Chapter 14: The Seeds are Sown
Hayden ignored Sherlock who had moved his homelab to her dining room table. She never used the table anyways so it meant nothing to her. She was glad for the company of him and John.
"Thanks for the tea, love," Hayden grinned when Mrs. Hudson put a cup on the side table.
"Not a problem, dearie," Mrs. Hudson assured before Sherlock spoke up.
"Poison."
Mrs. Hudson glanced at the detective in confusion, "What you going on about?"
She jumped when Sherlock slammed his hands on the table, the solution nearly forcing itself out of his body. Hayden laid a hand on the woman's forearm to calm her down, smiling gently when they made eye contact.
"Clostridium botulinum!" Sherlock yelled turning to the three of them even as Mrs. Hudson left the room, "It's one of the deadliest poisons on the planet!" there was no response so Sherlock continued, "Carl Powers!"
"Oh, wait, are you saying he was murdered?" John realized with a frown. He glanced at Hayden who was nodding at him encouragingly.
Sherlock walked over to the shoelaces he had hung up earlier and examined them, "Remember the shoelaces?"
John hummed his agreement.
"The boy suffered from eczema," Sherlock explained, relaying the details he had gotten from the crime scene all those years ago, "It'd be the easiest thing in the world to introduce the poison into his medication. Two hours later he comes up to London, the poison takes effect, paralyses the muscles and he drowns."
"What – how-how come the autopsy didn't pick that up?"
"It's virtually undetectable," Sherlock assured as he moved to his laptop only to find it already opened to the forum page of his website, with a glance at Hayden with narrowed eyes before he typed in his message.
FOUND. Pair of trainers belonging to Carl Powers (1978-1989).
"Nobody would have been looking for it," Sherlock continued, pointing at the laces, "But there were still tiny traces of it left inside the trainers from where he put the cream on his feet."
Botulinum toxin still present. Apply 221b Baker St.
He hit enter and turned to John, "That's why they had to go."
"So how do we let the bomber know…" John wondered
Hayden answered when Sherlock looked at his watch, checking the time, "get his attention."
"Stop the clock," Sherlock muttered, annoyed that it hadn't already stopped.
"The killer kept the shoes all these years," John noted, he crossed his arms and glanced between Hayden and Sherlock
"Yes," Sherlock agreed, "Meaning …"
"He's our bomber," John realized in horror. The pink phone rang and Sherlock switched it to speaker mode so they could all hear the lady on the other side.
"Well done, you," She was sobbing in what Sherlock could only assume was relief, "Come and get me."
"Where are you?" Sherlock demanded, "Tell us where you are."
Hayden picked up her phone and dialed Lestrade while the woman told them her location. When she hung up she sighed with relief, pulling the cup of tea into her lap to cradle it. Relishing the warmth.
"Thank god," She murmured bowing her head.
They were past the first hurdle. The game had begun.
A/N: Another short one but we're finally getting somewhere!