Lestrade Alternate Ending

"He's the biggest prat I've ever met," John says to Lestrade one evening over pints. They've met up at a pub near NSY under the pretence of watching Man U slaughter Fulham, but they both know what this really is: a chance to whinge about their favourite consulting drama queen.

"No arguments here." Lestrade downs the foamy dregs in the bottom of his glass and signals the bartender for another. "Has he done that thing yet where he leaves dishes in the chairs where you usually sit—"

"—so you have to take them to the sink for him!" John interrupts. "Yes! He does that to me all the time. He knows I'll end up washing them just to keep them from piling up. I've half a mind to dump them on his bed, but then he'd probably sleep in mine, the git."
Makes my blood boil, watching her clean up after him whilst he completely ignores her. Sometimes I wonder if he actually is a sociopath."

John swallows a generous gulp of his beer and then taps the glass thoughtfully with a fingernail. "He's not a sociopath; not really, anyway. I know he likes to say that he is, but I think that's his way of protecting himself."

"How does convincing everyone you're a manipulative bastard protect