Kazuma Asogi liked many things about Great Britain. The tea was not one of them.

"What possessed your ancestors to put milk in your tea?" he complained as he sat in Van Zieks office, with the man himself reading a newspaper with the headline: 'MURDERED MAHARAJAH BURIED TODAY!'. And underneath were 'OLD SOLDIER'S RIFLE STOLEN!' and 'MORE ESCAPADES OF DIRTY BERTIE!' Gina Lestrade was sitting on his desk, and Maria Gorey was standing up straight very close to her. Kazuma had come upon them 'snogging' one late night a few weeks before, and had teased Lestrade relentlessly about it - while still showing his support, of course.

"C'mon, 'soggy!" remarked Gina "What 'appened to respectin' cultural differences?"

"So you'd drink Japanese tea, then?" Kazuma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nah!" Lestrade replied, sticking out her tongue "I ain't disgustin'!"

"Hypocrite."

"Arse."

"I'd like to intervene." Maria interrupted, "I propose that tea is nothing compared to coffee."

Before all-out war could break out in the office a young officer burst in, red-faced and looking like he'd run a marathon while wearing a necklace made of ten-ton weights "Inspectah'! M'Lord! There's a case for you lot!"

. . .

The stars were proudly displayed upon the clear night sky as Van Zieks, Gina, and Kazuma stepped off the hansom ab. Then the main suspect was immediately revealed as he was led to the nearest police carriage in handcuffs.

If Barok didn't know better, he'd think 'im upstairs' as Gina would call him had a personal vendetta against Mr. Garrideb.

"I'm telling you!" he thundered, waving his cane around yet still going quietly as he stepped inside "This wasn't me! This wasn't me!"

Followed by Gina and Kazuma (Dr. Gorey had gone to the morgue to take a look at the body), Van Zieks looked at the pavement. A splatter of blood could be seen around the area where the body had been, but there wasn't much else that could be seen, apart from an alleyway.

"Lestrade," he ordered, switching to the professional address "Take a look around, see if you can find anything."

"Right you are, boss!" Lestrade cried with a salute. As she ran off with the eagerness of a puppy, Van Zieks spoke to Kazuma "Asogi, with me." They went up to a young officer Van Zieks recognised as a new recruit called MacKenzie. He looked like a cat hiding in a house populated by an army of dogs.

It must be his first time seeing a murder scene. He thought. "What are the facts?" he asked, not unkindly.

"Well sir," the officer told him, shaking with nerves "The victim was walking on the street when Mr. Garrideb ambushed 'im from the alleyway."

"How can you be sure?" Van Zieks asked.

"I found 'im there, with a smoking rifle in 'is hands." replied MacKenzie "A witness saw 'im."

"I see." Kazuma replied, placing his finger and thumb on his chin "Let's talk to this witness, shall we?"

Gina ran up "Couldn't find anythin'." she told them "I'm gonna see Maria and see what she's found."

"Very well." nodded Van Zieks.

As Gina started on her way, Kazuma told her with a smirk "Try not to get too distracted, Lestrade!"

Gina pulled her cap over her face and quickened her pace "...shurrup…"

For the first time in a very long time, Van Zieks struggled to contain his laughter. "Professionalism, Asogi."

"I think we can make an exception, can't we?"

"...one exception."

. . .

"The same bullet?" Gina raised an eyebrow "You sure?"

"Quite sure." Maria told her showing the bullet "The bullet that hit Lieutenant Godfrey Lucas was a Minié ball - a projectile that was used in Mr. Garrideb's old Fusilier rifle."

"How many people in London still 'ave that kind?" asked Gina.

"Not a lot. The army started using repeating rifles not too long after he was discharged " Maria replied "I'd say it's a cut and dry case if not for one detail..." she pointed at the soot-covered bullet wound on the victim's forehead and told her "Th gunpowder isn't even on all sides, and it's smudged. This little mark here was planted."

Gina blinked as she realised the inconsistency "Blimey! Well done, 'Ria!"

"Would you really expect anything less?" the coroner asked her with a teasing smirk.

Gina gave her soft lips a kiss "Nope!"

Maria smiled - she had a very nice smile "You're sweet, you know that, my love?"

Gina wrapped her arms around her "Again?"

"Of course."

. . .

As far as coping went, Mr. Garrideb was doing pretty well in the holding cells, noted Gina. 'e was in the army, after all. She thought 'e probably went through worse.

"So, Mr. Garrideb." she greeted "Shall we get started?"

"Of course, Ma'am!" the man saluted "I shall give you my mission report at once!"

Gina violently suppressed a smile "So, what 'appened, then?"

"Well, I was awoken at one hundred hours in the morning by the sound of a gunshot from outside!" Garrideb told her "I grabbed the rifle hanging over my bed and rushed downstairs to investigate. I detected hurried footsteps and saw a man with a rifle in the shadows, running away from the scene. I shouted for him to stop and fired a warning shot, but he kept on running. Then I found the body, and as I went to inspect it, that nervous ninny of an officer arrived."

