Chapter One: Pumpkin-eater

It had been months since Moriarty killed himself and Sherlock was raised from the dead. When Sherlock thought Moriarty and his men were gone, he returned to 221 B Baker Street and went back to his life. Sherlock laid about his couch in a melancholy manner from the boredom, despite the media having a frenzy about the "Return of Hat-Man", Sherlock had no cases and the ones he did get, were utterly boring in his mind

"If you're so bored Sherlock, get a hobby," said John as he drank his tea.

"I'm far to busy for a 'hobby'," Sherlock stated not taking his eyes off the wall, Watson was about to protest when Ms. Hudson came into the sitting room with DI Greg Lestrade at her heels. Sherlock's eyes light up like a kid on Christmas when he saw the DI.

"Oh Sherlock, I found the Detective at the door, trying to ring the door bell,"

"But it doesn't work, Sherlock shot it again out of boredom." said John putting down his tea.

"It was an experiment!" Sherlock shouted from his spot of his couch. "But you have a case for me Lestrade." it was not a question because Sherlock already knew he did, no one came to Sherlock for a social visit and if they did it was a rarity. "What is it kidnapping, jimmy stuck in well or my favorite murder?"

The Inspector sighed, "Murder. The Victim was an America businessman by the name of Jason Peterson"

"Boring," Sherlock did not move an inches from his sit.

"I don't see how it's 'boring', if the Yankees send one of their best own agent on this case." Lestrade said in a matter of fact tone.

"Come on Watson, we have a crime scene to see."

The body found in a pumpkin patch of all places, the owner of the patch found the body this morning when she was going to tend to the pumpkins and hurried to call the police. Sherlock looked around the scene, the victim was stab 37 times in back, it was boring and overdone thought Sherlock, why the Americans would send someone and who was this person really.

"I thought you said there was someone else on the job," questioned Sherlock.

"She was here, she must be off somewhere." just as the words left Andersons mouth in a bitter manner, a coppered red haired woman walked towards the group.

"Well that was a rude tone," she said to Anderson as she took a sip of her coffee, "Louella Cheshire, Mr. Holmes I presume." she held her hand out to Sherlock waiting for him to shake it. Sherlock looked this woman; she has dark red hair that looked like pennies where melted into it, her pale cat-like eyes intensely watch him and the crime scene as if she was on the hunt. Her accent was American maybe from the Midwest but she must have lived in a small town growing up or has family who lived in the country for her voice has a slight twang that most would have not heard. She did not care about how she looked too much for her nails were different lengths but they were painted a soft purple. It was obvious that she was left handed by the small writing callus on her left middle finger, which meant she was creative on some level.

"Are you done?" Louella asked taking another sip of coffee.

"What?"

"Are you done looking at the scene, I want to see what Hat-man came up with."

"It's a normal murder."

"Wrong." Sherlock was shocked very rarely was he wrong and how dare she said he the only consulting detective was wrong. "I guess you didn't see the pumpkin?"

"No, I've seen the pumpkins." so far Sherlock did not like this woman; too much "We're in .a bloody pumpkin patch." Ms. Cheshire grabbed Sherlock's wrist dragging to a pumpkin with the Letters MG craved into one side of the pumpkin and little dot blood around the edges of craves.

"Obviously the criminal used the weapon to crave the pumpkin." Louella said with sarcastic overtones, causing Sherlock to raise his eyebrows at her. She just smiles into her coffee taking a gulp.

"Isn't late for coffee," asked Watson.

"I run on the stuff 24/7," Louella stated, "You must be Doctor Watson, I love your blog by the way."

"You've read it!" Watson was shocked that even people in America read his blog.

The strange woman smiled, "Of course, I have to check up on people for importance, don't worry Sherlock that includes you."

"Oh goodie," Sherlock rolled his eyes