It was a common apartment, with thousand other tenants in it. Sherlock take another looks at it before he goes in. A woman with a child can easily slips in here. But without unnoticed. The address emerged in Sherlock's victory overcoming another cryptic message Molly had send, said that the apartment it refers to is in 9th floor.
They aboard the elevator and finally arrive at the designated floor.
"What number are we looking for?" John asked impatiently. In his mind he could almost imagine hugging Rosie.
"915." Sherlock answered.
They reach the apartment and standing in front of it. Sherlock couldn't hide his joy, like a kid winning his treasure hunts for the first time. John, aside from glee over a potential reuniting with Rosie again, a little bit anxious about them meeting Molly. He is worried, that Sherlock is more interested solving the puzzles than finally found Molly.
"Here we are." Sherlock said.
"Shall we ring the bell then." John hesitated.
Sherlock doesn't say anything but keep looking at the door.
John push the door bell button. They wait anxiously for the door to be open. 30 seconds, 45, 1 minute.. nobody answers.
"Probably they off somewhere?" John suggested.
But Sherlock seems alarmed. As he now try to push the bell again, in witch the results is the same. He now become more agitated, and begins to strolls down the floor.
"Where are you going?" John asked.
"This is a service apartment, must be there's someone we can talk to." Sherlock said while lurking around.
They finally find a cleaning lady in front of one of the room.
"Excuse me.. mm, can I ask you a question? About apartment 915." Sherlock ask hastily.
"Aah, you new tenant huh? Wanna look around? Miss Xie comes tomorrow at 9, now to late to see." The cleaning lady said in a thick Singaporean accent.
"Wait. Are you saying the apartment is empty?" John now asking the question.
"Empty, yes. Last one moved, couple days ago. But apartment is good. Very clean." the lady answered.
Sherlock and John face has turns cold.
"Hey, miss.. Umm actually we kinda busy tomorrow. Can you please help us, we just want to see the inside. Not stealing anything. You can watch us look." Sherlock quickly shoves a couple Singaporean dollar to the lady.
The cleaning lady, hesitant at first, but when she sees the money become agreeable.
"Okay. But no touch anything. I'll get fired."
She then escort Sherlock and John back to apartment 915.
"Umm, who rent the apartment last time?" John asked.
"Some lady with a baby. Good people no making mess. Apartment still good and clean." She said again. John quickly glances at Sherlock.
The cleaning lady opens the door.
It's a normal apartment. All the essential furniture is there, but there is no signs of a person belongings. It is indeed empty.
"See.. apartment is good, no stain, no broken chair, all in good condition. I clean myself." explained the lady unknowingly.
"A child was here?" John asked cautiously.
"Yes, but no mess. No vomit, no drawing on wall. I clean everything." said the lady again, reassuring.
Sherlock observing slowly the whole apartment. Looking for any sign of Molly and Rosie's presence.
"Wh.. what about the woman here before. Was she.. good or bad. Noise, party, fight.. anything?" John asked again.
"No.. no.. lady was good. She keep to herself. No marijuana."
Sherlock left John chatting with the cleaning lady. He now enters one of the room. He search all corners to look for clues. He looks under the bed, and quickly realizes how silly it is. He circles the room one more time, before moves to another room an do the same thing.
And the result is the same, the cleaning lady did a good job.
Obviously disapointed, he joins John and the cleaning lady again. John looks at Sherlock full of hopes and quickly realizes that it was nulled in yield.
"Everything good, yes?" the cleaning lady again. Sherlock nods while his mind still concentrating on lurking around.
"Come, come.. I can not show to long. If miss Xie know i get fired. You must not tell her, okay."
They were about departed the apartment, Sherlock just behind John at the door when he realizes something. The floor was constructed with vinyl. Under the dining table, in the corner side by side with the wall, there's a part of vinyl that peeled of.
Sherlock quickly marchs back and examines the floor. He feels something slipped under the vinyl. With no big efforts he pulls out the whole piece of paper and surprised by what he founds.
It was a piece of children's story book. The piece of paper shows a cartoon kangaroo, dancing around in a field.
Sherlock looks at the torn paper unsure, and he quickly places it in his pocket.
"What's wrong, sir." the lady suddenly swarms over him.
"The floor. It was peeled of." Sherlock answered shortly.
"Uh, not my fault. But I told landlord later, okay
Can fix quick lah, no problem." said the cleaning lady.
John gives her another tip to make her shut her mouth. And then they flee the apartment.
"What is going on, Sherlock? I thought.. I thought it was going to be over." John said in dissapointment.
Sherlock is sternly quiet, before he reach his pocket and shows John what he had found.
"What is this?"
"Found it on the floor back there."
"Is this.. supposed to be a clue?" John asked.
Sherlock doesn't answer immediately. "Perhaps.." he said.
"You seems unsure." John noticed.
"I need to make a phone call." Sherlock said.
Back at the hotel, John waits as Sherlock calls someone.
"Hello, Craig. It's me Sherlock. Look, I know I've been asking you a lot, but I really need your help right now."
"Okay, what do you need?"
"I need you to.. hack in to the Australian immigration data and see if any woman name Agnes entered the country between 2 weeks.. from Singapore."
"What?!" John stands in surprised.
"Hack to another country imigration data, huh.. Is it really that important?" Craig asked on the phone.
"Yes, yes indeed Craig. If you do this I will.. I will forever indebted to you." Sherlock said.
"I see... I see what I can do, I'll let you know in a couple of hours."
Craig hangs up.
"What in bloody hell was that?" John asked furiously. "Do you think Molly and Rosie fled to Australia. After we chased them down here?"
Sherlock, again, doesn't answered immediately. "We'll see in a moment." he said.
The waiting is agonizing as John can't even lift a spoon to eat. And his friend is in worst condition, because he is now in shut down mode. When Sherlock's phone finally ring, he answers it like he already know the news.
"There were 3 Agnes entered Australia within 2 weeks from Singapore. One is Agnes Morelly, nationality Canada. Second was Agnes Jo Caine, Singaporean. 3rd Agnes Quaid, 35, British." Craig said. "I'm sorry, I can only go this far, if I digged to deep it will be an international matter."
"Okay. I can't thanked you enough Craig." Sherlock said.
Sherlock looks at John. "Packed our stuff. We're going to Australia."
***