The Investigation of Missing Margaret Holmes

by marval3

Margaret Holmes simply wanted to visit her brothers, who were both too preoccupied with work to pay her any mind. After an unfortunate turn of events Margaret is taken by a serial killer Sherlock and John were already investigating. Time is running out for the middle Holmes sibling, and doubt begins to flourish if the only way she'll be found is as another victim.

12. Chapter 12

sᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ 2:32 ᴀᴍ

Sherlock stood when John entered the room. The doctor bore a fresh set of clothes, the red gone from his skin.

Sherlock cleared his throat. "Thank you for coming. Clearly, it's not the best time, but I need to talk to you–"

"No." John pressed his lips together, he did a quick shake of his head. He raised a hand, shaking a finger for emphasis on words, "I just spent the past hour washing Mrs Hudson's blood off my hands. I'm not really in the mood to hear whatever you have to say."

"Then why did you come?"

John was at a loss for a second, thinking it over. Perhaps it was because on the voicemail Sherlock sounded desperate, which the man rarely does, and even though John wanted to be alone he'd rather Sherlock not go on another bender.

John shrugged. "I don't know. Why–What did you want to tell me?"

"Margaret," The note left behind from the killer was placed in John's hands, who regarded it with a perplexed gaze. "was taken. Mrs Hudson just happened to be at the wrong place, wrong time."

Just now noticing the lack of the Holmes sibling, John turned his head around. His brows knit together, and the man glanced down at the note again, his eyes finally moving over to the detective. "Bloody hell Sherlock. Are you alright?"

Sherlock was indifferent at the question. "I'm fine. We need to prioritize finding Margaret, Mycroft has his people looking for her but there's no guarantee. There are street cameras positioned on Baker Street, if the Yard hasn't already we'll ask them to–"

"Sherlock slow down," John cut in. "It's half past two, wouldn't it be better to do it in the morning?"

"And be awakened to Gillard knocking on the door announcing they located Margaret's corpse?" His tone indicated he wasn't going to budge.

Air exhaled through John's nose as he sighed. "I'll be on the couch, then."

Sherlock continued to reexamine the little evidence he had, John joined sporadically until he drifted off to sleep. At some point later in the night, doors swung open and shut as Sherlock rushed out and onto the streets.