Chapter Text
12Th March 2013.
“In recent news, a young man, Ronald Adair, was found dead near Park Lane with multiple stab wounds to the back. He was recently accused of being a member of Jim Moriarty’s criminal organization , which was responsible for not only the theft of the Crown Jewels but also the public shaming of local genius detective Sherlock Holmes. Adair, 35, was released from prison 2 days ago; yet, he had failed to report in to his parole officer. Police Investigators at Scotland Yard believe this brutal attack to be homicide though his killer has yet to be identified. Lead DI Lestrade claims Police have reason to believe the suspect is-“
A remote switches off the television.
(9:12 am)
From : SH
To : JW
Park Lane-9:30 am.
---------------------------
(….Calling Lestrade)
GL : Sherlock
SH :Are you at Park Lane?
GL : Yes….I’ve been waiting over half an hour, Sherlock, you know they’ll be taking this corpse to the morgue in 2 hours.
SH : Give me 1 hour.
GL : Stop trying to convince John, Sherlock! He’s said ‘No’ thousands of times, just give up and come here alone. Or bring Molly like you have been, she’s pretty good too, you know?
SH : I told you give me 1 hour!!
GL : How are you going to convince him now?
SH : He won’t say ‘No’ this time.
GL : Sherlock…Sher…
--------------------------
13 th March 2013.
(9 : 00 am)
From : SH
To : JW
Something big’s going on, it’s about Moriarty. Come at once.
(9: 23 am)
From : SH
To : JW
Lestrade died yesterday. If not for me, then do it for him.
(9 : 25 am)
(Incoming call : John )
JW : Sherlock (gasping)
SH : John
JW : Sherlock…what…what?
SH : John, Lestrade needs you
JW : Jesus
SH : ….
JW : Jesus....fuck!! How…HOW did it happen?
SH : He-
JW : Jesus…oh my god…oh my god.
Silence
SH : John. Ronald Adair, one of Moriarty’s gang members, was back here in London and found dead this morning. Lestrade needs your help ...
JW : …….
John hesitates, taking a moment to absorb the news before releasing a sigh.
JW : …just give me…….give me time.
SH : I’ll wait for you at Park Lane, near the-
JW : No, Sherlock, no! I have to go see Greg’s girlfriend.
SH : We can go together after-
JW : No, Sherlock, I need to go alone, and I need to go now.
SH :…..
JW : I’ll be there as soon as possible.
SH : Okay.
[Greg’s house. 9:45 am.]
John shifts the flowers to his right hand and takes a deep breath before knocking on the front door. A woman opens the door.
JOHN : Jane!
JL : John…..hi…it’s been a long time since I last saw you
John hugs her tightly.
JOHN :Oh God, Jane, I’m so sorry for what happened, I’m devastated.
JL : You’ve heard then…….come in.
John walks inside and into the living room.
JL : Please, sit down.
JOHN : I...I just heard this morning, and I really don’t know what to say, I’m still trying to process.
JL : Yeah, all my friends have said the same thing. It was so sudden, everyone loved him….and I miss him already.
JOHN : He was great, and…I can’t think about all the times he-
JL : He liked you. He was always so amiable whenever you came by wasn’t he? So kind.
JOHN : Yes,…but especially when we we-
Jl : He was kind with everyone.
JOHN : Yeah, everyone…..
JL : And he was always happy, always…..always. And he was clean, too.
JOHN : Cle---…..clean,...yes.
JL : He was already potty trained when we bought him and he we never had to groom him. He’d always lick himself clean like a cat!
JOHN : …… (raising his left eyebrow,still carrying the flowers in his hands.)
JL : He was a brave little fellow, always guarding the house. Every time somebody rang the doorbell, he’d always arrive first.
JOHN : …yes…(looking doubtful)
JL : and he would always jump the sofa to stare out the window when-
(phone ringing)
JL : This must be Greg!
JOHN : ….Jane…I know you’re still shocked by his death, I’m as shocked as you are to be honest, but you’ve got to accept-
Jane answers the phone.
JL : Hello?…..yes…..yes…yes, he’s here.
Jane turns her head toward John
John looks at her with a bit of confusion in his eyes.
JL : You’re at Park Lane, then? Do you want me to send him over?
John finally understands. He throws the flowers on the sofa and puts a hand to his face.
JOHN : That bloody bastard, I’ll kill him. I swear
JL : That was Greg! He asked about you, how did he know you were here?
