Chapter 14

A/N: We're almost done with the story here. There's a bit of an AU factor since I'm not quite sure when the first trains started appearing in NYC. I tried to do my best with research. Thanks to Halfreck3929 for the beta! Enjoy the chapter!

There were three sharp knocks on Cecelia's door. She wasn't expecting any company, it was only mid-day and her errands that she needed to complete weren't expected to begin until around supper. She pulled back the lace curtain that covered the door window to see two somewhat familiar faces: the dark haired detective and his slightly taller mustached friend. They were both at the bar when she needed to visit Lindsey.

With hesitation she opened the door.

"Good afternoon," Cecelia said quietly. "How can I help you?"

"I don't suppose you remember us?" Holmes questioned.

"I'm not sure I do," she replied.

"Lying to us already? We've barely exchanged pleasantries. If you didn't know us already, I think it's time to get re acquainted." Holmes paused.

"We were at the bar the day you were visiting Lindsey, although Lindsey passed, you continued your visit."

"Well, yes, we scheduled our meetings weeks in advance." Cecelia retorted.

"But, if I may further this investigation, you knew she was dead, and in fact, you were there when she died," as Holmes started to interrogate Cecelia, Watson started to back up from the house and walk around the back of the house. "I see some fright in your face, may I come in dear?"

"I have ab-absolutely no idea what you are rambling about. I think it is time for you to leave," Cecelia's voice started to shake as she closed the door as calmly as possible. She swore under her breath and ran to her closet where a pre-packed bag of clothes lay. She ran to the back of the door, after securing the front and leaving.

"Have you informed the police?" Watson asked, waiting for Cecelia to open the door.

"Just gave a letter to inform anybody but the inspector." Cecelia quickly opened the back door in a huff only to be greeted by Watson and Holmes.

"I suggest the side window next time," Holmes said. "I believe your new destination is the police station, we have to meet your partner,"

Holmes, Watson, and Cecelia all walked to the station as swiftly as possible, trying not to let their second offender step out of the station.

It was not twenty minutes later, and they managed to arrive at the station juts on time, with one of the rookie officers on hand greeting the three of them with handcuffs for Cecelia.

"You're bluffing Mr. Holmes. You have no idea if I actually committed these crimes, whatever those may be," the woman said softly.

"You're going to regret provoking him." Watson quipped.

"Provoking him to what? Arrest me? I am innocent!"

"To explain his thought process."

"…and that is a bad thing?" Cecelia asked.

"Only if you are not innocent," Watson said back.

Minutes later the head officer walked through the doors of the station only to be greeted by the head of the rookie officers with handcuffs, Holmes and Watson with Cecelia in tow.

"What is going on?" The inspector was close to shouting.

"I am innocent. I did not do anything!"

"That is where you, both of you," Holmes pointed to Cecelia and the inspector at the same time, "are wrong. Next time you try selling morphine on the streets to people that are dependent on, try hiding the evidence better. When I was looking in your friend's flat I saw dried cork in the fire pit. I'm guessing you got into an altercation and some things didn't plan out so well as you hoped and you threw the morphine bottles into the fire pit, hoping that the bottles would melt and let other people think that maybe she tripped and fell on a chair rather than succumbing to your violence. The death of Lindsey, wasn't your first death. Other than killing people and leaving them in horrific situations, you were very thorough, I do applaud you for that, even going for lighting a match and trying to burn the extra hair that fell onto the body. However, you knew how to cover it up. That's where our dear Inspector comes into play."

He faced the Inspector. "If you are trying to hide your link to the murders, next time try to mix it up when writing the reports. I suggest using a different handwriting or maybe not even writing the reports at all."

The Inspector's face became exasperated.

"It doesn't look like you will have much luck in the court," the younger policeman noted as he took the Inspector and Cecelia. to the holding cells in the police station.

As the police station was in a hurry to lock up the two criminals Watson and Holmes ducked out of the building. It was a swift walk back to their apartment. Watson started to take off his coat and relax on the chair.

"What a day," Watson stretched his arms. "I don't have any patients until tomorrow, so we can relax a bit until then. What do you want to do for dinner?" he said as he was hanging his coat on the coat rack.

"How about we leave?"

"You mean eat out?"

"I mean get out of New York,"

"They'll catch us." Watson stated.

"They'll catch up to us, but if we keep moving from one place to another, we can get back to Baker Street. You can finally see Mary again and have a normal life."

"Somewhat normal." Watson laughed. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...but I don't think we should go. They're watching our every move, Holmes, we just can walk out of the building like it is no problem and then catch then next horse that comes galloping by."

"Should we take that chance?"

Watson pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to regret this. Do you know the train schedule?"

"I have it in my back pocket. Let us get packing." Holmes smiled.

Holmes slid the last month's rent under Mr. Lee's door. They took their luggage into the back alley in order to avoid the crowd. Trying to avoid the public streets, they called a buggy which brought the two to the train station.

"The train leaves in about 20 minutes. If my calculations are correct, we can arrive just about five minutes until the train leaves, and then board quickly, hopefully avoiding Mr. Burns and his seemingly non-existence employees." The buggy ride was almost nerve-wracking, running against the clock and against the hope that Mr. Burns didn't see the two of them leave.

The train was getting ready to depart the small train station. The steam from the train started to plume from the machine. The conductor yelled for the last call before departing. Watson and Holmes paid the buggy for it's service and took their luggage to the train. Holmes looked back once more only to see Mr. Burns catching up.

Holmes started to walk faster and Watson followed shortly thereafter. They hopped onto the train quickly right as it was starting to pull out of the station.

"Stop that train!" Mr. Burns yelled. Holmes heard his yell as he gave the tickets to the conductor.

"I'm sorry sir, but the train has left." A man part of the crew on the platform stopped Mr. Burns from running any farther. Mr. Burns threw his jacket on the floor in anger.

"So where are we off to now?" They were about three hours into their train ride, as night overtook the sky. The stars were shining bright as Holmes and Watson looked out of the windows in the observation car. Their hands interlaced underneath the table.

"I'm not so sure. The tickets say Chicago, but who knows where we'll end up." Holmes said. "We'll end up in England eventually,"

"Eventually." Watson smiled, looking forward to the uncertainty in his life.

A/N: With that, this fic is finished! Sorry for the delays in between chapters. I hope you enjoyed this story!