II. The Hidden Passage of King's Cross Station
When John arrived at the police station he was directed to Greg Lestrade's office. Inside, Sally Donovan, Phillip Anderson and inspector Lestrade were standing around Greg's office discussing three identical letters on the desk in the center of the room. Sherlock was lounging leisurely in a black chair facing the desk, looking puzzled yet bored out of his mind.
John cleared his throat as he entered the room. "Ah, yes, hello everyone. Good to see you all again. So, any ideas about what's going on?" He was answered by three blank stares and an eye roll from Sherlock.
"Yes, John. We've collectively concluded the sender of these letter is indeed the tooth fairy. Business is bad these days and she needs more teeth to keep her family together."
Greg coughed awkwardly. "Um, no John, we still have no idea. We did just get a call from Molly though. She got one too. We were about to leave for St. Bart's so Sherlock could analyze the materials of the letters."
"Oh, alright." John said, disgruntled over feeling out of the loop. "Sherlock, are you taking your own cab again or are you going to ride with me this time?" he asked.
"Oh don't be offended, John. I needed to think, and other people thinking distracts me." John rolled his eyes at Sherlock's ridiculousness and turned to leave the office. When they got into the car, John turned to the passenger seat where Sherlock sat. "Do you have any idea where these letters are coming from, if not who from?" he asked.
"I will soon, as soon as we get to the lab." Sherlock answered.
...
The five people entered the lab, where Molly Hooper was poking and prodding at a brain she had acquired at the morgue downstairs. After a few moments she looked up and noticed the others. "Oh, hello!" she said, pushing the brain away from her.
"What's this one's name then?" Sherlock asked, glancing at the brain.
"I've decided to call him Dan. He looks like a Dan, right?" Molly took the bowl holding the brain and tilted it towards them so they could get a better look.
"Uh, yeah, sure." John said hurriedly. "Can we see you letter, please? Sherlock was going to analyze it so we could get an idea of where the things are coming from."
"Oh, sure, of course. It's just over here." They followed her to the desk area where Sherlock did most of his examinations. Without hesitation, Sherlock picked up the letter and started to work.
"Alright everyone, let's clear out and let the man do his magic." Lestrade said addressing everyone. "Molly, maybe you can help us come up with some ideas about what could possible be happening." Molly nodded and followed them out of the lab.
Sherlock spent quite a bit of time analyzing the materials of the letter and came to the conclusion that the materials were local, but uncommon. He looked into every possibility of any clue or allusion, but could find none. He decided to read the letter from what he considered to be a "simplistic" standpoint, like any simpleminded person would read it.
Sherlock entered a small break-room near the lab where the others were waiting, talking and sipping coffee. Lestrade stood up and addressed Sherlock. "You've got it all sorted out then?" Sherlock gave a curt nod.
"Yes," he said. "We're meeting at King's Cross Station at 9 AM on Saturday." Greg's mouth hung agape a bit, as he struggled to find words.
"King's Cross Station?"
"Yes," Sherlock said. "You've read the letter, haven't you? It says to meet at platform 9 ¾ on Saturday morning. It's the only way we'll find out who it is we're dealing with and what they want."
Lestrade pondered this thought for a moment before sitting down at the table again. Everyone was looking between the two men on the opposite ends of the room. Greg nodded to himself. "Okay; King's Cross, Saturday at 9. Everyone got that?" He looked around the room and was met with nods from everyone.
"Um, Greg," Donovan started. "How can we be sure this operation is safe? We could be putting out lives in danger by going."
Sherlock sighed and rolled his eyes in impatience. "Donovan, I know you think I'm a 'dangerous psychopath,' but could you please get your head out of your arse? Do you really think I would put my life and John's in danger as well?"
No one said anything until John spoke up. "Well, that solves that. See you lot Saturday, then." He pushed himself up from the chair and walked to the door where Sherlock stood.
"You two do make quite a cute couple though." Donovan said sarcastically. John sighed and turned on his heel to leave the hospital. Sherlock turned to follow suit, but was stopped by Phillip Anderson.
"Sherlock, do we need anything for Saturday?"he asked.
Sherlock turned to face him. "Just a brain if you can find a functioning one, Anderson." And with that, he left the building.
...
Saturday morning at nine o'clock, the group of 6 met on the inside of King's Cross Station. None of them had anything more than what was needed for a standard day. Donovan had insisted on bringing her gun, in case anything happened. Sherlock told her to keep it it of site unless absolutely necessary.
The anomalous group headed down the platforms until they reached platform number 9. Greg looked precariously towards number 10. "I don't see a platform 9 ¾, Sherlock." Donovan said matter-of-factly.
"Maybe it's a secret platform, or perhaps a code for something." Molly said.
"I don't think so, Molly. Sherlock would have picked up on a code. He would never be able to accept missing something so important." John said.
Lestrade spun around, looking for an indication of there being something there for them. "It's nine o'clock, there's no one here. I could have been spending my time working on a case of actual importance, but instead I'm here figuring out the mystery of the gullible sociopath!" he said, kicking the wall between platforms 9 and 10.
Suddenly, Lestrade's foot disappeared into the wall. Everyone looked the the wall in astonishment. "Greg, your foot… it's...gone." Donovan said.
"Yes, thank you for that thrilling observation, Donovan." Sherlock said. "Now let's figure out where it went!" He strode towards Lestrade and shoved him into the wall. With that, Greg Lestrade had disappeared.
"What the hell just happened?!" John exclaimed. "Sherlock, what the hell did you just do?" Sherlock ignored him and simply hopped to the other side of the wall. He jumped back over and shrugged his shoulders.
"No detective inspector on the other side. Who wants to disappear next? I vote Anderson." Before he could protest, Sherlock pushed Anderson against the wall violently, into which he disappeared.
Donovan stood, horrified at what she had seen. "Don't you come near me Sherlock, or I will hurt you." She produced the gun from her coat pocket, aiming it at Sherlock.
Sherlock signed. "Come on Sally, put that thing away and take a trip into the wall. You want to know what's going on so badly, so go find out." Donovan pointed the gun down and John carefully took it from her hands, placing it in his own coat.
Donovan approached the wall tentatively, looking back to the rest of the others. Sherlock edged her along with his fingers impatiently. She took a deep breath and disappeared as she took one walking stride into the wall.
Molly gave Sherlock a terrified look. Without saying anything, she closed her eyes and and ran headlong into the wall. She vanished with a blip, leaving Sherlock and John alone staring at the wall.
"Together then?" John asked. "It would seem fit since everyone already thinks we're a couple." he said rolling his eyes.
Sherlock chuckled and took a long stride to the wall. John, taking a few more steps, stood beside him. The two men looked at each other, shook hands, and walked into Platform 9 ¾.