Author's note: I write a fanfiction and people are actually wondering about the case... who did it and why and how and who framed Dowling and... Do I have to tell you how awesome that is?
This chapter will be shorter, I'm afraid. But we get a development – or at least something like it.
I don't own anything, please review.
They quickly make their way to Scotland Yard, Greg quickly remembering where Hopkins office is, simply because he had made a point of avoiding a meeting for as long as he could – which probably explained why Sherlock had never met the other DI. This shouldn't have made Greg proud – after all, as far as he knew, Hopkins had always done a good job, and there was no obvious reason not to like him, while for example Sherlock had helped out both Dimmock and Gregson, who had had nothing but Greg's words to back them up – but it did.
He was the one DI who had believed in Sherlock Holmes and asked him to help solving crimes; so maybe Sherlock would decide to forgive him. He wasn't sure what the consulting detective was thinking – to be honest, he never had been – and he was certain that John wouldn't tell him.
Hopkins was in his office, and if the rumours were true, he hardly was anywhere else; the DI preferred to send his Sergeants to crime scenes and simply read the files, an approach Greg had never understood but nonetheless respected.
He wasn't happy to see Greg, but then, he never had been. He seemed to be even angrier once he saw Sherlock and John – again, this was no surprise, he had never liked the idea of an "outsider" helping the police. And yet Greg found that ever since Sherlock had uttered his suspicion he liked Hopkins even less than before.
"Have you finally decided to let me know what's going on?" Hopkins demanded, standing up. "Or are you going to accuse me of a crime? As far as I can tell, this seems to be your pet's preferred method".
Greg ignored the stab at Sherlock – although it was difficult – and decided to ask the question himself, before the consulting detective could get a chance to make the other DI angry.
"It looks like Dowling was innocent after all".
Hopkins almost looked pleased, and Greg found himself wishing that he had let Sherlock speak first after all.
"Too bad. You'll have to let him out then".
Greg took a deep breath to calm himself before answering, "Stop it, Hopkins. We both know you were just as responsible for his arrest as I was."
"I didn't get the promotion though. Guess who will have to take the blame?"
"Whoever framed an innocent man, I imagine" Sherlock interrupted. Hopkins glared at him.
"Good luck with that. It could have been anyone".
"Not anyone knew about your suspect". Sherlock was unmoved by Hopkins' hostility.
"So it must have been me. Obviously. And this has nothing to do with the fact that your friend" he waved a hand towards Greg "has never liked me? Come on, even an amateur like you must be aware that this is hardly – "
"What about Timothy Dowling?" John asked, apparently having decided that this discussion would lead to nothing (and most likely being right). "What about the fact that he spent twelve years in prison for a crime he didn't commit? What about that?"
Hopkins seemed taken aback for a moment. Then he cleared his throat and replied, "You don't know for sure he is innocent".
Greg realized (with inappropriate glee) that he had said "you" instead of "we" – apparently his insistence to be part of the case had disappeared the moment he realized why they were here.
A second later, however, the other DI gained the upper hand.
"Ever asked Spawling who found the keys? He was the leading forensic tech on the case, after all".
Sherlock stared at Hopkins, who visibly flinched under his gaze – getting deduced by Sherlock Holmes took some getting used to – but still seemed unconcerned about Dowling, and Greg realized, not for the first time, the difference between them. Sherlock was impolite to most people (although he tried to be nicer ever since he had returned), he insulted witnesses, he lied and broke into buildings to get evidence. Hopkins did none of that – he was nice, he was charming, he was polite – but for one simple reason: he didn't really care about anyone or anything but himself. Sherlock Holmes needed to solve cases because it was in his blood; he needed to save people because he had to, because he couldn't let them die – faking his suicide to save his friends certainly proved that. Hopkins was happy as long as he got what he wanted.
And people called Sherlock Holmes selfish.
The consulting detective finally answered. "Yes. And we both know what he said, don't we".
Greg was by now so used to Sherlock lying to witnesses (or, in the case, he supposed he could call it a bluff) that he didn't even bait an eyelid. Neither did John.
