Sherlock

A few days before meeting John

Someone's interrupting my thinking. Someone's giving me a call and breaking my line of though. I'll bet a twopence that it's Lestrade. I reach inside my jacket pocket and pull out my phone, not even looking at the caller ID.

"Sherlock Holmes." It's Lestrade. He says there's someone down at the station for me. Oh joy. Sighing I get up out of my chair and maneuver around the boxes. I have just moved in. Hopefully I'll find a flatmate before Mrs. Hudson decides to toss me out. I hope it's nothing too domestic, nothing that Lestrade is going to make me do. He's such a ponce sometimes. Sometimes I wonder how he became head detective. Obviously, he's pretty smart, but sometimes the sheer stupidity of him and company just makes me cringe and never want to see the light of day again. "Mrs. Hudson. I'm going out."

"Did you find a flatmate?"

"Not today. Better luck tomorrow?"

"You aren't advertising are you?"

"Not a word." I smile as I hug her and leave the premises. 221B Baker street. It's a prime spot. Luckily I got Mrs. Hudson to cut me a special deal. I hail a cab, "Scotland Yard if you don't mind." Obviously he doesn't mind, he's just a cabby. Oh, dull. The ride is silent and slightly awkward I wish I had someone to talk to sometimes, makes things more interesting. I sigh as I pay the cabby and turn on my heal to the police station. Great. Just how I wanted to spend my day. Pushing open the door I make a noise of distaste in my throat. Sally Donnovan is sitting at the desk. Why? I don't really know or care for that matter.

"Freak."

"Ah. Sally."

"What do you want?"

"Lestrade called."

"What did he say?"

"Some one is here to see me. I assume you've not left the office all day, your blouse is still in tact, usually you have managed to spill coffee all down your front by now. Oh don't give me that, you know it's true. Where's Anderson? He's usually around when you are, it's like he's your dog... Or is it the other way around?" Oh the look on her face is to kill for. Her face is all scrunched up and she looks angry, she looks like she wants to punch me in the face. Hahaha. Oh what fun. She obviously can't punch me, she'd get into trouble. "Where's Lestrade? Don't want to leave him looking for me for too long." Angrily she points to his office, not saying a word. I smile at her, a broad smile that says I know I beat her. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Downing, he's usually quicker when I call. Maybe I should have said it was an odd thing." That's what Lestrade said as I pulled open his door,

"You wanted me, I assume it's important." Lestrade stands up and pulls me inside his office,

"Thank God you've come. This is Mrs. Jane Downing. She needs your help. Will you help?" I look the woman over. Blond hair pinned up in the back, bleached obviously, a neat, woman then. Nicely manicured hands, doesn't work much. Neat suit dress and a small handbag. Black. Most of what she's wearing is black. She's in mourning then. Can't be more then a month. The way she holds herself says she hasn't got children but wishes she had. Something tragic happened recently, something to do with the family then.

"I don't know Lestrade, have you seen her? Doesn't look like anything interesting could happen to this prissy and prim woman." Lestrade punches my shoulder and looks at me,

"Hear her out? You might like it." He gives me a chair and tells me to sit. "I'm sorry Mrs. Downing. Tell him your story and I'm sure he'd like to help anyway he can." I look at Lestrade, he must be thick or something.

"Why can't you do it if you like it so much."

"It's on a closed case Sherlock and I know you love to prove us wrong." I look at this Jane woman,

"I'm sorry begin." She takes a deep breath,

"My husband died at the end of last month. His father died at the end of last year. In his father's will he left the house to my husband, Jack, and then to my younger brother in law, Keith if Jack died without kids. Last month, my husband was found dead on the estate. It was concluded that he had drowned in the pool. He had was found face down in two feet of water, the garden pond actually. He was highly intoxicated and there was no sign of a struggle so they assume it was a suicide. But he wasn't they type to commit suicide so they settled on a tragic accident. I suspect foul play." I lean back in my chair. This could prove to be interesting.

"Who do you suspect?"

"Keith."

"Why do you think he did it?"

"Because he has been after the house ever since his father died. He only comes down from Edinburgh on weekends, but he's always been bitter that he didn't get the house. He's got motive."

"Why won't Lestrade here take the case?"

"It's closed and he has a concrete alibi." I sit up straighter, did she say concrete alibi? Lestrade stifles a laugh in the corner, obviously he thinks it's funny that I find this interesting.

"Concrete? Where was he?"

"Edinburgh."

"You're positive about this?"

"Absolutely. He's even pushed the matter when I've asked him about it."

"Ah. When can I come by the house?"

"I'm free tomorrow if you can get a cab down there."

"I just need a look at the garden pond and then I can leave. I'll be in around noon. When can I meet the brother?"

"He'll be back down tomorrow for something or other."

"So soon? That's good. Very good. This should be exciting." I stand up and shake hands with Jane and Lestrade. Time to brood some more at the flat. It's going to be a boringly useless night. Another one.

The very next day around noon

I step out of the cab in front of the house, paying him a small tip and waltzing up to the front door, it opens with one knock and Jane shows me to the garden. There is a wall next to the pond, separated from a narrow, loose gravel path by a flower bed. There are no windows on the wall so no one could throw anything at the victim. Jack couldn't swim so he could have slipped, fallen in and drowned. Doesn't look like foul play was involved. I knew it was going to be a dull day today. I should have stayed at home. Jane said that Keith will get here soon, hopefully soon, I'm bored and I would like to talk to this brother in law. It sounds like he has motive, but I can't be sure till I meet him. I head into the house, and sit at the kitchen table that looks over the lawn very interesting. Looks like it should be a very productive day. Keith just got out of a car that just drove up. Finally. Something fun to do, time to have a chat with said brother. He meets me at the front door and shakes my hand,

"My pleasure Mr. Holmes."

"Sherlock please."

"Oh. Right. I'm Keith." I gesture to the seat next to me,

"I know. Can we talk?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."

TO BE CONTINUED

Dear readers, I wrote that TBC because I didn't want to finish up this chapter properly. I'll do it tomorrow. The stuff I've got is just too big and I don't want to work on this anymore. For those of you who do follow Sherlock's website, yes, this is the Adventure of the Green Ladder that was one of the most recent cases. He did it right before he met John, hence the 'If brother has green ladder, arrest brother' text message he sent on John's phone. For those of you who do not follow the website, I strongly suggest it because it's a lot of fun: .uk I've got it bookmarked and I visit it when I need some ideas or something. I should have the second part and final part should be up tomorrow.

Until Gallifrey is free,

Time Lord Victorious