Having put Matthew Reader in touch with Neville Drury, John and Sherlock backed off, arranging for them to contact John when arrangements had been made with Mycroft.
They had given John's mobile as a contact number, knowing the GPS had been disabled on it, and it was a measure of John's trust in Sherlock that he simply handed the phone over and directed him to attach an old blues number, Stranger on the Shore, as Reader's ringtone.
John switched on the television, just in time for the BBC news.
In stunned silence Sherlock walked across to stand next to John's chair, both men drawn to the reports of the bomb incidents.
"Barrymore." John said, his voice little more than a whisper.
"How can you be sure?"
"I know he's after Openshaw's territory, it's been on the grapevine for months, looks like he's finally made his move.
"Will this affect our plans?"
John looked down with a small sad head shake.
"If anything it will help us, because hopefully Openshaw's men will make some kind of stand."
"And that's a good thing?"
"No, just inevitable."
Something in those words made Sherlock glance down at the man sitting beside him.
"What is happening to my London?" John whispered, sorrow heavy in his tone. "Day by day it seems to be turning into Bedlam."