MOLLY'S FLAT - KITCHEN
Abruptly the line went dead.
Molly stood there totally stunned for a moment or two. This was quickly replaced by a flash of anger that was enough to snap her out of her stupor.
'Damn him! Damn Sherlock bloody Holmes and his manipulative ways!' And before she could give herself time to think things through clearly she began dialling the detectives mobile number. She was determined to give him a few choice words. And once finished, she would be the one to end the call, leaving him hanging.
"The number you have called has been disconnected." An automated message informed her. "Please check the number and try again."
Molly frowned. That was odd.
So she tried John's number. It began to ring but then went to voicemail.
"Hi, sorry I can't take your call right now. Please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Molly disconnected the call. She then made a third call, this time to Detective Lestrade. To her immense relief Greg answered almost immediately. "Molly."
"Hi Greg. Sorry to bother you. I was just wondering if Sherlock and John were with you?"
"No Molly, they're not." There was a tension in the affable detectives tone that put her on edge.
All Molly's anger evaporated to be instantly replaced by concern. "Where are they?"
"I wish I knew," Greg responded warily, before adding. "You know Sherlock's flat was blown up?"
"What! When?"
"Earlier this morning. Apparently Sherlock and John managed to escape by jumping through the windows, while Mycroft got Mrs Hudson out via the front door."
Molly was still getting over the shock of the explosion, while Greg continued.
"But no one has seen or heard anything of Sherlock, John or Mycroft since. They are unofficially listed as missing."
Missing.
And yet, she could still hear Sherlock's voice on the phone not five minutes before.
"Molly, I just want you to do something very easy for me and not ask why?"
"Molly, please, without asking why, just say these words."
"Molly, this is for a case. It's... It's a sort of experiment."
"It's very important. I can't say why. But I promise you, it is..."