"Gotcha." nodded Gina "And did you know the victim at all?"

"Well, we didn't know one another in the army," said Garrideb "But we met a year ago at a soldier's convention. Became fast friends, what!"

"Gotcha. Any idea why anyone would want to shoot 'im?"

Garrideb sighed "Well, he had a bit of a past. Fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, you know. Then he turned around and fought for the Union."

Gina nodded. That left a list of ex-comrades who'd want him dead as a dinosaur "Do you know the witness? Wot was 'is name…? Lance-Cop'rel Alfred Williams."

"It's 'Lance Corporal.'" Garrideb corrected "Not personally. Came to my house a few weeks ago looking for rooms. He was quite interested in my souvenirs from my army days, but soon chose to decline."

Gina nodded "All right then, I think that's the lot." said Gina, getting up to leave.

Before she departed, she looked back on the older soldier "I really 'ope you didn't do it." she told him "Met yer wife in the nick. She was kind ter me. Gave me advice. Don't think she can take another great shock like that."

She shut the door before Garrideb could say another word.

. . .

After reporting to Van Zieks and telling him, Gina had decided to question Lance-Corporal Williams. He had the bearing of a military man much like Mr. Garrideb, but was shorter, at least ten years older, and he had closely cropped golden hair, a curled moustache and an American accent. He wore a fine suit, smoked a cigar, and looked more like a well-groomed rat than anything.

"Well Miss-" he began.

"Inspector." corrected Gina, scratching Toby behind the ear.

"Well Miss," he began, ignoring Gina "I was walking across the street when I heard the gunshot. I ran to investigate and saw him shoot the man dead, like it was nothing at all."

"Gotcha." nodded Gina, controlling the urge to kick him where the sun don't shine "Notice anythin' unusual?"

"Can't say I did." shrugged Williams.

Gina nodded, then something in the well-kept flat room caught her eye - a rifle mounted on the wall.

"This from yer army days?" she asked as she got up, walked over and gestured to it.

"Yeah." the Lance-Corporal nodded, tugging once at his blazer "I was a sniper back in the civil war."

"Sniper?" Gina's thoughts ran back to Van Zieks telling them about the British army using them "Weren't that forty years ago? I thought it's a new thing!"

"No, no." chuckled Williams "We had them decades before!" he rummaged in his drawer and took out a pair of orange sunglasses with a funny little lighter spot in the middle "We used these to pick off our enemies. Helped us zero in on those Bluecoats." he took out a bullet - not the same as those used in the murder weapon, Gina noted - and twirled it in his fingers and thumb.

"Right…" nodded Gina "Back to the task at hand, did yah know the victim or the accused?"

The man "Not the man that shot Godfrey, no."

"Oh, so ya knew the victim, then?"

Something flashed over the man's face. It looked very much like anger. However, in a split-second it was gone.

"Well, we were in the same corps during the war. Wouldn't call us best of friends, but we got along. We lost contact after the war. Didn't know he'd moved to England too."

Thoughts ran through Gina's mind. Then a plan came to her. "Seeing as I don't 'ave ter be anywhere fer the next few hours, mind tellin' me 'bout one of yer battles?" she asked, blinking innocently with the adoring eyes of a liar, born and bred..

"Why, I'd be delighted to!" replied Williams, not knowing a liar, born and bred when he saw one.

. . .

"What are we looking for exactly?" asked Van Zieks, wrinkling his nose as he looked in a dustbin.

"You'll know it when you see it." Gina told him as the pair of them and Maria searched the alleyway with the help of three officers.

"So you suspect him?" asked Maria "Seeing as he looks back on his time with the Confederacy with pride, he's certainly far from having a high moral calibre."

"What was this 'ere civil war even 'bout?" asked Gina.

"To put it simply," said Van Zieks, arriving on the scene "It was a fight between the Confederacy, who wanted to keep slaves, and the United States, who wanted to end it."

"Right." nodded Gina "Here's the thing…" she told Kauzma and Van Zieks about the inconsistency Maria had found and what she suspected had happened.

"Not a bad theory, Lestrade." Van Zieks complimented "You're on your way to becoming a fine Detective. Gregson would be proud."

"Cheers, Van Zieks." smiled Gina, feeling like she'd received a punch to the gut and a million pounds. She turned to Kazuma "You know anyone at yer old academy who's American?"

Suddenly, MacKenzie called from the other end of the alley "I found it!"

. . .

Williams stood at the opposite end of the road from where the body had been found "I was over here when it happened." he told Lestrade and Lord Van Zieks as he had done to the officers on that day.

"So… 'ow did you see Mr. Garrideb? Wouldn' 'e 'ave been behind Lace-Corporel Godfrey?" asked the Lestrade girl, stupidly.

"Because the force of the bullet would have knocked him over!" snapped Lord Van Zieks with a scathing glare that would have killed an elephant within ten yards.

