John's Birthday Surprise.

ch 1

Chapter 1.

"I'll pay you handsomely, Mr Holmes. I just want my mother's necklace found, please." The old man sighed, his salt-and-pepper moustache resting upon his lip as he pouted. His mother's diamond necklace had gone missing and he couldn't find it, no matter how hard he looked. He needed the best, he needed Sherlock, to get it back. It was all he had left of her, she died when he was just a young boy.

Sherlock pursed his lips and looked at the old man. "How much?"

"Ten thousand. I know you want higher but that's as much as I'm willing to pay right now."

Sherlock smiled and took the man's cheque. "That'll be fine, thank you. Don't worry, Mr Agnew. I'll find your mother's necklace."

Sherlock frowned as he was looking around the old man's house. He hated to accept the money, but he really needed it for John's birthday. He had something planned, something big. And he needed money for it. He just hoped word didn't spread that he worked for money now. All he needed was the thrill of thinking, solving the case. Mr Agnew owned several successful companies, making him reasonably rich. His house was huge, with stylish Victorian furniture and deep purple walls. The window panes were wood, carved into intricate designs at the borders, and the floor was deep mahogany with a dark rug in each room. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, and stone cherub statues sat in almost every room. Lifting a glove covered finger, he ran itacross the old mans dressing table. Spotless. Not a single bit of dust. Sherlock cocked his head and went over to the wardrobe. It was huge, with double doors with swirling patters at each corner. Sherlock stretched up and run a finger across the top of it. His fingertip came back covered in dust.

"How odd..." he said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Stop fidgeting, Mr Agnew. It's annoying."

Mr Agnew stood nervously behind him, twisting his hands and muttering under his breath. "Sorry. What is? What have you found?"

"Dust."

"Dust? Why is that important?"

"I need to speak with your maids."

"Very well..."

Mr Agnew scurried off and came back into the room with seven maids. He arranged them into a line and Sherlock walked in front of them all, pushing some maids back until there was only one girl left in the was about twenty five, with long dark hair pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck. Her eyes darted left and right quickly before settling on Sherlock.

"What is it? Why am I the only one left?" Her voice sounded panicked.

Sherlock smiled and lifted up his finger. "You clean this room, yes?"

"Yes, sir. Twice a day, every day."

"And you clean all the furniture in this room as well?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are you aware that Mr Agnew has lost a diamond necklace, Elizabeth?"

"Yes. I didn't take it if that's what you're implying! How did you know my name?"

"Nametag." Sherlock shook his head and bit his tongue to refrain from commenting on her intellect. "And I'm not implying anything. I'm proving."

Sherlock pulled the strings of her bonnet until it came loose. Taking it gently off her head, he flipped it over and handed it to Mr Agnew. Bundled inside was his mothers necklace.

"Marvellous! How did you know where it was? And Elizabeth! You're most certainly fired! I might even go to court with this!" Mr Agnews face turned a funny shade of puce.

Elizabeth paled. "Please, sir! Don't! I only took the neklace because I needed the money. My father is gone, my mother is an alcoholic and I have four younger siblings. I can barely afford the rent, even with my two jobs and I, I just needed a way out!" Tears were streaming down Elizabeth's face and her shoulders heaved with sobs.

Sherlock inched back away from the crying girl. He cleared his throat and began speaking. "Yes, well, it was easy. when you came in, all of you tried to tidy yourself, naturally. Hands pulling the aprons, fixing skirts, things like that. But you, Elizabeth, your hands constantly flew to your bonnet, as if trying to keep it still. The maids are assigned to different parts of the house. You and another maid work of this section, the bedrooms. Could it have been the other maid who did it? No. Why? Hair! She's fair haired, and you, are not. You really shouldn't use Mr Agnews's mothers posessions, you know. Her hairbrush is an antique. You left some hairs in it. Not from Mr Agnews mother- she died too long ago, plus she was a redhead, as you can see in the photos. A girlfirend? Unlikely. My Agnew is a man of business and there's no signs of female company anywhere.I just had to deduct and find out it was you. You cleaned the dresser perfectly, it was spotless. That's where Mr Agnew kept the necklace, the dresser. But the wardrobe however, that was dusty. A maid should clean everything in the room. The dust suggests that you snuck in, stole the necklace, dusted and cleaned the dresser then left before anyone could find you. Am I right? Of course I'm right."

Elizabeth hung her head in shame. "You're right, sir."

Mr Agnew's face softened. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm dissappointed in you, Elizabeth. But I understand why you did it. I won't take you to court, but I can't have you working here."

"But, but sir! I need the money!"

"That is why I'll be asking around my friends in the industry if they're hiring. You can work here until you get a new job."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Mr Agnew nodded and turned to Sherlock. "Well, thanks for finding it. Quickly, too. Good bye."

Sherlock smiled quickly and walked down the long halls. Running a hand through his hair, he exited the house, called for a taxi and headed to the bank.