JOHN : ( smiling sarcastically and nervously) HE!.....who knows….
JL : He must have been the one who told you about poor Charlie.
JOHN : quite……Charlie, right, yes.(licking his lips nervously.)
SCOTLAND YARD. 10:30 AM.
John storms into the department.
‘Sherlock!!!Sherlock!!!’ Everyone Looks up in confusion, their eyes tracing the source of commotion.
John makes a beeline through the policemen, straight towards Sherlock and Lestrade, slamming the door behind him.
‘DEAD?...HE WAS DEAD?’ Looking at Sherlock and pointing at Lestrade.
‘It’s okay now John!’ Sherlock replies. He smiles at John, a hand reaching for his shoulder
‘No!!!No!!!’ John shouts
‘You brought me here because you told me he was dead!! Can you hear me,Greg?’
‘Yes yes, I knew it John’ - Lestrade nods passively.
‘WHAT?’
‘Yes, I knew it! And you two are behaving like children!’ He stands up.
‘Stop bitching each-other and grow up!’
John looks at Greg then at Sherlock.
John sighs, and flops down into a chair. His fingers nervously fidgeting.
Silence.
‘There’s been a murder’ Lestrade continues, sitting back down.
‘Ronald Adair was one of Moriarty’s gang, and someone wanted him dead'
Sherlock peers up at John, ‘somebody who was afraid he could reveal important things about Moriarty.’
‘Moriarty is dead now’ John answers, annoyed.
‘Yes, but you just removed the head of his gang, not his base’ replies Lestrade.
‘And one of Moriarty’s gang is still alive in London. Probably trying to complete his work’ Sherlock adds confidently.
‘You know this means’ says Lestrade.
‘What?’ John asks, glancing between the two men.
‘That somebody wants me,’ Sherlock informs resolutely.
Lestrade and John both shift to gaze at Sherlock.
John leans back on the chair, sighing. ‘Oh dear lord,not again’.
‘Ronald Adair booked a room at the London Jack Inn, you two should go there and have a look’
Sherlock immediately gets up and stalks out the room.
John moves to follow, but Greg interjects.
‘You know we missed you, John’.
John stops and looks at Lestrade
‘And he needs you. You’re better together’
‘I…I..’ John stutters and sighs.
‘It’s just this…it’s a favor…things have changed Greg’
‘Yeah, I know. I’m not saying it’ll be like the old days. I just wanted to let you know that we personally missed you and...,I mean you don’t have to follow him everywhere, like before. You can…have your time. Your life, and when he needs you, you can just give him an hand, right?’
‘…Yes………okay…’ John moves to leave again.
‘John…wait!’ Lestrade follows him and closes the door behind them both.
‘I also think you should forgive him’
‘I know Greg, I know he did it to save me and my life. I know he was away for 2 years to protect me. I’m not angry with him anymore, it’s…..’
‘What?’
‘….I don’t know ,I….I’m still….a bit…..upset that he hadn’t managed it better’
‘We all make mistakes, John’
‘I know. There’s a part of me that wants to forgive everything. On the other hand, I also want to give him a punch in his damn face and tell him how much suffering he’s put me though in the last months.'
‘You’re angry because you didn’t talk to him, not because you didn’t forgive him. You two should talk sometimes, and let off some steam! You can’t pretend, and just leave everything inside you, thinking it’ll go away someday. There are problems that must be solved,and you two can’t go on looking at each other and making up conversations in your own heads, That’s not how friendships work’
John looks at Greg and doesn’t answer.
‘Do it, punch him in the face, shout, cry, but DO SOMETHING John! Sherlock has been back for close to five months now, and you still haven’t talked to him about this. We’ve been out together, with Mary, Molly, he even went to Anderson’s birthday just to see you and be near you! I mean, he just spent the whole evening with that frozen smile of his, staring at you and waiting for something.’
‘……’
‘Do you think I don’t know how much you need him too? Do you think I don’t see you when you check your blog, or read your old cases? Hell, you’ve got a picture of the two of you together in your wallet!!!’
‘I don’t have...‘
‘Yes, you do!’ Greg laughs.
‘I had it when I thought he was dead. I don’t have it anymore!’
‘I know you want to solve cases with him because, you love these little adventures with your best friend…’
‘Yes…I quite like it.’
‘And it’s a beautiful excuse to stay with him’
John moves nervously his hands ‘Yes…right Come on now. He’s waiting for us. He’s probably already gone,’ John looks out the window down the street. Greg shoulders his jacket, and they both walk out the front of the station.
