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[personal profile] capt_facepalm
Title:  A Haunting in Baker Street
Author: [info]capt_facepalm
Rating: PG
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (or BBC?)
Characters:  Mrs Hudson (and others)
Summary:  Set a few months before A Study in Pink
Warnings:  No warnings need apply
Word Count: 625
Author's Notes: A ghost story of sorts (Beta'ed into submission)



.oOOo.

Constable Murcher sighed.  Today’s young criminals were definitely a stupid lot. Take these four for example: trying to swindle their landlady with some half-baked plan to dress up as ghosts and frighten her away. Mrs Hudson had been completely taken in by their pleasant manners, their concern for her, and their tales of inexplicable sounds and ghostly apparitions. Old folks watched too much crap telly these days, Murcher concluded; sensible people did not believe in ghosts.

The two female suspects were tenants in the upstairs flat, 221B. Their two ‘boyfriends’ were familiar visitors and were treated to the same warm welcome by the doting landlady.  Now, all four were in various stages of being arrested.  One young man was being loaded onto a gurney with one arm and both of his legs immobilised. A young woman wore phosphorus theatre paint and a bloody costume. The other young woman was frothing at the mouth as if she were out of her mind. The remaining suspect just sulked.

‘Oh give it a rest! Ghosts do not exist; therefore, neither do haunted houses. You were caught red handed... er, so to speak... so leave poor Mrs Hudson alone. She isn’t going to be fooled by you any longer!’ Murcher exclaimed in exasperation before leading Mrs Hudson to her favourite chair in her parlour.

‘No, Mrs Hudson, there were no ghosts.  It appears that these young degenerates played a game of dress-up to keep you from finding their meth lab in your basement flat.’

‘They said it was just storage…’

‘Yes, well, they lied and then tried to frighten you into leaving. We found their hidden speakers, a fog machine, and a fancy projector. Good thing they just had to mix in cheap theatrics as well. If the stupid one hadn’t tripped on his costume and fallen down the stairs…’

‘I was pushed!’ the man on the gurney protested.

‘Yeah? By who?’ his accomplice accused as she tried to wipe some of the glowing spectral make-up from her face, ‘We were all downstairs.’

‘Daphne wasn’t! And look what happened to her!’ he argued, gesturing at the one gibbering nonsense.

‘Shut it, you lot! Why don’t you all exercise your right to remain silent?’ The constable roared, then turned back to Mrs Hudson.

‘You were very lucky. If your neighbours hadn’t reported gunshots, we would have never found out what was happening.’

‘Gunshots! In my house! Did you find the gun?’

‘No. They all swear they didn’t have one. We conducted a thorough search. I’m sure you have nothing left to worry about. There are no signs of any damage. Probably just more sound effects.’

Other constables helped the EMS personnel move the miserable foursome outside to the waiting cars and ambulances. In passing, one of the constables collecting evidence commented to the last remaining suspect.

‘Tough break, mate! This stuff is good quality... street value must be several hundred thousand quid!’

‘I’m not your ‘mate’, and we would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn't been for those meddling ghosts!’ the suspect spat as he was led away.

.oOOo.

The apparitions in question stood at the top of the stairway opposite the doors to the first floor flat. They exchanged a congratulatory handshake as the last of the perpetrators was taken away. The taller of the two shades, the one with the aquiline features, lingered for a moment, before returning to the flat.

The other remained, leaning ethereally on his cane, maintaining his vigilance long after Mrs Hudson had finally turned out her lights and had fallen asleep. Only when faint strains of Mendelssohn could be heard did he relinquish his post and drift back into the old sitting room.

.oOOo.

Please sign the ghostbook


Date: 2011-10-26 06:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wirral-bagpuss.livejournal.com
I enjoyed that! :) Ghosts need not apply! :D

Date: 2011-12-15 06:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Indeed! That vacancy has been filled!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Date: 2011-10-26 07:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com
Well, OBVIOUSLY, those people needed to leave... New tenants to be had soon enough that will appreciate those two... ;)

Date: 2011-12-15 06:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Which new tenants might those be?
* whistles innocently *

(Thanks for commenting!)

Date: 2011-10-26 08:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] morganstuart.livejournal.com
Oh, well done indeed!

Date: 2011-12-15 06:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks very much!
(The writing is far less creepy than the author... )

Date: 2011-10-26 09:49 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-12-15 06:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks!
I'm glad it brought a smile!

Date: 2011-10-26 11:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] autumnatmidnite.livejournal.com
*ADORES THIS MADLY*

<3 <3 <3

Date: 2011-12-15 06:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

Date: 2011-10-26 11:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vince-moon.livejournal.com
I enjoyed reading this.

Date: 2011-12-15 06:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Date: 2011-10-27 01:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dork-nerd.livejournal.com
Haha! This is great!

Date: 2011-12-15 06:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
You continue to spoil me! Thanks!

Date: 2011-10-27 03:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jademac2442.livejournal.com
I quite loved that.

Date: 2011-12-15 06:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!

Date: 2011-10-27 06:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] labourslamp.livejournal.com
I approve so wholeheartedly!!!

Date: 2011-12-15 06:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Yay!!!
I wrote it with a couple of friends in mind!
Thanks, my friend!

Date: 2011-10-28 01:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] witch-in-winter.livejournal.com
A very haunting tale. Good work.

Date: 2011-12-15 06:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks!
I could do 'haunting', but not 'creepy' or 'chilling'.

Date: 2011-10-30 01:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] azuhra.livejournal.com
*Snorts* Best haunted flat EVER. That and the tie in with the blatant Scooby Doo metaphors completely made my evening.

Makes you wonder what the ole' boys think of the new tenants, now doesn't it?

Date: 2011-12-15 06:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
What Scooby Doo references might you be referring to?
* whistles innocently *

I think the ole' boys will put up with the new tenants as long as they treat their Mrs Hudson well!

Thanks for commenting!

Date: 2011-10-30 03:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thebeastherself.livejournal.com
Absolutely perfect!

Date: 2011-12-15 06:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thank you very, very much!

Date: 2011-11-06 01:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] only-po.livejournal.com
*howls* Oh I love it!!! Such a turning of tables!

Date: 2011-12-15 06:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Yay! I'm so glad you liked it!
Thanks!

Date: 2011-11-11 10:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldvermilion87.livejournal.com
I don't think I've ever seen the final version of this.

First of all, I love the premise and the conclusion.

Second of all, one of the girls was named Daphe.

:-D
:-D
:-D

Date: 2011-12-15 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Yay!!! (There was a premise?)
I wrote it with a couple of friends in mind!
Thanks, my friend!

Date: 2011-12-15 07:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jademac2442.livejournal.com
Oh that is positively wonderful! I loved it.

Date: 2012-02-15 02:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

Date: 2012-02-23 02:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] agent-era.livejournal.com
Scoot-Dooby-Doooo! *snrk* Nicely written.

Date: 2012-02-23 05:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] capt-facepalm.livejournal.com
Thanks! This one was a lot of fun to write!
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