I. 6 November 2013
Parliament scare halted. Chambers evacuated while teams search out all of the bombs. Forecast: a mixture of sunshine and showers. Prediction: More storms ahead.
II.
How could I have missed it? I must have slackened off after Sherlock's return, assumed that all was safe after Moriarty's network was finished. John Watson was almost burned to death. Burned! Who would have done such a thing and why?
Was it an attack on Sherlock? Was it an attack on me? Have I somehow revealed my weakness at last? The priest, he could have told someone, despite the assurances of confidentiality, there is always a way to make someone talk if one works hard enough. And there are those who know how to exploit such weaknesses when they are found. But who did it? Who?
Moriarty? No. Confirmed dead. I made sure to examine the body personally in this instance. Moriarty's associates? No. Sherlock says that they have all been dealt with. Rival governments? No. It makes no sense for any country to mount a personal attack on me at this time, if it was a personal attack.
III. Assess odds that this is an attack against Sherlock. List Sherlock's personal enemies known to be free, and in the area. List currently numbers 234. Number one...
II.
Ah, here comes Mummy, heaven help me.
IV.
"Mycroft."
"Mummy."
She pats his stomach.
"Your waistcoat getting a bit tight isn't it? You've got to watch your weight you know. You have your grandfather's metabolism and heaven knows he had trouble with his weight. Died at 58 from a heart attack. When they opened him up the arteries were clogged straight through. Sherlock, on the other hand, can't keep a pound on him. He looked like a stick when we were over there, didn't he dear?"
"Yes dear, like a stick."
"Who knows if he was even eating when he was on his trip. He said that he'd call more. Of course he can hardly call less when he hasn't called us at all in two years."
"Things will be better now that he's back, I'm sure Mummy."
"Oh, I think things are already better. That old flatmate of his showed up when we were over. Dr. Wilson? No ...what was it again?"
"Watson. Dr. John H. Watson."
"Yes, that's him. I had never met him before, but Sherlock didn't give us time to introduce ourselves. He pushed us right out the door. I had to stick my foot in it to get him to say that he'd call. He promised though, didn't he dear?"
"Yes, he promised he'd call."
"That's right."
"Dr. Watson, did he seem to be angry at all?"
"Angry? Well, not that I could see. Though, as I said, I didn't see much of him. He seemed very cordial though, and Sherlock was certainly excited to see him. He shoved me right out! It was almost as if he had invited a girl over and he didn't want his mother to embarrass him. Well, it's how I'd imagine it to be. It's not as if he's ever invited a girl over before, or a boy for that matter if you don't count that Trevor fellow. So tell me about the musical that we're going to see."
"Here is the program, Mummy. Have a look. Now please excuse me, I need to give Sherlock a ring."
Mycroft walked out of the room and then sighed heavily before opening his phone.
"What is it Mycroft?"
"I hear you had a visitor. So did the good doctor find it in his heart to forgive you after all?"
"Of course, I told you he would. Is that all? I have guests over."
"Guest?"
"Yes guests. All of us are not solitudinarians like you. And I have things to do today."
"Ah yes, the press announcement. Your public declaration that you are not dead. A bit sensational don't you think?"
"It doesn't hurt to get a little publicity. That's how we make our money, after all. Clients won't know to hire us if they still think I'm dead."
"Us? Aren't you assuming a bit much of the good doctor? He has proposed to Mary by now, hasn't he?"
"Not quite, but that won't stop him working with me. He shaved off that silly mustache for me after all."
"Did he? The mustache is gone?"
"I'm surprised at you, Mycroft. Weren't you watching the cameras last night? I thought for sure that you'd review them after we stopped Parliament from being blown sky high."
"I was busy! a number of people needed calming after realizing that they had been sitting over a bomb."
"Well, you'll see us on the news after you get back from Les Mis. Have fun!"
"Sherlock, you can't force me to sit through an entire opera with Mummy, you just can't!"
"You promised."
"Please. You are much better with them than I am. I can send a car."
"And deprive Mummy of your company? Impossible. Goodbye Mycroft."
"Sherlock!"
The phone clicked closed.
"Mycroft! It's time to go. You know father needs time to go to the washroom before it starts. His bladder isn't what it used to be."
"What it used to be."
"Oh Dear God!"