A Hot Day in New London
Chapter 4
by Casey (Jedi at aemail4u.com)
9/10/03
General Disclaimer
Disclaimer:
Oh, yeah. I forgot all about this little thing, so for chapters
1, 2, 3 and onward, I do not own DIC or Sherlock Holmes in the
22nd Century, though I wish I did. Someone else owns it all and
should air it more than twice a week at a more convenient time.
(Yeah, and now that I came up with this great disclaimer they are
showing it 5 times a week. Go figure. Mess up my disclaimer...not that
I'm complaining, though....). However, Josh is mine as is the
original material of this story. That's right. So you want him,
ask me first.
Thanks.
Ok, before I get to my actual chapter (it is right below this),
I'd like to give some special thanks to Belgium Waffle for the
inspiration on a few key points in which my story would just not
be the same without, for a few lines here and there, for her
great reviewing of ALL my work, and forever keeping me going with
her cheery replies and sometimes cynical critiques of my work.
Gotta take the good with the bad. I'd like to thank another
friend of mine, Jessamine, for allowing me to use a fragment of
an email in my author's notes. If it wasn't for Belgian Waffle
and Jessamine helping me out along the way, my stream of writing
might have run dry. Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.
And guys, this chapter is huge.
Chapter 4
As the cruiser lifted off the pavement, Holmes hastily fastened
his safety belt and prepared for a rough flight. 'Well, I did ask
for her transportation services,' he thought to himself.
"You act like I'm gonna kill you every time you step in my
cruiser. It's not like my driving is THAT bad," Lestrade grumbled
as she swerved close to a cruiser. "So where are we headed?"
"You'd think you would have asked that BEFORE taking off." He
replied as began to glance over the papers once again. "Kathleen
Drive, and I'm only preparing myself for the worst," he said as
he looked back to her only to find her deathly pale.
Suddenly she snapped into focus and jammed her foot on the
accelerator lurching 180 degrees as Holmes began to grip the
sides of his armrests. "The name, Holmes?" she said almost as if
fearing the answer, gripping the steering wheel with white hands.
'Ahhhh..... a friend in need is a friend indeed.....'
Holmes thought as he said, "A Messy Fix."
The rest of the ride held a grim silence as one was lost in
many thoughts, while the other thought mostly of what the other was
thinking.
As the cruiser landed with a jolt, one occupant sprinted across
the drive while the other more calmly stepped from the cruiser
and slowly walked across to the door which was being flung open
by a particular inspector.
As Lestrade flung open the door and dashed through the
entrance, Holmes simply strode through the door in a nonchalant
manor as always, his eyes darting across the shop, falling upon
tools strewn on the floor, equipment for just about anything
littering the corners, various broken appliances in odd places,
while spare parts connected the mess in a joyful medley of
electronics.
By the counter there were almost six -- judging from the broken
mess -- appliances that were in scrap condition. Nonrepairable and
unrecognizable. A young man in a labcoat was sitting at the
counter with a notebook in his right hand and an icepack in the
other on his head staring at the Inspector by the entrance with a
look of dread mixed with worry and a calm joy.
Inspector Lestrade, on the other hand, stood by the door close
to an old-fashioned clock that ticked with the seconds as the
three hands on the clock moved in time. Yet another mess of spare
parts littered the floor next to where she stood while the
doorknob on the door she had flung open rattled as it hung
loosely from its place. As she stood there, she glared at the
young man but kept silent.
'And so it seems it has fallen upon me to break the silence,'
Holmes commented as he continued to examine the room. Looking up,
he noticed the young man was no longer staring at Lestrade but
rather at him as if noticing him for the first time. 'Might I ask
a few questions about the theft that occurred last night, Mr.
Coultrane?'
'Ummmm...sure, mister...uh...who are you?' Josh replied in an
uncertain voice as he began to eye Holmes' outfit with interest.
'I am Sherlock Holmes, and this is -- well, you already know who
this is, don't you?' Holmes said knowingly, glancing at the quickly
sobering Lestrade.
The young man nodded and said, 'Yeah, I do. And call me Josh.
That Mr. Coultrane stuff is too proper.'
'Well, then. Josh. Why don't you tell us your story from the
beginning?'
As Josh looked up he quickly said, 'Well, in the beginning, I
was a wee little lad....'
'NOT THAT BEGINNING, JOSH!' an angry Lestrade shouted as she
once again began to glare at him.
