...And rounding out our three-chapter-update comes Chapter 18. After the longest chapter, ironically this is the shortest. But a lot happens, so hopefully that's okay.
Disclaimed.
Chapter 18
Sherlock went straight back to Baker Street, ignoring Mrs. Hudson's greeting and taking the stairs to the flat 3 steps at a time. He tore through his bedroom, until at last he found what he was looking for.
He took a quick step into his mind palace, retrieving the memory of what he had seen in the victim's personal items sitting on the table in the morgue. The two objects matched almost exactly. His heart filled with dread as his suspicions were confirmed.
Just then, Lestrade called, giving him three addresses and the name of the rare drug Molly had mentioned in her ranting, just proving Sherlock's fears even more correct. The DI was speaking in the calm, unattached way that he always spoke of cases, but it was different this time.
This time the slow, measured words sounded patronizing and were only a waste of their precious little time, and it set Sherlock's blood to boil.
"Where's Molly?" Lestrade was obviously confused by the panic Sherlock couldn't control. He just kept talking, wasting time asking questions. "The murders. They were too intriguing, too perfectly executed. I should have seen that this was a trap." He practically shouted over the phone, finally stunning the DI into silence.
It only lasted a moment though. Then his friend's voice changed, suddenly quiet and filled with a dreadful anticipation. "Sherlock, what is it? What is going on?"
The change in Lestrade's tone had a calming effect on Sherlock. He ran a frantic hand through his hair as he was finally able to explain. "The murders are focused on women of a certain profile who live in a certain area. Four murders, all within 2 blocks of Molly's flat. In fact, starting outside, and creeping closer to her. The last victim's keys were there in the morgue. They are the same type as Molly's. She lived in her building, on the farthest side from her. Molly flat is the center point. She was always his intended target."
He fumbled with Molly's spare key, the one he had taken without her knowledge so long ago, in his fingers as he spoke. "It sounds impossible, Lestrade, but trust me. If I could fake it, so could he. And no one else plays games quite like this. The burned mark on their necks. He promised he would burn the heart out of me. Of course, it makes sense now. He means her."
There was an audible gasp as Lestrade caught up. "Take John and backup and go to her flat, Lestrade. I will be there waiting. Hurry- there isn't time to lose. Jim Moriarty is back, and he's got my pathologist."
I know I know. I tried SO HARD to keep him out of this. But somehow he just slipped in, and what can I say? He is the perfect villain for this... But tell me what you think, because I am DYING to know on this one.