John pulls out his mobile to call Mary.
JW: I'll be back for lunch, alright?
MM: Okay,watch out!
JW: See you
MM: Bye, Love
JW: bye
He hangs up and glances around searching for Sherlock..
‘Sher-‘
‘I’m here’
‘Okay’
Sherlock steps to the kerb.
‘Taxi!’
A cab arrives, and Sherlock wastes no time stepping in, John right behind up, looks up at Lestrade peering into the car. He gives a quick wave and a grin, to the dark-haired man.
‘Call me later,Sherlock!’
The cab speeds off.
IN THE CAB.
Both look outside through the cab windows in silence.
John turns to Sherlock and stares at him determinedly..
‘So….he was dead?’
Sherlock whose still looking out the window, raises his left eyebrow.
‘Lestrade?’
Sherlock turns to face John.
They both start laughing.
‘Fuck…..oh god….’ John laughs.
‘But he was dead. His dog is dead!’
‘HIS DOG! You called me to tell me that Greg’s dog was dead!’
‘Charlie Lestrade….a quite nice dog, as well.’
‘And I had to deduce that you were talking about his dog, right?’
‘Sometimes I overestimate you.’
‘Or you were just trying to trick me into this case?’
‘You’ll have fun. It’ll be entertaining, you’ll see.'
‘One of Moriarty’s gang….if this one is half as clever as you, I won’t be bored for a long time’
JACK LONDON INN HOTEL
John and Sherlock head immediately over to the front desk clerk. He’s a small, portly man who smiles at them effeminately.
‘Hello boys’
‘Good morning’ John smiles.
‘How can I help you?’
‘We’d like to make you few questions about...‘ Sherlock begins.
‘Ronald Adair, right?’ he smiles knowingly.
‘Yes, how did you know?' John stares at the man, clearly befuddled.
‘Look…he signed up with his real name,’ Sherlock interrupts the exchange and gestures to the booking form.
‘Do you know if Adair met someone when he was here?’John asks.
‘No…I’m not aware of him meeting with anyone’
'Well, what did he do here?’
‘He did what people normally do; checked in, went out, came back, then left again.’
‘Adair was killed’
‘He wasn’t killed in this hotel!’
‘Yes, we already know this. Which room had he booked?’
‘Follow me boys. I’ll show you up to the room, N5’
They followed the clerk up the stairs. He opens the door to motions for Sherlock and John to enter.
Sherlock glides in, he jumps up and down, peeks through the curtains, lies down the floor, slides the mattress out of place, and then stalks over into the bathroom.
‘Is your friend always like that?’
‘Yes… always. So, did you notice anything…..suspicious? Did anyone else enter the room?’
‘Yes!’
Sherlock poked his head out the bathroom door ‘Who?’
‘Oh…uh, a man.’
‘When? Why?’
‘He booked this room yesterday’
‘Was this room the only one available?’ John asks
‘No, that’s the suspicious thing, he requested this room. He wanted N5 specifically.’
‘Did he do anything notable?’
‘He came up here, locked himself in the room for the entire day, and didn’t leave it until he checked out and paid early this morning. Strange isn’t it?’
Sherlock leans down toward the floor, looking under the chairs. ‘What’s strange about it?’
‘He clearly didn’t sleep! The room was perfectly made, in fact it’s cleaner than it was before he checked in.’
‘Can you describe him?’ John asked.
‘Ohhhhh sure. He was tall, very tall,…..’ glanced appraisingly at Sherlock.
‘Just like your friend here.’
‘Okay’ John replies.
‘Such an unfortunate face. OH and he was Japanese! And his build was athletic, very athletic.’
‘Aaaand?’ John questioned.
‘Well he did have beautiful blue eyes and...‘
‘His name?’ John demanded.
‘Of course he didn’t sign up with his real name, he must have…”
‘James Tanaka,’ said the Clerk confidently.
John and Sherlock turn to look at each other.
‘Thank you for your help’
Without further discussion, they simultaneously moved to leave the room, ran down the stairs, and out of the hotel.
‘You’re welcome,come back soon boys! We have many accommodations for young gay couples, byeeeeeee' The Clerk warbled after them.
‘I forgot everyone assumed we were a couple’ John chuckled, gleefully.
Sherlock huffed a laugh in reply.
