer by his tie exactly?"

"the same way I can tell your military career in your face and your leg, and your brother's drinking habits in your mobile phone."

"mm sister." I say, just loud enough for them to hear me. John looks like he still has questions but before he can ask them Mrs. Hudson comes back, newspaper in hand "What about these suicides then, Sherlock? I thought that'd be right up your street. Three exactly the same." "Four" dad and I say in unison as we watch Lestrade's car pull up outside. "There's been a fourth. And there's something different this time."

"A fourth?"

It's then Lestrade enters the room.

"Where?" dad and I speak in unison again.

"Brixton, Lauriston Gardens."

"What's new about this one? You wouldn't have come to get me if there wasn't something different."

"You know how they never leave notes?"

"Yeah."

"This one did. Will you come?"

"Who's on forensics?"

"It's Anderson."

"aruggg" I'd rather be stuck with the brats from school then with Anderson.

"Anderson won't work with me.

"Well, he won't be your assistant."

"I need an assistant."

"What about Alice?"

"I am no ones assistant." I say, giving Lestrade a glare.

"Either way will you come?"

"not in a police car. I'll be right behind."

"We'll be right behind." I correct dad.

"Thank you" Lestrade says before leaving. Dad wait to make sure he's gone before celebrating by leaping into the air.

"Brilliant! Yes! Ah, four serial suicides, and now a note! Oh, it's Christmas!"

I laugh as I reach for my coat, a dark purple coat with a peter pan collar. I throw Dad his while I'm at it as he adjusters his scarf.

"Mrs Hudson, we;ll be late. Might need some food."

"I'm your landlady, dear, not your housekeeper!"

"Something cold will do. John, have a cup of tea, make yourself at home. Don't wait up!"

And with that dad I are running down the stairs. Then it hits me

"Dad stop."

"What Alice?"

"John, he was in the army, a doctor, we need an assistant."