The Case of Elaina

A Study in Pink [4]

Elaina began to regain consciousness sometime later. She opened her eyes but her vision didn't come into focus at first and Elaina could see nothing more than fuzzy shapes in front of her. She was indoors and slumped in a chair. Elaina blinked, still trying to focus and eventually could just about make out long fixed wooden benches and free-standing plastic chairs. Elaina struggled to her feet but couldn't keep her balance. She fell forward, crashing onto the floor.

"Now, now. The drug's still in your system. You'll be weak as a kitten for at least an hour." the Cabbie smiled down at her "I could do anything I wanted to you right now,"

Groaning, Elaina continued to struggle to get to the door.

"Anything at all," The Cabbie continued

Elaina whimpered but continued for the door.

"But don't worry. I'm not gonna kill yer, just Mr. Holmes," The Cabbie grabbed Elaina as she reached for the door and hauled her to her feet before dragging her a few paces across the room and dumping her onto a nearby chair. The chair was in front of a small square wooden table which had another chair on the other side of it.

"The whole place is empty. Cleaners aren't in, so there's no point in raising your voice. We're all locked in, nice and snug," The cabbie took out a handkerchief and used it to gag Elaina while handcuffing her to the chair. "And if his fan's right...Mr. Holmes will be here any minute. So you just sit tight," The cabbie walked off.

***

"Elaina!" Sherlock took the gag off the girl.

"Sherlock..." but before Elaina could warn him, the Cabbie called out.

"Well, What do you think?" The cabbie asked.

Sherlock turned towards him.

"Shall we talk?" Without waiting for a reply, the Cabbie pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, next to Elaina.

Sherlock took a chair from the bench in front, flipped it around and sat down opposite."Bit risky, wasn't it?" Sherlock asked, "Taking Elaina..."

"You call that a risk? Nah." The Cabbie reached into the left pocket of his cardigan. "This is a risk." He took out a small glass bottle with a screw top and put it onto the table in front of him. There was a single large capsule inside.

Sherlock looked at it but didn't react in any way.

"Ooh, I like this bit. 'Cause you don't get it yet, do yer? But you're about to. I just have to do this," reaching into his right pocket, he took out an identical bottle containing an identical capsule and put it onto the table beside the first bottle. "You weren't expecting that, were yer?" The cabbie leaned forward "Ooh, you're going to love this,"

Sherlock looked away from Elaina "Love what?"

The cabbie sat back again "Sherlock Holmes. Look at you! 'Ere in the flesh. That website of yours: your fan told me about it,"

"My fan?"

"You are brilliant. You are. A proper genius. 'The Science of Deduction.' Now that is proper thinking. Between you and me sitting 'ere, why can't people think?" The cabbie looked down angrily. "Don't it make you mad? Why can't people just think?" he looked up again into Sherlock's eyes.

Sherlock looked back at him for a long moment, narrowing his eyes, then made a realization. "Oh, I see," Sherlock said his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So you're a proper genius too,"

"Don't look it, do I? Funny little man drivin' a cab. But you'll know better in a minute. Chances are it'll be the last thing you ever know,"

Sherlock held his gaze for a second or two, then looked down to the table. "Okay, two bottles. Explain,"