It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

72 - Surprise

"Both my parents passed away." She answered, "I don't get to have family gatherings like this anymore."

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear."

"It's perfectly alright, Violet. Been quite a few years now. I just thought it might be worth noting that your sons are luckier than most."

Elizabeth silently agreed with this, sharing a look either Sherlock with whom she had already had this conversation. But seeing as nobody else knew much about her, of course the question would be asked to her too.

Siger inquired, "Elizabeth, do you get to see your family much?"

"I think she'd rather not answer that." Sherlock jumped in at seeing her distressed reaction.

"No, no, it's alright - um - my family is - kind of complicated. I don't see them anymore. For lack of a better word to explain the situation, it was toxic."

Violet placed a hand over both of the women's hands and squeezed them reassuringly, "I'm sorry for the both of you. But you will always be welcome in this family especially seeing the significant change in both of our boys caused by the two of you, no doubt."

Each of the women thanked Mrs Holmes, grateful for her comment welcoming them into the family.

"So then, we know what our boys do, but we don't quite know what you both do." Siger moved the conversation along, looking at Rita first, "I understand you're a doctor?"

"Yes. Medical. I work in private health care."

"I owe Rita my life." Sherlock added, giving her a single, respectful nod of thanks, "Without her work I may very well have perished."

Violet looked at Rita as though she were a powerful goddess, "Then we owe you our thanks too!"

"I was just doing what I had been trained to do." She modestly replied.

"That said," Mycroft leaned forwards, resting his head on his clasped hands and looked across his father at Sherlock, "She wouldn't have needed to if Sherlock had just listened to me."

The detective rolled his eyes.

"For once, Mycroft and I agree on something." Elizabeth noted.

Mycroft drawled, "And how rare an occassion that is." Noticing the partment key around her neck, he inwardly grumbled. Why was getting rid of her so difficult? An mean idea popped into his mind and he looked at both of his parents in turn, a sly, snake-like smile crossed his thin lips, "Did you know that Elizabeth was a thief?"

Both of their parents frowned, somewhat disbelieving of their son. What a ridiculous notion when she was clearly such a lovely, well-bred girl. Elizabeth gulped at this statement, visibly uncomfortable and anxious about where Mycroft was steering the conversation.

Both Rita and Sherlock sensed this.

"Myc, don't." Rita spoke softly.

But he carried on, relentless in his intentions, "In fact, the night we met was at my mansion. Dr Watson found her trying to steal government secrets and she assaulted him."

"Mycroft, stop." Sherlock pleaded too.

The thief's chest rose and fell a little faster, her throat drying at the prospect of having to explain this to the parents that had just welcomed her with open arms.

"I just thought that you might like to know that your son is in love with a criminal."

"If you'll - excuse me." Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper as she stood hurriedly.