Hi ladies…it's been awhile for this one! I wonder if any of you still remember it, lol. If I have any new readers, I have to say that this chapter will make no sense to you if you don't start from the beginning. There are no warnings in this one…

Thanks to all who are still with me! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!

Mrs. Hudson answered the door on the fourth ring. "Yes?" she said half paying attention as Molly's cat Toby was walking in between her feet meowing every other breath for his breakfast.

"I have a delivery for a Ms. Sally Donovan," the man said. "It's a rather large box, where should I put it?"

Mrs. Hudson leaned over and scooped Toby into her arms. Before Mrs. Hudson could answer him, Toby turned his full attention on the man, letting of a small growl of warning.

"Ha," the man said. "Is he your little guard dog?"

Toby began to wiggle in Mrs. Hudson's arms and his growl turned into a yowl. Toby swiped at the man, hissing and baring his fangs.

"Toby what has gotten into you," Mrs. Hudson said. "You behave this instant!" She looked apologetically at the man. "You'll have to bring it up the stairs; I hope it's not too heavy."

The man smiled a funny little smile. "Oh no ma'am…not in the least. Is Ms. Donovan home? Will she be able to sign for it?"

Mrs. Hudson ignored sudden feeling of unease that crept over her as Toby became more violent in his struggles, hissing and swiping. "Oh…well no, she's not home at the moment," she said. "But I can sign for it, dear."

"Too bad," the man said, smiling at her again. "I'll just go and get it." He turned from the step and made his way to his delivery van.

Mrs. Hudson thought how very odd it was for him to say that. Why should he care one way or the other if the recipient was in the flat, as long as he could deliver and someone could sign? The man returned with another man, both of them were holding onto a large box.

"Could you show us where you'd like it left?" the man asked.

"Yes, of course," Mrs. Hudson said, moving out of the way so they could come inside. She closed the door behind them, squeezed passed them in the narrow hallway and began to climb the stairs. "This way please," she said still carrying the struggling Toby.

"Is Sherlock Holmes at home, ma'am?" the man asked.

"Oh no," she said. "He's out on a case I am afraid."

"Oh that's too bad," the man said in an odd voice. "I would have loved to have met him."

"Well," Mrs. Hudson began as the unease crept back over her body. "Perhaps another time."

"Yes," he said. "Perhaps another time."

Mrs. Hudson knocked on the flat door before opening it. "Molly dear," she called as she entered. "There is a package for Sally, is she still with Sherlock or is she here?"

Molly came into the living room from the kitchen. "She's still with Sherlock," she called out. "Have them leave it by the door for her."

"It's rather large dear," Mrs. Hudson answered. "It'll have to be left in the living room."

"Then bring it in," Molly called.

Mrs. Hudson walked into the living room and the two men followed. "Come and take this cat, Molly," she said. "I have never seen such…he's acting terrible."

Molly turned and reached out for Toby, taking him in her arms. "Toby, what is the matter with you," she admonished gently. She looked up, noticing the men for the first time. "Could you set it down here, please?" she asked pointing to a clear spot beside the sofa.

"Of course," the man said as he and his partner moved passed her to sit it down on the floor. The man turned and looked at Toby. "Feisty isn't he," he said reaching out to stroke Toby, but Toby attacked, tearing himself from Molly and jumping onto the man.

Toby bit the man's hand and dug his claws deeply into the man's arm. The man cried out and shook Toby hard, but the cat managed to hang on.

"Toby!" Molly cried horrified. She grabbed hold of him, prying his furry arms away from the man and pulling his wrestling, yowling body back against hers. "Oh…I am so sorry…I don't know why he would do such a thing…he has never done anything like that…I'm so sorry…"

The man actually smiled, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapping it around his wounded hand. "It's alright," he said. "The little fellow was just protecting his home. We'll be heading on now, don't want to take up more of your time."

The two men moved passed the two women and Toby struck out, barely missing the second man as they walked.

"Please…let me get you something to clean up blood," Molly said.

"Oh no ma'am," the man said. "Really, it's quite alright. This isn't the first time that I've had to deal with an aggressive animal….it's part of the job, you could say."

As the two men reached the door, the man that had been speaking turned back to look at the women. "You know, you shouldn't admonish your kitty too badly," he said as that strange smile came over his face. "They say animals are excellent judges of character."

Mrs. Hudson and Molly looked at one another as a shiver raced up both of their spine. The men smiled and turned, walking down the steps and out the door. When Mrs. Hudson heard it close, she raced down the steps and locked the door. Molly came out onto the landing and stared down at her.

"Call Sherlock, now, dear," Mrs. Hudson said.

"Do you think…"

"Do it now!" Mrs. Hudson demanded, cutting Molly off.

