A/N: Apologies for the slow update, work and life have got in the way!! So here is the first chapter of the new story!! I hope you enjoy it!!! :)
Chapter One
Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down the carpet muttering to himself. He looked at the handful of letters in his hand and with a snarl of contempt threw them into the roaring coal fire. He grabbed his favourite cherry coloured pipe and filled it with tobacco from his Persian slipper before sitting down cross legged in his chair and lit his pipe. He closed his eyes as he inhaled the smoke from his pipe and smiled as he heard the unmistakable sound of Dr Watson coming down the stairs from his bedroom.
Dr Watson opened the sitting room door and was greeted by the site of Holmes in his chair smoking his pipe. He observed the smouldering remains of paper in the fire and sighed softly. Holmes had not had a case in weeks, if one does not come soon; I fear he will turn to more unhealthy form of distraction. Watson looked at Holmes desk with some trepidation knowing that the locked drawer contained the Moroccan case.
"Morning Holmes, has Mrs Hudson brought us some breakfast yet?" asked Watson.
Holmes opened his eyes and saw Watson standing before him, with a hint of concern in his face.
"Watson, I cannot eat at this moment in time, I need stimulation, I need cases, all I've had these past few weeks are letters from distraught children who either lost their dog or cat, or from people careless with their luggage on the train! This is a detective agency, not the lost property department at Charing Cross Station!" snapped Holmes.
Watson laughed sympathetically and smiled.
"Something will come along soon Holmes. It is a beautiful day, why don't we go out for a walk later on this morning and enjoy some spring air; it will do us the world of good. We can have breakfast first, I can call Mrs Hudson now for some and-"
Watson was interrupted by Holmes who waved Watson off irritably.
"I will do no such thing Watson, I need cases to work on, I need stimulation, my mind cannot continue in this emptiness, this void".
Watson walked towards Holmes and sat down next to him. He was worried at Holmes's appearance and frowned. He looks tired and he has not eaten properly the last day or so, this cannot go on like this.
"Holmes I am your Doctor as well as your friend, colleague and partner. I urge you now to at least have something to eat; you cannot go on without eating anything, cases or no cases".
Holmes was about to reply to that when there was a knock at the door and Mrs Hudson walked in on the brewing argument.
"Mr Holmes, Dr Watson, I am sorry to interrupt but Inspector Lestrade is here and is wanting to speak with you urgently, he says it is a matter of some importance".
Holmes looked up at Mrs Hudson and then back at Watson
"Ha! Scotland Yard is having difficulty with a case again? How many cases does that make it this year? What is it this time? A robbery? I suppose I could humour myself with what Lestrade has to say, though I am not so confident he could successfully organise a Policeman's Ball let alone solve a robbery!"
Watson looked at Holmes in some surprise at Holmes's remark; he really must have been in a black mood if he was able to be that cutting about Lestrade's ability.
"Holmes, don't you think Inspector Lestrade deserves a little bit more respect than that, you never know he might actually have a case of interest, what you have been waiting for these past few weeks!".
Holmes looked at his Boswell and smiled.
"I'm sorry Watson you are right. Perhaps Inspector Lestrade does have something of interest for us. Mrs Hudson, please ask Inspector Lestrade to come up".
The heavy footsteps of Inspector Lestrade pounded up the seventeen steps and there was a knock on the door.
"Come in Inspector! "Cried Holmes.
Inspector Lestrade entered the sitting room and his small beady black eyes darted around the room taking in the detail, looking at Dr Watson before settling upon Holmes.
"Mr Holmes I need your help, there have been murders, terrible murders, and I must admit everyone at the Yard is at a loss, I cannot solve these murders, too little clues, so much blood, so much horror…."
Lestrade stumbled for a moment, his exhaustion washing over him and Watson leapt forward and guided Lestrade to the couch before he collapsed completely. Watson poured a brandy and handed it to Lestrade whom he noticed took it with shaking hands.
"Thank you Doctor Watson" said Lestrade who took two large gulps from the brandy tumbler.
Holmes was alert and watching every detail, he could see Lestrade was acting out of character and looked tired. Were the murders so bad as to cause Lestrade to be so fearful?
"Inspector, if you please, tell me what troubles you so that I may assist you in this case of yours?
Inspector Lestrade looked up from the now almost empty glass of brandy in his hand and saw Dr Watson examining him with a medical eye and then at Holmes. Lestrade closed his eyes dreading the knowledge of what he knew that he was about to share. He drained the glass of brandy and set it aside on a nearby table and began to reveal what he knew.