Hopkins, however, looked smug and shot Greg a triumphant look. "Well, then – "
It only took him a moment to realize his mistake – his confidence had got the better of him. He shouldn't have been sure that Spawling would name Greg as the one who had pointed out the keys. Not unless –
"So there was an understanding between you and Spawling who to blame, should it ever come out that Dowling was framed?" Sherlock asked matter-of-factly. "I assume you came up with this brilliant plan after you didn't get the promotion? What did Spawling get out of it, may I ask?"
Greg remembered something and answered. "Hopkins opposed to Spawling being let go for as long as he could. Because of this, we had to live another year with a forensic tech who either turned up drunk or not at all."
He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands before looking at Hopkins. "Damn. Hopkins, you were a good officer. Why?"
To his credit, Hopkins looked ashamed. It wasn't that Greg didn't understand the frustration of the other officer and not having had the slightest clue about the identity of the killer after six murders; the exhaustion after a night looking over the files again and again; the silent desperation because time was running out and new bodies could turn up any moment.
In fact, he was sure that every police officer experienced the temptation to make evidence appear at least once in his career. Most didn't give into it. But those that did...
And suddenly he felt angry and would probably have started shouting, but John simply said "Greg" – naturally it was the doctor who noticed what he was about to do, Sherlock was too focused on Hopkins – and he took a deep breath and decided to be angry about what Hopkins had done later.
Even though he probably would never forgive for not having seen it.
"Where did you get the keys?" he demanded before Sherlock could. He sounded bitter and hostile but he didn't care.
Hopkins let himself fall into his chair looked down at his desk, defeated. Then he mumbled something and Greg, not feeling disposed to be patient, barked, "What?".
Hopkins looked up. "I got them in the mail."
"And how..." Sherlock interrupted. "Of course. You and Greg had interrogated him – you even had him come to Scotland Yard for an interview, if the files can be trusted. Most likely he was late and therefore didn't take the time to put them away before entering the Yard. That's why you recognized them. Stupid of me".
Once again, Sherlock considered himself stupid for something most people would never have thought of, but the familiarity of it all soothed Greg a bit.
"And of course" Sherlock added, obvious disdain in his voice, "You have no idea who sent you the keys".
Hopkins shrugged his shoulders. "I thought it was – "
"What if it was the killer?" John interrupted. "I know we said only the police knew they suspected Dowling, but it can't be that difficult to find out all you need to know about a police investigation, especially if the task force is questioning a suspect..." He shot the DI a look. "Sorry Greg."
"No worries."
"I think you're right, John" Sherlock announced, glaring daggers at Hopkins. "Congratulations, Hopkins. You put an innocent man in jail with the help of the true murderer."
"I was convinced it was Dowling – we all were!" the DI tried to defend himself.
Sherlock simply shook his head. "I find that hard to believe. A whole team and not one who doubted your theory? You saw what you wanted to see. I assume you got rid of the envelope?"
Hopkins nodded miserably. Sherlock turned around and left the room, John went to follow him but turned around at the door to make sure Greg was coming too.
"It's alright, John" the DI said. The doctor didn't seem convinced, but decided to trust his friend and followed the consulting detective.
Hopkins looked at Greg. "I am going to quit."
Greg nodded. "You are aware – "
"Of course I know that you will report me. I am not stupid. No matter what you may think of me now."
Greg sighed and turned around. There was nothing else to say. Hopkins was a good police officer who had let his ambition and his frustration cloud his judgement and now he would have to pay the price for it.
Sherlock and John were waiting for him in his office.
"So, now we now Dowling was framed and by whom" the consulting detective said, "We can concentrate on catching the killer".
"We didn't catch him twelve years ago" Greg answered bitterly as he sat down behind his desk, "What makes you think we are going to catch him now?"
"Easy" Sherlock replied, his eyes sparkling, "You didn't have me or John twelve years ago".
And that, Greg had to admit, was entirely true.
Author's note: So, obvious twist out of the way. Even though I am rather proud of my idea that the killer found out about the police's suspicion and decided to send the one DI who would try to frame Dowling because he saw what he was... Okay, I am getting too excited. And nerdy. Sigh.
I hope you liked it, please review.
