As the cab left Sherlock and John in front of the victim's flat, they could see a corpulent man waiting for them on the curb. It was clear he was pretty much nervous seeing how fast he paced back and forth in front of his car, barking at his mobile as he talked with someone.

"I bet this is Mycroft's minion" John commented when he finally saw them, his brows knitting at the sight of the tall detective, "I mean, Miss Harrison's brother"

Sherlock didn't bother to reply as Joseph Harrison was marching toward them, his face morphing in a sarcastic grin when the other man glared at them coldly.

"I guess you're the bastard that made my sister cry" Joseph growled, "I'll give you full access to Percy's house, as requested, and we are at your disposal. Even if I really would like to smash your face"

"You aren't the first to say it" John muttered, "We're very sorry about your sister. How is she?"

"Still shocked"

"Don't stop your chattering on my account" Sherlock sighed dramatically, "Give me the key to the flat. Your presence is not needed at the moment. I read the police report on the crime scene, but as usual I'll need to make up for their incompetence and the lack of mention about the carpet"

"The carpet?" John asked, trailing behind Sherlock as he climbed swiftly up the stairs to reach the flat.

"Miss Annie, according to what Lestrade wrote here, was in the sitting room. The door was in her visual field, so, unless she's our killer, it would be difficult for someone to go inside and come out without being noticed"

"And what does the carpet have to do with …"

"This flat is on the first floor, easily accessible from the condominium garden when the window is open and lately the weather has been very good, except few days of heavy rainfall. The day before Phelps' death the grass was surely drenched and the dirt stuck under the shoes, so it would be very likely to find the carpet dirty under the window"

Holmes strode inside the office and went straight to the desk, placed just in front of the large window. The wood had no sign of being splintered or damaged and the sill was perfectly clean.

Squatting down, the detective watched carefully the carpet and John could see him smirk excitedly.

"Have you found something?"

"Absolutely nothing, John"

"And this is a good thing...?" Joseph Harrison asked tentatively.

"Can I speak with Miss Annie? There is something I would like to ask her"

"Absolutely not. I won't subject my sister to other uncomfortable situations dragging her to the very room where her fiance has been slaughtered like a pig" Joseph protested, "Tell me what you want to know and I'll report her answer to you"

Sherlock sighed dramatically, pulling out something from his coat and showing a silver shining object that John recognized immediately as a mobile.

"That is my...!"

"Mr. Harrison, I'm sure my dear older brother told you I need to have fully access to all the evidence and this includes being able to interrogate the suspects as many times as I wish. Now, lets keep this incomprehension between us" Sherlock said with a fake concerned pout, before tapping on Annie's contacts and waiting for her to pick up the call.

"Hello? Joe, this is really not a good time"

"Hello, Miss Harrison. Can you tell me if you heard noises coming from your fiance's office?" Sherlock asked without presenting himself.

"Who are you? Where is my brother?"

"Annie, please, answer his question and Mr. Holmes will let you be" Joseph pleaded her, as John wanted to disappear in a hole as the sweet voice of the young woman replied to the rude detective when he urged her to speak clearly and not waste anymore time.

"What kind of noise you are interested in, Mr. Holmes?"

"The kind normally you don't associate with Percy Phelps' habits" Sherlock impatiently said, "Come on, think!"

"Enough, Mr. Holmes! You're mistreating her again!" Joseph protested.

"Let him work. I know he behaves like a bastard, but maybe she can help him solve this case faster this way" John stopped him when the bigger man tried to grab Sherlock.

"I don't know if it's what you're searching for, but I remember hearing running water. I thought it was strange, since Percy rarely used that bathroom when I was there" she said, "He preferred to come out and check on me during breaks... to make sure I was comfortable as he worked"

Sherlock almost instantly hanged up and rushed to the bathroom annexed to the room, where he carefully observed the spotless sink. The surface was dry, but the towel hanged beside it had been clearly used.

"John" Sherlock called his friend as Joseph attempted to peek inside the cramped bathroom, "Smell it"

"No" the other retracted immediately with a grimace.

"I'm sure the dead man won't be offended"

"Absolutely not! You do it!"

"I already did it. And do you know what I discovered thanks to Miss Harrison?"

"No?" Joseph interjected behind them as Sherlock turned around to watch with interest Mycroft's employee.

"Someone with a flat like this usually has a housekeeper and it was Monday the day of the murder, so clearly everything had been cleaned and the towels changed in order to do the laundry. Now, can you tell me why I find one damp and dirty on the hanger?"

"He used the bathroom and as all the normal people washed his hands before returning to the desk" John shrugged.

"Do you see how the color of the cloth is darker on the back? This is dirt" Sherlock showed them the towel and dragged John to the desk, moving the chair and pointing to a portion of carpet slightly darker than the cream color in the rest of the room, "The killer stained it when he climbed over the windowsill and attempted to clean the carpet, but you can't remove mud with water or it will stay like this"

"Surely someone would have noticed a man, or woman, climbing on a wall" John protested, "It's not exactly a common sight"

"This is a private backyard, John. From the street is impossible to see anything and there are no immediate buildings confining with this property" Sherlock shrugged, "And you'll find an ample community of reckless teenagers jumping around like squirrels and scaling walls in a poor imitation of fantasy video games. Check on Youtube"

"I hardly think a teenager killed my ex brother-in-law" Joseph said.

"Oh, no. Definitely not a teenager, but it's a good starting point"