capt_facepalm

Title: Thames Littoral
Author: capt_facepalm
Rating: PG
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (gaslight)
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, Dr John H. Watson, Inspector Lestrade
Summary: This is an early vignette, situated after A Study in Scarlet.
Warnings: Dialogue fic
Word Count: 230
Author's Notes: For Challenge 006 at

great_tales (a story upon the theme "Character Development")

.oOOo.

Baker Street
Early morning, August 1881

‘Holmes, I’m sorry. I did not realise it was so late.’

‘It is only half seven, Doctor. You are not late. We are, in fact, early. You remember Lestrade?’

‘Indeed. Good morning, Inspector. I apologise for my informal appearance. I did not know Holmes had company.’

‘That’s rather my fault, Doctor. I came unannounced only a short while ago.’

‘Nasty business, I suppose. Another body in the Thames?’

‘Third in as many days, I’m afraid... how did you guess?’

‘From little things, really. You have been up for some time; likely summoned in the early hours of the morning. There is river mud on your boots and trouser cuffs. The other bodies were found at low tide, which has now passed. A third victim confirms the pattern, where the second may have been coincidence. Consulting Holmes at this early hour suggests you are under some pressure to solve this as soon as possible. I read yesterday’s papers. London’s horror at the murder of children, no matter how humble their origins, cannot be concealed... nor can your own. It will be a long day for you. I’ll go and see if Mrs Hudson has put the coffee on.’

‘Right on all counts, Doctor. Mister Holmes, you have created a monster!’

‘He knows my methods, Lestrade. It should come as no surprise that he is perfectly capable of applying them.’

.oOOo.

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