𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒙

✩ ☽ ✩ 

Sherlock opened the door for Betty and let her in first. The girl nodded to him gratefully and stepped inside without hesitation. A pleasant warmth enveloped her, allowing her to remove her wet coat. She hung it on the coat rack by the door and took a deep breath.

She had missed this. She took in the scent of the tearoom. She turned to the man who had just closed the door and was staring into the darkness. The light from the lamps streaming in through the window illuminated part of his face, and Betty had to admit that he looked amazing. The way his bones stood out and his hair, a little wet... she had to smile to herself. But she immediately frowned again when she realized they were here to talk to Edith. Now was not the time for her silly moods.

She wandered deeper into the establishment, trying to find the stairs leading upstairs. Sherlock followed her willingly. „Wait," he put a hand on her shoulder from behind and stepped around her to take the lead. He didn't know if someone unexpected would surprise them here, so he was more confident he could protect her if necessary. The stairs they were climbing creaked loudly below them, and Betty only now realized how loud the sound actually was.

They made it to the first floor and entered the usually full martial arts classroom. The man headed to the back room where Edith had her office. However, the girl stopped at the door and looked around in the gloom, the woman they were looking for was sitting in the shadows looking directly at her.

„Have you any idea what time it is?" She spoke towards Sherlock, who turned behind her with a slight twitch.

„Hello, Edith."

She looked up: „You're lucky, I almost broke your legs. Then I recognized the shoulders. You have very recognizable shoulders." Betty smiled.

„Enola's been arrested," he informed her mercilessly. Edith visibly paused. „For why?" She asked.

„Murder," the man frowned and began to pace the room. „What she's got tangled with, it may go wider than I thought. And there's something about this case..." He paused, not knowing how to continue, Betty tilted her head to the side, sensing desperation from him and... She stammered; could it be possible that there was a tear in his eye?

„Deduction alone will not solve?" Edith added, and the man raised his head again. Yeah, she was definitely dreaming. There were no traces of salty tears in his eyes. He was silent for a moment.

„I may need your..." He swallowed, Edith raised her eyebrows, his voice dropped considerably, and Betty had to take a few steps forward to even have a chance to hear what he was saying. „I need your help," he finally resigned, it was obvious that asking for help had really given him a hard time. „We need your help." Betty, without realizing it in any way, smiled proudly.

„Well, like my mother always said; Those who can turn to others when they're in need are truly brave amongst us," Edith uttered as she moved to her desk in the den. They both followed her, Betty pausing in the doorway as Sherlock stepped inside. "Your mother sounds very different to mine," he retorted. The girl behind him lowered her gaze to the floor, but immediately rested it back on Edith, who gave her a brief smile.