Chapter 1
Molly walked into her lab and flicked on the light, noting that her workplace had indeed been cleaned, something she had asked the cleaning staff to do a thousand times. Satisfied, she went to retrieve her equipment from the storage container under the steel table, when the door her lab banged open with a resounding thud.
A sheepish John Watson was following an incredibly animated Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock was holding what appeared to be an enthusiastic, very one-sided conversation.
"Can't you see it, John? Must I point everything out to you?"
"Yes, Sherlock, do explain to us mere mortals which incredibly obvious fact is staring us right in the face this time."
Molly bit back a smile at the look of long-suffering exasperation on John's face. Sherlock continued to walk around the room, oblivious to everything but the incredible speed of his mind.
"The rashes and the lymph nodes! John, don't you see?! Rapid ascension to the surface of water from great depths is the only plausible cause of such symptoms!"
"You're telling me that two little old ladies from Shropshire went out on a scuba diving holiday and died of the bends? Somehow, I find that a little far-fetched."
Sherlock gave a sigh.
"John, I only tell you what the facts tell me. Oh, this is going to be an interesting one, I know it!"
Molly quietly cleared her throat. Turning around, Sherlock noticed Molly as if for the first time.
"Oh. Molly. There you are. We were looking for you."
"Well, you've come to the right place. Is that another case you're working on?"
"What? Oh, yes, but that doesn't concern you right now. I need your help as a woman."
Molly felt the fire of the blush spread across her cheeks.
John cut Sherlock off: "No, no, what Sherlock means is that we need your insight into the psychological workings of the female brain to help us figure out a puzzling situation."
Molly arched an eyebrow in disbelief.
"You want me to stand in for all of womankind?"
Sherlock scoffed.
"Don't be ridiculous, Molly, we want you to stand in for a murder victim."