Consulting Pineapples (Psychlock)

Chapter Nine--Working Together

Shawn had parried Lassiter’s attempts to find out what in the world was going on and was now going through the suitcase’s contents again in detail. He pulled out a random blue folder and began consulting it. “How are these connected? How, how, how?”

    “Shawn, what is that?” Gus was looking at the blue folder. “You didn’t have that before.”

    “Good observation, Gus. I didn’t.” He grinned. “It may or may not be a full report on this last murder.”

    “You…?”

    “Took it. Yup. There were several, though.”

    Gus got up from his chair and glared at Shawn. “That’s stealing.”

    “Borrowing. I’m going to return it!” Shawn rolled his eyes.

    “After memorizing it?”

    “Well...yeah. I wouldn’t just borrow it for no reason.” He sighed. “You should know me better than that, Gus. It’ll turn up mysteriously in the police headquarters tomorrow.”

    “Still!” Gus protested, but Shawn was no longer paying attention.

    “They’re complete opposites!” he muttered, comparing the two victims’ files. “She’s like twenty five years younger! Worked on the other side of London! She was married, with kids.”

    “She might be a secret agent, too,” Gus said with the faintest bit of sarcasm.

    “She might, Gus,” said Shawn, not catching Gus’s scorn. “Not enough information. The police have probably found her case already, too late for us to go after it.”

    “I was being...never mind. You have fun, okay?” He snorted. “I’m going to go to bed.” He opened the door that connected their rooms and slammed it behind him, locking it. “You should sleep at some point, too!” he yelled through the door.

    “Not now, Gus! I’m working! Now go to bed or be quiet!”

    After an hour of staring at the information, he stood up suddenly. “Of course! I can’t believe I missed that…maybe now I will take it to the police.” He smiled slightly maniacally. “They’d like this.”

About an hour after John left, the two officers returned with the suitcase, found in a dumpster with the victim’s identification still inside. Sherlock flipped it open, going through the contents quickly. Some clothes and a hairbrush, expected, but there was the same indentations on the bottom as had been in the other victim’s case. There was some slight fraying in the side, also, indicating some sort of blade. Sherlock glanced at the identification again, in the form of a passport.

    “Thoughts?” Lestrade asked from next to him.

    “Travels a lot, bit weird for a...paralegal.” Sherlock said thoughtfully, beginning to make connections. “Same model gun as before..”

    Lestrade was incredibly confused, but he stayed quiet.

    “She works for a lawyer…” Sherlock smiled faintly, turning the suitcase over. “Which courthouse does the lawyer use?”

    “The lawyer isn’t based in London, she’s French. She’s going to be at the courthouse downtown for her case, though.” The detective inspector watched Sherlock curiously.

    Sherlock smiled wider, throwing the suitcase down in triumph. “Guard this case, don’t let that American get it.”

    Lestrade furrowed his eyebrows, slightly worried now. It was never good when Sherlock was excited about something. “Yeah, okay….” He managed.