The Lestrade girl flinched "S- Sorry, sir."

"Must you mess up everything?" Van Zieks demanded.

"I said I'm sorry about forgettin' ter tell ya Maria found that the gunpowdah mark was planted!"

Williams began to look very uncomfortable. "Anyway, it was rather foggy, so I managed to run away without him seeing me." continued Williams "I found a cop soon enough, and the rest is history."

"But… 'ow did you see 'im?" asked Lestrade, innocently "You were on the other side o' the road, weren't ya?"

Williams cursed inside. He hadn't thought of that.

"Well… I guess I have better eyesight." he replied, a little too quickly "I used to be a sniper after all, and Garrideb's getting on in years, isn't he?"

Lord Van Zieks nodded "I suppose he is. Thank you, Mr. Williams. That will be all."

As Williams left the scene with a smug smile on his face, Gina and Barok looked at one another in triumph, their deception complete.

"If Garrideb's getting on." remarked Gina "Williams' eyesight must be even worse. And there weren't even a cloud in the bloody sky that night!"

"I seem to remember the same kind of weather." remarked Barok "I daresay another visit from you would be enough to get the last bit of information we need, wouldn't you?"

Then something dawned over Barok's face "Wait a minute…" he ran over to the nearest hansom cab and hailed it "I'll be right back! I need to fetch something from the office!"

. . .

Williams was happily sitting in an ancient armchair and reading to himself when there was a pounding knock on the door. When he answered, there stood The Lestrade Girl, her little dog, the Japanese Prosecution Lawyer he had seen in the papers, and Lord Van Zieks outside the door.

"Sorry, Guv." said Lestrade "Can we 'ave a word?"

Williams blinked "Why, of course! On one condition." he gestured to the Japanese Lawyer "He stays outside."

Immediately, the faces of the members of law enforcement turned stoney - and Lord Van Zieks' expression in particular sent a chill down Williams' back.

"He comes with us." growled the prosecutor, as if that was the end of the matter (which it was).

As they entered the house, they all sat down apart from the little dog, who Williams let into the garden. "So then." said Williams "What can I do for you all?"

Gina smiled "See… we think you lied about not knowin' 'e was in England."

Williams raised his eyebrows "And why would you think that?"

"Because 'soggy 'ere-" she gestured to the Japanese Lawyer "Knew an American Professor who served under General Grant from 'is old academy in Japan. Real important bloke back in the day. We sent a telegraph, and so did 'e. Turns out…" she pointed an accusatory finger at him "You told yer pals that you were movin' 'ere together!"

Kazuma stood up and began to pace "We think sir, that you killed him!"

There was a silence that could have smothered an elephant. Williams' expression swapped from anger, to fear, then back again.

"Prove it." he hissed.

Then there was a barking sound from outside and a whining as Toby pawed at the closed door. Gina marched over and opened it.

Out there stood Toby, the rifle in his jaws.

"Oh, gee!" gasped Gina, feigning surprise in a manner she knew would make Williams' blood boil "Toby dug in your garden without me knowin'! And 'e found the same kind o' gun as the one used ter kill the victim!" she marched over to his sniper glasses "Yeh aimed with these from the other side o' the alleyway, not where ya said!" she petted him, whispering "Good boy, Toby! Yer so good at sniffin', ain't ya?"

With a flourish, Van Zieks showed Williams a paper, pointing to an article headed: 'OLD SOLDIER'S RIFLE STOLEN!'

"If you read the paper." said Van Zieks "The rifle stolen from a Sergeant Johnson was the very same kind used to kill Lucas. It was stolen from him when he attempted to sell it at an auction."

The Lestrade girl declared with the impetuousness of a love-struck wolf "By YOU! Well? What do you 'ave ter say for yerself?"

The man was trembling all over, his eyes full of rage. For a moment, he looked as if he wanted to strangle the life out of his accusers.

Then he slumped in his chair "He betrayed the cause, y'know." he said "Joined those Bluecoats. I had to sell my family estate because of him."

"Your estate," Barok told him, coldly "Was built off the backs of slaves. People who you could and would have shot at any time. People who had dreams they would never have fulfilled." Then bitterness entered his voice "People who were born with no rights just because the law said so, owned by people who considered themselves higher - an opinion backed by the law."

"What do you know?" snarled Williams, standing up with a livid expression on his face.

"That the world will lose nothing with you gone."

With that, he left, with Kazuma, Gina and Toby in close pursuit. They signalled to some waiting officers, who went inside the house and arrested Williams.

"Who wants a drink?" asked Gina, cheerfully "It's on Van Zieks!"

"Why me, exactly?" sighed Barok, raising an eyebrow.

"You can spare the money, remember?"

"...fine. But don't drink too much."

"No promises!"

. . .

Remind me to write a SHolmes and Iris fic next. And also a fic where Maruia and Gina discuss their parents. And also a fic where they have drinks and get drunk. And also-