The Dead Bodies
Chapter 1
The man was on the floor, the blood seeping out from under his body. The door opened.
"Right this way sir." Said the policeman as he let Sherlock Holmes into the room. Sherlock surveyed the scene as Dr John Watson closed the door coming in behind him. The policeman stepped over the body.
"What the hell are you doing, man?" Cried John. "You never step over the body."
"You realise you just made the whole case that much harder to solve." Sighed Sherlock.
"Sorry sir." Apologised the policeman. "I wasn't thinking."
"No," Shouted Sherlock, "Because if you were you'd have known that you would either contaminated the crime scene, or worse still destroyed some valuable piece of evidence. Now get out and send someone in who has the vaguest idea what they're doing in please." The Policeman left, closing the door behind him.
"That was a bit harsh." Commented John.
"The man was an idiot," Replied Sherlock, "Won't get very far like that." Sherlock started to examine the body.
"Gentlemen, how are you?" He said closing the door behind him.
"Bored." Answered Sherlock.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Asked John.
"This," Sherlock cut in, "is Lestrades' replacement, since he's off doing something more important and exciting than this barely worth bothering with case. Try to keep up."
"I know that," retorted John, "I meant what is his name."
"Oh."
"I am Captain George Smith, Captain Smith to you." He said. "Who are you?"
"John Watson," he held out his hand, "My colleague Sherlock Holmes."
"What are you doing here?" Smith folded his arms.
"Investigating." Said Sherlock. He was examining the body's fingernails with a small foldaway magnifying glass.
"This is my crime scene and I never gave any authorisation to let anyone in to tamper with the evidence."
"So how long has this been a crime scene?" Asked Sherlock.
"What has that to do with you?"
"Everything," Answered Sherlock, "we were asked to look for someone who didn't return home after work last night. After finding that he had left work early, he had arranged to meet with a friend. At least that's what his colleagues believed. After finding where he had met this friend, a pub. According to the Landlord they left about eight O' clock, after which witnesses have said that two men slightly worse for wear were seen to be arguing. By the way what is the time?"
"Er... Just after eleven." Answered Smith.
"Just after eight thirty last night witnesses have said they saw two men walk in and one walk out. John, how long would you say this body had been here?"
John bent down and examined the body, "I'd say somewhere between twelve to fourteen hours."
"Which means," continued Sherlock, "that we need to find this friend and we have the killer. But I guess you already know all that."
"So how can we identify the killer?"
"I don't know, one of your clumsy officers was standing all over the body. Destroyed any footprints the killer may have left behind in this thick carpet." Sighed Sherlock.
"Really?" Said Smith surprised. "There was only one officer in here since it was declared a crime scene, and he's been with me the whole time."
"So who showed us in?" Asked John.
Sherlock was out the door and ran out into the street. Looked left, then right and saw a black cab disappear round a corner.