Sherlock Hooves and his new flatmate were in the taxi on the way to the crime scene. Trotson looked at Sherlock. He wanted answers, and he intended to get them. Sherlock noticed this, so he started the conversation. "OK, you've got questions".

"Yeah, where are we going?" Trotson asked.

"Crime scene, next?"

"Who are you, what do you do?"

"What do you think?"

"I'd say private detective-"

"But?" Sherlock cut him off.

"Police don't go to private detectives" Trotson pointed out.

"I'm a consulting detective. The only one in the world"

"And that means?"

"When the police are out of their depth, which is always, they consult me"

"Police don't consult amateurs!" Trotson made a point. Sherlock looked at Trotson for a split second, and started talking.

"When I met you for the first time yesterday I asked you how the war was. You looked surprised"

"And how did you know that?" Trotson asked.

"I didn't know, I saw.

A/N: For further reference every time Sherlock does his "explain somepony's life story" thing I will go into italics mode.

The way you held yourself say military. When you first entered the room you said "Bit different from my day" so trained as a military doctor, obvious. Your face is tanned, but no tan on the wrists, so you didn't sunbathe. You didn't ask for a chair to sit down on, like you've forgotten about it. And your not old enough to of been in the Snowy War, so changeling battle.

Then there's your brother. Your IS, expensive, long-distance enabled, mini disc player. You're getting a flatmate so you couldn't of afforded it so it's a gift. A lot of scratches, so it's been in the same pocket as keys and coins and you wouldn't treated it like this, so it's had a previous owner, but it's obvious because of the engraving. "Harry Trotson". He's given you his old phone. Not your father, this is a young stallion's gadget. Could be a cousin, but you can't find a place to live. Not likely you've got an extended family, or one that you're close to, so brother it is! Then there's Clara. Who's Clara? Probably a romantic attachment, the IS says wife. Given to him recently. This model's only 6 months old. 6 months old and he's given it away? If she left him, he would of kept it. No, he wanted to rid of it. He left her. He gave the phone to you, that says he wants to stay in touch. You're looking for cheap accommodation, and you're not going to to your brother for help? That says you've got problems with him. Maybe you liked his wife, or maybe you don't like his drinking.

"How. Can. You possibly know. About the drinking?" Trotson said, dumbfounded.

Scuff marks around the edging of the plug. He tries to plug it in to charge, but his hands are shaky, and unless he's nervous whenever he puts it on, he's drunk when he puts it on!

"I was right. Right about what?" Trotson tested Sherlock, still dumbfounded.

"The police don't consult amateurs" Sherlock replied with a grin.

"That... was... amazing" Trotson said, still dumbfounded. Sherlock looked at him with a confused look.

"You think so?"

"Of course I do! It was quite extraordinary" Trotson insisted

"That's not what people normally say"

"What do people normally say?" Sherlock grinned.

"Piss off!"

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter. Consider this a "mini-chapter" to demonstrate the direction I would like to take Sherlock's thinking in. Also, I'm tired out for writing 4 chapters in 2 days. Not going to have another one fore a while. See ya!

PB