Dangerous Company - part 7
“So... What is this errand that we're running?” I asked, after I had followed him in silence long enough.
“I’m...
a detective, Watson,” he finally offered in reply.
“You are?” I turned my head to look at him, eyes widening.
“Yes.
Among other things,’’ he offered, as if that made it so much more palatable.
I was astonished. Suddenly finding him the way I had done in the alleyway seemed to make more sense. At least… maybe it did?
“Right. And so... we're... detecting now?”
He gave me a withering look. “Investigating... is the present participle you're looking for.”
“Ah.
I thank you, kind sir.” I gave him an overly dramatic gesture with my hand, signalling a regal bow, but he ignored me and I felt completely ridiculous for it, returning my hand to my pocket instead. “And so... What exactly are we... investigating then?”
“My client seems to have misplaced a valuable item. A precious statue... a family heirloom.
Someone seems to have taken it from his study and it is my…” He cleared his throat and looked over at me. “Our job, to locate its whereabouts.”
I felt suddenly thrilled. Our job? He was including me in this investigation? I would not let him down. I thought hard about what to ask next but he was so serious about everything. I couldn’t help myself. “Has he looked around his house? Tidied up a bit? If it looks anything like yourapartment, it's likely to just be underneath a pile of papers,” I scoffed, pleased with myself for the useful suggestion tied up in a playful jibe.
“Thank you for your assessment,
Watson. Yes, we have tried all of the obvious places.”
I couldn’t tell if Holmes liked my suggestion or thought I was an idiot.
“He believes that one of his staff has stolen it and sold it for gold.
It's very valuable,” Holmes carried on.
“How valuable?” Suddenly my interest was piqued.
“This piece is worth fifty pounds.”
I stopped walking. This was no small job. He paused with me. “Oh, I see. That's… considerable.”
“Investigating,” he said simply, beginning to walk again and I followed suit.
“Investigating, I see.” I nodded. “Where does one start with such matters?”
“I have a few people knowledgeable in such things, antiquities, dealerships.
I am planning to speak to a few of my learned friends. See if they have come across the item.
It's quite unusual. Likely to be something that people in the field will speak of amongst each other when it becomes available for sale.”
“Brilliant,” I interjected. He looked at me a little surprised by the compliment. It seemed to throw him off for a moment before he composed himself.
“Failing that, we shall attend some gatherings.”
“We shall?” I turned my head, looking surprised.
“Yes, I think so, if you're amenable to such things?” He stopped walking again to look at me. For a moment he seemed… nervous.
I was embarrassed to realise I blushed under his close scrutiny. “Certainly, I could... I… Yes, I could.”
He let out a little sigh of relief and nodded happily. “Excellent, then we will attend some gatherings and listen to the gossip.
Wealthy people love to gossip. About antiquities – items, they feel they have acquired at a bargain. Somebody will absolutely not be able to help themselves. And if the wealthy won't, certainly the servants might. One of us can sneak into the servants' quarters and also listen in.”
“Oh… I see. You are suggesting that I would fit in better downstairs?” The disappointment was clear in my voice. I had briefly forgotten my place in the excitement.
“I said no such thing. I simply…”
“Hmm. I'll try not to be offended but your meaning was apparent, Holmes. You are wealthy and I am not. I would be better suited downstairs. I shall go where you need me to. I’d like to be of use. That was the purpose of my moving in. The arrangement, was it not?”
“Watson, I said no such thing.”
Suddenly, he seemed wrong-footed and our conversation stopped. Tension had returned between us. We continued to walk in silence. I could tell he was deep in thought and we didn’t discuss the topic again. I followed him in silence as we visited two different, unusual stores selling nick-knacks and strange items, books and antiquities out on the Main Street. Stores I had never been into before. At one point I nearly cried aloud and embarrassed myself when an unmounted, stuffed bear’s head caught me by surprise.
My feet were starting to ache from the amount of walking across London we had managed without my cane for support and my ears had begun to ring from the deafening silence between us. “Goodness, it really is a gloomy day, isn't it?” I couldn’t help saying aloud, as we rounded yet another corner.
