This happens after "Vanished Murder Weapon". My second detective story. Hope you enjoy it and reviews are very appreciated. I have read a few articles about static electricity and got the idea. All the characters(persons, places...) are fictional.


New Scotland Yard

"Are you okay, Donovan? What happened?"

Lestrade glanced at the group of yarders surrounding Donovan. Her right hand was wrapped in white bandage. The sergeant said in a shrill voice,

"Can you believe it? It happened when I was fueling my car last night. I got in the car to get my purse; and then held the handle of the nozzle to stop fueling. It sparked and a flame engulfed my hand instantly."

Anderson cut in,

"It's hard to believe but it does happen. I've read a similar incident in Forensics Monthly. Static electricity is to blame, they say."

Lestrade walked back to his office, picked out a manilla envelope from the shelf and slipped it into a thick file of cold cases.

"I'm going out for lunch, guys."

He left the office with the file and drove his car to 221B, Baker Street.


221B

"Here, your 50 quids."

Sherlock grunted and handed over the bills to his flatmate. John grinned and pocketed the money, while writing a mental note to go to a pub with Lestrade and Dimmock someday. The doctor started to put Fantacoins into the box, while Sherlock slumped on the sofa in a foul mood. The detective couldn't reconstruct the murder weapon as described in the police report and lost the betting. Suddenly Sherlock's mobile vibrated.

"Lestrade's on his way with the cold case file."

"Good for you, Sherlock. I'm going out to mail this box of coins to Cardiff. Do you need anything? I'm going to Tesco to get milk, too. By the way, don't forget to drink your milk!"

"Milk. It's only good to grow bacteria."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. John grabbed his jacket and the box, and headed out to a nearby post office. When he returned , Greg was gone and Sherlock was intently reading a case file.

"I'm back."

Putting two milk bottles in the freezer, the doctor asked if the sleuth wanted tea. Not surprisingly there was no answer . John shrugged it off and got two cups of tea anyway.

"What are you reading? Did Greg bring it ?"

John asked inquisitively.

"Get me my laptop, John."

Sherlock handed over a file to John and turned his laptop on. John read the scrapped article.


London, UK -

Tragic death rattles town.

Louise Wales,33, died after suffering from third-degree burns that covered almost all of her body. She was lit into a human flame when she was refueling her vehicle. It was more tragic as she was on her way to a party to celebrate her engagement to Gale Gifford,32. Witnesses say that she entered her car to retrieve her bag. When she removed the nozzle, the electricity sparked and ignited the gas fumes from the gas tank. She almost dropped the nozzle and was drenched with the petrol from head to toe. A gas station staff hurried with a few fire extinguishers to her aid but it was too late. She was transported to the nearby hospital, and then to the Queen Victoria Hospital, but died the following day. Static Electricity experts said her movement in the car must have created friction against car seat that built up electricity in her body. With her death, her bereaved fiancée and her best friend, Chloe Nox, 31, started a campaign to "Touch Me ". The stickers that read "Touch Me" are placed over metal and when people touch them, their bodies discharge static electricity safely. "Her death was preventable," said enraged Chloe Nox in the interview. Such an accident is not common but not unheard of. The nozzle turned out to be faulty. The victim's family consulted a lawyer for further legal action against...


"It happened in 2009. It's just a tragic accident, Sherlock. It's quite clear."

John took a few sips of his tea.

"No, there might be more. What's Molly's number?"

"You can call the lab."

"I did already. She's taking a few days off."

"Good. She seems to be overworking herself. She deserves some holidays."

At John's words, Sherlock growled.

"It's simply inconvenient. Why does she take days off when I've got something interesting!"

"Sherlock!"

John's stern voice silenced the detective.

"Molly's coming back tomorrow. The first thing in the morning, we have to go to Bart's."

"She can be busy after the holidays. Can't you be kind to her? Does she have to cater to your demands all the time?"

"I'm kind to her. Otherwise, she will have to deliver the files that I need to Baker Street. I'm going to Bart's to save her efforts."

Sherlock started to scribble words on his notepad, ignoring the tea on the table .


