Maia's pov

I pulled my bike up outside my home. I chained it to the fence, took my backpack off my back and pulling out my keys, the school newspaper I'd written falling out. I sighed and bent down to pick it up, the blood dripping from my nose falling into it and covering the title and 2 of the photo's I'd put on it in blood. "3 serial suicide, possible murder". No one wanted it so I took my own newspaper home myself.. seems pathetic but it made me feel better.

I was late. I should have been back at 5pm.. it's now 7:15. Auntie was going to give me hell. I opened the door and called out for her but I didn't hear any reply. I looked around the bottom floor and sighed. I called out for her again as I walked up the stairs, using the sleeve of my hoodie to wipe away the blood, leaving a large streak of it across my face. I went to turn to go up the 2nd flight of stairs only to hear my aunt say "oh Sherlock the mess you've made!". Out of curiosity I pushed the door open with my foot only to see a messy flat, my aunt and two men. One tall one with piercing eyes and curly brown hair and the other was shorter with blond hair and relaxed eyes that seemed immediately focused on my nose when I opened the door.

"Umm.. hello.." I said shyly as the short blond man sat down and the tall one didn't even notice me. "Hello" the smaller man replied. "Mes. Hudson there is a teenager in my doorway" the taller one said as he moved things around. "Oh that would be Maia. Hello dear how was school?" Auntie asked me as she rushed around the filthy kitchen, cleaning. "It was.. fine.. who are these two?..." I asked. "Oh well the tall boy is Sherlock Holmes, say hello Sherlock" she said. Sherlock made a hum, I think it meant he acknowledged me. I don't know. "And the man in the chair is doctor Watson" she finished. The doctor smiled at me and raised his hand. I did the same nervously.

The doctor turned his attention to Sherlock. "Looked you up on the Internet last night." He told Sherlock. The tall man smirked slightly as if he were proud of something.  "Anything interesting?" He asked. "Found your website - The Science of Deduction." The doctor replied. "What did you think?" Sherlock asked. The doctor gave him a look making his smirk disappear into a confused look. "You said you could identify a software designer by his tie, and an airline pilot by his left thumb." The doctor said, not sounding convinced. I stood there in silence with my sleeve pressed to my nose.

"Yes. And I can read your military career in your face and your leg, and the drinking habits of your brother in your mobile phone." Sherlock said confidently. "How?" The doctor asked. Auntie is bustling about, straightening up the house. I just have dropped my newspaper because she picks it up off the floor.

"What about these suicides, then, Sherlock? Thought that would be right up your street. Three of them, exactly the same. That's a bit funny, isn't it?" Auntie asked. Sherlock was starring out the window, almost like he's sensing something in the air.

"Four. There's been a fourth." He began. "What?.. when?" I asked. "And there's something different this time." Sherlock replies. "A fourth? How do you know?" Auntie asked him. For answer, he points to the window.we look: a blue light is flashing outside - clearly a police car is parked below. I hear feet thumping on the stairs, and suddenly in the doorway is a man with grey hair.

"Where?" Sherlock asks simply. "Brixton. Lauriston Gardens." The detective replied. "What's different about this one. You wouldn't have come to get me, if there wasn't something new." Sherlock asks, almost like a bored child wanting to know what he got for Christmas early. "You know how they never leave notes?" The detective asked. "Yeah." Sherlock replies quickly. "This one did. Will you come?" The detective asks. He almost looks desperate.

Sherlock just looks at him. Tempted now, interested. Such a fascinating character. "... Who's on Forensics?" He asks. "Anderson." The detective replied. And with that he lost Sherlock's interest. "Anderson won't work with me." He replied. "He won't be your assistant." The detective said, again becoming desperate. "But I need an assistant." Sherlock said. "Will you come?" The detective asked again. "Not in a police car. I'll be right behind you." Sherlock promised. "Thank-you!" The detective said quickly, and with a cursory nod at Auntie, me, and the doctor, and he's gone.

