Prompt from V Tsuion: Trying to circumvent a prophesy
"Lestrade! Welcome, Inspector." Holmes' familiar penetrating gaze swept over the Inspector. "A new case, one you have had for two days before coming to see me. What has changed?"
Lestrade wasted no time. "Someone is going to try and kill my children."
I straightened in my chair. Lestrade's voice held no doubt nor amusement. This was clearly a very real and dangerous threat, not an offhand or baseless comment. "Who?"
"Jack Pendethrier. We arrested him and his gang two days ago for forgery, but we believe they had been working towards something much bigger. He threatened my family when we arrested him, but this was no regular threat."
"What was it that he told you? His exact words, if you can."
Lestrade's expression twisted in remembered anger. "His exact words were, 'Mark my words, Inspector, this will be your last Christmas with your children!'"
Lestrade hid it well, but I could see how affected he was by the pronouncement. He kept it quiet at work, but Lestrade was very much devoted to his family, and without them, he would be a different man. Having seen for myself the restorative power of the Lestrades, I could sympathise.
After Holmes' supposed death at Reichenbach, the Lestrades had welcomed Mary and me into their home and their lives. I had been too dazed to realise at first, still lost in the shock and horror of losing my closest friend in such a tragic manner, but I vividly remember that first Christmas, laughing at the children's antics, and only realising when I saw Mary's tears that it had been the first time I had laughed since Holmes had died.