Bart's

"The cause of death was obvious. We normally don't to autopsy in that case."

Molly looked confused: she had a lot to catch up at work and the person she hadn't expected was sitting at the lab, bombarding her with questions for thirty minutes. And he was wearing pajama pants with its one leg cut in half. Molly checked her wristwatch; she had to be in a staff meeting in five minutes.

"You remember her case because that was unique. Anything that you know."

Molly finished her coffee and thought hard, trying to remember. Her eyes sparkled all of a sudden.

"I have forgotten it. I had kept my work journal of that case. I'll look for it when I go home today."

"Okay. Here's my number. You know John's . No, what's your number?"

Blushing a bit, the forensic scientist gave her number to the detective. John hastily cut in,

"We've taken your time too long. Molly, call us if you can find something useful. Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome, John."

The doctor expected some courtesy from his flatmate only to find the thumps of the clutch fade away outside the lab door .

"Sorry to bother you. Have a great day, Molly."

He hurried out, trying to catch up with his friend.


221B

"Hello."

"This is Molly. I've found the journal. There's not that much, though. I'll copy the pages for you."

"I'll at Bart's tomorrow morning."

Molly cut in, thinking about two reports that she was supposed to finish by tomorrow.

"No, no... you don't need to. I'd rather drop by your flat on my way to work. Is it okay for you?"

"That would be convenient. Molly."

John gave Sherlock a look, and the detective hastily added,

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"About 8 o'clock. Good night."


Sherlock shot away his questions to Molly before she put down the copy of her journal.

"What were the clothes that the victim was wearing at the gas station, if you happened to know?"

"Polyester sweater and jacket."

"Polyester can shoot nasty sparks when people touch objects. In winter, people have dry skin, which can become very positive. Clothes made of polyester can b eco me negative. Best combination to b ui ld u p static charges. Wait. Wasn't she on her way to a party to celebrate her engagement? Polyester sweater just doesn't sound right."

"That was the engagement present from her friend, Chloe Nox."

"Chloe... Her best friend. For engagement, the sweater sounds too practical/ Not even a cashmere."

John brought out a tray of coffee and biscuits.

"How do you know such details? Good morning. I didn't know police reports could be that detailed."

Molly thanked for her coffee and answered,

"Actually one friend of mine at uni is the cousin of the dead woman. Kristen Wales. That's why I had kept my own journal. Police thought static electricity had ignited it. They focused on her clothes."

Sherlock's ears perked up. He hastily offered Molly a chair and urged her to talk .

"Well, Louise Wales was an older cousin of my friend. No offence but Louise was frivolous and had a quite colorful history of boyfriends. Then she met Gale Gifford. She fell head over heels in love with the man."

John said,

"That's a good thing, right?"

Molly hesitated and drank a few sips of coffee. She whispered,

"Gale Gifford had proposed to Chloe. They were about to announce their engagement in two weeks. Louise returned from the U.S. after she finished her studies. Chloe brought her to introduce Gale. That was a mistake. Louise and Gale fell in love madly. Chloe was devastated ... Yet she gave up the man because she put friendship over love. Chloe was to be her bridesmaid."

Sherlock muttered out,

"Strong friendship that is! Louise was on her way to the party. Why was she alone?"

"I heard that Louise turned around to change into the sweater from Chloe. Chloe asked to wear it specifically. Louis been feeling sorry a bit so she complied."

"Was there a reason that Louise had to stop by at the gas station? From her home to the party place, it's not that far away."

"I think... I forgot. What I remember is that Chloe and Gale got married two years later. Well, I really need to go . Here is the copy. Thanks for the coffee, John."

Molly ran out and grabbed a cab. John whistled low,

"Humn, they ended up married!"

"Chloe had a motivation to get rid of Louise."

"Even if she had... It was Louise herself who dropped and drench herself with petrol. You know the faulty nozzle."

"Yes, it's true."

Sherlock picked the copy up and flipped the pages.

"It said Chloe had asked Louise to buy 5 liters of petrol from the gas station. Let's see. A plastic petrol container was found in the trunk of her car. It fits. John, do people need fuel for a lawn mower in mid-November?"

