It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

94 - The White Knight Is Taken

"Oh my God." John chuckled, "Sherlock, you didn't."

"I...clearly did?" Sherlock tilted his head as though his friend had lost the plot.

"What is it, John?" Elizabeth enquired.

He turned around, appearing to assemble a rather long instrument, "In school, primary and even up to when I was studying at Bart's, I used to play the clarinet. After I got into the army though, I just kind of forgot about it. But I remember now, Sherlock had deduced that I must have played music at one point - "

"We were in a music shop for a case and you saw the clarinet. You picked it up and, while you couldn't play it in the shop, your fingers knew exactly what to do with the instrument. Thus, you must have played a clarinet before because no amateur would know what to do with a complicated instrument like that."

"Exactly. And I remember telling you now that I wished I could take it up again, but Sherlock, these things - and good ones at that - cost a fortune."

"Mycroft owed me a favour."

"Ah, right, of course. Forgot about the rich brother."

This earned at chuckle from the thief and landlady.

"So you do like it, don't you?" Sherlock asked quietly.

"Yes! Yes, of course I do. Thank you, Sherlock, really."

Another small smile crossed the lips of the detective who was content that he had succeeded in his choice of gift.

Elizabeth's phone buzzed and she slipped it out of her blue jean pocket, "I'm so sorry, Cleo says she needs to call me about work."

"Yeah, go ahead." John nodded.

The thief smiled already heading towards Sherlock's room for some privacy, "Thanks, back in a mo!"

When she was gone, Sherlock slipped his own phone out of his pocket. After having met with Mycroft (and surprisingly, Rita), he had taken Elizabeth's phone to an acquaintance of his and had requested a copy of her sim card. Now, he was able to receive all of her texts and could join her calls if he wished.

The text Elizabeth had gotten from Cleo was:

<Call me. - C.B.>

A call connected on his phone screen and he lifted it to his ear.

"You alright, Sherlock?" John asked, "You can take your call elsewhere if you want. I don't mind."

"Answer machine." Sherlock answered, "Might be a client."

"Elizabeth?"

"You wanted to talk, Cleo?"

"Yes. Next week we are planning to ambush a thief."

"This seems a tad bit hypocritical. Is there a reward? Or...?"

"He's been thieving from us. We have a strict rule against those who thieve from us and that is to make an example of them before too many others get the same bright idea. We need an extra woman, you in?"

"What day?"

"Wednesday rota. I'll get Max to cover your shift."

"Deal. I'll need to grab my stuff."

"All fine by me. Be at the Rob'n'Cat by two."

"Will do. Bye."

He removed the phone from his ear.

"Anything interesting?" John questioned.

"Woman who's upset about her husband cheating on her. Wants to know if he can be arrested." Sherlock rolled his eyes, "Are people always like this when they discover a partner has cheated?"