Josh flinched as said quite meekly, 'I was only trying to
lighten the mood.'
'Sorry.'
'No, I should be sorry. I wasn't taking it seriously,' he
sincerely apologized, 'but really, this is what happened....
'After you left last night, I sorta had this, uh, idea, and so
I spent another hour working on it before I decided that I had it
good enough to leave till tomorrow. So, I was coming out of the
lab when I noticed this guy in here looking around. And so I
said, "I'm sorry. We're closed now. How'd you get in?" And then,
he turned around.'
Josh inhaled quickly at the memory and held a look of disgust
on his face before he continued.
'This guy would have to improve a lot JUST to look hideous!!!
Ugh!!! It was awful! It was like those scary movies with the
zombies and he was all ughh! I wish I could wipe that image from
my mind forever!'
As Holmes and Lestrade looked to each other, one thought
crossed their minds: 'Fenwick.'
'So, then he grabbed my arm and wanted to know where "Ze lab
vus..." and I thought, "Zed no. He is not getting near my precious
laboratory (la-boar-atory)." And so I told him to get out. Ummm.
That's when he grabbed a computer and hurled it at me.'
Josh took a moment to look back at the counter where the broken
appliances were and then said, 'I dodged it but he kept throwing my customers'
stuff at me! And then he threw a pipe at me. I think. All I remember before I
blacked out completely was him saying, 'Vell, at least I've got zis consolation
prize for my troubles.''
His gaze darkened for a moment before returning to worry.
'I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my customers. I
mean. I'm supposed to return their stuff to them in better
condition than when it came in or at least in the same condition
and, and...look at it. I've really failed them. I can't fix that
now. What am I supposed to do? I know I have to refund but the
policy...there isn't any possible way that I could replace it
all. Most of those were antiques! And then the empathetic value!
I'm doomed.'
As Josh began to stare at the floor unblinking with his head in
his hands, Holmes was inspecting the door and chancing a few
glances over his shoulder outside while Lestrade began going over
Josh's story in her head.
'Hmmmm, so Lestrade was here yesterday and late last night.
Interesting. Both are Americans. The accents and attitude tell me
that. And they have known each other a long time. Many years
obviously. Ah, I remember the expression Watson had when I first
fell from Reichenbach Falls. Lestrade held that expression. The
expressions of dread and worry for a dear friend. The question
still remains as to how dear a friend he is....' Holmes thought as
he suddenly frowned, once more feeling a deep pang inside and an
unexpected drive to disprove Josh's story.
As Holmes' eyes darted back to Josh, he exclaimed, 'How could
you not have heard him entering? The leverage placed on this
doorknob to break it should have been loud enough to wake your
neighbors.'
Wincing, Josh replied, 'Ummm, well, I was thinking and when I
get caught up in my thoughts I sort of tune everything else out.
It doesn't matter what. I just zone out.'
'Well, according to the report, all that was stolen was
chemicals. What did he take as a 'consolation prize' anyways,
Josh? It wasn't another one of your weird inventions that turn
out to be worse for all of humanity than better? Was it?' Beth
asked as she began to look at Josh very strangely. 'I thought we
had agreed on no more watches....'
That comment got a peculiar look from Holmes -- a look of
confusion and interest.
'Uhhh. It wasn't anything like that, Beth...really. It was
just....'
'Oh no. It wasn't your notes, was it?'
Josh shook his head and said, 'Don't worry about it,' as he
began to grip his notebook tighter.
'Well, sulfuric acid is hardly something you'd keep a batch
that large lying around. This laboratory could make large
quantities of the acid but not as manufacturing. You just don't
have the facilities to keep production at that level. I suppose
you were sub-contracted to make it?' Holmes said, eyeing the
laboratory from its entrance. It was obvious he wanted to examine it
for more details.
'Yes. Jink Chemicals couldn't make their quota this month and
so they sub-contracted me to meet it for them. That was the last
shipment and it was fresh.'
'Awww, man! You mean he stole the batch we made!? That's it. I
am so gonna nail Fenwick with this one! That slimedog's not
getting away this time!' Lestrade said in her cocky Yardie tone
which then turned to disappointment as she said, 'But how are we
going to track him down this time? Normally I tend to catch him
leaving the scene of the crime.'
As Holmes returned from leaning into the laboratory he quickly
said, 'I don't believe finding Fenwick will be any problem at
all. He's been following me all day. He was outside when I
checked that doorknob of yours as well.'
