Call In The Expert

by dolphinz.amazon

"When the police are out of their depth, they consult me," Sherlock had said. But what about when Sherlock was out of his depth? What then? That's when it's time to ask an even greater genius for help. Sherlock must call in the expert. Note: this is not my best writing or my most recent writing. Take it as it is and please don't complain that it's terrible.

1. Chapter 1

"Oh, good. I've been bored out of my mind lately. What have you got to entertain me?" Sherlock asked as Lestrade walked in.

"We've been over this, Sherlock. Murder is not entertainment. We don't do anything for entertainment, Sherlock. We work for justice."

"Maybe you do, but I don't. I'm bored, and I need a case to entertain me. Do you have one or not?" LeStrade sighed.

"Fine. I do have a case for you. Do you want it or not?"

"What's the case?"

"Serial murder. The cause of death is undetermined, and the link between victims is confusing and almost nonexistent."

"I'll take it. What else do I need to know?"

"The cause of death, as close as we can tell, is some sort of electric shock to the heart. Except it's not like our regular electricity. We don't know what it is, just that it's some kind of energy. At first, we couldn't find any other link between the victims."

"How do you know they are related then? It could be a coincidence."

"Upon closer examination, the bodies of the victims all had one thing in common."

"What's that?"

"Black tally marks. All of them had the marks on their hands. Some of them had marks on other places, too. The third victim had tally marks all over her body, on every (exposed) part of skin, even her face."

"How many victims?"

"Five so far. And the fifth is unusual."

"How so?"

"We're not even sure it's related. The fifth victim has no tally marks at all. And he was killed by a gunshot."

"So why would this murder be connected?"

"Someone saw the murder, and called us. The murderer was caught and brought here. She has the tally marks on her right arm. Quite a lot of them, actually. And of course she has them on her hands."

"Fascinating. Shall we go?" Lestrade nodded. "Lead on, then," Sherlock said.

•••

"So, what did you want to start with?" "I'd like to see the victims first."

"Molly's over there. I'm sure she'd be happy to show you around the morgue." Molly nodded and Sherlock came over.

"Good to see you, Sherlock. It's been a long time."

"Too long. I'm glad I've got a new case. So, where are the victims?" Molly led him over to a row of people. She pointed at the first person, a man in his mid-twenties with tally marks on his hands and a few marks on his left arm. He held a black Sharpie in his right hand, his fist tightly clenched. "Are they all like this?" She nodded and showed him another. This one was a woman. The marks were all over her skin, and she had a black Sharpie hanging around her neck. "I see. And where's the latest victim?" Molly showed him a man with a clear gunshot wound in his chest.

"Shot in the heart. Different from the others. No energy surge. No markings. No pen." Sherlock nodded.

"Very strange. Thank you, Molly, you've shown me everything I need to see here."