Hey! This short story is based on the Easter egg from The Lying Detective (which hopefully you noticed!) where we see that sitting on Sherlock's mantelpiece is a postcard from Torchwood! We never found out what they wanted with the detective, but this is my idea (based on my Sherlock universe, in which the Doctor also exists.)
So this is my version of why Torchwood contacted Sherlock Holmes - if you haven't already you may want to read my story 'Absentia: Torchwood's Best Kept Secret' to understand who they're talking about in the story.
Anyways, enjoy and please review :)
~Star
During The Six Thatchers
"Sherlock?" Mrs Hudson called out as she entered the flat, carrying Sherlock's morning tea on a tray. The man in question was stationed at the kitchen table, engrossed in his work.
"Yes?" the detective replied plainly, too focused on removing fingers from a severed hand to greet her properly.
"I brought you you're morning tea, and this." Mrs Hudson replied as she set the tray down on top of the already cluttered table, and picked up a postcard that was next to the teapot and held it out to her tenant. "This got mixed in with my post."
Sherlock looked up from the bloody hand and eyed the postcard curiously, taking it from Mrs Hudson and examining it carefully.
Custom printed. Paper yellowed with age, been sitting in storage for a long time. Written recently, formal handwriting, that of a man. Traces of salty air and damp, posted from somewhere moderately coastal. Sherlock deduced, turning the postcard over and over, taking in everything.
"This arrived this morning?" Sherlock asked Mrs Hudson as she headed back downstairs to the shop.
"Yes dear." she called as she departed.
Sherlock turned his attention back to the postcard, becoming even more hopeful that this was something interesting when he read the name on the logo:
"Torchwood."
He'd heard about Torchwood from Mycroft after the 'incident' in Canary Wharf, where the previous base was stationed, but he's also heard that Torchwood had relocated to Cardiff with a smaller team, and it seemed they needed his help. Now intrigued, the detective flipped the postcard and read the message:
Dear Mr Holmes,
My teammates and I need your assistance on tracking down someone very important to me, and we can't use the police. So far our efforts to track this person have been unsuccessful, and according to you're reputation, you are the best in the business. We know that you know some minor details about Torchwood, and in exchange for you're help we can offer you information and intelligence about anything you'd want. Contact us on the number below once you're ready to work.
PS you look very handsome in that hat ;)
Best regards,
Captain Jack Harkness
07543 785234
As the postcard instructed, Sherlock took out his phone and texted the number provided:
Tell me about who you're looking for. -SH
The detective send the text and discarded the postcard on the mantelpiece, having no further need for it. He poured some of the tea Mrs Hudson had brought him and took a seat in his chair, sipping the beverage and placing the cup down beside him. He then checked his phone, Torchwood had texted back:
Mr Holmes, nice to finally speak to you ;) -Jack
Sherlock sighed at Jack's obvious attempts to flirt with him, but dismissed them and replied:
Specific details about the missing person. -SH
Moments later, Jack replied:
She's a member of our team, 15 years old. Brown hair and eyes, slim build. -Jack
Sherlock sipped some more of his tea as he read the text. He now had something to work with, but he needed more information:
Name? -SH
There was a longer pause this time before Jack replied, which suggested he was emotionally uncomfortable. But a name was needed to solve the case:
Absentia Harkness. -Jack
Good. Sherlock thought to himself. Finally some information to work with. The next texts came almost immediately after one another. Both men were keen to press on with the case:
Absentia is your daughter? -SH
She's my niece. -Jack
Why is she missing? - SH
It's complicated. -Jack
Tell me -SH
She thinks I betrayed her. -Jack
Interesting. -SH
Jack replied swiftly, but Sherlock was unable to read his text before he heard someone coming up to the flat. He quickly put his phone down and grabbed a newspaper. He made it look like he was reading when John and a heavily pregnant Mary entered the flat to help him evaluate possible clients and solve their cases. But from here, as you know, things got incredibly busy: From Rosie to the case of the Six Thatchers. Before long Sherlock had forgotten about the case from Jack Harkness and Torchwood, and he never read Jack's last text:
Please Mr Holmes, we need you. -Jack
I will probably write a full story to lead on from this in future, but not now as I'm very busy.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed :)
