Sophia Holmes and the Blind Banker (Sherlock's Daughter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Ten

The circus has always been a place of mystery to me as I've never visited one. I had expected a large Big Top with that cliché music, but then again, this is the centre of London and the circus isn't their main occupation.

We follow John and his girlfriend, Sarah up a slope towards a community hall, keeping to the shadows to avoid detection.

"It's years since anyone took me to the circus," Sarah tells John and he chuckles nervously in reply.

"Right, yes! Well, it's ... a friend recommended it to me," I raise an eyebrow, remembering our previous conversation on this topic. "He phoned up."

"Ah. What are they, a touring company or something?"

"I don't know much about it," he admits, pausing to look up at the numerous red Chinese lanterns that are strung up outside the hall, showing the first sign that this is anything but another cliché circus from the movies.

"I think they're probably from China!" Sarah jokes, looking up.

"Yes, I think ... I think so, yes," John says lamely. "There's a coincidence!"

Dad and I slip in behind them as they enter the box office, stopping before we turn the corner so we stay out of sight. I peer around the corner casually as the customer in front of John and Sarah receives her ticket, then turns and heads up the stairs to the side.

"The place looks practically empty," I notice, looking around.

"They've taken the precaution of small amounts of advertising. Enough for the show to be a plausible excuse or an alibi, but not busy enough to warrant any media attention which would mean their stay in this country is prolonged." Dad pauses to listen to John's conversation with the manager.

"And what's the name?" the manager questions as John slips his wallet from his jacket.

"Er, Holmes," John replies, and I spot the look of confusion pass over Sarah's face, but she stays quiet.

"Actually, I have four in that name," the manager announces after a moment of checking.

John frowns. "No, I don't think so. We only booked two."

"And then I phoned back and booked a couple more." John looks up in disbelief as dad turns into his line of sight, offering his hand out to Sarah. "I'm Sherlock. This is my daughter Sophia."

I give her a small, fake smile as she glances back at John for a moment, obviously nervous about our sudden arrival, but shakes our hands as John turns away in what I take to be exasperation.

"Er, hi," Sarah manages to get out.

"Hello," dad replies, also sending her his fake smile before instantly turning and walking away again to wait on the stairs for John.

"Erm," Sarah begins, looking at me nervously. "I just need to pop to the loos; I'll only be a minute."

John curses as she disappears behind the corner and he heads on a warpath to the stairs. "You couldn't let me have just one night off?" he hisses, keeping his voice low.

"Yellow Dragon Circus, in London for one day," dad argues. "It fits. The Tong sent an assassin to England ..."

"... dressed as a tightrope walker," John interrupts. "Come on, Sherlock, behave!"

"We're looking for a killer who can climb, who can shin up a rope," dad persists, voicing our theory. "Where else would you find that level of dexterity? Exit visas are scarce in China. They need a pretty good reason to get out of that country. Now, all I need to do is have a quick look round the place ..."