When John arrived at his dorm that afternoon, Sherlock was sitting at his desk and typing on his laptop. John tapped his sitting roommate on the shoulder.
With a jolt, Sherlock shut his laptop. "Can I help you?"
"I'm still confused about this whole case." John smiled with nervousness. "Do you think the criminal came back?"
Sherlock shook his head. "I don't think. I know."
"Why?"
"The ring, my good man, he came back for the ring. Or, he tried to. He never got his ring back. That will be his downfall. I have to thank you for telling me about that message. This is a fine case." Sherlock noticed John's befuddled expression. "Let me put this into terms you might be able to understand. The colourless skein of life contains a single scarlet thread, the thread of murder. Most people ignore it. Others, like myself, try to untangle it and expose every inch of it."
John seemed at least somewhat relaxed. "That doesn't really make sense. Thanks."
Sherlock turned back to his computer. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a murderer to catch."
"I'm going to take a nap." John headed for his bed.
"It's only one in the afternoon." Sherlock barely moved, his palm resting on the laptop.
"Today's taken a lot out of me. There's been the moving, the murder, not to mention the girls… I'm not the strongest person in the world."
Sherlock nodded. "Alright. Have a good sleep."
As John settled into his bed, Sherlock returned to the message he was typing. When he was finished writing, he examined the thing he was responding to, an advertisement for a woman's ring. It would work perfectly.
When he sent his reply, a notification popped up. He switched to another tab. He knew he was talking to the killer's assistant, and though they'd both hid their names and I. P. addresses, the assistant was asking for a picture of him. There was no way Sherlock could give the killer his real photo, but the assistant would need to see him in a crowd. He quickly typed a response.
SH: Does the picture have to be perfect? I don't have any good ones.
GodAboveAll: If I can recognize you, it's okay.
SH: Okay. Hold on.
Sherlock opened his file directory, going to the pictures without identification data. There were hundreds of photos there. Most of the photos were of people, either individually or in groups. He scrolled to the pictures of his graduation. It took him little time to find the picture he wanted. It was a cropped photo. Between two blurry torsos, Irene could be seen. He attached the photo.
SH: Here you go.
GodAboveAll: Oh, you look adorable! What's your name?
SH: Irene.
GodAboveAll: Okay. I'll see you at the Dupin University Library at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
SH: See you then.
Sherlock's informant logged off. After a few seconds, Sherlock did the same.
