|| Be Her Guard || Sherlock Holmes x Reader

|♢| Chapter 7 |♢| Bittersweet Afternoon

Yellow police tape circles the area in front of the small gift shop, dividing the places the public could go from where only members of the Yard are permitted. Groups of curious bystanders stand around the tape, doing whatever they can to see at least a little of what is going on from standing on their toes to leaning over the barrier. The policeman standing on the other side did a decent job at keeping them at bay yet he could do nothing against reporters' shouts, begging for more entail than the vague details already released.

Hopping out of the cab once it pulls up, Sherlock lowers his head with a grumble when the reporters turn their attention to him, wasting no time running over with a new set of questions. He's able to quickly duck under the yellow tape, wanting to get inside the shop as soon as possible before he has to deal with anymore newspapers. Following after him, you exit the cab and set out to take the same path, however, you have a little more trouble getting to the destination with reporters immediately taking interest in the new girl, flashing cameras your way and bombarding your with various questions.

"What's your name?"

"Are you here to help with the case? Can you tell us anything about it?"

"Are you dating John Watson or Sherlock Holmes?"

You freeze at the attention, almost going blind by the bright bursts of light. Everyone's voices become mixed together, sounding like simple shouting that you can't make out. It makes your palms sweaty and heart begin to race, feeling as if it will beat right out of your chest. It reminds you too much of the events after your own case...being the center of attention with no escape...

Luckily, you're brought out of your trance with a flinch when John wraps an arm over your shoulders. He kindly shields you from the cameras while directing you under the tape and into the shop where no one should bother any of you,"...thank you, John."

"You're welcome."

Before you can say anything else, you feel something be put on top your head. When turning around, you're met with Sherlock gazing down at you, his hand hovering above. It's then that you realize he had put the hat John made him wear on you.

"Do you really hate it that much?" You ask with a hint of amusement, pulling it down in the back.

"I don't see why I have to wear it."

"It hides your face from reporters," John replies with a huff," can you stop complaining like a child for once?"

You do little to muffle your laughter while Sherlock growls, marching further into the shop while you look back to John," well, I like it at least."

Half way through the shop, a tired looking man with grey hair meet with the three of you, his eyes setting on you in particular nearly as quickly as the reporters' eyes had," who's she? She can't-"

"-She isn't allowed to leave my side, therefore, if she leaves, I leave and seeing that you desperately need my help, I suggest you stay quiet about it," Sherlock announces sternly, the man not appearing to be too happy about being ordered around, however, he does nothing to argue either. 

A body lays behind the back counter. It's of a younger woman who has her face pressed against the wooden floor. Her hair is sprawled out and her arms closely tucked under her head which is turned only lightly to the direction of the door.

"Ellery Janson, 24 years old, has worked at this store for five years since it's owned by her friend's family. Her boyfriend called in for a wellness check at five fifteen this morning. Apparently, she left their shared apartment two blocks away around four. The shop doors were locked when we arrived and we later found her like this. Her cause of death is a gunshot to the back of the head."