As promised here is the next instalment of my little tale. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all your reviews.

I should give a warning in this chapter for one instance of bad language but I don't think it's enough to change the rating.

And last but by no means least, before we go any further I've just realised that today is Benedict Cumberbatch's birthday and he's 39. So although he'll never see this, Happy Birthday Ben thank you for being a brilliantly hot and sexy Sherlock, inspiration for so many of us.

Chapter 3

Mandy waited until they were both sat down in her study before she started. She'd made Molly a cup of tea and they sat together on a large imposing settee opposite the unlit fireplace.

The study itself was cosy and cluttered and reminded Molly of Mandy's bedroom when they were growing up. There were stacks of books and papers everywhere. On the desk, the bookcase, the spare chairs. The living quarters for the don's were bigger than those for the senior students. Mandy had a double bedroom, her own bathroom and then this large study which doubled up as a living room as well as being a private space with which to meet with students.

The settee was an ancient, shabby, mahogany leather beast but it was comfy as hell. Molly turned towards Mandy with her leg tucked under her. 'Right, I think it's about time you told me what's going on.'

Mandy looked a bit nervous, her gaze cast down at her cup. 'First things first Molls, I did not invite you down here because of what's going on. Most of it only came to light after I'd fixed it up with you on the phone. I don't want you to think that I'm using you and if you want nothing to do with it all I will accept it and understand.'

Molly leant forward and put her hand on her friend's knee. 'It's OK Mand I believe you. You forget, I've seen you lying and you're crap at it.' That at least elicited a smile from Mandy and she looked back up with more confidence.

'Well, it started quite low key and at first we didn't really put two and two together. Last term there were a few instances of students insisting that work on their personal drives had been altered or deleted. Then twice there were reports of clothing being stolen only for it to turn up somewhere else damaged in some way. One, was a jumper covered in some kind of paint thinner, the other a coat with a tear down the back.'

'But, you know what college life is like Molly, there are always odd incidents and upsets, things were just put down to errors or personal disputes. The trouble was when the term broke and most of the students went home the incidents carried on and they were much more noticeable given the reduced numbers.'

'It culminated last week when Martha found her latest transcript for a book she has been writing was deleted off her computer. As you saw earlier she's fuming about it. Then a day later we found somebody had spray painted some words across the outside wall of the library.'

'What words?' Asked Molly. Her friend just shook her head and picked up her bag. She took out her phone and after a few seconds, where she pressed various buttons, she passed it to Molly. Molly looked at the photograph and gasped in shock. The words 'F*cking C*nts' were emblazoned across the stone work in bright yellow paint.

'It took Arthur hours to scrub it off. We couldn't let anyone see it. It was inside the college grounds Molly, which means it's someone within the college, someone with a vendetta.'

'Anyhow, we held a staff meeting soon after to discuss what we should do. No one wants to go to the police with this, it would become public and we don't want the reputation of the college to suffer. We've got some money worries as it is and we can't afford for students to make the decision to go elsewhere, we need to keep up our funding levels.'

'Talk then turned to hiring some kind of private detective and that's when I thought of you. I mentioned you were coming to stay and that you know Sherlock Holmes. Obviously they've all heard of him and...well...we wondered whether you would be able to persuade him to come and help us. We haven't got much spare money but we can offer him a small fee plus free board and food for as long as he needs to be here. What do you think? Would he come?'

Molly sat and considered the situation for a minute. She knew how picky he was about the cases he took, she'd heard about the infamous numbering system and she had no idea how the college's problems would fare though she suspected it would be low.

In the end she said the only thing she could, 'you know what, I have no idea whether he'd be interested or not but I'm happy to ask.'

She could see her friend visibly exhale and her shoulders drop slightly with relief, 'oh if you could Molly that would be great.'

Molly stood up, 'well, no time like the present. I'd like to talk to him in private so I'll go back to my room and catch up with you later?'

'Yes, yes of course...and thank you Molly.'

Molly smiled ruefully, 'don't thank me yet, he hasn't said yes and I've no idea if he will. Let's just see first.'

She left Mandy's rooms and made her way thoughtfully back to her room. A part of her was a little disappointed that she wasn't going to have the carefree holiday that she'd been hoping for but another part couldn't help but feel excited about the possibility of spending time with Sherlock.

She had never gotten over the flip of her stomach or the missed beat of her heart when she saw him. He still made her feel a little bit nervous and school girlish even after all these years. She opened up her bedroom door and quickly found her phone. Then she sat in one of the chairs by the fire and looked at it whilst she bit her lip and tried to pluck up the courage to ring him.

In the end she shook off her anxiety and just dialled his number listening to the ring tone. It didn't take long for him to answer.

'Molly, I thought you were on holiday and I wasn't to contact you. I believe your exact words were 'under any circumstances' so why are you ringing me?'

She smirked at the grumpy tone to his voice, he had obviously not gotten over his sulk at her leaving. 'Hi Sherlock. Listen have you got anything on at the moment?'

'I think you'll find I'm fully dressed Molly, thanks for asking.'

'You're being purposefully obtuse Sherlock. I didn't mean clothes, I meant cases.'

Instantly the tone of his voice changed from peeved to interested. 'So you have something for me...details.'