Josh's expression darkened once again and Lestrade sidestepped
to the wall before he continued, 'I believe he might be trying to
lure me into a trap. Fenwick is obvious enough to draw anyone's
attention. And when I spotted him this morning I decided that it
would be best to see what information New Scotland Yard had
picked up on him. However, the chemical thefts were the only
items that he would have been interested in. And from you're
reaction to his, do we dare say, 'fine' features, I'm almost
certain that it was him. That and his French accent. But the
question now is whether to follow him or not?'
Josh first stepped forward with his face set and said, 'Well,
I'm in. I can't just sit by and let it slide.'
'No,' a calmer Lestrade said firmly, 'you are not coming. It's
against Yard policy, it's too dangerous, and I think you've seen
enough of Fenwick for one day.'
'Hey!' he yelled throwing his hands up, 'I worked hard on
that...ummmm...w-w-well....'
As Holmes watched the pair banter from the sidelines as he
thought, 'Hmmmmm, blood on his right hand...so it's not from his
head....'
'Well, you'd better tell me what he stole NOW, before I have to
put it in the Yard's computer LATER. Josh, if you're worried
about it affecting your immigration status, I'll do everything
in....'
'No! That's not it! I just, I...well...I'm not telling you what it
is. And that's that.'
Lestrade narrowed her eyes and prepared for the battle at hand,
'Stubborn.'
Josh: Pigheaded.
Lestrade: Idiot.
Josh: Dimwit.
Lestrade: JERK.
Josh: MORON.
'You're only gonna slow us down!'
'PRICK!'
'Well, FENWICK ALREADY KNOCKED YOU OUT ONCE TODAY!'
'CONTROL FREAK!!!'
Lestrade. STUPID!
Josh: BAKA!!! WENCH!!!!! ummmm, somethinganother......... NOBLE!!!!
Lestrade *taken aback*: What?
'You're just too noble! It's always, "you shouldn't do this" and
"you shouldn't do that". "This is against the law" or "against policy".
"Too dangerous". "I think the watch is a bad idea". It REALLY TICKS
ME OFF.' Josh yelled in frustration, but then said in a softer
voice, 'And that same nobleness is what keeps me on the right of
way. You always keep me out of trouble and you look out for all
my pigheadedness and you stop me before I mess up big time with
my inventions and it keeps us friends because if you didn't look
out for me, I'd be lost....'
Then the newly resolved Josh looked straight into Beth's eyes,
crossed his arms and said, 'And it's past time that I looked out
for you. I'm going and that's final.'
As Beth looked to Holmes in desperation she found him oddly
staring in the opposite direction, as if suddenly acutely aware
of his awkward position. As she let out a heavy sigh, she began
to think in defeat, 'Even Holmes won't back me up.'
Broken and defeated, the reluctant yardie said miserably, 'I
guess you could come along; just no hero stuff or anything too
incredibly stupid. I'm not supposed to....'
'So, I can still do something stupid as long as it's not
"incredibly stupid," right?' Josh rebounded jokingly as his eyes
began to light up in a moment's excitement.
'Josh,' Lestrade growled menacingly.
'Ummm, right. Just, ah, let me run upstairs and slap something
on this slight war wound.' He quickly covered up as he grabbed
his notebook and began to dash towards the stairs.
Lestrade: -_-
'You let him win. That was a pretty weak defense you put up and
I suppose he's used that tactic more than once, hasn't he?'
'Yeah, like the time he got me to catch the science lab on fire
and the time we blew up some.... Hey! Wait a second! How'd you
know he's done that before?' she questioned as she glanced over
at Holmes who had his attention on her.
'Well, it was obvious from your reaction to the location and to
him that you've both been great friends for quite some time. I've
never seen you as pale as when I mentioned Kathleen Drive. Your
face immediately blanched. It was quite -- memorable. A true
testimony to your nervous system.' He smirked.
'Oh, well, I'm so glad you noticed.'
'I'm not done. You didn't need the navigation systems of your
hovercar to lead you to Kathleen Drive because you've already
visited it many times before. When we arrived, you were much more
interested in getting to the witness and so you dashed across the
drive; you didn't even check the sign once to see if it was the
right shop. With that I could safely predict that you were
familiar with both the area and the shops and that you knew the
witness well.'