Sherlock and John bolted up the stairs upon reaching Baker Street while Lestrade stayed behind to help Sally out of the car and up the stairs. John shoved the door to the flat open and it slammed into the wall, cracking the plaster. "Molly," he called out as he entered the flat.

Sherlock came in right behind him and called out, "Molly…Mrs. Hudson…"

"We're in here," Mrs. Hudson called from the living room.

The two men walked into the living room and Sherlock's eyes instantly fell onto the large box. His brow quirked when he saw that Toby was slaying on top of the box with all of his fur standing on end. The cat's shrewd green eyes appraised Sherlock and he seemed to be satisfied that it was Sherlock, so he hopped down from the box and approached him, looking up at him making mewing sounds that were deep and rather soulful sounding.

Sherlock had the strange feeling that Toby felt almost protective of the box…or felt that it needed to be guarded. He felt as if Toby was trying very hard to communicate something to him. Sherlock shook his head. How utterly ridiculous! First, he was hearing voices and feeling chills when there was no wind and now he thought a cat was trying to tell him something. I've been working too hard…this case…it must be effecting me emotionally…I must stop this…he thought to himself.

"Toby is bleeding," John said.

"No," Molly said. "That's not his blood…he attacked one of the delivery men. He's never done anything like that before."

"He attacked the delivery man," Sherlock repeated. "How very interesting." He leaned down and scooped Toby up. Toby stared into his eyes un blinking. "Molly, would you put Tony in the bedroom?"

"Of course," she said taking him from Sherlock. As Molly walked him to the bedroom, Toby stared at Sherlock, never blinking or turning away as she put him in the room and shut the door.

Sherlock turned his attention to the box just as Lestrade entered with Sally. Molly turned and started to walk back towards Sherlock and John when she stopped. She gasped as her eyes widened.

Sherlock and John turned to look at her. "Molly?" Sherlock said softly.

She looked at Sherlock and John, her expression panicked. She moved quickly to Sherlock. "It's…oh…Sherlock…" she whispered.

"What?" he asked, taking her hand.

"It's another girl…"Molly said softly. "She's…she was left for Sally…"

"How do you know?" John asked. "How could you possibly know?" As soon as the question left his lips, he and Sherlock both felt the chill in the air.

Molly looked behind both men and saw Sara and Clarissa with their arms wrapped around the newest murdered girl. The girl looked at Molly with an expression of regret.

Please tell Sally that it wasn't her fault…please…

Molly swallowed hard and looked back at Sherlock. "Please make Sally leave the room," she said.

Sherlock shook his head. "Molly there is no way you could know this…"

"Sherlock, please trust me…" she pleaded. "Make her go into the room with Toby."

Sherlock turned and spoke over his shoulder. "John," he said.

John looked a moment more at Molly before moving passed them and going to Lestrade.

"Molly, how do you know what is in this box?" Sherlock whispered.

"Because Sara is standing beside it with the very first murdered girl," she said. "Her name is Clarissa, Sherlock. Clarissa helped to drag you from the building when you had been stabbed."

Sherlock whirled around and looked behind him before turning back to Molly. He cupped her face gently within his hands. "There is nothing there," he said softly. "Molly…there are no such things as ghosts."

A single tear spilled down Molly's cheek as she placed her hands over his. "Oh Sherlock," she said. "You can be so blind…so very blind. There are more things in this world besides science and logic…I am telling you that they are there. Clarissa and Sara both…and they are holding Emily, Sherlock…the girl in the box is Emily."

He shook his head. "The strain has been too much for you…"

"No Sherlock," she interrupted. "I know what I see and I am asking you to trust me. They are there…standing behind you. I don't know why I see them or how, but I do. They've come to me for help. They've protected me and they've protected you. They want to talk to you too, but you refuse to believe. Mrs. Hudson can see them as well."

John and Lestrade came over to them. "Well what's all the secrecy about this bloody box?" Lestrade asked. "Sally is safe and sound in the bedroom."

Sherlock turned away from Molly and looked at him. "Do you have a pocket knife?"

Lestrade nodded and pulled it free from his pocket, handing it to Sherlock. "What's this about?"

Sherlock did not answer him as he turned his attention to the box. He gingerly touched the seam of the box.

"Sherlock?" John asked questioningly.

Sherlock glanced back at John, his eyes darting from Molly back to John. John nodded and took hold of Molly's arm, pulling her away. "Let's give Sherlock and Greg some working room, yeah?"

Sherlock pushed the knife into the top of the box, slicing along the seam. He slit the lid open vertically before slicing the seams of the sides. He stepped back and motioned for Lestrade to step closer. Slowly, Sherlock pulled the lid apart and back.

"My God…"Lestrade whispered. "This was delivered for Sally?"

Sherlock nodded. "Yes, her name is Emily," he said. "And she was delivered here by the two men that killed her."

Thanks again for reading! Let me know what you thought!