Chapter 33

(Third person view: )

 The man’s colleague had collected a pile of clothes and a pair of shoes and put them down onto the table in front of Sherlock, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged disinterestedly.

 “Please, Mr. Holmes. Where you’re going, you’ll want to be dressed.” He pleaded. Sherlock looked round to Alice. He eyes were climbing up and down the man. When she had gathered what she needed she scoffed.

 “You aren’t gonna get him to do a da*n thing.” She chuckled. Sherlock turned his head back and gazed at the man and began to deduce. Looking at his clothes he could tell his suit was £700. Glancing at his breast pocket and the area where a pistol would be if he was carrying one, he could see no outline, therefore he was unarmed. His thumbnail was manicured. By his forehead he could tell he was an office worker. The way his hands were folded in front of him, he could tell he was right-handed. Looking at his shoes; indoor worker. Seeing some wiry hairs on the cuff of his trouser leg; small dog. Seeing a mark higher up the same trouser leg; two small dogs. Seeing more hairs on the other trouser leg; three small dogs. Sherlock smiled smugly and looked up into the man’s face, Alice smirking behind him.

 “Oh, I know exactly where I’m going.” He said cockily.

 Later, John walked into an enormous ornate hall with massive crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. He looked around for a moment, and then followed his escort, who gestured him to a nearby room before walking away. On a small round table in the middle of the room was the pile of clothes and shoes which had been put down in front of Sherlock earlier. There was a sofa either side of the table and sitting on the left-hand one was Sherlock, still wrapped in his sheet. Alice sat next to him, her hands folded and imbetween her legs. Sherlock looked across to John calmly. John held out his hands in a “What the h*ll?!” gesture. Sherlock shrugged disinterestedly and looked away again. Nodding in a resigned way, John walked slowly into the room, and then sat down on the sofa beside his friend. Alice leaned forward and grinned eagerly at him. He gazed in front of himself for a moment, chewing back a giggle, looked around the room again and then looked at Sherlock, peering closely at his sheet and particularly the section wrapped around his backside. He turned his head away again.

 “Are you wearing any pants?” John questioned.

 “No.” Sherlock answered. Alice smiled beside Sherlock.

 “Okay.” John said, sighing quietly.  A moment later Sherlock turned and looks at him just as John also turned to look. Their eyes met and they all promptly burst out laughing, Alice shaking her head while doing so. “At Buckingham Palace, fine.” He said, gesturing around the room. He tried to get himself under control. “Oh, I’m seriously fighting an impulse to steal an ashtray.” Sherlock chuckled again.

 “You’re not the only one.” Alice commented, smiling like a maniac.

 “What are we doing here, Sherlock? Seriously, what?” John asked.

 “I don’t know.” Sherlock answered, still smiling.

 “Here to see the Queen?” John suggested. At that moment Mycroft walked in from the next room.

 “Apparently yes.” Alice and Sherlock said at the same time. John cracked up again and Sherlock and Alice both promptly joined in. The three of them continued to giggle as Mycroft looked at them in exasperation.

 “Just once, can you two behave like grown-ups?” Mycroft glared at the two men.

 “We solve crimes, I blog about it and he forgets his pants, so I wouldn’t hold out too much hope.” John said his voice shaky with laughter. Alice still chuckled. Sherlock looked up at his brother as he walked into the room, all humour gone from his face.

 “I expected better from you, Alice.” Mycroft said, glaring at the red-head. She just grinned mischievously at him.

 “We were in the middle of a case, Mycroft.” Sherlock said sternly.

 “What, the hiker and the backfire? I glanced at the police report. Bit obvious, surely?” Mycroft said sarcastically.

 “Transparent.” Alice said, all her amusement now gone as well. John looked startled.

 “Time to move on, then.” Mycroft suggested. He bent down and picked up the clothes and shoes from the table, turning to offer them to Sherlock. His brother gazed at them uninterestedly. Mycroft sighed.

 “We are in Buckingham Palace, the very heart of the British nation.” Mycroft began. “Sherlock Holmes, put your trousers on.” He finished sternly.

 “What for?” Sherlock asked, shrugging. Alice smirked silently.

 “Your client.” Mycroft said, in the way only an older sibling could.

 “And my client is?” Sherlock asked again, standing up.

 “Illustrious...” A man began, coming into the room. Sherlock turned to look at the man who had just walked into the room. “...in the extreme.” He finished. John stood up respectfully. Alice scoffed but would have done that same by muscle memory if she had not chosen not to. “And remaining – I have to inform you – entirely anonymous.” He added. He looked across to Mycroft. “Mycroft!” He exclaimed fondly.

 “Harry.” Mycroft replied, in the same manner but less enthusiastic. Smiling, he walked over and shook the equerry’s hand. “May I just apologise for the state of my little brother?”

 “Full-time occupation, I imagine.” ‘Harry’ replied. Sherlock scowled. “And this must be Doctor John Watson, formerly of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers.” He said, looking at John.

 “Hello, yes.” John said proudly, shaking his hand. “My employer is a tremendous fan of your blog.”

 “Your employer?” John asked, alarmed.

 “Particularly enjoyed the one about the aluminium crutch.” He confirmed. Alice smirked at Sherlock, who glared, but his eyes were happy and playful, so she didn’t mind.

 “Thank you!” John said. He looked round at Sherlock, clearing his throat smugly.

 “Alice, I presume? You’ve kept your files under wraps but I know a soldier when I see one.” Harry said, looking at the red-head. “My, haven’t you grown!” Alice sighed.

 “You were there when I told my family I was going, Harry. You couldn’t see an elephant three feet from you face.” She replied, but then getting up and wrapping him in a quick hug. This surprised both John and Sherlock, John shrugging it away, and Sherlock raising his eyebrows and nodding slightly.

 “And Mr. Holmes the younger. You look taller in your photographs.” Harry said, stepping closer to Sherlock.

 “I take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend.” Sherlock replied, looking round momentarily at John. He walked abruptly past him, forcing him to step back, and approached his brother.  “Mycroft, I don’t do anonymous clients. I’m used to mystery at one end of my cases. Both ends is too much work.” He looked round to the equerry. “Good morning.” He started to walk out of the room but Mycroft stepped onto the trailing edge of the sheet behind him. Sherlock’s impetus carries him forward while pulling the sheet off his body. He stopped and grabbed at it before he was completely naked and tried to tug it back around himself, looking furious. Alice turned bright red, and didn’t look away, because she was also trying to hold back a laugh.

 “This is a matter of national importance. Grow up.” Mycroft said, again, in only the way a big brother could.  With his back still turned to his brother, Sherlock spoke through gritted teeth.

 “Get off my sheet!”

 “Or what?” Mycroft tested.

 “Or I’ll just walk away.” Sherlock threatened, sounding like a 5-year-old child.

 “I’ll let you.” Mycroft warned.

 “Boys, please. Not here.” John said, sounding like a mother. Alice had covered her mouth and was trying to do anything but look at the Holmes’. She finally calmed down and sauntered over to John, leaning on his shoulder but still smiling.

 “Who. Is. My. Client?” Sherlock demanded with an almost incandescent with rage.

 “Take a look at where you’re standing and make a deduction. You are to be engaged by the highest in the land. Now for g*d’s sake...” Mycroft broke off and glanced at the equerry briefly, trying to get his anger under control before he turned back to his brother again. “...put your clothes on!” He finished exasperated. Sherlock closed his eyes furiously, and then pulled in a sharp breath.

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