221B BAKER STREET – THE PRESENT
When John entered Sherlock's flat the telltale sound of running water alerted him to the consulting detective's current location.
Flopping down into his old chair, the former army doctor pulled out his mobile phone and re-read the text he'd received twenty minutes earlier.
Meet me at Baker St.
SH
It was the first communication he'd had from his friend following the fallout from the conclusion of The League of Red-Headed Gentlemen case; the brief note left at the drug den notwithstanding.
He was just putting his phone back in his pocket when Sherlock emerged from the bathroom. Though clean-shaven and impeccably dressed, his gaunt appearance spoke volumes about the toll that this latest relapse into addiction had taken on him physically, and no doubt emotionally.
But before John could question him, an agitated Billy Wiggins burst into the room.
"You was right Sheeza."
In the blink of an eye Sherlock was once again the hard-edged criminal investigator, as he brusquely demanded. "Which one?"
"All three," came the reply.
Rubbing his hands together, the detective responded excitedly. "Ohhh! Better and better."
John looked from one to the other in complete and utter confusion, hoping that an explanation would soon be forthcoming. When it became clear that this wasn't going to happen he decided to remind both men of his presence. "Care to share?"
Sherlock immediately fired off the necessary facts. "The three main suspects in a series of unexplained deaths from eight years ago have returned to the scene of the crime, at the precise moment that more deaths have started occurring."
John watched his friend closely. There was something about this case that differed from others they'd worked together on. He recalled Greg's story about the homeless man who'd apparently suicided several years before.
Choosing to test a theory, John finally surmised. "So, someone's killing homeless people again?"
If Sherlock was surprised he didn't show it, simply responding "Very good John. I see Lestrade has told you about how The Homeless Network came into being."
"Not all, but some." John admitted.
Impatient as he was to get on with his investigation Sherlock knew a brief explanation, for the time being, was needed. "Eight years ago a homeless man I knew died, in somewhat suspicious circumstances." Though his explanation began calmly enough, the memory of that time caused the usually unflappable detective to become emotional. "Most of the fools at Scotland Yard dismissed the death as suicide. As far as they were concerned it was one less individual living rough for them to worry about. It was clear that the only way to get anything done was to investigate the case myself. To that end I decided to set up a network that I could use to assist me in investigating his death as well as those of other homeless men and women whose deaths all took place around the same time. The obvious choice was those people that these deaths most affected, and it grew from there…"
OUTSIDE NEW SCOTLAND YARD – EIGHT YEARS BEFORE
Sherlock was furious when he emerged from New Scotland Yard.
They were all idiots, lazy, incompetent…
Though, to be fair there had been one, Inspector Lestrade, who appeared to be a more than reasonable man, and an above average policeman. But for all that he failed to grasp the gravity of the situation, or the significance of what Sherlock had informed Scotland Yard with regards to his knowledge of the victim and the particular something that, admittedly he still couldn't place, but for which he was absolutely certain would prove beyond a doubt that Old Harry's death was due to foul play, and not an open and shut suicide.
But just how he could prove it, that was the problem.
HYDE PARK
As Sherlock approached where he'd found Old Harry it was clear that all signs of the police's involvement had been meticulously removed. In its place a small shrine of flowers had emerged.
Harry had been well respected amongst the homeless. His unexpected death had left many devastated.
A flash of inspiration suddenly took a hold of him. If Scotland Yard wouldn't investigate, maybe those who had a vested interest in seeing justice done should.
Sherlock felt a growing excitement the more he thought about it, The Homeless Network, perfect! They could go anywhere virtually unseen, or more correctly ignored by the public in general.
A determined glint appeared in his eyes, as he nodded to himself. 'Yes! This could actually work.'
TWO WEEKS LATER…
It had taken Sherlock longer than he'd anticipated, due in part to his not having developed the level of trust and respect that those living rough had for Old Harry.
But once it got around that Sherlock was actively investigating Harry's case, a number of homeless offered their assistance.
As with any criminal investigation, there was a set of procedures that were rigorously followed and adhered to.
Harry's movements 24 hours before his death were reconstructed in detail.
Anyone who had seen him during that period was interviewed, with any relevant information carefully noted down.
As information was accumulated it was discovered that the circumstances of Harry's death strongly resembled those of several other homeless people who had passed away in questionable circumstances over the previous eight weeks.
Sherlock, confident that he now possessed enough information to get a formal police investigation underway, was left frustrated and angry when he efforts were still dismissed.
Only Detective Inspector Lestrade showed any interest and empathy with his efforts, proving himself a trusted ally by allowing Sherlock access to the autopsy reports. Unfortunately whoever had written the report was completely incompetent, with only a cursory investigation into the cause of death. In conclusion the report agreed with the police finding, and simply verified death by suicide.
Sherlock refused to be defeated, he knew there was more to these deaths than met the eye.
As his investigation continued, three people continued to pop up as persons of interest. Sherlock was certain it couldn't be a coincidence. And if they were involved, were they working separately, or together?
221B BAKER STREET – THE PRESENT
"So your suspects were a preacher, a social worker and a evangelistic homeless man," John clarified.
"Yes."
"And they came up on your radar why?"
"It's difficult to put into words," Sherlock freely admitted. "You just got the feeling that something was off when you were around them, like they had an agenda…"
"A higher calling perhaps," John suggested.
"Yes, that's it! That's it precisely," Sherlock exclaimed excitedly.
John nodded with growing understanding. He'd heard of similar cases within the medical profession. Rogue doctors performing unethical, and in many cases illegal procedures, under the belief that because of who they were that they had the right.
"Were you not able to get any information into their backgrounds?"
Sherlock shook his head. "As helpful as Lestrade was, he wasn't prepared to order a background check purely based on the word of a homeless, junkie tosser like me."
As he spoke Sherlock collected his belstaff and put it on.
John noted the spring was back in his step, and when the consulting detective turned back to him, there was a definite twinkle in his eye.
"It's a good thing my word carries more weight these days," Sherlock remarked before he turned and headed out the door with Billy Wiggins trailing after him.
John shook his head in rueful resignation as he got up from the chair and made his way down the stairs.
The game was once again on.
