A/N: Hey, look, another chapter! After a brief period of the worst writer's block I've ever had, I'm rolling like the proverbial non-moss-gathering stone! It's not brilliant, I'm afraid, but it stopped getting better at about the fifth draft, so I just put it up... and the good news is that I wrote the chapter after this one a long time ago, and I already know what I'm writing for the chapter after the chapter after that one, so I might be able to get the whole thing up before I leave! Wait, I leave Wednesday. Well, I'll get most of it up before then...
I had some trouble getting some of these to come out right... not sure if I succeeded in the end or not.
EDIT: I just reread this and found several typos and spelling mistakes. Guess I should be focusing more on sleep... if you see any, feel free to point them out so I can fix them... :)
A series of missives between Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes:
Sherlock--
Rollins is still being less than prudent for a man in his position--this would seem an excellent time for your return, although Moran would certainly still be a problem. I also believe that return would be advisable as Mrs. Watson has not been at all well lately--I told you of this earlier, but I believe it was in one of the letters that went astray. There is not much hope for her recovery, though the doctors are doing everything they can.
--Mycroft
--
Mycroft--
What is the nature of the illness? How long has she? And how is Watson?
--Sherlock
--
Sherlock--
I have not been privy to much information concerning her illness, but I believe several tumors are at the heart of the problem. As for how long she has, her condition has worsened greatly. The Doctor is doing as well as can be expected. He knew his wife's health was failing, and has had time to adjust. Still, it is no easy thing for him.
--Mycroft
P.S. Rollins has, I believe, killed two men directly. The Yard is working on the murder--Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson have both been placed on the case. I do not know if this is a good thing or not, but you may have your man quite soon. Again, now would be an excellent time for you to cease this elaborate deception.
Several notes from the desk of Inspector Tobias Gregson (who keeps his desk in much better order than one of his colleagues does):
Gregson--
If you've still had no luck with the Morrison murder, perhaps you should shelve it for the time being. There's only so much we can do. The double murder near Pall Mall will require our full attention
--Lestrade
--
Roderick Tolliver, 32, and James Arnolds, 34, found dead from gunshot wounds. Tolliver shot twice; once in the back and once in the thigh; Arnolds shot through the head. Killer stood talking to them before shooting. No witnesses (there never are).
--
Gregson,
There's been another robbery down in the Soho area. It looks like the same hand as the other ones.
Bradstreet
--
Inspector,
Morgan confessed to the first robbery, but says he wasn't behind the Soho one. We have him in custody.
Wilson
--
Gregson--
Something Arnolds' wife said--he was nervous about a business venture. Tolliver was apparently involved in something similar. Perhaps Rollins is the link?
--Lestrade
Several notes from the mound of papers that used to be Inspector G. Lestrade's desk:
Perhaps we should question Rollins, then. There is nothing more to be done on the Morrison murder--I hate to say it, but it doesn't look like it's getting anywhere. I have heard similar of your Parker mystery, and the James business that Bradstreet has been wrestling with for a while. Why the deuce does the London underworld decide to strike all at once like this?
--Gregson
--
-Geoffery Parker, 29, found dead in his rooms on Montague Street. He'd moved into Mr. Holmes old quarters. Coincidence? (probably)
-Stabbed through the heart with "decorative" knife--Why can't decorative knives be made of rubber?
-Door locked from the inside, of course--Entriely unnecessary!
-Well liked by everyone
-Not a single bloody clue to be found.
--
Lestrade--
No, the James murder is getting nowhere. Series of Soho burglaries apparently unrelated.
Bradstreet
--
Heard you and Gregson questioned Rollins today, with some difficulty. If you can solve this one, it just might save our reputations, which this year has done nothing to uphold so far. Good luck.
Patterson
--
-Rollins denies all involvement, of course
-Found similar firearm in his posession--possibly enough to go on
-Arnolds worked at Whitehall, Tolliver was a banker. Possible link--both were financially unstable
-Note in Arnolds' pocket with sums of money
--
Lestrade,
I cannot find you anywhere. I've been to see Tolliver's wife again. She told he he'd seemed distracted, and talked about writing up his will; as you know he was rather young, which lead me to think that he'd anticipated something like this occuring. I asked to look through the papers on his desk, where I found a note hidden in the envelope with the draft of his will--he talked about being approached about aiding a robbery with some compensation in it for him--presumably the bank at which he worked. Gave no real details; probably didn't know them.
Gregson
--
-Staking out bank--no one knows HOW Rollins (assuming it was Rollins, which of course it was) proposes to get in
-Whitehall connection supposedly to ensure that the Yard was hindered--CENSOREDs.
-Why go to all the trouble? Must be something important at the bank
-Tolliver would know how, probably. Of course!
--
As much as I hate to admit it, if he hadn't left us that note we would never have gotten anywhere until it was too late.
Why would he leave the bodies to be discovered like that? (Probably taunting us--he made his view of Yarders perfectly clear when we questioned him)
--
Lestrade,
I heard how the Rollins business went--well done to you and Gregson on getting your man. I also understand you found several incriminating documents in Rollins' possession, which connected him to Moriarty. It is a pity he is not alive to answer fully for his crimes, but what he got was certainly no more than he deserved.
Patterson
--
Lestrade,
You and Gregson did quite well with the Rollins business, I thought. I understand Gregson would not be with us today had it not been for your intervention. You have succeeded in salvaging some of our reputation, and ended the career of a dangerous criminal--not a bad outcome, I must say.
Bradstreet
--
That note Tolliver left practically handed it to us. If it hadn't been for that, we never would have been there in time. Why is it that we are suddenly up to our necks in unsolvable crimes?
I don't think we appreciated Sherlock Holmes enough while we had him.
A note sent by Mr. Mycroft Holmes shortly after these events:
Sherlock--
Rollins is dead. Mrs. Watson is fading.
--Mycroft
