Sophia Holmes and the Great Game (Sherlock's Daughter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Twelve - The Lost Vermeer Part II

It's growing dark as we arrive on Baker Street, but I notice a homeless girl standing outside Speedy's as we pull up. Judging by her positioning, this is the girl dad recruited earlier.

Noticing us arrive, dad comes out of the flat and meets us on the pavement, looking expectant.

"Alex Woodbridge didn't know anything special about art," John says simply, and I look to him in disbelief.

"And?" dad urges.

"And ..." John trails off.

Dad looks towards the homeless girl, and we begin to head over to her. "Is that it?" he demands. "No habits, hobbies, personality?"

"No, give us a chance!" John exclaims. "He was an amateur astronomer."

Dad stops dead, something crossing through his mind. He's seen the painting: perhaps it has something to do with astrology and that's how Alex identified it.

"Hold that cab," he orders, pointing back over to the taxi.

John walks dutifully back to it as we go over to the girl.

"Spare change, sir?" she asks, recognising dad on sight.

"Don't mind if I do," dad smiles, and she hands him a piece of paper which he unfolds.

I peer over his shoulder eagerly to see what is written and smile in satisfaction as I see the words 'Vauxhall Arches' on it, and begin to think.

"What did you find?" dad asks me, as we pretend to continue to read.

"He was friendly, held friendships well, always paid his bills on time," I begin, still looking at the paper and drawing up a plan. "And, as John said, he was an astrologer. Bit more advanced than an amateur, though. He had a professional telescope set up in his bedroom and contacts to a 'Professor Carins.' She's probably his astrology tutor. But besides his astrology things, he also had some academic books, so he was a well-rounded person."

"In many more ways than one!" dad laughs and I chuckle as we begin to walk back over to John.

"He visited Professor Cairns regularly up to his death," I continue, "and he had a lot of evidence to support the fact that he was researching the forgery. But you already know that, don't you? I saw your face when John mentioned the Astrology."

"Good observation," he compliments. "Yes, I have my theories."

"Care to enlighten me?"

"Not yet, no," he smirks, and I send him a glare before we reach John. "Fortunately, I haven't been idle," dad says, continuing their conversation, and opens the cab door for me to climb in. "Come on."

***

We have to stop a little way away from the Vauxhall arches due to the lack of road, so we walk the rest of the way through a maze of alleys. It's getting colder now, so dad and I button up our coats, collars up.

We seem to be in a unique part of London where the density of light pollution is less than usual, allowing us to see some of the many constellations above.

Dad seems to have noticed too and is making the most of this rare sighting with me. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he remarks, and John looks up.

"I thought you didn't care about things like that," John challenges.

"Doesn't mean I can't appreciate it," dad argues as we begin to enter the Arches.

"Listen," John says urgently. "Alex Woodbridge had a message on the answerphone at his flat – a Professor Cairns?"