Deducing Romance

I get paid

Thursday, 12:00pm (1 week later)

I finished getting dressed and headed outside, wearing my promising trench coat and scarf. Ben had told me trench coats weren't my thing, and that I should wear something more "sexy", but I wasn't one for feeding into the stereotypical norm. I had thought about wearing a dress for my meeting with Mr. Holmes, but I didn't want him to think that I fancied him or anything. Nonsense. This was strict business and nothing more.

I stood outside of my flat as I said I would, and the calm English wind blew through my hair. "Ms. Sterling." Sherlock appeared and greeted me. I smiled at him. "I believe we haven't properly introduced ourselves. You may call me Zinnia." He shook my hand sternly. "Very well then, Zinnia. Shall we discuss the case over lunch?" he asked. I nodded at him and we began walking together. "How do you know my name by the way, Mr. Holmes?" I looked at him questioningly. He continued walking in his long strides, and I had difficulty keeping up with him. "I could ask you the same question." He glanced my way. I shrugged. "Why, you're the best detective in London. I heard you can do remarkable things... plus, I read John's blog." I laughed a bit, "Now It's your turn to answer the question."

We had reached our destination and entered a small Chinese restaurant. "I was told about you when I decided to take this case. The police said that there was no need for me, since you were on it, but I took the case anyway. You are considered one of the best in America, am I correct?" We were given a small table right next to the window, and the woman serving the food smirked a bit as she saw me with Sherlock. Perhaps they knew each other well, because she would say his name casually. "The best in America is an understatement. I'd like to think of myself as one of the best in the world." I crossed my legs. He raised a brow. "Is that so? Oh, and by the way, I am a consulting detective, not a regular one." I scanned the menu that was given to me. "I've never heard of such occupation. What exactly does that mean?" He intertwined his fingers. "A detective who is a consultant. Need I say more?" I glanced up at him from the menu. "Seriously?" I then sighed. "Hmm, very well."

"So how has the move been? Do you enjoy London?" I gave him an interested look. "Just fine thank you, and I love it here... How would you know about that?" He smiled, getting ready to begin his observant speech. "Your clothing, It's fairly new. It seems to have been just bought at the store I'd say about one week ago? It shows little to no sign of being washed or worn. You obviously bought new clothing upon your arrival to England. You lived in a hot climate and didn't have much warm clothing. You lived in, I'd say... California, because your skin is tanned. Your accent is still completely American with no signs of an English speech, other than your vocabulary which you had studied for a few weeks upon arrival. Your flat is at a good price and is fairly new. The area isn't the best, but you wouldn't know that because you are new to London. Anyone that grew up here would know not to purchase a home there."

He leaned in closer, looking happy with himself. I continued to process what he had said. "Is that all you've got, Mr. Holmes?" Upon me saying this, he seemed a bit surprised, but he tried not to show any signs of it. "Sherlock Holmes, man married to his job... a bit self obsessed as well. The day we met, the collar of your trench coat did not have the ends pulled up. Today you remembered to pull them up because you were going to see me, therefore you needed to seem cool. However, I'd say this is something you do fairly often, but on that particular night you had forgotten. You seem to be more interested in this case than you are in me. I can see you are trying to get me to let you have the case because you constantly tried to show off your skills, hoping that I wouldn't stand a chance. I can tell you solve cases for fun, it is more of a hobby than a career, because you wouldn't be trying to take the case from me altogether if it were your full time job. You're too confident in being smarter than everyone, because it's not often that someone proves you wrong, especially someone like me... I'd actually like to think that you are just like me, the only difference though, is that I get paid."

With that, I got up from the table. "This is a waste of my time. I have better things to do than to have a long, boring conversation with you, Sherlock." I turned my back to him and walked away. I could feel his expressionless face just staring emptily at me. I walked home, thinking of him. Although I acted like I wasn't at all interested in him, something about that man fascinated me, and sent shivers down my spine. If we were partners and solved cases together, well, we'd dominate the world. Discover all of life's mysteries. Now, isn't that just something to dream about?

My mind was wandering, perhaps a bit too much, and I suddenly felt two arms wrap around me, and a cloth being put over my face. Before I knew it, my eyes felt heavy, and I fell into a deep sleep.