Holmes turned back to the young lady after observing the look of dread upon my face, and I saw him startle slightly under her stare. But he immediately recovered himself and returned the girl's look of curiosity with one of his own, laden with innocence.

"Is something wrong Miss Thompson?" She hesitated before answering.

"No…no, nothing at all Mister Holmes," she said with finality, though she maintained that look of concentrated confusion.

"Well then, if there is nothing else that requires my attention, I believe our business is concluded. I fear you shall never see this Peter Escott again, and I say with assurance that he was the guilty party in the case of your employer's murder," he said with absolutely no emotion in his voice. He then rose from his desk and moved to the door and held it open wide. The lady remained seated, her eyes never leaving his face. I suddenly realized I was holding my breath.

Holmes maintained that patient but dismissive smile he gave to all the clients whom he wished to be rid of, and he stared the girl down with such a forceful will that I believe had I been under that stare I would have broken down and revealed the whole sordid tale.

But as the girl took a shaky breath and left her seat by the fire, I released my own, and moved to join Holmes at the door.

"I thank you for the use of your handkerchief Doctor," she said, offering it back to me.

"It is of no consequence. Please keep it," I tried to smile at her as I looked at the stained piece of cloth. Seeing her up close now, she was indeed incredibly young and I marveled again that Holmes would have picked someone like her to gain information. But in his mind, I realized there was no more logical a choice for the purpose of espionage than a child.

As she truly was such, I wanted to offer some words of wisdom or at least sympathy so she did not walk away completely crushed.

"It may mean nothing to you, now that you know of his deception, ma—madam," I stumbled over the word as I looked into her innocent young face, "but at least you have some good memories?" I suggested.

"Yes…" she sighed, her eyes taking on a dreamy look as she lingered on the awe, "thank you Doctor Watson, Mister Holmes," she said as she left us at last.

I saw her brush her tiny gloved hand to her rosy lips and I thought I heard the faintest laugh from her bell-like voice as she descended the seventeen steps to the street.

Holmes looked out of our door after her and I followed suit, breathing easily once more. But I had one final cause to be startled as the young woman looked back and winked at Sherlock Holmes before leaving the building.

His eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead and he quickly retreated to the sitting room while I nodded a last goodbye to our guest.

I turned to find my friend standing before the fire, stuffing more of the freshly purchased tobacco into his pipe.

"Holmes—" I began, but the deep furrow of his brow warned me away. I returned to my desk, thinking this little episode may be worth recording. But my friend suddenly exploded, keeping me from the task.

"Do you think she suspects, Watson?" he said, pacing back and forth before the fire.

"Well, I—"

"I was certain I had thrown her off. It was rather harsh to shock her by pronouncing Escott's guilt, I'll admit. But it seemed the most direct method of being rid of her and keeping her attention unfocused."

"I'll agree, she did seem rather distracted."

"But then what was that look for? That cheeky little grin? It is the same one she would give me every time we said goodnight." I blinked. Something in his voice had caught my attention.

"Oh?" I answered cautiously.

"Yes and that suggestive wink? She would always do that after we ki—" He halted as he realized what he was saying.

"Holmes…" I began with the intent to lecture him, having little desire to embarrass him further in what was most definitely an uncomfortable situation, but knowing an admonition would take his mind off of its current track.

"What?" he said, sinking into his chair despondently. I softened at the hopelessly lost look on his face and went to join him before the fire.

"There is no shame in being attracted to a woman."

"I was not attracted to her!" he snapped, "I needed information and chose the most efficient and propitious means of acquiring it."

"Certainly, but…"

"But what?!" he glared.

"But you became rather attached to the young lady in the course of your efforts." He thought that over for a moment.

"Perhaps I did," he sighed, "But I assure you a felt no emotion akin to love for the girl. Honestly Watson, I am almost twice her age!"

"So I observed," I said, taking my turn to glare.

"It could not be helped. I had a limited amount of time in which to work and I could not let a single opportunity pass."

"No, I suppose you could not," I agreed, and we sat silently for a moment, Holmes smoking and I thinking. It really had been a foul trick to play, and if the girl had recognized him there was no telling what our future would hold.

"Do you think," he began again, startling me from my speculations, "that giving someone a joyous memory is enough to redeem them from their sins?"

"That is rather ambiguous. And poorly phrased," I commented.

"You know what I am asking Watson," he growled, giving me an annoyed glance.

"You wish to know if the girl's fond memories of your time together will keep her from revealing us to the police if she did indeed recognize you?"

"Yes. Women are your department Watson, and I have no way of knowing what that final gesture meant." I thought for a moment.

"From what she said…I believe she would not give you up."

"Truly?"

"Yes. Clearly she loved you, and it is rare for a woman so deeply smitten to betray her love, even if he has wronged her." Holmes looked rather guilty at that, and I was pleased to see he had something of a conscience.

He did not answer, so I considered the matter closed for the moment and returned to my desk and my writing. But a few minutes later I heard him laughing in a dry but amused manner. And I turned to see him smiling, and slowly brushing his hand across his lips.

Author's notes: Yay, it's done! I had never imagined I would go this direction, but as always, I started to write and it ran away with me. Opinions?