Author's note: Problems with the computer, publishing a new book, too many things have kept me away from you guys. A new take and with elements of the "Three Gablets" to start and perhaps more in latter episodes but let's move little by little. I'm really looking forward to the adaptation of "The Dying Detective" with Tobey Jones and yes! Would love to see Isadora Klein and Langdale Pike moving around Moffat and Gattiss'take.

Enjoy!


THE THREE GADDERS.

1. Fall From Grace

"Bury me at sea

Where no murdered ghost can haunt me

If I rock upon the waves

No corpse can lie upon me"

The Pogues

Boring, boring, boring! Just plain and everlasting bore! God!

Just a few days after the failed exile, things are almost back to normal in Baker Street save for the constant feeling that Moriarty's last move is still in the air. John is going almost nuts with the idea of being a parent and he has went into it so deep, that he spends more time in hospital than anywhere else. And perhaps that is the reason why when he hears his cellphone, he realizes that is almost half past seven in the evening and is Sherlock texting. No wonder Mary is not around, must be at home by now. Let's see.

Little inconvenience. Please come at once. SH

What the hell does he mean with "Little inconvenience"? Ten minutes later, he is at the very door of his old rooms but all seems quiet. Sherlock is playing the violin and seems to not have notice his arrival. John grumbles under his breath. Again, he is called for nothing! Why the f…? Hmm? The door opened all of a sudden and a huge black-skinned man bursts into the room. He would be a comic figure if he wasn´t so terrific, for he is dressed in a very loud gray check suit with a flowing salmon-coloured tie. His broad face and flattened nose are thrust forward, as his sullen dark eyes, with a smouldering gleam of malice in them, turning from one man to the other.

"Which of you gen'l'men is Masser Holmes?"

"That would be me" before John can intervene, Sherlock puts down the instrument and gives out one of his irritating smiles.

"Oh! It's you, is it?" says the visitor, coming with an unpleasant, stealthy step round the angle of the table. "See here, Masser Holmes, you keep your hands out of other folks' business. Leave folks to manage their own affairs. Got that, Masser Holmes?"

"Keep on talking," said Holmes. "It's fine." He smiles for his old flat mate.

"Oh! It's fine, is it?" growls the savage. "It won't be so damn fine if I have to trim you up a bit. I've handled your kind before now, and they didn't look fine when I was through with them. Look at that, Masser Holmes!" He swings a huge knotted lump of a fist and grabs the young man from the collar, almost pushing him out of the window. The doctor stands up ready to pounce in defense of his friend but after a few minutes, the detective is released. "Well, I've given you fair warnin'," said he. "I've a friend that's interested out Harrow way—you know what I'm meaning—and he doesn't intend to have no buttin' in by you. Got that? You ain't the law, and I ain't the law either, and if you come in I'll be on hand also. Don't you forget it."

"I won't. But please, Dixie, tell your boss to stop the lame warnings. It gets boring"

"You know ma name?" the large man steps back.

"I know more than just your name, Steve Dixie, the bruiser. You are in a gang of low-lives, experts in small crimes and violence, who dwell in a small boxing club in Birmingham. You are the loyal dog of the one-eyed crook, Ol'Roger Stockdale, working partner of any person with interest in anything worth a million pounds. That and the facts that you washed yourself on a rush this morning for your client, a woman very likely, and you spent the night in your club drinking like a fish. And the fact you might be involved in the murder of Perkins in…"

"So help me the Lord! Masser Holmes—" he is ready for another round.

"That's enough. Get out of it. I'll pick you up when I want you."

"Good-mornin', Masser Holmes. I hope there ain't no hard feelin's about this 'ere visit?"

"There will be unless you tell me who sent you."

"Why, there ain't no secret about that, Masser Holmes. It was that same gen'l'man that you have just done gone mention."

"And who set him on to it?"

"S'elp me. I don't know, Masser Holmes" Dixie gives out a snort and walks away like a beaten dog. John is still trying to figure out what is going on while his friend gives out a friendly smile and sits down in his chair.

"Lovely boxer, isn't he?"

"That was the 'inconvenience' you mentioned?" the doctor blinks.

"He's all bite and no bark. I called you to keep him on toe"

"Right. And that Harrow business he mentioned?"

"A case that arrived last evening through the web page, signed by a certain Mss. Maberley. Her son died of pneumonia, because he was beaten to a pulp just a few days earlier. The case wouldn't be interesting if it wasn't for the fact that I know the dead man"

"You do?" John blinks.

"My brother does. Douglas Maberley was an MI5 agent. I have seen him in the Diogenes and at Mycroft's office more than once"

"And he's dead. Maybe he was on a mission"

"Could be but if that was true, my brother would be banging our door by now" Sherlock snorts and lies back on his chair. A sudden sound from down stairs startles them both.

"Congratulations on your divination skills" they both turn to the door. A few seconds later, Mycroft Holmes is standing at the door, umbrella in hand, and quite crossed.

"Good morning, Mycroft"

"Sherlock" the government worker is trying hard to keep his façade.

"Mornin'"

"John"

"Did you smell Mss. Hudson's cookies from Pall Mall or what? You have no respect for our door this evening"

"You are the one who has no respect, Sherlock. You have no right to accept this case"

"Maberley's, I guess. I can't say no to a grieving mother" he shrugs. "And since you can't take care of your own employees nor partners, I have decided to do something 'bout it"

"This is a matter of national importance. You can't just barge in!"

"Watch me" Sherlock glares in defiance.

"You are still under process for the murder of Magnussen. Any false move and you will end up in…"

"It's not my fault if a stupid paper takes so long to be read"

"You are officially out of this investigation, Sherlock. I won't let you have it"

"And what will you do? Lock me in my room?"

"It's tempting but, I have already spoken with Mss. Maberley. You are out of the game"

"… John. Cancel your appointments, we have a certain government office to burn"

"Trying to sound menacing, brother mine?"

"I once almost broke your arm. Perhaps it's a great time to finish the job" Sherlock stands up and faces Mycroft.

"I dare you"

"Boys, please" John tries to separate them.

"You can't just take away my clients"

"I can and I will as long I consider they are not your business"

"You have no right"

"I can incapacitate you, Sherlock. Never doubt me"

"Girls! You are both pretty. Now, stop it" the doctor finally is able to mediate.

"I'll make sure that you stay out of this, little brother. Even if it means that I have to sedate you and put you in Buckingham's basement" Mycroft walks away leaving them alone.

"For once, he really means that, Sherlock" John sighs.

"Like I care. He isn't going to get things his way"

"Why is he so angry anyway?"

"He wasn't angry. He was… 'worried', more like. Something of this case is personal to him and that makes it more interesting. I'm not walking away from this one"

"You heard him. Mycroft is capable of anything this time" another loud sound catches their attention but it's not from the door. It comes from the window.


Based on 'The Three Gables".

A few details changed to make it interesting.

Dixie's quotes come from the book itself.

Mycroft's really going to meddle in this one, lads.

Stay tuned.