Our Mind Palace // Sherlock BBC|Psych USA

2 | That Story John Reads

Dr. John Watson sat in his armchair in the 221B flat. In his lap was his copy of From Serial Dater to Serial Killer: How Murder Kept Me Skinny by Yang, open halfway through.

Dark circles under the eyes.
New from last night. Didn't have them yesterday.
Hair's a mess. Didn't tend to it this morning like he usually does.
Sherlock deduced that John only started the book yesterday, but clearly hasn't put it down nearly at all. The dark circles under John's eyes and the mess of hair on his head indicate that John stayed up late and kept shifting in bed while reading the book.

But Sherlock had better things to think about than some book. He was too busy either on a case, playing violin, or dazing off into his mind palace. All in all, he was doing too many things to focus on just one. Sherlock's mind would just wander off with attempting to read a book that size. Probably when he gets bored he'll take a look. But for now, John seemed to be more into that ghastly book that the matter at hand.

"John, close that book for just a moment! I have made a breakthrough in the case!"
John just mumbled something along the lines of 'go on' while flipping to the next page.

Sherlock turned towards his display of information pinned across the whole wall. Papers overlapping paper, and strings connecting certain evidence. Sherlock didn't even wait for John to react; he just expected him to listen like he always should.

"It was staring me in the face this whole time. I can't believe I didn't see it at first! Our client was actually..."
Blah blah blah blah... John wasn't listening, because he was reading a rather interesting part. This Yang fellow was truly a genius, but the detective in the book was quite marvelous.
Shaina Spencer reminded John of Sherlock Holmes in a way. The way they deducted things, how they use their mind, and how they were consultants to the police. How stupid to think Sherlock was the only consulting detective in the world when there were others like him. But then again, even Sherlock didn't know that yet.

"...I'm gay."
John looked up at Sherlock in surprise. He processed what Sherlock just said before stuttering out, "I'm sorry... what? You're gay?"
Sherlock rolled his eyes, "I'm not actually gay, John. How else was I supposed to get your full attention? You were too immersed in your book to realize I just solved the case."
Sherlock crosses his arms and turns back to his theory board that was decorated with articles and evidence.

John marked his page before closing the book. He set it aside and raised his hands to show that the book was no longer in them, "Okay then, is this better?"
Sherlock doesn't turn to face John. He just simply mutters, "Better..."
John nods, "Okay then... How did you solve the case?"

Sherlock swirls around dramatically and takes a deep breath. But instead of talking about the case, Sherlock points at the book that John set aside, "What is so intriguing about that book anyway? Everyone seems to be reading it."

John adjusts to the subject change and struggles to find words, "Uhhhhh well... Uhm, it's a very interesting story. It's based on true events. Very... very interesting. You should read it sometime."
Sherlock waves it off, "I don't have time for things like that. It doesn't seem like something that would entertain me."
John leans forward in his seat; showing how into the topic he is. He rants on,
"I actually quite enjoy it. Maybe you would too. Seems like something you can relate to."

Sherlock pivots around to face John with an astonished look, "Relate to? Relate to, how?"

John pauses to think, "Well... Mystery. Serial Killers. Crime solving... You get the idea. In fact, the detective in the story reminds me of you."
"What detective are you referring to?"

John takes a quick glance at the summary of the back of the book. He scans the paragraph until he finds the specific name.
"Uhhh... Detective Shaina Spencer."
"Who?"

"She's a well established detective in Santa Barbara. She caught Santa Barbara's most notorious killer, Yang, which this book is based on."
Sherlock shrugs in indifference,
"Never heard of her."

John shakes his head in disbelief, "I shouldn't have expected you to."
Sherlock notices the John's disappointment, "Am I supposed to know who she is or something?"
John shakes his head furiously,
"No, not at all. But it's just that... Are you sure you're the only consulting detective in the world?"

Sherlock scoffs before turning back to his work, "You doubt me, John. I invented the job of consulting detective. I assure you, there's no one else in this world with the same title."
John picks the book back up and starts to read where he left off before muttering, "If you say so..."
But Sherlock was already too deep into his mind palace to hear.

~~~~~

"John! Pack your bags! We're going out of town."
It was very sudden. John wished he had paid more attention to Sherlock when he was explaining about how the case is related to Dublin. He does recall something along the lines of 'the killer is there.'

John just threw clothes into his bag and headed out the door where a cab was already waiting for them. Sherlock was lagging behind in the 221B flat. Before he exited the room with his packed bags, something caught his eye.

From Serial Dater to Serial Killer: How Murder Kept Me Skinny by Yang was strewn across John's armchair in a very unorderly fashion. Considering the fact that John was technically attached to the book the past couple of days, it was a surprise that he left it behind in such a manner. Perhaps it was because Sherlock rushed him out the door.

Sherlock picked up the book and started to examine it.
7 inches in length.
6 inches in width.
2 inches thick.
Sherlock glanced at the picture of the renowned Yang on the cover, who was ironically, a woman.
Hideous.

Sherlock skims through the summary and memorizes certain information.
Yang, the serial killer.
Shaina Spencer.
Briana Guster.

Sherlock examined the outside, but never opened it. The pages were still a mystery to him.
Sherlock shrugs before stuffing the book into his suitcase. If John would leave it behind so carelessly, then he also wouldn't mind if Sherlock borrowed it for awhile, right? Maybe Sherlock could read it when he gets bored in Dublin.