The New Client

7.

“You’re not allowed to smoke inside.” Holmes gritted his teeth and stood up taking his pipe out of his mouth.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know that…” He stopped on looking at the owner of the voice. Sherlock smiled and sat back onto the suitcase facing the schoolboy who had confronted him. “You’re a pupil.” He said scratching the back of his neck.

“Yeah and you still ain’t allowed to smoke.” This made Holmes laugh whilst he continued lighting his pipe and inhaled deeply. “Anyways why you smoking a pipe?  Bit old fashioned ain’t it?”

Sherlock looked slightly insulted, “Well sometimes the old ways are the best and it isn’t old fashioned. Many men nowadays smoke them.”

“If you’re concerned about the ‘elf effects they ain’t much better than fags.”

“I can assure you that they are in fact better than cigarettes and I have no need to worry about my health I’m perfectly fine thank you.”

“Oh so you’re one of them geezers what like to look classy prefer to be all posh and stuff. You’ll fit right well in ‘ere.” Holmes was getting slightly annoyed by the small boy who seemed far too street-wise for his age. He reminded him of himself and he was unsure whether or not he liked that.

“Firstly do you know who I am?”

“No but you ain’t from round ‘ere.”

“Neither are you by the sound of your accent, east London if I’m not mistaken. I did like the way you mimicked the staff voice, very clever indeed and only eleven.”

“You ‘ain’t so bad yourself mister and I’m eleven and a half just so you know.” Sherlock stood up and smiled holding out his hand.

“Sherlock Holmes at your service” He said bowing a little.

“Pleased to meet you Mr Holmes.” The handshake broke and Holmes sat down once more. “The names Nathan but everyone calls me Nick.”

“Oh and why do they call you that?” Nathan held his hand up and in it was Holmes’ wallet. “Good enough for you?” Holmes grinned, a wisp of smoke gliding out of his lips.

“Very impressive indeed Nick. Now open it.” The boy grinned clearly pleased with himself. He flipped the leather wallet open and pulled out its contents. One folded sheet of paper emerged. Nathan unwrapped it and written in thick black marker pen was the message;

HAHA YOU’LL HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. NICE TRY.

Now it was Sherlock’s turn to grin self-indulgently. “Do you know where the Reds is?” Nathan looked somewhat deflated but nodded nonetheless.

“Yeah I know it why?”

“Help me carry these bags up there and you can have the contents of my actual wallet, including the wallet itself.” Nick smiled cheekily and quickly set about trying to carry as many bags as he could manage. Meanwhile Holmes picked up one single suitcase and began walking off in the same direction as Watson had with Nick following closely behind talking excitedly whilst giving directions every so often.

They reached a staircase that was at the base of the tower Holmes had seen at the far side of the quod. They began up it, all the while Holmes taking in every minute detail that could possibly be of any use to his investigation which began the moment he passed through the school gates. They continued up the three flights of stairs then reached a fourth, narrower than the others and somewhat darker. The base had a sign with the house name painted in white and the imaginative background colour of red. The two continued up, Holmes leading obviously. Once at the top of the stairs Holmes stopped. He turned to Nick who he could just about see beneath the suitcases. His head poked around the side and Nick smiled.

“You’ll be wanting the code then sir?” Sherlock nodded. “It’s 2304.” Holmes gave a wry smile and punched the numbers into the keypad. The light changed from red to green and the door clicked open. They were in the house.

“The code.” Holmes smiled as he turned right up another staircase.

“What about it?”

“Any significant dates spring to mind?” Nick paused for a moment thinking.

“No, nothing obvious.” He said after they reached the top of the stairs.

“Saint George’s Day.” Holmes said. “The patron saint of England.”

“Oh right.” Nick said. “Just up here. You’ll be staying in the end two rooms on this corridor. They ain’t usually for guests but since this ain’t usual I guess it’s alright.” Nick walked Sherlock to the end of the corridor and let him into the room. Sherlock flicked the light on whilst Nick dropped the bags in a heap on the floor in the corridor. It was the standard school room apparently; one bed with drawers underneath, one desk, a chair, bookcase, cupboard and a window. The walls were plain a light yellow crème like colour that would make the room brighter and welcoming. The light came on eventually and hummed. Sherlock flicked it off. He didn’t like the unnecessary noise and the light given out reminded him of something clinical and cold, himself.

He stepped out into the corridor and began to thank Nick. The door opposite opened and the secretary stepped out.

“Well I hope you settle in nicely and I’ll see you at supper.” Watson came to the door smiling.

“Thank you.” Holmes sighed and continued his business with Nick. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the other wallet. “As promised.” he tossed the brown leather wallet into the clutches of the small boy who gleefully rifled through the contents finding a wad of twenty pound notes. The boy was speechless. “It isn’t a problem, honestly you keep it. I may need your services again sometime.” Nick laughed and gave Holmes a small salute before pocketing the wallet and running off down the corridor.

Watson looked on incredulously. “What was that?”

“Oh don’t worry that’s not really the wallet I use,” he waved the empty one “this one is worth more than the money and the wallet put together.”

Watson looked shocked. “I don’t care, that was my Christmas present to you, and you’ve just given it to some little street urchin.”

Holmes grinned. “Ah yes Nathan. Such a polite young man very sharp, he could almost replace you Watson, and he’s only eleven…… and a half.”

Watson remained bewildered. Holmes simply patted the side of his face. “Shall we go to supper then?”