The Case of the Cuddle Chapter 9

Apologies for the late arrival of this morning's angst train, I had to go to the dentist and I was pretty high on the anaesthetic when I got back, so I though I'd better leave posting until I wasn't giggling like a maniac. Anyway, thank you once again for all your reviews, and some important points to remember. I think I may have to add an extra chapter in after this one to take account of what raven612 points out is the healing process. I had skipped an important bit there. So what follows may be logical conclusion? I'm not sure. Its certainly a bridge to the next part fo the story...

Mycroft sat in the Aston on the kerb for a long time, though he had no idea how long, before he managed to fumble out his phone and send a text to John.

Mission stage 2 complete. M

Lestrade emerged from the house. He strode up and leant in, resting his palms on the car door sill as the electric window whirred down.

'You okay?'

'You wouldn't be kind enough to drive me home, would you, Greg? I don't think I'm fit to be on the road.'

''Course,' Lestrade smiled, his dark eyes shining.

The mail flap on the door rattled at 10.55pm two days later. Mrs Hudson thumped out into the hall and picked up the envelope on the mat.

'John?' She called up the stairs. 'John? Someone's dropped in a letter for you!'

The doctor appeared on the landing. 'At this time of night?'

'Don't ask me,' Mrs Hudson said, holding it out to him as she adjusted her dressing gown irritably.

'Mycroft,' came a familiar voice from the flat's lounge. John trotted down and took the letter from his landlady's hand.

'What it is?' She peered over his shoulder as he slid his finger under the flap and ripped the envelope apart. He frowned as he scanned the sheet that was inside.

'Somebody died,' he told her, and mounted the stairs two at a time, leaving her behind, bewildered.

Sherlock was on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket. He had taken to behaving like an invalid since his memories returned, and John had let him, because pampering him made him feel he was doing something useful. He held out a thin hand and took the sheet.

STOP PRESS

READING ECHO FOR PUBLICATION ON THURSDAY 21ST OCTOBER

HEADLINE: LOCAL SOLICITOR FOUND DEAD

Respected local solicitor and well-known charity fund-raiser, James Nicholls has been found dead at his home, Thames Valley Police said last night. Mr Nicholls, 42, who last year organised events that raised more than £200,000 for the children's abuse charity, Childline, is thought to have hung himself. Sources close to the family suggest that Mr Nicholls' wife, Anne, a social worker, had filed for divorce earlier in the week. A post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow, but Police are not looking for any other suspects in connection with the death.

Obituary page 27

Tomorrow, a scratch chapter boffed off in an hour or two before we move on to weightier things...