To Be So Young And In Love

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or anything.

Author's note: Please review! Thank you!

The following day John and Sherlock went down to London on the train. They found the pool. It was obvious a tragedy had taken place there; there were some flowers by the door. Also it felt quiet. Nobody was using the pool.

"I think it's closed." John said.

"Well then... we're going to have to break in." Sherlock stated.

"Wha-Sherlock no!" John protested.

"John, I need to get in there! I know there is something wrong about this! Please! And anyway... I think it might be fun to live a little." Sherlock said.

John looked at the door, then back to Sherlock and smiled "Let's do it." He said.

"Let's go around the back." Sherlock smiled.

They ran round to the back and found a broken window. Some cardboard had been put up to block the hole. John pushed that through and climbed in followed by Sherlock. They were in the changing rooms.

"Right, we'll start in the pool then have a look in the changing rooms." Sherlock said.

He walked to the pool and John watched as he had a look around, he kept frowning. Then they went to the changing rooms and Sherlock said "Oh!"

John went over to the lockers where Sherlock was.

"What is it?"

"They didn't take his stuff. His clothes are labelled with his name... hold on, where are his shoes?" Sherlock said.

"What?" John asked.

"His shoes! John! Where are his shoes? Did he go swimming with them?" Sherlock asked rudely.

"Obviously not! But they could be somewhere else in this place!" John protested, but as they looked around the changing room was completely empty. No shirts, no shoes, no nothing. Just pegs and chairs.

"Why aren't his shoes here?" Sherlock asked.

"I don't know." John said.

"Well... there's nothing else here for us. Come on, John, let's g-"Sherlock stopped talking as his eyes met those of an old man.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked.

"Erm... who are you?" John asked.

"I'm the caretaker. What are you doing in here? The pool is closed." The man said.

"We're just... going. We'll be going. Do you know where the nearest police station is?" Sherlock asked.

"I aint tellin' you nothing!" the man said.

"Okay, we'll just be going." John took Sherlock's hand and they left the same way they came out.

"So, you want to go to the police?" John asked.

"Yes. I think we should find the officers who had a look at his death and ask them to re-open the case." Sherlock said.

They asked a passer-by where the station was and were pointed in the right direction.

They went to the main desk and asked to talk to an officer involved in the Powers' death case. With a lot of persuasion a middle-aged man led them through some offices and to a room. It was a conference room with a lot of police officers chatting.

"Hello?" the man stood at the front of the table queried when they were led in.

"These two lads want to talk to you about Carl Powers." The man announced and left, shutting the door behind himself.

"Yes?" the main man asked.

"Where are Carl Powers' shoes?" Sherlock asked bluntly.

"Erm... sorry, what?" a woman asked.

"Carl Powers. Where were his shoes? We went to the pool. His clothes are still there, we looked around, where are his shoes?" Sherlock elaborated.

"Sorry, you went to the pool?" a man asked.

"Yes. I read the newspaper report. It said he drowned. Carl Powers was well-known as an excellent swimmer. Yet he drowned in a rather shallow pool. How? And where are his shoes?" Sherlock asked.

"There were no shoes." A young officer answered.

"Listen here, what are you trying to say?" the main man asked.

"I'm not trying to say anything! I am saying that Powers' death was not an accident! There is something going on! Why were his shoes not there? Why did he drown?" Sherlock asked.

"Stop this, boy! The kid had an autopsy, his death was natural. Nobody knows how he drowned but he did! There are no traces in his system or on his body that say any foul-play went on. We have 20 witnesses of him just drowning in a pool! And where are his shoes, well I don't know! But that case is closed. No teenager trying to stir things up is going to open it!" the man said sternly, obviously annoyed by the interruption.

John stood in front of Sherlock and crossed his arms.

"Excuse you, listen to me. I'm John; this is my husband Sherlock, nice to meet you. Now, let's get down to the important points. Sherlock here is a genius. Don't be stupid and ignore him! I'm no genius but even I can see that there is something wrong with this case! And you brushing it under the rug because you are lazy will not help anyone get peace. Especially Carl. Why won't you just try to have another look into the autopsy? Please, just listen to him. People in the past haven't listened to him and they've regretted it. In all the seventeen years I've known him he hasn't been wrong about any mystery that has caught his eye." John said firmly.

"You... you're married?" a woman asked with wide eyes.

"Yes, but that is irrelevant. What we ask is simple, just open the case and have another look!" John said.

"He's a genius?" the woman asked.

"Ye-"John was cut off.

"Enough! We cannot open a case because of some person's word! Obviously the trainers not being there was odd, but kids steal people's stuff in changing rooms! Maybe some kid saw them before he drowned and stole them. That's not suspicious!" the man explained.

"Carl Powers was not a wealthy person. It's obvious from the state of all of his clothes; they are without doubt hand-me-downs from his elder brother. His shoes would not have been worth much to steal." Sherlock stated "And adding to that he drowned in shallow pool waters!" Sherlock almost shouted.

"Stop this! Leave this alone! Listen here, I want you to leave! You're trying to make something out of nothing! We are busy people! Go home. And if we see you snooping around this case again we will have to take measures." The man said and pointed to the door.

"Fine. Fine! But we've handed you a murder enquiry that could prove your competence. You ignoring it does nothing but enhance your stupidity and not give Carl or his family the justice and peace they deserve." Sherlock said, took John's hand and they left.

On the train Sherlock was quiet. John put an arm around him and his husband rested his head on his shoulder.

"I know there is something wrong with how Carl died, John." He said.

"I know. And I believe you. But we can't do anything. Let's just... leave it. Maybe one day you may get the chance to open that file again, when you've built yourself a proper detective name up, but for now we can't do anything." John said, running his fingers through Sherlock's hair.

"Okay." Sherlock said.