Prompt from Ennui Enigma: Inspector Lestrade discovers a secret that Holmes tries to keep from Watson
"This way, Holmes!" Lestrade beckoned down the alley, where he could see the consulting detective's tall frame coming slowly toward him. As the detective drew closer, however, Lestrade could see his flushed features and overbright eyes, and more tellingly, the absence of Dr Watson. "You didn't say you were ill, Holmes!"
"I most certainly am not!" Holmes indignantly protested. In direct contradiction to his words, he sneezed loudly three times in succession. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he conceded, "Besides, even if I did happen to be unwell, there would be no need for Watson to know."
Lestrade raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Are you sure, Holmes? That seems like-" He was interrupted by Holmes sneezing again. His eyebrow rose further. "As I was saying, it seems like something Watson would prefer to know."
"I am perfectly sure, Inspector. Watson does not need to know." Putting his handkerchief back in his pocket, Holmes strode forward, weaving only slightly. "Now, where is the body?"
Lestrade reluctantly let the subject go, moving further down the alley to show Holmes where the body lay, nearly hidden under a pile of rags. Holmes stalked around the body, then crouched down to look at it more closely, staying stock still for several long minutes.
Finally, Lestrade could stand the suspense no longer. "What have you found, Holmes?"
Holmes abruptly sat back, almost as if he had been startled. "Young man from Scotland, came down here to spend Christmas with his fiancée. They had only communicated through letters, never in person. They were meant to meet here, but her father found out and followed her here, where he killed the young man. There are clear footsteps here and there," he pointed to one side of the alley, "to show where the father dragged the body under the rags."
Lestrade closed his gaping mouth, afraid of looking foolish in front of his men. "Right then, and where would we find the father?"
"The fiancee's name will be on the letters in the man's coat pocket. The stains on his fingers showed he was handling them all day, likely looking forward to their meeting." Holmes rose to his feet, then wobbled. Lestrade reached out to him, but was quickly shaken off. "Look at the alley entrance for a green coat, slightly worn. There you'll find the letters." Nearly as soon as the words were out of his mouth, Holmes broke into a fit of coughing. This time, when Lestrade reached out to steady him, he did not move away from the touch.
As Holmes continued to cough, Lestrade sent two men to the entrance of the alley to look for the coat, and after a moment's thought, sent a man off to Baker Street. Whatever Holmes thought, Watson would want to know.
Finally, Holmes' coughing began to ease, and he could stand without assistance. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lestrade interrupted him. "Before you say anything, Holmes, I've already sent men up to look for the coat, and I've sent a man for Dr Watson as well. Your part is done now, you can just wait here until Watson arrives." To soften his words, he continued, "If I let you die of pneumonia on my crime scene, I think Watson would kill me!"
Holmes, who had been looking mutinous until that moment, burst out with a short barking laugh. "Then in the interests of preventing a murder, I will stay put."