A/N: Thank you to everyone who has been reading. I apologize in advance for the short chapter, but I will update tomorrow, I promise!
tardis-blue-jay: Moran? Up to something? I don't know what you could mean...
Riverdalerider99: I'll try to update daily from here on out, hope you like it!
Once Moran had shut the door Lestrade explained how Moran had come to Scotland Yard from Hampshire. Before joining the police services he had been with the army in Iraq. "He was trained as a sharpshooter. One of the best marksmen I've ever seen. As good as that bloke who shot the cabbie a few years back," Lestrade explained. John couldn't help but smirk at the memory of his first case with Sherlock.
Lestrade began to talk casually with John, hoping to get to the bottom of this new theory. "I have to admit John, this seems a bit...er...out there?" He wanted to be supportive, yet did not want to indulge his friend in an unhealthy delusion.
John began pacing Lestrade's office, making the DI even more nervous. "I know how crazy this sounds, Greg, I honestly do. I thought the same thing at first."
"But?" Lestrade prompted him.
John paused, unsure of how to explain without mentioning Irene.
"But," John continued, "what would you say if somebody told you that Sherlock had helped them fake their death? That he did such a good job that not even Mycroft knew..."
Lestrade was quiet, considering his friend's words. Using Lestrade's silence to his advantage, John quickly added, "it's at least worth looking into, but I need your help—particularly access to files, records, reports—anything you might have from around the time of Sherlock's death."
The DI weighed his words carefully. No matter how impossible the idea seemed, John looked pretty certain. Lestrade was reassured by John's desire to review case files before getting himself into any trouble. "As unlikely as this may be," he said, "I honestly hope that Sherlock is out there somewhere, doing God knows what. I'll allow you access to his case files to see what you can turn up."
"Thank you, Greg. I promise this will not become a circus. I'll revisit the autopsy report, crime scene photos, and have a chat with Molly to make sure that everything reported at the time of his death checks out."
"Alright John, and come to me if you find anything out of the ordinary." As unlikely as that scenario was, Lestrade couldn't help but think, if anybody could fake his own death, it would be Sherlock Holmes.
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