Newspaper editors have clearly been so overwhelmed by the previous evening`s events, reflects John Watson, that they`ve almost had apoplexy out-headlining each other that morning.

`SOLAR`S LAST STAND`

`SNOW AND ICE: TV DETECTIVE`S DRUGS DEATH SHAME`

`DYING DETECTIVES: SOLAR DEAD – WILL SHERLOCK PULL THROUGH?`

`DEADLY SECRETS AT POLICEMAN`S BALL`

Etc. etc.

"They`ve missed a chance there," remarks Mary Watson, loading up a tray to take upstairs.

"Unlikely – but do go on."

"`Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the MEASLES`!"

As an avid blogger and lover of a killer headline, John is suitable impressed by his wife.

"Kudos, Morstan." He reflects. "Tragic drugs overdose aside; am I wrong to find the idea of Sherlock Holmes catching a mutated form of the measles virus from his own son, absolutely hilarious?"

Mary hoists up the tray and hands it to Molly, who has just entered the room with her fragrant swishiness still in evidence.

"Not wrong at all, husband. Bless him – he was proper poorly last night, Deffo measly, then, Dr. Hooper?"

Molly, taking the tray: "100% measly. 104 temperature last night; Koplin`s spots in the mouth; dry cough; light sensitive eyes – the spots coming through as we speak."

"Spots. Funny. Spotty Sherlock. HOW did he miss having that as a kid? Doesn't it come with the territory?"

"It`s HOLMES boys we`re talking about here folks. Can you see them mixing with other kids long enough to pick up a germ or two?"

"Hmm….Maybe a punch or two, though."

Molly smiles at the Watsons` easy rapport – fab double act potential there – and carries some tea and paracetamol upstairs to her sick boy.

Blurred, then sharply into focus. The particles lie innocently enough beneath the slide. Yellowish-grey and roughly hexagonal shaped.

"Crystallised, from a liquid … organic, of course. Maybe a sap?"

Molly Hooper puts her hand on Sherlock`s shoulder and peers into the microscopes lenses.

"Just got the distillation works back. It was definitely added to the coke."

Sherlock turns sharply, looking at her intensely. Molly`s heart jumps pleasantly, but she continues.

"A bulking agent…?"

"Or maybe…" Sherlock resumes at the microscope. "A murdering agent."

Like old times, John Watson sits opposite his friend in the tartan-blanketed chair. Unlike old times, Molly Hooper sits in the window seat, feeding her and Sherlock`s baby son. Gotta love those sudden, terrifying lurches into the future … sometimes.

"Death from asphyxiation. Dilation of pupils; shaking and muscle spasms; over-production of saliva to cause frothing…"

"Surely, symptoms of cocaine overdose."

"No, John. I did the autopsy. Sherlock also found it in the traces around the nose."

"`It`?"

"Cicutoxin. It can do catastrophic damage to the central nervous system." Sherlock stopped to cough and scratch his left shoulder.

"A very nasty little poison and certainly not the `rush` Lars Lamstraud was looking for, fifteen minutes before taking to the podium."

"Are you saying he was – murdered?"

"Almost certainly. I have made many a detailed study of violent neuro-toxins – "

"As you do…"

"As I do. If you were only to familiarise yourself with my – "

"Blog? Maybe someone did, and got a few ideas on how to finish off a slightly annoying, Scandinavian TV detective."

Sherlock Holmes sits back and tents his fingers together beneath his mouth, and allows his friend to finish. Then -

"Cicuta douglasii or the Western water hemlock, is a poisonous plant in the family Apiaceae. It grows in wet places such as marshes, stream banks, meadows, and wet pastures. The main distinguishable characteristic is its toxicity. Cicutoxin is the toxin that is produced, making it the most poisonous plant in North America. It`s a yellowish liquid that is prevalent in the roots - an unsaturated alcohol that has a major impact on the central nervous system of animals. Early symptoms of poisoning include excessive salivation, frothing at the mouth, nervousness, and incoordination. These symptoms can turn into tremors, muscular weakness, seizures and respiratory failure. Very small amounts, about 0.1% of a person's body weight, can lead to death."

A breath.

"This scary information stored up there in your Mind Palace?"

"This was the substance Molly and I found mixed with the cocaine."

Molly and I. Atta boy.

"My god – have you…?"

"The Yard has been privy to the findings. It is not so much the how that is a puzzle to me, now, John." More scratching. "It`s the why? Dull fella, but pleasant enough. No debts; wronged spouses; only a light-weight drugs habit. Collected snow storms; always learnt his lines. Harmless."

"Big fan following. Obsessive fan? Some of the fan art and fiction is quite…intense."

"Mycroft`s `Haystack` software found no reference or threat of any kind on the fan sites."

"`Haystack`?" John knits his brow.

"As in `finding a needle in a - ` Saves me no end of time. Sifts through data in a nanosecond. It`s no Mind Palace though." Sardonic smile.

Sherlock unfolds his legs from under him and walks, a little slower than usual, to his desk. John wonders, for the twentieth time, if he should be up and about so soon, but keeps his trap firmly shut.

Sherlock pulls a card from his drawer, throwing it to him. "Found it on Mr. Lamstraud. What do you make of it?"

Looking down, John sees a small business card with a small set of wings in the centre. The typeface is plain and black. Calibri or Calibri light?

Angel`s Wings

Trust. Confidence. Integrity.

Discreet Courier Service

For your every need.

Celestial discretion our speciality

And on the reverse:

Can be a Heavenly host for Needs the world Over

Tel : 07322 43277

Quote Ref: 17-21-04

"Telephone number?"

"Unobtainable."

John considers.

"It doesn't really tell us anything - " Almost as soon as the words are out, he remembers who he is with and wants to shove them back into his mouth.

"Ah, John, it tells us plenty!"

"Go on then."

"Sample of the paper pulp of the card shows residue of the sap from Tachigali versicolor, which is a species of tree found in western Colombia. It is monocarpic, flowering only once before dying, which gives rise to its common name of the `suicide tree`."

"Lovely."

"Colombia – a predominantly Roman Catholic country with strongly religious influences. Angels and similar icons used commonly there."

Sherlock walks across and takes the card back from his friend, studying it`s reverse more intently.

"But the back is where we get the most – fun. Strange tag-line or slogan: `Can be a Heavenly host for Needs the world Over.` Slightly odd English, in-line with the Spanish feel – but the capitalisation caught my eye. Random? Yet not."

Sherlock sits on the arm of John`s chair.

"Look, the C, the H, the N and the O are all capitals. Then, look at the reference number. 17-21-04. Simple really, when you have it all there."

"You`d think so, wouldn`t you. So, it means...?"

"It means I am a graduate chemist and have a periodic table in my bedroom. Pair the C with the 17, the H with the 21, the NO with the 4 and you have the chemical compound for – "

"Cocaine," says Molly Hooper, from the window seat.