Sherlock asked,

"I don't know. She might have wanted to stack up some fuel for a petrol snow blower."

John finished his coffee and opened up a few newspapers to read.

"But the party was not in Chloe's house. Chloe wanted Louise to drop at the petrol station. Why?"

"Chloe didn't have time obviously, busying herself for the party and she might have wanted Louise to buy it for her. After the party, Chloe could've taken it home."

Sherlock wasn't listening; he leaned on his armchair, closed his eyes, and fell silent.

"Mind palace again."

John sighed and went up to his bedroom with all of the newspapers.


"John! Get downstairs. We're going to the Yard."

Sherlock yelled. John ran down, wondering what it would be about. To his surprise, Sherlock had dressed up almost. His pants were the problem.

"Cut it below knee-length."

Sherlock gritted his teeth and said.

"But it's your best suits."

"Just cut it."

John didn't object and did as told.

"Can't Lestrade come over?"

He asked tentatively, remembering the public staring at Bart's the day before when Sherlock bravely made his way to the lab in pajamas.

"No. Lestrade has asked Gale Gifford to come for further questions. We need to be present. Go and get your jacket, John."


New Scotland Yard

Sherlock and John were waiting. The door opened and Gale Gifford entered, looking slightly nervous. Lestrade held out his hand and thanked him for coming over.

"Inspector. It was two, three years ago. It was an accident."

"Someone could have made it look like an accident."

Sherlock interrupted, which puzzled Gifford. His eyes were fixated on Sherlock's pitiful leg with half-cut trouser dangling over his knee. Lestrade introduced Sherlock and John to Gifford hastily, while glaring at the detective.

"Just tell us what happened that day as much as you remember, Mr. Gifford."

Lestrade asked.

"Uh, Chloe called me and asked to help her with beverages at the last moment. She had forgotten the champagne. The other friends were there, and had drained almost half of the beer already! They couldn't drive. I asked Louise what I should do. She said I should do what Chloe had asked... We were to drive my Golf but she decided to drive her mini. She said Chloe had asked her to get petrol on her way."

"What was she wearing? Champagne? Maybe a dress?"

"No... Chloe was the party organizer and she changed to say the main theme. Burning madness... That's what she called it. So we were supposed to wear jeans and sweaters. Louise got a very pretty sweater and jacket from Chloe so she had to wear them."

"So what did you do?"

"I left home around 4:00 to buy the things. Louise left, I guess, about 5 minutes later. When I arrived at the party place, at least five of the friends were sleeping on the floor, heavily drunk. Chloe said she would wake them up around the time Louise was to arrive. Louise was running late and I got worried about her. Chloe called Louise's mobile, but she didn't answer. Around 5:30, we got really worried. Then the hospital called."

His voice broke as the memory of the day surfaced. Lestrade got him a cup of water.

"Thanks."

Gifford took a few sips of water.

"You're still grieving but I heard you and Chloe married two years later."

The man stuttered,

"We lost the person we loved. We patched each other up...and..."

"And it suddenly seemed your ex-lover was as gorgeous as the dead fiancée."

Gale shrugged and said,

"Well, the living has to live on."

Sherlock made a maddening smile, and continued his questions.

"When did you get to the party place?"

"About 4:50. 4:45... I don't know. It was long time ago."

"When did you expect Louise to come?"

"Before 5:00."

"When was the time that Chloe called Louise?"

"Actually she called twice. She called almost immediately after I got there; she said she had to remind Louise to buy the petrol. She didn't answer. We thought she was on the wheels. We called her again but there was no answer about ten minutes later."

Sherlock checked on the police file.

Louise's mobile got scorched and damaged. The missed call record: 4:47 and 5:11, each. It fits what Chloe and Gale alleged. The CCTV of the petrol station showed Louise's white mini entering around 4:43. From 4:43-to 4:47, Louise must have opened the fuel cap and put the pump nozzle into the hole; started fueling; got back into the car because she noticed her mobile was ringing. Wait. How could she have known her mobile ringing? The car door and windows were closed; either on vibration or on ringing, she couldn't have known it unless...

