"I know it's not easy to discuss such things, but it's crucial that we know everything you do to start our investigation," Watson urged gently, trying to be far more delicate towards the situation than Holmes was. If his friend could only ask what was on his mind in a less brash manner then perhaps they would be in business, but as it stood he had only managed to upset Ms. Mortsan. Removing a small handkerchief from his pocket he wiped at his face, tucking it back away and turning his focus completely onto Mary, waiting for what he hoped to be imperative information regarding Charlie. Sadly, the only words she could offer them were uncertainties, speculation at best. While it was not by any means a certain explanation it did get his gears turning, as it no doubt did Holmes' as well, if they ever even stopped to begin with.

"I see... But then... Why would a serial killer kidnap the child of a wealthy family?" Watson mused aloud, frowning as he stroked his chin in thought, "What you suggest may be the case, but it doesn't make sense. Charlie comes from wealth, I would imagine that they would extort the Tylers rather than just kill the boy, don't you agree? There is nothing to gain from this otherwise. In my humble opinion, I believe Charlie is very much still alive and we're just waiting for word from his captors as to what their demands are." How long had it been since he'd gone missing at any rate? A day? While Watson didn't doubt Mary's concerns they were perhaps a bit unnecessary, at least in his experience. A single day could mean any number of things, it was after that initial day that one had to really begin to worry. "Of course... No two cases are alike. It could very well be the boy was a victim of circumstance and taking him was never the intent to begin with. It does happen, and if that is the case it is more probable than not he's still alive and well."

Irene did what little she could to console her friend Mary, knowing she was likely in a very dark place right now. If the Tylers were to return and find their son gone under her care there would no doubt be ramifications, and more likely than not it would be her head on the chopping block. She did seem like a genuine woman, but how much of this, did she wonder, was to simply cover her own neck? Watching as Mary moved away to speak with Watson the faintest of smiles crept onto Ms. Adler's lips, not even having to turn to know who was approaching her. "Perhaps your powers of perception aren't as great as you think?" she retorted softly, glancing over at Holmes teasingly, "But we are friends, sure as you and John are, my dear. I'm merely here trying to help her in her time of need." True, it was a bit unlike her to show outward concern, but then people could change, couldn't they? She had her fair share of a dark past and yet had turned it around, now being a proper and prim woman, and honest at that. Nonetheless Holmes saw fit to doubt her, making Irene raise an eyebrow as she sniffed distastefully. "Well isn't that a shame... Do be careful Sherlock, I'd hate for you to get lost," she teased again, watching as the man slipped away into the next room.

"So a regular day that somehow turned into this... It makes me think this was more of a freak chance than anything," Watson said, nodding to himself, "To me it more sounds as though he may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. Your neighbors surely would have seen something, or heard something, so it makes me wonder where he may have wandered off to." If they could just find out where he had gone, retrace the child's steps then perhaps they may find a little more clues. Setting his gaze on Ms. Morstan sympathetically he nodded his head, reaching out and taking her hand, giving it a gentle patting. "Rest assured we'll find Charlie. He may not seem it, but Holmes is the best at what he does. So long as there is a single trace of the boy on this world you can be certain he will be found."

As if summoned by some unspoken cue, Holmes rejoined them in the den not a second after the words had been shared. Nodding in agreement with that his friend had surmised he grabbed his hat back from the mantle, turning it over carefully and inspecting it before placing it back onto his head. As he'd suggested, more of happenstance than anything, as even the carefullest of kidnappers always left a sort of trail behind. More likely than not Charlie had ended up a ways from his home before vanishing, so perhaps he had been chasing that cat of his? "I do Holmes, I do. Before we return to London though perhaps we'd best investigate around the manor? Tracks, something left behind, anything we might find to give us an idea as to what happened?" Watson suggested, stepping closer to Holmes as he lowered his voice, "Besides, I am in no rush to get back in that drunkard's carriage."

Watching Holmes wander about and work was somewhat amusing, and intriguing as well. Just what went on in that wonderous mind of his, she wondered? The way his thoughts came about, the way he pieced clues and bits of information together, it was just so [i]fascinating[/i]. This friend of his too, Watson, he wasn't exactly dim either, the two most certainly made a formidable team. "I did say they were good, didn't I?" Irene asked, smiling kindly as she looked at Mary, "They'll find Charlie, Mary, I don't doubt that for a second. There isn't a soul alive who can outwit them." Well, perhaps not, it was yet to be seen whether they were truly as clever as they liked to think.