COD (Cause of Death): Unknown
t.
The ribbon had been quite significant unlike what Molly had originally thought. The markings still needed to be decoded but the place she was now lurking about with Sherlock Holmes was familiar. So, familiar that it made her look at him quite oddly over the fact that he knew of this place.
It was a small antique shop that was in the slums of London, right on the very edge of the border of the next town. Molly had found it during her first years of living in London. It wasn't exactly a chance that she should of found it. It was dumb luck. Molly had gotten lost at the time and somehow had found herself there.
She had been quite afraid at the time. There were many dark shadows and not being used to these kind of people yet she rushed to find some sort of solace; a safe haven until she could find a way out of there. That was when she found the small shop. It looked the same now apart from the paint job that seemed to have been redone. What had made her feel like it was a safe place then was the same now.
As Sherlock stopped a moment outside not looking at the building more or less the people mulling around it before giving a brief nod and ducking under the threshold due to his height and stepped inside the store. The sound of the bell above the door ringing faded after awhile and Molly went ahead and moved around the detective as he continued to survey the area.
There was much more little doodads around the place. Where the outside of the place made it look small, the inside was bigger. Aisles and rows of sections of trinkets and old things were sitting, hanging and on display for the rare customers. Molly distinctly remembered the old couple who had greeted her that night. They were the owners of the store and as she thought about that very sweet couple they slipped from behind the makeshift curtain that was really only a sheet they used to block the second half of the store.
The elder man was thin and more regal looking than his wife. He wore a pair of brown wool slacks, a white dress shirt with a brown vest the same shade of his pants and the chain of what appeared to be a pocket watch hanging from his pocket. He had gray hair that was slicked back hurried it seemed. His female counterpart was a shorter woman who Molly had seemed to get on with the few times she had found her way back here. She had her hair clipped back away from her face and was wearing a cotton grey sweater with a dark blue skirt that flowed down to the floor. Her feet were hidden but flat shoes were more likely to be her choice in footwear.
Molly watched from two rows away as they approached Sherlock who had just turned to face them. He lacked an expression and it made her wonder whether he was contemplating something or not. She was trying to keep her distance from him now. She was sure she would be tempted to slip past his cerebral barrier again if she didn't. It was fascinating to her as it always had been when she was breathing. His mind that is. The only difference was that she could break through it now. She was back to herself for now.
"Hello." Sherlock spoke up after a few moments of silence. The couple smiled at him before the man approached him. "Sherlock Holmes, I presume. We don't really pay much attention to the news or the papers but a fellow dropped something off for you."
Sherlock who's eyes had seemed more relaxed sharpened into concentration at the mention of another fellow leaving something for him. It had shifted his plans for coming here but he politely nodded as he slipped his hands into his coats pocket. "How do you know I am who you say I am?"
"The lad had given a quite particular description of you. It wasn't too hard to tell from just that. Moira, will you be a dear and get the box for him." The older man turned slightly and gave a small to his wife who smiled back, squeezing his hand before walking back behind the curtain.
They waited a moment for Moira to come back with what appeared to be a medium sized brown box. It didn't have much on it. It fit quaintly in the older woman's hands as she approached Sherlock and he carefully took it in his hands. He didn't give it much of glance as he slipped his right hand into his pocket and retrieved the ribbon he had slipped in it. It was the unmarked one, the one that belonged to Molly. The one his present was wrapped in.
"Are either of you familiar with this?" Sherlock had noticed the way Moira's eyes lit up before he had opened his mouth. She know of it and he had a feeling he knew why but he didn't say anything just yet. He needed to be sure.
"Of course. This is one of the only shops that still carries it. We have a bulk load of it in the inventory. Are you curious about the ribbon itself or is it something else?" The man who he still hadn't the name for asked as he slid his arm around his wife. Not being protective, he noticed just to have her close. These people enjoyed each other's company.
"Isn't it the same? Were there a lot of people that recently purchased some of this ribbon?" He lifted his hand up with the ribbon to signify his point.
"No. Only one person ever comes in for it." Moira was the one who spoke this time. "She is a lovely girl who wandered in here for the first time years ago. She was a bit weary, not being accustomed to the London streets. She liked the color of the ribbon a lot, so she came in every couple months to get another roll. Never more than one, she had a budget I remembered she mentioned that once. Is she in some kind of trouble Mister Holmes?" The woman's eyes much like most of the people he knew were the give way. She was worried. She had cared about Molly, had grown attached to her. That was always the problem.
Sherlock helded back a sigh as he wished he would have brought John along. He wasn't great at doing things like this in a nice way. It was similar to his visit to Nana Hooper.
"No. Not anymore." He spoke slowly as he twirled the ribbon with his fingers before realizing his tedious action and placing it back in his pocket. "Molly is no longer among the living. I was trying...am looking into what happened. She was someone of importance."
Molly just stared at Sherlock. She was sure she had heard him right. Had he actually admitted that? She shook her head as she watched him thank them for their time before making a hasty exit. Molly followed once again as she had to but not before seeing the tears start in Moira's eyes start to trickle down her face. Her husband was quick to console her but after that Molly saw nothing.
Another cab and then they were standing not in front of 221b Baker Street but the back doors of St. Barts. Sherlock was quick about getting to the morgue where Lestrade and John were now. They had joined him as he sat down at one of the stations where a microscope sat. "Find anything?" Lestrade asked as he looked at the box.
"Our murderer is also a thief it seems. No matter, that's almost expected of him."
"What's in the box?" John asked as he looked at it. Not really sure what it could be.
"Patience. I'm getting to it. It was left to me at the antique store I just left."
"Why were you there?" Lestrade asked.
"The ribbon. The ribbon that was left as a clue at the cafe was also on the wrapping of the gift that Molly had given me a couple christmases ago. I went to confirm my suspicions but it seems I have more to worry about now."
"That would be?"
Sherlock had opened the box by then and now was lifting what seemed to be a contraption out of it. "A puzzle." He mumbled as he got ready to unclasp the lock when another compartment slid open. A note was taped on it, which Sherlock moved away. Ignoring it and looked at what was behind it. A coded lock that had a set of six numbers randomly set in place.
7,5,2,0,1,9
The numbers that unlocked it could literally be anything. However, Sherlock knew that when it came to puzzles and when there were criminals behind it there was always a significance to the numbers. He just had to find it. He turned back to the note and grabbed it and read it.
Puzzles are always fun, I happen to know you enjoy them Holmes. The trick to this one is that if you don't unlock it within the next 36 hours something else will set off and it'll be delicious for me. So get to work dear.
Oh! Before I forget all dates are important, some are more important than others.
Tick tock.
- the lurking lurker
A/N: hello there! This one is much better than the last I believe. I hope you enjoyed it. Along with your thoughts on the chapter I have a little contest for my readers. I've placed a few references in this chapter. The first two to get them correct get a sneak peek into a future chapter. I look forward to seeing who finds them the quickest. See you all next week!
3
Much love,
Day