‘Alright, now we’re looking for a Japanese carpenter who—‘
‘Wait…what? A carpenter? How’d ya know he’s a carpenter?’ John asks doubtfully.
‘He disassembled and assembled the whole room in one night. He must be a carpenter. And he was looking for something’
‘The problem is, what he was looking for?’
(Sherlock’s phone rings. Incoming Call -Lestrade)
‘Sherlock.’
‘Lestrade.’
‘Did you find anything?’
‘Yes, Adair met a man before he died.’
‘We already knew this.’
‘No, a different man! This one booked the same room after Adair’s death. James Tanaka.’
‘I’ll look at the archive to see if I find anything about him.’
‘We’re looking for him now. He must know something about Adair.’
‘Good,let me know if you find anything. Wait, Sherlock!’
‘What?’
'What did you tell John?'
'Come again?'
'What did you tell him?.... Oh okay,nothing. Well, I’ll talk to you later.'
Sherlock hung up without a goodbye, and then pulls up the browser on his phone.
‘Hungry?’ He asks John without looking up.
‘Mmmm..yes. Oh god, what time is it?’John asks.
‘2.14 pm.’
‘Shit. I promised Mary I’d have come back home for lunch’
‘Too late!’ Sherlock quirks his mouth into a fake smile. ‘Well, there’s a good Japanese rest-‘
‘No, Sherlock! I told her I’d be home. Sorry, she’s waiting for me.’
‘Call her and tell her you’ll be back later!’
John looks skeptically at Sherlock.
‘No, Sherlock. I’m sorry.’
‘We’re in the middle of a case!’
‘I know…listen, I’ll come back soon. It’s not a big deal.’
Sherlock rolls his eyes in silent reply.
‘I’ll see you later, okay? I’ll call you’
Sherlock follows the smaller blonde as he hails a cab, and keeps watch until it pulls away with John inside.
JAMES TANAKA
(Incoming call – Lestrade)
‘What?’
‘Did you two talk?’
‘What? About what?’
‘Sherlock.’
‘It’s okay. It’s...good.’
‘I still think you should talk to him. I mean...you didn’t even tell him you’re sorry Sherlock.’
‘Don’t need to. He already knows it.’
‘What?’
‘He….WHY? Why are you asking about this?’
‘Because you’re my friend, and John is my friend too. And I saw what he went through when you died Sherlock. I know he cares about you, and I think you two should talk to…..just close this argument forever and come back together.’
Sherlock takes a deep, ragged breath.
‘What should I tell him?’
‘I don’t know. That’s your business. You two know what you went through. So, I think…. uh, ask him to have a private moment and then tell him what you need to tell him.’
Greg paused waiting for Sherlock to protest.
‘I know you need to talk to him Sherlock!’
‘Guess where I am now.’
He sighed, ‘where?’
‘Looking at James Tanaka.'
FROM : SH
TO : JW;GL
I’m going to have lunch at James’ establishment
He stares into of the bar as he pockets his phone and steps through the glass doors.
A perky blonde blocks his path.
‘Hello. Can I help you?’
‘Yes, I’m waiting for a table.’
‘Sure, you can have this one.’
Sherlock sits and tosses the woman a fake smile. ‘Can I get you something to drink?’
‘I would like some coffee, and James Tanaka.’
‘Oh, alright...he’s at the cash register. I’ll ask him, okay?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
The woman moves over to James, and gestures over to Sherlock. James morphs his face into annoyance, as he walks quickly towards Sherlock.
‘Are you from the police or something?’
‘Mmm….Yes. Something like that.’
‘I didn’t kill Adair, if that’s what you want to know.’
‘I already know that. I merely want to ask you few questions’
Tanaka drops into a nearby chair with resignation. ‘He was a friend of mine.’
‘Friend?’
‘Yes. We shared the same prison cell for a while, in Kent.’
‘And why did you enter into his room yesterday?’
‘When he got out of prison, he came to London straightaway. He told me he had to meet someone…a man...he had some evidences with which to accuse him'
‘Who?'
‘I don’t know. He didn’t tell me!’ James harped at Sherlock.
‘But this man found him, killed him, and he took the evidence.’
‘No, Adair was a smart man, he wouldn’t have brought evidence to he meet some guy. He would’ve hidden them somewhere beforehand. Yesterday, I went into his room to find them, but I didn’t discover anything.’
‘I know. You disassembled the whole room in your quest.’
‘Yes.’
