Aless Nox

Sherlock flipped the edge of the curtain with his fingers turning to look at John with a smile. “A customer,” he said, “show the lady in.” The doorbell rang and John rushed down the steps returning a few minutes later to raise his eyebrow at Sherlock as he escorted in a woman with long blond hair.

She was dressed all in green, down to her vinyl boots. On someone else, it would have looked a joke, like a pixie or an elf, but on her it brought out the brightness of her golden hair and highlighted the deep green of her eyes.

“Please have a seat Miss ah...what is your name?” Sherlock asked.

John straightened in surprise. ”You don‘t know?” John said, “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of Marianne Doe?

"Why should I know her?" Sherlock said.

The woman smiled. “This is exactly why I’ve come,” she said, “Mr Holmes, you have a reputation as a heartless man.”

“Is that what you need?” Sherlock asked, “A man without a heart?”

“Yes,” the woman replied fluttering her long, blond eyelashes, “Love is a terrible thing.” she said, “I hate love.” 

Sherlock examined the woman from head to toe and then said, “Your life has been threatened. Is there a note?”

“Yes,” she said while unzipping, “He left it on my body.”