She outline the case as succinctly as she could not knowing what he might think was relevant but not wanting to bore him. He asked a few questions as she went through but when she had finished she found herself holding her breath as she awaited his answer.

There was no noise, nothing. After a moment she wondered if she'd been cut off...'Sherlock?'

'Hmm...yes?'

'Will you come?'

'I'll need to clear up some things here. It doesn't sound too serious yet and given the state of weekend rail travel I may as well wait and come up Monday.'

Molly let out a sigh of relief; not realising until that point how much she had wanted him to say yes. 'Text me what train you're planning to get and I'll meet you at the station.'

'No need Molly, I'm sure I'll find my way.'

It was only as Molly was responding with an OK that she realised he had hung up already. She rolled her eyes as she put the phone down onto the small coffee table but she couldn't help the wide grin which spread across her face. She'd never seen Sherlock anywhere but London. It seemed strange to think of him in this beautiful idyllic setting. The romantic in her would love to have pictured picnics and midnight strolls but she shook them off. She'd been knocked back by Sherlock too many times to start entertaining any hopes.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

After a short indulgent nap Molly made her way back to Amanda's study. She knocked lightly and heard her shout 'come in'.

Her friend was bent over her desk working on some paper or other but she looked up as Molly came in, 'good news or bad Molls?'

Molly smiled, 'good news. He said he'll come up on Monday once he's tied up some loose ends back in London.'

Amanda sat back in her chair and wiped a hand across her face, 'oh thank goodness. I'm not sure we really had a plan B. We didn't really want to have to start trawling through Yellow Pages for an alternative.'

She continued, 'Great, well I figured he could have the room adjoining yours. He's not going to know anyone else here and there are not that many free rooms with a private bathroom. Is that OK with you?'

'Oh, yes I suppose so.' Molly wasn't quite sure how she felt about being in such close proximity with Sherlock, but it wasn't as though they were sharing a room or anything.

She spent the rest of the day with Mandy. It didn't seem to matter how long they spent together they always had more to talk about.

The evening passed quietly, another meal in the dining hall followed by a night cap in the don's common room. Molly was just waiting for Mandy to come back with her drink when she was approached by Andrew. He caught her looking at yet another portrait of some long dead member of the college.

'They're pretty grim aren't they? It pains me that as a college we don't have much by way of outstanding artwork like some of the other old colleges have. I suspect though that if we had of had any we would have long since sold it to top up the coffers.'

Molly smiled warmly at him. He came across as very friendly and approachable. She could imagine students off-loading all their problems onto him.

He laughed when she mentioned it and agreed, 'yes, I have heard a few confessions and problems over the years not just from the students but from my colleagues. I must have one of those faces, people always seem to find me easy to talk too. Talking of which, I hear a friend of yours is coming to help up with our little problem.'

Molly nodded, 'Sherlock Holmes, yes he's arriving Monday all being well.'

'Now there's a name I haven't heard for a while. Don't get me wrong I've read all about his exploits just like everyone else has but I first heard of him many years ago. He had quite the reputation back then.'

'Oh, did you know him when he was in Oxford?'

'Good Lord no, he was in a different college studying...now what would it have been, one of the sciences...Chemistry that was it. My friend, John Knox, taught him. He's dead now, of course, must be five years back, heart attack, pfft and he was gone.' He snapped his fingers and seemed lost in his recollections.

Molly couldn't help herself, 'so what was he like...Sherlock I mean?'

'What? Oh...brilliant, brilliant. Knox said he'd never seen anyone with a more prodigious talent, he was so precocious. Trouble was he was cocky with it, smart brain and a smart tongue to boot if you know what I mean. Knox just couldn't handle him. We used to meet up over a pint and he'd pour out his frustrations, he tried everything to engage his interest, fire up his imagination but all he would say was he was bored. Then the drugs started, the partying. You see it happen to one or two every year. Most can control it, keep a balance but not Holmes. He did everything to excess.'

'It all came to a head in his second year, I believe. I never heard the full details. Even between friends colleges are protective of their reputations, just like us now. Some things just stay within the walls. Anyhow, all I heard, and it was only rumour mind, was there was some girl involved, maybe even more than one...very scandalous. Drugs were taken; talk of lewd behaviour but then one of the girls ended up on life support in hospital. Holmes's family came and took him away and that was the last I heard of him until I saw his name in the papers.'

He smiled at Molly, 'I'm glad he came good in the end. You want to see talent like that, pure genius, put to good use don't you?'

Molly couldn't help but be a little shocked. She knew about Sherlock's drug taking but hadn't ever heard tales of debauchery like this. John had always hinted to her that Sherlock was a virgin. It sounded as though he might have got it wrong.

'And the girl, was she alright?'

'I believe so, I'm sure we would have heard if she hadn't been. Anyhow, if you'll excuse me I think I'll retire for the evening. It's been a pleasure meeting you Doctor Hooper and I look forward to conversing with Mister Holmes when he arrives. Good night.'

It was a thoughtful Molly who sipped on her wine that night.

So Molly's got Sherlock on board and is starting to discover snippets about his past. As ever I'd love to know what you think of it all. I'll post the next chapter on Wednesday, it'll be the start of the long summer holidays in my neck of the woods, which ties in nicely with the story.