I gathered my coat closer to my body, desperate to try and keep out the chill, which seemed not to affect Holmes in the slightest.
As if my words had called to the heavens in a plea, the clouds suddenly parted and the sun appeared out of nowhere. Before I could even comment, I heard the strangest noise, like an animal in pain. I didn't realise it was Holmes at first. It was almost like a squeal.
And he grabbed at me and pulled me into another shop, knocking the wind right out of me.
“Holmes,
what the devil?!” I shouted in fright.
I barely have a memory of what happened next but I swear my feet left the ground and I moved faster than felt humanly possible. Suddenly I was inside a very dark and very musty store, a ringing in my ears. It took a moment before I understood it was the doorbell instigated upon our entry. Holmes had the front of my coat firmly grasped in his hands and had shoved me quite firmly against a wall inside the store. We were pressed together against the wall as if we were hiding for our lives from the law.
I breathed heavily, trying to work out what had occurred to cause this response and I looked up at him to see him also breathing at a rapid pace, in a blind panic. “Holmes?” I asked gently, trying to see if he was alright. His eyes were clasped tightly shut and he was not listening at all. “Holmes?” I asked again, trying to get his attention. “Are you quite alright?”
He nodded frantically, but didn’t open his eyes at all. “I don’t… understand what happened just now. Why are we—?”
Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked down at me. And I lost the ability to speak. Those eyes were looking right into mine, panicked, frightened.
“Well now, we’re alright. I don’t know what caused your response... but everything is—“
His eyes had started moving across my face and he gasped, stepping away from me, letting go of my coat as if I was hurting him and then he suddenly grabbed at my face and now it was my turn to suck in a breath in surprise.
“You’re… you’re cut…” As quickly as he had touched me he let go and stepped away as if touching me caused him great pain.
“Holmes?” My face was drawn with concern and I didn’t understand what was happening at all. The two of us stood there awkwardly and I had no comprehension of what was the cause of it.
“You’re bleeding,” he choked out, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to me, as he looked away.
Holmes started pacing and mumbling to himself and occasionally glancing in my direction. Apparently I had done something criminal based on his reaction. Perhaps he had a fear of blood? Some people were afflicted with that - a sudden weakness that came over them when they smelled it or saw it. Perhaps he didn’t want to be embarrassed by it in my presence? Perhaps he felt faint?
“Ah Mister Holmes! What a lovely surprise!” The shopkeeper cried out. “We rarely see you during the day. What can I do for you?”
Holmes flashed me an angry look, before disappearing into the store to speak to the owner, leaving me absolutely confused. I turned to look in an antique mirror on the wall, dabbing at the scratch on my cheek and wondering what on earth had just occurred between us.
A huge thank you to @helloliriels for the stunning cover art created for #FTH2026
Thank you to all my lovely supporters who have read my writing before. Please let me know if you want me to remove you before the next part! Or if you’d like to be tagged
@otter-von-bismarck @silvergoldsea @calaisreno
@westandforships @fuck-off-watson-rp @notjustamumj @melodious-me @sherlocke3d
@therealalexisamess-blog @e-b1838 @rhasima @salmonsown @tropelovingpainter
@dw91165 @pileofstardust2106 @moonkeller @surprisinglyokay @r4venlyn
@wssh13 @br-nz @solarmama-plantsareneat @givemesherbet-blog-blog
@sillygirlsmindpalace @johnlockficclub @rainstarboii @bheadhe
@battledress @kholkate @randomquadballpun
@kittenmadnessandtea @whatnext2020 @egregiously-chuffed @chriscalledmesweetie @catlock-holmes
@starlitkeys @lumilama @yorkiepug @talkativeanxiousturtle @kettykika78
@givemesherbet-blog-blog @naefelldaurk @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @peanitbear
@lisbeth-kk @helloliriels @totallysilvergirl @221beloved @safedistancefrombeingsmart