221B

Chapter 7 - The Great Game

Close to the river, the police have arrived at a large open space where the car was found. Forensiscs officers wearing protective clothing are working on the car as Lestrade leads Sherlock towards it. John, Donovan, and I walk along behind them.

"The car was hired yesterday morning by an Ian Monkford. Banker of some kind; city boy. Paid in cash." Lestrade says, consulting some notes. Sherlock looks closely as we pass a woman talking with an officer. "Told his wife he was going away on a business trip, but he never arrived."

As Sherlock and Lestrade reach the passenger door of the car, Donovan turns to John and I.

"So you both are still hanging round him." She says.

"Yeah, well..." John says.

"Opposites attract, I suppose." She says.

"No, we're not-"

"You two should get yourself a hobby-stamps. Model trains. Safer."

"Trust me, this is a lot more safer than what I did before." I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" She asks. John looks at me and gives me a questioning look.

"Nothing." I say.

"Hm. Okay then." She goes over to stand by Lestrade as Sherlock leans into the car to look at something inside.

"What did you say?" John asks me.

"Nothing." I answer.

"That's a load of crap and you know it."

I heave a sigh. "I said that this was a lot safer than what I did before."

"This?" John asks. "Kate, this isn't safe. What could you have possibly done that was more dangerous than this? Did you fight in a war or something?"

"No." I answer. "Something worse than fighting a war." I walk over and stand by Lestrade as Sherlock  closes the lid of the glove box and straightens up. Now I see what he was looking at; a large amount of blood smeared over the island between the two front seats.

"No body." Sherlock says.

"Not yet." Donovan answers.

"Get a sample sent to the lab." Sherlock says to Lestrade.

Lestrade nods and Sherlock walks away. John and I follow him over to the woman who was talking with the police officer.

"Mrs. Munkford?" Sherlock asks. The woman turns and looks at him tearfully.

"Yes." She looks at the three of us, and sighs. "Sorry, but I've already spoken with two policemen."

"Oh, no, we're not-" I start.

Sherlock holds out his hand to her. "Sherlock Holmes." He says, his voice tearful and tremulous. "Very old friend of your husband's, we, um..." As Mrs. Munkford shakes his hand, he looks down as if fightning back tears. "We grew up together." He finishes.

"I'm sorry, who? I don't think he ever mentioned you." She says.

"Oh, he must have done. This is...this is horrible, isn't it?"

John looks away, trying to keep his face neutral but failing.

"I mean, I just can't believe it. I only saw him the other day. Same old Ian-not a care in the world." He smiles tearfully at her.

"Sorry, but my husband has been depressed for months. Who are you?"

"Really strange that he hired a car. Why would he do that? It's a bit suspicious, isn't it?" Sherlock asks, ignoring her question. By now, he has tears running down his cheeks.

"No, it isn't." She says. "He forgot to renew the tax on the car, that's all."

"Oh, well, that was Ian!" Sherlock says. "That was Ian all over!"

"No it wasn't."

Sherlock's fake persona drops instantly and he looks at her intensley.

"Wasn't it?" He says. "Interesting." He turns and walks away. She glares at Sherlock as he heads for the police tape. John and I turn and follow him.

"Who was I talking to?" I hear her ask.

"Why did you lie to her?" John asks Sherlock as we duck underneath the police tape.

"People don't like telling you things, but they love to contradict you. Past tense, did you notice?"

"Sorry, what?" John asks.

"I referred to her husband in the past tense. She joined in. Bit premature-they've only just found the car."

"You think she murdered her husband?" John asks.

"Definitely not. That's not a mistake a murderer would make." Sherlock answers.

"I see." John says. "No, I don't. What am I seeing?"

"Fishing! Try fishing!" Donovan calls out to us as we pass her. John turns and gives her an exasperated nod before following Sherlock again.

"Where now?" I ask.

"Janus Cars." Sherlock answers, then hands a business card to John. "Just found this in the glove compartment."