In London, 1891, John MacIntyre was walking home from work on a dark and stormy night. He came across a roadblock in his path. People were working on the road. He hated when that happened. It meant he had to take the long way home, which always made him later than usual. Of course, he could take the alleyway, which would only take ten minutes. But no one ever did that at this time of night. There were stories. John didn't believe them, of course, but he'd grown up hearing of these stories. Of how people went down that alleyway, then were either found dead or just simply disappeared. But tonight was a night he needed to get home early, rumours or no rumours. John stepped into the darkness of the alleyway, slowly walking down it. He felt comfortable. He didn't feel scared at all. The rumours were just that. Rumours. He could see the streetlights leading to his street, he was almost home. And he wasn't dead. He wondered what all the fuss about the alleyway was. And then he saw it.
The next morning, Sargeant Willis and his colleagues at the London police were in the very same alleyway, where a man's body had been found. A male policeman walked up to him with a wallet.
"John MacIntyre, sir" He told the Sargeant.
The Sargeant put his hand to his chin. This was one strange murder. The others from this alleyway were, too, but John MacIntyre's really stood out. His eyes were wide open, and clear white, as if his retinas were completely eaten, and he was covered with yellowy, slimey goo that his Medical Examiner had never seen before.
"You called?" said a womanly voice from beside him.
"Madame Vastra," The Sargeant said, turning towards the woman with the veil over her face and her young female companion, "I believe this murder may be more your forte"
Madame Vastra and her companion, Jenny Flint, walked up to the body. They scanned it thoroughly and knew instantly that the Sargeant was right. It was their forte. No, no human could commit something as vile as this crime scene. Vastra nodded to Jenny as Jenny pulled out a camera and took photos of the body. When they were finished, they walked up to the Sargeant.
"Leave this one to me, Sargeant" Vastra stated as she and Jenny walked off.
Back at their house, Vastra was studying the photos with Jenny as a short man with a balded head and armour walked in, carrying a tray with cups on it.
"Your warm beverages are completely finalised and ready for consumption" He said, placing the tray on the table.
"Thank you, Strax" Vastra said, taking a cup and sipping from it.
"What do you think, ma'am?" Jenny asked Vastra, completely focused on the pictures.
Strax noticed this and he, too, looked.
"That is the human female found in the alleyway, correct?" He asked.
"That's right, Strax," Vastra stated, "But as you can tell, it was no human that killed him"
"Then we need reinforcements!" Strax commaned, "I suggest several military tanks armed with grenade launchers!"
"Hold it, Strax!" Vastra held up a hand.
"We don't know what it is yet" Jenny reminded the two.
"There is a man who can help us find out" Vastra stated as she stood up and walked over to the counter.
She threw back her veil to reveal her lizard-like features, and began writing a letter. Once she was finished, with a quick blow of it into a candle, it disappeared.
"Ma'am..." Jenny said, as she noticed a letter materialise underneath her cup as she picked it up.
Vastra raised an eyebrow and walked over to her.
"Read it, Jenny" She told her.
Jenny placed her cup down, and standing up, began reading the letter.
"'My dearest Madame Vastra, I am terribly sorry but as I am in the middle of fixing a time stream mess between monkeys and Daleks, which I may have been the cause of in the first place, I have my hands full. I do wish I could help you find your serial killer but just not right now. Good luck with it all, The Doctor'"
"Damn!" Vastra cursed.
"Looks like we must be forced to go alone!" Strax said, "I am prepared, my lady!"
"Wait, Strax!" Vastra scolded, "You were right. We may need reinforcements. There is one other man who can help us"
"You don't mean-?" Jenny asked, walking up to Vastra.
Vastra nodded as she began writing another letter.
"But does he even know-?!" Jenny continued.
"He knows her, doesn't he?" Vastra asked her wife, with a tilt of her head.
"Mm" Jenny nodded.