Returning to Baker Street, Sherlock wasn't surprised at all to see Mycroft waiting in the flat, sat on the couch and disgusted by the dirty plates on the coffee table.
"Mrs. Hudson says she's not your housekeeper, but you'd really need someone to clean up this mess" he said with a grimace.
"Cut short your opinions on my flat and tell me what are you doing here" Sherlock coldly said, "I'm busy"
"News on the treaty? Have you found the document?"
"It wasn't in the office" John replied, shrugging off his jacket and tiredly throwing it on his chair.
"Finding the killer will lead me to the treaty, Mycroft. But I have no evidence to call Lestrade and arrest him" Sherlock commented.
"So you already knew who killed Phelps?!" John exclaimed, "Why have you wasted so much time in his flat then?"
"All the suspects know I'm investigating by now. If this man is focused on throw me off his trail, then I have the time to act before the acquisition" Sherlock surmised.
The detective hadn't bothered to take off scarf and coat, glancing to his brother in disgust, and decided on the spot to go out again. If there was a chance to avoid Mycroft's presence, he would do literally anything in return.
"Tell me where Miss Harrison works. I suppose I'll go and inform her of my involvement in her fiance's case"
"I noticed she usually spends the afternoon in a cafe nearby the Sun. Maybe you'll find her there, but I doubt she will want to speak with you, Sherlock"
"If she wants me to continue with my work, she will find the time to listen to me"
"Don't tell me you really plan to abandon this case..." Mycroft glared at him venomously.
"Don't be ridiculous" Sherlock spat as he was leaving the flat, "Once I take a case, I won't leave it until its solution"
John sighed and was about to follow his friend, at least to spare the poor girl another crying fit, when the older Holmes stopped him.
"Let him go. I'm sure he will find a way to take advantage of the situation and extort informations about the treaty"
"But what about Annie? He will make her cry again and Mr. Harrison has been clear about that matter. He doesn't want none of us close to her"
"I think this is the exact reason why Sherlock is doing it" Mycroft answered cryptically.
...
Annie almost had an heart attack when a tall man clad in black jacket took the chair opposite to her.
Sherlock glanced at the small notepad in her hands before moving his eyes up to hers.
"Miss Harrison, a pleasure to meet you again"
The young woman felt a shiver as his cold voice washed over her. Last time they saw each other Sherlock had been very rude and insulting with her, so she took his presence there as a warning bell.
Something was up and for some reason he wanted to talk with her, bearing in mind the discussion they had on the phone few hours before.
"Just tell me what you want, Mr. Holmes"
"An hour of your time will be enough" he shrugged, "Tell me what do you know about your ex-fiance's work"
"He's not my ex"
"Technically, he is. A dead man is no good at reciting vows during a ceremony"
Annie felt her eyes burning in shame as he treated her like a stubborn child who refused to accept the truth, but she swallowed her reply.
There was no use in getting angry with someone like Sherlock Holmes, especially with his preponderance to fight back everytime his opinion was challenged.
"We will go to the house to conduct a little experiment" he declared.
"I don't want to go back in that flat" she refused, "Find someone else"
"I'm pretty sure you're the one with more interest in finding Mr. Phelps' killer. You wanted my help when you came to Baker Street"
"No, I was only doing my job as journalist...!"
"Just because you said nothing, it doesn't mean no one can guess what you're after" Sherlock said, standing up and picking up her jacket for her, "Now, come on"
Annie really didn't want to do anything with him, but she supposed it would be better to go with his plan. After all, if he was investigating on Percy's death, then she had to be brave and face whatever was going to happen.
The trip went relatively fast and the detective hurried Annie up the stairs until he opened the door of the flat.
There she paled and stayed behind as Sherlock pranced inside.
"I need you to sit down in the chair and wait for me"
"I... I... I can't" she sobbed, seeing the big blood stain left on the carpet beside the desk.
"It will take just a moment" he assured her, already jumping out of the door and locking it behind his back.
The poor girl rushed after Sherlock, pounding on the door and screaming at him, all the while sobbing desperately against the door as her body was shaking.
Outside the flat, Sherlock was calmly listening to her voice as she called for him, noting how the sounds were perfectly coming to his ears and wondered if the same could be verifiable from the people inside.
His hands went to the bricks of the wall and hailed his weight up the short distance that divided him from the office.
Annie turned around when she heard someone panting for the effort and ran to the window, just in time to see pale hands grabbing the sill and Sherlock Holmes appearing right in front of her face.
"Can you move, please?" he said, panting and waiting for her to leave him some space.
The faint scent of soap and baked goods washed over him as she helped him inside, even if the natural good looks of the woman were ruined by the tears still trailing on her cheeks.
"Why have you left me here?!"
"I wanted to see if I could assault you" he replied nonchalantly, "And we just demonstrated how the killer managed to come in and escape without being noticed"
"You mean...?"
"Yes, he came from the window. Now if we are in this position" he continued, guiding her to the desk and extending his arms, "You'll see that your body is within my reach and I can easily drag you to the window"
Sherlock pulled her to himself and closed his arm around her shoulder, making her gasp in fright.
"In two minutes and half, the killer is fleeing" he concluded, deciding to not mention the stolen documents.
There was no need to inform Annie of it.
"But this doesn't help you to find this person"
"No, but I have a good idea of where to begin" he lied.