holmes_minor | Fic: An Unpleasant Client: G

Title: An Unpleasant Client
Form/Word Count: 324
Characters/Pairing: Dr Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: G
Warning/Content: A client arrives demanding attention

We had watched our new client as he had hurried up Baker Street to call on us. He had snapped at Mrs Hudson when she had answered the door and had then attacked the stairs in a way that implied we should have our rooms on the ground floor for his convenience. Since he was a man of about middle age and of reasonable health this seemed entirely unwarranted, and I was not sympathetic when he entered the room looking both hot and cross.

When he then proceeded to demand that Holmes drop everything to deal with his case, I anticipated his departure would be as rapid as his arrival had been. Holmes replied that if the facts stated were both true and full, then he should take the matter to the police. Our potential client blustered, informed Holmes that he should feel obliged to take the case, in view of who he was, and once more demanded his instant attention.

“Mr Wyevale,” Holmes said icily, “I have cases on hand which are both more important and more interesting than yours. I have advised you to go to the police, if you will not do so then I can only conclude that the matter is not as important as you claim, or, and this is more likely, that you are deliberately withholding information.”

“How dare you accuse me of that,” Wyevale shouted.

“Quite easily. And now I suggest you depart. Watson, would you mind showing Mr Wyevale out. I do not want to trouble Mrs Hudson again.”

I escorted Wyevale to the front door and returned to our rooms, calling out to Mrs Hudson to let her know he had gone. I heard a muttered “Good riddance” from behind the kitchen door.

I did not trouble her further. Clients who are hot and cross can easily be dealt with. Landladies who are hot from baking and cross at being disturbed are another matter entirely.