Suddenly Sherlock looked excited and he jumped for joy screaming "brilliant! Yes!" He started to pace around the room. "Four serial suicides and now a note. Oh it's Christmas ! Mrs Hudson I'll be late" He began and he threw on a coat and tied a scarf around his neck. "I'll need some food.". "I'm your landlady dear not your house keeper" auntie told him, making me smile. "Something cold will do, john have a cup of tea make yourself at home" Sherlock said as he left, closing the door behind him. I slowly walked over and took a seat in the other chair across from the doctor, who I know assume was named John.

"Oh look at him dashing about. You know my husband was just the same, wasn't he Maia?" Auntie began to tell john. I nodded slowly. "But your more the sitting down type. I can tell. I'll make you that cuppa, you rest your leg" my auntie said as she strode away from John and into the kitchen. Suddenly John screamed "DAMN MY LEG!" Making me and my aunt flinch. "I.. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, it's just
sometimes ... bloody thing." John mutters. I look sympathetically at him. "I understand, dear. I've got a hip." Auntie says as she heads for the door. "A cup of tea would be lovely, thank you" John says.

"Just this once, dear - I'm not you housekeeper." My aunt says again, leaving the room. John is settling down on the sofa - disconsolate, annoyed at himself. "Couple of biscuits too, if you've got them." He says quickly to catch her. "Not your housekeeper." She calls back making me laugh. He sits there, frowning. "Are you Ok doctor Watson?.." I asked. He hums a yes as he looks at his phone.

"You're a doctor." We hear Sherlock's voice say. We are both startled and look towards the door. Sherlock is back, leaning in the doorway, looking at john thoughtfully. "In fact, you're an army doctor." Sherlock corrects himself. "Yes." John replied. I stay silent. Sherlock is moving into the room, look hard at John, speculating. "Any good?" He asks. "Very good." John said as he stood up and leaned against his cane. It looked like he was a soldier standing to attention. "Seen a lot of injuries then. Violent deaths?" Sherlock asks curiously. "Well, yes." John replies, the look on his face is a curious one, as if he was trying to figure out what Sherlock was getting at. Bit of trouble too, I bet." Sherlock asked. "Of course, yes. Enough for a lifetime. Far too much." John says, sounding worried and a bit stressed to me.

They stand facing each other for a moment. Sherlock, considering. John, not quite knowing what he's waiting for, but it's coming. "Want to see some more?" Sherlock asks. John blurts out "Oh, God, yes!". Sherlock smirks. He tells John to get his coat and they dash to the door. I stand up and build the courage to ask "can I come too?..". Sherlock freezes and glanced back at me.

"I'm sorry but your too young" John said, not even looking at me. "I'm 16.. I'll be fine" I told him as I took small steps towards them, grabbing my backpack. "Your a journalist aren't you?" Sherlock asked me. I nodded. "Only for the school newspaper." I replied. He smiled. "You don't like lying do you? You want the facts." He asked me. I once again shook my head. "I'm curious about how they can all use the same poison and the same circumstances but they didn't know eachother.. I want to know what connects them" I began to tell him. "And.. I want to know how you know a lot about people.. auntie told me you know everything about everyone by just looking at them" I finished.

"Well. I can tell from your eyes you've been crying, your right hand on your middle finger there is a built up lump of hard skin from you writing and printed ink staining your non bloody sleeve tells me you were near a printer recently and that you only printed this newspaper today. Also back to the bloody sleeves, it is obviously from your nose, it was caused by an injury from a punch to the left side of your nose, a ring imprint is on it which I'm sure didn't help the situation. Your wearing a very expensive locket that you yourself couldn't afford. Your father is a drug cartel owner and your brother is apart of it yet you have tried to separate yourself but that locket is a gift from your brother the only thing you have left as you refuse to contact them. Your father disowned you which is why you are living with your aunt but he still sends you gifts, explaining the expensive camera in your bag and the decent phone as well as the obvious expensive school and free living-area. Did I miss anything ?" He asked. "I get the drug cartel but how did you know about my brother ?.." I asked. "Because the photo in your locket is downstairs on top of mrs. Hudson's fireplace is you as a toddler and your brother holding you. I suggest you close it" He told me. I closed my locket without looking at it.

He then simply told me "you can come".

Hope you enjoy the new story

Lil'nightfury