How They Met Alice (BBC Sherlock Fanfiction)

Chapter 21

(WESTIE’S FLAT; Third Person POV: )

 John was sitting on the sofa beside Andrew West’s fiancée. He had been there long enough for her to have made them mugs of something which were on the coffee table in front of them. Lucy was upset throughout the ensuing conversation.

“He wouldn’t. He just wouldn’t.” Lucy insisted.

“Well, stranger things have happened.” John told her gently.

“Westie wasn’t a traitor. It’s a horrible thing to say!” She exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, but you must understand that’s...” John began, but she cut him off.

“That’s what they think, isn’t it, his bosses?” Lucy interrupted.

“He was a young man, about to get married. He had debts...” John nodded, but was once again cut off by the emotional woman.

“Everyone’s got debts; and Westie wouldn’t wanna clear them by selling out his country.” Lucy stated, clearly not going to betray her ex-fiancé’s name.

“Can you, um, can you tell me exactly what happened that night?” John asked cautiously.

“We were having a night in, just watching a DVD.” She smiled at the memory. “He normally falls asleep, you know, but he sat through this one. He was quiet.” She became tearful. “Out of the blue, he said he just had to go and see someone.”

“And you’ve no idea who?” John asked again, still extremely cautious. Shaking her head, Lucy began to cry.

Some time later, she opened the front door and showed John out. A cycle courier walked along the pavement towards the house, wheeling his pushbike.

“Oh, hi, Luce. You okay, love?” The cyclist asked.

“Yeah.” Lucy mumbled.

“Who’s this?” He demanded, not too aggressively.

“John Watson. Hi.” John introduced.

“This is my brother, Joe.” Lucy said to John. She turned to her brother.  “John’s trying to find out what happened to Westie, Joe.” She explained.

“You with the police?” Joe asked, looking John up and down.

“Uh, sort of, yeah.” John answered, standing up straight.

“Well, tell ’em to get off their arses, will you? It’s bl**dy ridiculous.” Joe asked.

“I’ll do my best.” John reassured.

Nodding, Joe turned and put a comforting hand on his sister’s shoulder for a moment before wheeling his bike inside the house. John cleared his throat and stepped closer to Lucy.

“Well, er, thanks very much for your help; and again, I’m very, very sorry.” John said. He turned to leave but Lucy called after him.

“He didn’t steal those things, Mr. Watson.” She told him. John turned back to her. “I knew Westie. He was a good man.” She started to cry. “He was my good man.” She turned and went back indoors. John walked away.

(NIGHT TIME; Alice’s POV: )

John was in the back of a taxi heading along Baker Street. Further along the road, the homeless girl was standing by the railings on the other side of Speedy’s, shaking a paper cup at people as they passed by. I watched from the window of 221b back in my regular clothes.

“Spare change? Any spare change?” She asked. Sherlock ran out. I saw him come out of 221 and stop, looking down the road towards her. The taxi pulled up and John got out. Sherlock walked over to him.