"Did Louise have a special mobile accessory?"

"What?"

"Something that could alert incoming calls."

"Ah, she got a bluetooth bracelet that could alert the incoming calls. It's a bracelet that featured caller IDs and vibrates on calls."

John asked curiously,

"What's that?"

"A bracelet. It gives your wrist a buzz when any call in. The LCD screen also displays the caller ID and you can just press the function to reject the call when you can't answer the call. I'm wearing it. Look. Not the same. Hers was more feminine."

Gifford showed something that looked like a half of a SF manacle with a small LCD screen.

"Inspector, call me."

Lestrade punched Gifford's number. His mobile was buried in his back pocket. They could see the bracelet vibrating and the LCD screen glittering and displaying the number.

" A Fancy gadget. You gave it to her?"

"No, it was Chloe. Chloe actually bought two for us as an engagement present. Louise loved it. She used to joke that her purse was like a black hole that engulfed her mobile whenever she needed it."

"So her bracelet must have vibrated when Chloe first called her."

"I guess so."

"Thanks a lot. Mr. Gifford. We might contact you again."

Sherlock said abrutpy. Gale mumbled a question in a trembling voice.

"Do you think it was a foul play?"

Sherlock just shrugged in a clear dismissal of the man. Lestrade promised to contact him if anything new comes up.


"It's a premeditated murder, Lestrade. It's just we can't prove it because this couldn't have worked without a luck."

"Murder?"

"Who did it?"

Lestrade and John asked at the same time, looking completely puzzled.

"Chloe. Obviously."

Sherlock showed a web page that described the danger of static electricity at petrol stations.

"It does occur, although very rare. There have been about 150 cases reported and almost all of them were women. They got back in their vehicle while leaving the nozzle pumping gas. When they got out of the car and touched the metal handle of the nozzle, the fire started as a result of static. In this case, I think the nozzle was faulty so it didn't shut off immediately when Louise dropped it, showering the woman with the gas. Males normally stay outside until they finish pumping so it rarely happens to men."

"But there is no proof."

"Chloe made it sure that Louise entered the car again. She set the stage perfectly. The bluetooth bracelet, her last-minute request to buy the petrol, a text message... Check the CCTV record if it's available. I assume Chloe must have visited the petrol station to calculate the time needed from Louise's house to there. The problem is that Chloe needed a luck to make her plot work. It doesn't happen to everybody. And the petrol station was also responsible for the faulty nozzle."

"It's almost impossible to get an indictment then."

"Unless we make her confess."

"How?"

Sherlock smiled and whispered to Lestrade. The DI nodded and made a few calls.


221B

The next day Lestrade delivered the news that Chloe broke down and confessed what she had done. After the DI headed out, the doctor asked.

"What did you do to make her confess?"

"Simple. Psychology. Mr. and Mrs. Giffords were summoned separately early morning today and taken to two adjacent rooms. Gale Gifford came to sign a few documents and Chloe Gifford didn't know it. Lestrade vexed the story a bit and she broke down. She kept saying that she had no intention of killing Louise. She just wanted to ruin Louise's look, her beauty, which had taken away her lover."

"That was a bloody hell of a luck for her."

"Yes. Gale Gifford even didn't look back at his tearful wife. He just left."

"So you've cracked another case."

"I guess."

Sherlock's fingers danced to send a text. Soon his mobile vibrated.

"Hello."

"Yes. Tell your cousin. Don't need to thank me. It was a wonderful case to forget boredom."

He hung up.

"Molly?"

"Yes, she knew Louise's family."

"A wonderful case?"

"Well, you know what I mean, John."

Sherlock picked up the rest of the cold case file and started to flip through it in search of another new case.


In the UK, there is no first or second degree murder. All the murderers, over 18, are subject to a life sentence(there is no capital punishment). After a minimum term, they may be eligible to a parole. I had thought Chloe's charge could be a manslaughter as her intention was to ruin Louise's beauty. Thanks for reading and if I am wrong, please enlighten me. I am very ignorant of UK law and order system. Reviews are very welcome.