The Adventure of the Missing Album

[mustbetruth]

Who: Holmes, Watson, and Handy
When: Afternoon
Where: The lounge
What: Watson has convinced Holmes to take up this extraordinarily gripping case of the missing photo album, and they go down to meet Handy and discuss the details.

Comments

[bluesuit_handy]

Handy sighed and sat back, not making eye contact. He'd blown that one, hadn't he? This was exactly why he'd wanted to stay away from the topic of Jareth--as sure as he was that he was right in his assessment of the Goblin King's character, Handy did realize that their history of mutual antagonism wasn't likely to allow him to make any clear-headed response to anything that involved Jareth. "Right," he said. "Sorry."

He ran a hand over his face, casting his mind back and trying to recall when he'd first heard about the two of them being together. "He mentioned her the first time we met," he remembered, brow furrowing. "She must have said something about me, because he already knew about us traveling together." He frowned, attempting to piece the rest of it together. "That was a few months ago. I didn't think it really meant anything at the time, but then a week or two later we talked again and it sounded like they'd been spending a lot of time together."

[mustbetruth]

He nods, filing the information away. "And can you think of anyone else who might have been spending time in Rose's room?" The answer would provide him with more people to potentially talk to about the topic, as well as providing him with potential suspects, though there is still the possibility that the hotel is playing games with them all.

[armydoctor]

Watson shifted in his seat a little, falling back into silent listening, without any comment to make.

[bluesuit_handy]

"We hadn't been talking," repeated Handy sheepishly. "Even before she met Jareth. Jack might know if there was anyone else, though."

[mustbetruth]

"Right. Well, then, Doctor," he says, standing, "I believe I have gathered all the necessary information from you. I thank you for bringing this case to our attention."

The Doctor has given what he knows, and there are other people involved who have more knowledge of what's going on than the Doctor. It all still sounds very domestic squabble-like, and even with the potentially shady presence of Jareth in the mix, he is reluctant to even say this is a theft at all.

"I must ask, however," and here he levels his gaze on the Doctor, "whether you have considered that the hotel may have simply taken Rose's photo album through some design of its own. If this is so, you will never get the album back until the hotel decides on an appropriate time to return it."

That said, he turns again to Watson and nods to the door. "Well, Watson, let us be off."

[armydoctor]

Watson looked at Holmes in faint surprise. He had to suppose himself that there was not a great deal of information to be had, here, but the departure was abrupt.

"Ah, yes, of course." He stood as well. "Thank you for your time, Doctor," he said, before moving to follow Holmes.

[bluesuit_handy]

"Of course I've considered that," replied Handy, feeling more than a little insulted. "It's happened before. It's even happened before to me. I'd just rather not assume the worst before it's even been looked into."

The abrupt departure didn't please him too much, either, though he had to admit that Holmes was probably right in thinking he didn't have much more information to give them. Still, though, at least he'd taken the case.

[mustbetruth]

"I am certainly no stranger to the hotel's penchant for disappearing acts," he returns, a bit sharper than he'd meant, but the topic is still sensitive to him. He forces a tight, polite smile and nods to the Doctor. "We will look into the case. Good day, Doctor."

With that, he turns and leads Watson out to the hall.

[bluesuit_handy]

Handy watched the pair of them go with mixed feelings, sure only of the fact that he felt like a bit of an idiot for having started all this.