holmes_minor | Fic: Diamond Geezer: G (Reply)

Title: Diamond Geezer
Form/Word Count: 498
Characters/Pairing: Dr Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Holmes suspects there is more to a case than he is being told

“You know, Watson, there is something very strange about Lady Reynolds’ diamonds. She has asked me to keep their loss from Sir Arthur, simply requesting that I arrange for them to be returned to her, with no questions asked,” Sherlock Holmes said.

“In that case, I would assume she knows who the guilty party is and doesn’t want to implicate them. Presumably, therefore, it is a family member,” I replied.

“That would be a reasonable assumption, but she has mentioned the footman and parlourmaid, who have recently married and are now living in Bournemouth. I can think of no reason why she would want to protect them.”

“So what are your thoughts on the matter?”

“That this couple are being used as a distraction, and the theft is much closer to home. I do need to speak to this couple, but I am afraid that something will happen while I am away from town, therefore I would be grateful if you would go in my place.”

“I can go tomorrow morning, if that would suit.”

“That would be splendid. And you can send me a telegram with what you find out.”

Accordingly, I took the train down to Bournemouth the following morning. They turned out to be a charming couple, who were now running a small boarding house.

I introduced myself as a colleague of Sherlock Holmes, at which point the former maid said, “Lady Reynolds said she would be consulting with Mr Holmes. Isn’t it a shame about her diamonds?”

I expressed some surprise at this, so the young lady produced the letter for me to read. The letter was dated some two days before Holmes had been told the robbery had taken place. I checked the postmark, and this confirmed the date. I asked the young couple if they could shed any light on the theft.

The young man replied, “I do remember the Hon. Augustus Bratherton once asking my lady’s maid where the diamonds were kept, but I’m sure he wouldn’t be involved, he was always a great favourite with my lady.”

I thanked them both for their help and headed back to the railway station. On my way I sent a telegram to Holmes, which read: CHECK BRATHERTON.

Holmes was not in when I reached our rooms, but shortly afterwards he returned, looking very pleased with himself.

He explained, “It turns out young Bratherton has been having money problems, and when I mentioned his name to Lady Reynolds, she admitted giving the diamonds to him. He was supposed to leave for the continent today, hence her desire for my absence. Then, when her husband questioned the loss of the diamonds, she could honestly say she had asked me to look into it, but I had been unable to find them. Unfortunately for her, with your assistance, I had located the diamonds before they were able to leave the country.”

“It is never prudent to consult you when a solution is not required!” I remarked.