"Well Mr Holmes, it started a fortnight ago when one of the lads, a promising youngster just joined the Yard a few months ago was given the case of a murdered girl found in Milford Lane in Aldwych. But the poor girl, who was no more than twenty years of age, had her throat cut and her body mutilated. At first it was assumed it was a violent murder, nothing more, but since then Mr Holmes we have had five murders with the same hallmarks each time. All in Aldwych and the murders appear to be random. There seems to be no pattern and in each case there is extreme violence and mutilation that I have not encountered before in my career as a policeman. Please Mr Holmes, can you help me catch this fiend".
Holmes had been listening intently, his hands closed together as if in prayer and deep in concentration. What he had heard from Lestrade disturbed him. There was a vicious murderer on the loose. Lestrade is wrong one count already in this case, there is method in this madness, the murderer is leaving hallmarks of his work. That in itself could prove decisive.
Holmes sat silently for a moment contemplating Lestrade's words. He opened his eyes and stood up and leaned on the edge of the mantelpiece tapping his fingers as he considered the possibilities of this case and came to a decision.
"Inspector Lestrade I would be delighted to assist you in this affair. But first I should like to see the bodies of the victims and examine them for myself. You say the murderer left hallmarks?"
Lestrade nodded and replied
"Yes Mr Holmes, but I must warn you the mutilations are shocking".
Holmes looked at Lestrade. He could tell from the Inspector's dishevelled look and black rings under his eyes that the Inspector had been shaken by this case and was suffering from nightmares. This will be a singular case indeed. Holmes pulled out his gold pocket watch and flipped open the cover.
"Inspector would this afternoon be convenient for myself and Dr Watson to visit the Scotland Yard mortuary? At 1'o clock? "
Inspector Lestrade rose and got up from the couch, and replied to Holmes's question.
"Yes, that will be fine. I will be waiting for you and thank you Mr Holmes for agreeing to look into this case".
Holmes nodded and with a flick of his wrist waved off Lestrade indicating the end of the consultation. Lestrade walked to the door and saw himself out.
Holmes went over to the window overlooking the street and looked out letting out a deep sigh. Watson was confused by Holmes's behaviour. Surely this was what Holmes had been waiting for! Watson did not have to wait long for his answer as Holmes suddenly turned round and faced him with a look of anticipation but with steel in his eyes.
"My dear fellow we are dealing with an evil that I have not encountered before in my career. I fear this case may be a dangerous one. Do you have your service revolver with you; I fear we may need it before this case is completed"
Watson was shocked by Holmes's statement. But Inspector Lestrade did look visibly shaken and he did say there had been five murders in the last two weeks. Holmes may be right to take such precautions.
"I have it in my bedroom Holmes, I will bring it with me this afternoon" said Watson grimly.
"Capital!" cried Holmes. "Then let us have breakfast, read our papers and then this afternoon we will hire a cab to Scotland Yard and visit the mortuary, and discover the hallmarks of this Aldwych Murderer for ourselves".
Holmes went to the living room door and opened it.
"Mrs Hudson! " Bellowed Holmes as he called for the landlady.
Mrs Hudson appeared at the bottom of the seventeen steps with an angry glare.
"Ahh Mrs Hudson, if you would be so kind, Watson and I would like some breakfast if that is not too much trouble". Said Holmes.
Mrs Hudson responded in an almost glacial voice
"Yes Mr Holmes I will get your breakfast but if you bellow at me like that again, you'll be lucky to get buttered toast, never mind bacon and eggs!. And I'll raise the rent if the noise level increases any further in this flat!"
Mrs Hudson disappeared into the kitchen almost slamming the door behind her.
Holmes closed the sitting room door and threw his arms in the air in resignation and pulled his dressing gown tighter round him, and sat down in his chair, poking the fire.
Watson laughed.
"Holmes, she does have a point that loud voice of yours will wake up half of Baker Street!"
Holmes glared at Watson and then smiled, before both men dissolved into laughter.
****************************
It was still early morning in Aldwych and the morning mist was still lingering near Waterloo Bridge. A tall thinly built man was cleaning a blade wiping away the remaining smears of blood. He looked down at the blade and caught his reflection, his black eyes showed no remorse, no emotion whatsoever. He sheathed his blade inside his waistcoat and let out a low menacing laugh that contained no mirth. He walked out from under Waterloo Bridge and melted into the crowds and began to hunt once more for his next prey.
OOOH !!!! Bit of a cliffhanger there. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of this story !! More comming soon !!! All reviews and comments welcomed !! :)