Dark Secrets (Sherlock x Reader)

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''What about the crime scene? Did you find anything there?''

It was your turn to answer. ''The flat was wiped clean. Whoever committed this murder was careful with that. We did find traces, however, in the dining room. We suspect she was tied to one of the chairs there as the wood was slightly damaged on the armrests and legs.''

''She was tied up?''

''She had marks on her ankles and wrists, clearly depicting ropes had been used to restrain her,'' you explained

''Why would she have been tied up? And why the stab wounds after she was already dead?''

''The killer was obviously mad at her. He was fuelled by rage. He stabbed her to release that anger,'' Sherlock elucidated.

''Which is why we find it odd that she had been tied up first,'' you cut in. ''He wouldn't have the patience for that if he was so angry.''

''He?'' John inquired.

''Oh, yes,'' Sherlock spoke. ''This woman was in good physical shape. It would have taken a rather large and strong man to subdue her despite her health issues.''

''Okay, so any suspects then?''

''Too many,'' you sighed. ''She had a horrible relationship with her family. We interviewed some of them and they didn't really have nice things to say about her. They told us she was very arrogant and distant. She was very proud of her athletic achievements and bragged about them constantly.''

''Her opponents shared the same feelings. None of them liked her. She was tough competition and definitely not a team player,'' Sherlock added.

''So it could have been anyone?''

''We've ruled out a couple of people already. Our prime suspects are her older brother, her ex-husband, who was also a swimmer, and one of her opponents. His name is Michael Errington. He has always come second place in every competition he and Selma were both in.''

''Let me guess, Selma was always in first place?'' John guessed.

You nodded. ''None of these three people have solid alibies, so now it's a matter of finding out who did it.''

''How's that coming along then?''

Sherlock grumbled and turned away from his friend, focussing on the files at hand.

John chuckled. ''Well, if you two need a break from this case, Mary and I were wondering if you two would like to join us for dinner tonight at a nice restaurant not too far from here.''

''There's a murderer on the loose, John. There is no time for eating and chatting about your mundane married life.''

You slapped Sherlock's arm.

He looked at you with indignance displayed clearly on his face. ''What? I was politely declining his offer!''

''That wasn't polite,'' you hissed. You turned to John. ''We'd love to go out for dinner with you and Mary. How about tomorrow night? I'm sure Sherlock and I will have wrapped up the case by then.''

He nodded. ''I'll make the reservations and give you a call.''

''Sure, yes. Thank you, John.'' You shut the door behind him before turning around and meeting your boyfriend's annoyed gaze.

''Dinner plans? Honestly? Do you know what you have gotten us into?''

''They've been wanting to go on a double date with us for so long now! I couldn't keep saying no.''

''Yes, you could have. It's fairly simple. Allow me to demonstrate. No.''

You rolled your eyes. ''We'll survive one night having dinner with them. It'll be fine.''

''Oh but this won't be just one night. No, they'll ask again and again because we agreed to it this time. They'll want to make a weekly thing out of this! That we won't survive.''

''Then I'll just decline.''

''Mary won't let you. In case you forgot, she is very persuasive.''

You laughed. ''Sherlock, would you just let it go! Why is this bothering you so much? Come on, let's focus on the case. We need to have it solved by tomorrow night.''

He grumbled a few incoherent words before turning back to his work.

~

''Can you believe it?'' you exclaimed. ''How was that for a twist?''

Sherlock snickered. ''I have to admit, I hadn't seen it coming before. Though, the second interview we did with them gave it away.''

''The guilt was written on their faces. Putting them in one interrogation room together was a brilliant idea.''

After more fruitless attempts at finding out the truth, you and Sherlock had decided to question your prime suspects a second time.

You had quickly ruled out the victim's brother, so the ex-husband and strong opponent remained. What happened next, neither of you had foreseen, but what a delightful twist and end to the case it was.

As it turned out, the former husband, Jean Hayfred, and Errington had plotted Selma's murder together. Both of them were athletes and professional swimmers and neither of them had ever managed to beat Selma in a competition.

She was a major talent and an ambitious performer. She trained hours every day and managed to uphold her titles year after year until she was forced to retire a month before she died.

Because of her declining health, Hayfred and Errington seized the opportunity to get their revenge. They had always been jealous of her achievements and were enraged she had beaten them so many times before. You suspected sexism was involved in this case as well.

Deciding to act on their aggression, they went to Selma's flat and killed her by hitting her with one of her most prized awards.

When they realised what they had done, they panicked. They tied her to a chair to make it seem like a robbery. Though, Errington wasn't satisfied with the scene they had set up and grabbed a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times.

They untied her after that, cleaned up all the blood and placed her on the carpet in the living area of her home.

To say that these murderers didn't know what they were doing, was an understatement. Though, it did make it even more entertaining to you and the consulting detective.

So, finally, after three days, the case was closed and the killers were arrested.

You held each other's hands as you strolled back to Baker Street. The sun was starting to set and there was a cool breeze. Perfect early spring weather.

''You know,'' you started, ''if we change quickly when we get home, we can still make it to the restaurant in time for our reservations.''

Sherlock groaned. ''Must we?''

''I did tell them we'd come.''

''Which was a horrible, horrible mistake.''

''Yes, you told me that already.'' You laughed quietly. ''Come on, just one night. It'll be fun. We hardly spend time with other people, it's always the two of us.''

''Because other people annoy us,'' he pointed out.

''John and Mary are good friends. We'll have a nice night with them,'' you argued.

''You really want to go, don't you?''

You nodded, a hopeful smile on your lips.

He sighed. ''Alright, fine! We'll go as long as you don't make this a habit.''

You kissed his cheek. ''Deal.''