Hearing this, Lestrade begins to wince as she looked up and
sarcastically asked, 'And I'll bet there's more, isn't there?'
Holmes' eyes began to sparkle as he continued on with his
analysis. 'You seemed both angry, most likely at the fact that he
didn't call you as soon as it happened, and worried at the same
time and so I began to interrogate Coultrane, feeling you might
not trust your own voice. Am I right?'
'Yes. You're right,' Lestrade said in a monotone voice.
'You are both Americans and from the same general area by the
accent. You've both been through a great deal together. And
something has happened to both of you at one point in time
with...watches, as I am led to believe? And he holds some kind
of knowledge that appears to be very important to both of you.'
'What?' Lestrade said slowly with one eyebrow arched as she
began to look at Holmes tensely.
'This knowledge. I don't know what it is you both know...but you
obviously left some record of it...I'm thinking that those
records are located inside that blue notebook of his. It would
appear that that notebook never left his side the entire time
we've been here. And when you said, 'notes,' he visibly gripped
that notebook tighter.'
'Ok, that's...plausible....' Lestrade murmured softly as her eyes
began to dart towards the ground.
'Lastly, neither of you needed apologies after that mock battle
of yours,' Holmes began to say jokingly. 'The Watson of old used
to get upset with me when I would get into one of my moods and
play my violin as horribly as possible. He hated it when I would
use him as a decoy and never once tell him. I've been in that
situation before.'
Lestrade began to nod as Holmes continued in a more uplifting
voice, 'It would appear that you both have had these battles many
times before, and by now, I'm certain you're used to losing them.
Am I not right?'
'Unfortunately so. He always works on my conscience. He says
I'm morally challenged. I can't be bad because I'm too busy being
good,' Lestrade said as she began to laugh softly to herself.
'He's awful, I tell you! Always twists everything around. So
persuasive. If Deidre ever took lessons from him....'
'Well, needless to say, you've both worked together, whether in
a school or business environment. And therefore, he knows all he
needs to know to "push your buttons" and perhaps sway you to his
views.'
The beat of someone tearing down the stairs broke them both out
of their reveries and back to the business at hand.
'REadY!!!!' a jolly voice rang as its owner bounded into the
room, patched up with a slight gel in his hair, obviously to
protect the bloody mat of hair that particular patch had become.
'Well, then,' Holmes said as he started for the door where the
doorknob still hung loosely from its perch, 'let us be off.'
Maureen, I'd like to request that if/when you post this
chapter on your site that you also include this thread with it
because I truly believe that for some people to understand a
certain comment I made in this last chapter, this thread might be
required.
*Please Read* Author's Notes
And so, after reading that, you may have felt that I used some
'strong language.' Personally, the only thing that I could
possibly see as too strong might have been the wench comment.
However, to me, it's not that big of a deal. My friends and I
tend to throw words like that around at each other all the time,
but as I will explain, all is not as awful as some people think
they can be. And so, in the words (exact words in fact) of one of
my best friends, Jessamine, in explanation to me at one point in
time, all lingering suspicions shall be smited (hopefully). (She
is so much better at explaining things than me. I tend to confuse
more than clear the fog.... Ever get that 'blank look' after
explaining something? Yeah, I get that a lot.).
'And now, I must explain the 'wench' comment. Wench is
a most wondrous and excellent title. You see, for my
friends and me, a Wench is a friend who helps you out.
Someone who hands you a coke becomes a 'drink wench,'
And a friend who holds your jacket becomes a
'doorhanging wench,' and a friend who pours you mocha
becomes a 'coffee wench.' You are my e-mail wench,'
because you send me fun things to read. And wench can
also serve as a mild, teasing insult to someone you
really like. For me, anyway. In terms of old English
and stuff, it doesn't have such an innocent
reputation, but that's certainly not the meaning that
applies to you. :-)'
Yes. For every word it seems there is a double meaning. Sometimes,
you just have to look past the worser of the meanings to see the better one.
So please, do not be offended at such use of that word because its intent was not so.
The reason I have tagged this along with my last chapter is because I
feel some people might not have quite understood its meaning or might actually get
offended as name calling is a touchy subject sometimes. Please understand that
this was not a big flamer to Lestrade in my eyes at all. I suppose everyone will
articulate their own opinions. However, I do sincerely hope that this thread has
convinced you of that particular word's original intent as reflected by the
author (me).
All people mentioned by me are designated by their chosen pennames.
On to part 5!
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