‘But, you did find a message.’
Tanaka’s eyes go wide, and he sucks in a breath, unmoving in reply.
Sherlock looks at the man deeply with his hands crossed on his chin.
‘A message Adair gave you, because he knew you would have come to see him. He probably knew someone was out to kill him. So he’d leave a message to help you understand what’s was going on. But it must be hidden, a code perhaps? Something you don’t know the meaning of? He was no doubt afraid that this third party was going to try and kill him. In that event, he needed his assailants information to be available to you, but hidden from everyone else. However, you couldn’t decode it, and now you are the one in fear. Afraid that another knows of this message. That’s why you’re working here. Why you suddenly left your job as a carpenter and are currently assisting at your friend’s bar, and kipping at his place as well. No one else knows you’re here, except them, obviously' He makes a quick flip of his hand in the direction of the blonde waitress. 'Of course, you’ll be at her place this evening.’
The man looks at Sherlock shocked. He takes a long breath.
‘Yes. You’re right….you’re…..perfectly….right’.
Sherlock smiles proudly. ‘I know. It’s my job.'
JOHN’S HOUSE
Mary is washing up the remains of lunch, while John sits idly at the table, methodically finishing a sandwhich.
‘Did you talk to him about….?’
‘Mmm…no,not yet. We were busy with a case. I didn’t have time to talk to him, but I’ll tell him later’.
‘What do you mean?’
John looks up at her.
‘I mean, I must talk to him anyway about the other things…’
‘Oh, so you did remember it?’
John grins, ‘Yes, of course dear.’
Mary smiles back, ‘how’s the case going?’
‘Good….’
‘Are you happy you’re back in the battlefield, John Watson?’
John smiles ‘Yes Ms. Mary…tonight I’m going to tell him….’
‘Really Tonight?’
‘Yes...I mean…it’s time. I think…’
Mary comes back at the table and takes the now empty dish.
‘Would you like anything else?’
‘No thanks love’
‘Rice?’
‘No, no, thanks. I’m stuffed.'
FROM : JW
TO : SH
I’m coming, where do we meet?
(4:02 pm)
SH :
I’m at Baker Street now. I need to think.
(4:04 pm)
JW :
Okay…how was lunch with Takana?
(4:05 pm)
JW :
Tanaka.
(4:06 pm)
JW :
Ok, I won’t disturb you…can I come tonight?
(4:06 pm)
SH:
Here? To Baker Street?
(4:07 pm)
JW :
Yes. I’d like to talk.
(4:08 pm)
SH :
Why?
(4:08 pm)
SH :
You need to talk?About what?
(4:10 pm)
JW :
Nothing really, don’t worry, it’s just…I think we need to talk.
(4:12 pm)
JW :
Just…you know, have a chat.
(4:22 pm)
JW :
I’m coming anyway,see you later. :)
(4:23 pm)
SH :
Why do you add ridiculous nonsense smiley faces
(4:24 pm)
JW :
Because I know they annoy you :)
(4:25 pm)
JW :
:) :) :) :) :) :)
:) :) :)
:) :) :)
(4:26 pm)
SH :
Stop it.
(4:28 pm)
JW :
:P :^ :O :D :/
(4:30 pm)
JW :
%-^) Pablo Picasso
(4:31 pm)
JW :
^5 High five
(4:31 pm)
JW :
~:-\ Elvis
Sherlock looks at whatsapp messages and rolls his eyes,taking a long breath.
Then he looks again and smiles.
(4:33 pm)
JW :
#:-o Shocked
(4:33 pm)
JW :
%(|:-) Propeller-head
(4:36 pm)
JW :
(:| Egghead
(4:36 pm)
JW :
7:^) Ronald Reagan
(4:37 pm)
SH :
Who?
(4:38 pm)
JW
Ronald Reagan!!
(4:40 pm)
JW
(4:39 pm)
SH
Ahhh…that actor who played in the western movies
(4:40 pm)
JW
No, that’s John Wayne, Sherlock. This is Ronald Reagan.
(4:41 pm)
SH
Who’s Ronald Reagan
(4:43 pm)
JW
This is John Wayne.
(4:45 pm)
SH
Okay, stop it now! I don’t care!
(4:49 pm)
SH
See you tonight.
(4:53 pm)
SH
Around 7 pm.
(4:57 pm)
SH
Don’t be late.
(5:05 pm)
JW
(5:03 pm)
SH
I hate you.