Sherlock was a bit disappointed as soon as Annie announced she had to go back to work.
He was just beginning to deduce details about the body when she answered her phone, but what upset him more was the relieved smile on her lips.
"I'm really sorry, but they need me for … an interview"
"Who is the victim this time?" Anderson commented.
"Buy the paper and you'll see" Annie replied politely, ignoring the scathing tone in the man's voice before biding good luck to Lestrade.
John thanked the gods when she avoided to extend the same salute to Sherlock and missed the glare his friend sent him, expecting John to remind her their agreement. But as usual, the detective took upon himself the task of stopping her as Annie was already leaving the premises.
"It would be beneficial for you to remember our accord. If you leave now, I won't be required to share with you whatever information Mycroft could give me in your absence" he said with a winning smirk.
Annie paled as she remembered Sherlock's words before leaving Baker Street and felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny as he tried to predict what would be her answer.
John took pity of her and accompanied the woman outside before Sherlock could pull out the umpteenth insult from his mouth and upset her.
"Don't worry. He won't do it" he reassured her.
"But what if…?"
"Then I'll personally tell you every news I hear about your brother, I promise"
"Thank you, John. I wouldn't force you to go against Sherlock, but this is truly important for my work. A chance in a lifetime, if you want to know"
"Good luck, then. I'll look forward to read your article when it comes out" he smiled at her, closing the door of the cab for her.
She waved at him from behind the glass before turning to the cabby and giving him the address.
John was about to return inside when he almost jumped out of his own shoes at the sight of Sherlock appearing behind him.
"Strange"
"Are you trying to give me a stroke?!", John exclaimed, "And where are you going?"
The doctor stared at the detective as he stopped a cab, dragging John too inside before he could attempt to run away. With Sherlock, random trips were always dangerous for both of them in so many ways, especially if it involved sneaking up on a client.
"You were more interested in my cases at the beginning. I can't imagine what could be more important than a murder"
"Because she's a girl. Not all of them are eager to see a corpse during their free time" John shrugged.
"Oh. Let's go home then" Sherlock shrugged, "I gave Lestrade all the elements to close the case swiftly. He will contact me as soon as they find the snake"
"Snake? What snake?"
"The one that killed the victim. Obviously, it can't be hard to spot one of the most dangerous snakes in the world here in England. I only read about it, never had the occasion to see a Daboia russelii alive..."
"A what?"
"...Commonly known as Russell's viper" Sherlock continued, ignoring the interruption, "The blood, it showed clear sign of severe disseminated intravascular coagulation, something that even Anderson would be able to recognize with a bit more study. I'm sure Molly will be able to notice the organ failure and the beginning of a necrosis of the bitten arm"
"So a strange snake parades around the corridors and the victim doesn't notice?"
"It would be unlikely. This reptile is approximately 125cm long, no one can be so distracted to miss it"
"But Lestrade found nothing in the house. Surely they would find it lurking around" John protested, "So it's not a murder"
"Oh, no. She has been killed and whoever put that viper in the house definitely returned to take it back. So I suggested to search for someone who travel often or work overseas"
"I suppose it would be a fair assumption, but it could be also a collector who bought this snake for personal..."
"Viper. It's a viper, John" Sherlock corrected the doctor.
"Alright! Maybe it was bought and sent here!" John exclaimed.
"Not likely. A collector has to keep a strict documentation on every exemplar possessed, it would be too easy and too stupid to get caught because of that. Not to mention how boring it would be for me"
"You know, Sherlock? No one said every murder has to be complicated or too much elaborated. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you" John wisely commented.
"This is the reason why I choose personally every case we take. There is no space for the ordinary in my work"
…
As the pair was waiting for Lestrade to call, Annie had just tidied her office where she planned to receive Helen Stoner, the famous stylist, and interview her on the new project for the atelier she had opened some years before.
They said it was her step-father the one with money and influence, but as she had discovered by her own sources, it was Miss Stoner's late mother that had allowed her business to flourish.
Mr. Roylott was a misanthrope and unpleasant man, known for his countless legal causes and irascible behavior that he didn't forget to show off in every occasion.
As Annie waited for her, she wondered about the victim of Sherlock's case. Maybe she would be able to find out something with a name...
'No' she scolded herself, 'I have my work to do. Focus your attention on Stoner, Annie. Then you'll have time to run after Sherlock'
She had to bear with him some more time, at least to meet one more time her brother before being separated forever. Annie was furious with him and hated the very thought of him, but at least she had to get a closure for herself and their parents.
Oh, their parents... she had no idea of what to say about Joseph, but she suspected Mycroft Holmes had already an idea of what to do.
…
Sherlock was bored out of his mind when Annie arrived in his flat.
The young woman had replied as fast as she could but for the detective it was too much time wasted in silly activities.
"Julia Stoner. Killed by an Indian viper a month before her wedding. Lestrade warned the family and they wait for us tomorrow" he said, "She had cut off the ties with her sister and step-father when it became clear they loathed her groom"
"Stoner, you said? I interviewed her sister today, Miss Helen Stoner. I heard a lot about Mr Roylott too. It seems he studied abroad for awhile before marrying their mother"
The detective stood up abruptly and strode forward, grabbing Annie's arms and shaking her gently.
"And where he studied exactly?" he asked fervently.
"Calcutta, I think. He has a particularly large collection of exotic animals" she replied, a bit fearful of his enlarged and almost maniacal eyes staring at her, "For example, Helen told me he has a baboon somewhere in the garden and a large greenhouse with poisonous orchids"
"I really would like to visit that mansion, dear Miss Harrison. Can you please do me a favor?" he smiled at her.
John, sat in front of the fireplace, shivered in horror. Whatever he had in mind, it screamed disaster for him and infinite amusement for Sherlock.
"And what do you want?"
"Bring your boyfriend in there and allow me to snoop around" he smirked.