Adventures of Sherlock

Chapter 5: "Sherlock and the Symbols!"

The three return to the flat. Ava sat in a chair behind Sherlock and John as they were staring at the symbols that Sherlock pinned to the mirror.

"So, the killer goes to the bank, leaves a threatening cipher at the bank. Van Coon panics, returns to his apartment, locks himself in." Sherlock says.

"Hours later, he dies." Ava says.

"The killer finds Lukis at the library, he writes the cipher on the shelf where he knows it'll be seen. Lukis goes home." John says.

"Then late that night, he dies too." Ava says.

"Hmm." Sherlock says.

"Why did they die, Sherlock?" John asks.

"Only the cipher can tell us." Sherlock says.

Later, the three are shown walking together in a crowd. Ava runs her fingers through her hair as people, mainly men were watching her. They take pictures of her as if she was a popular celebrity or something. They stop when Sherlock steps in the way of their camera shots. Ava blinks confused at Sherlock's sudden protectiveness as she didn't see the cameras.

"The world's run on codes and ciphers, John." Sherlock explains, "From the million-pound security system at the bank to the pin machine you took exception to. Cryptography inhabits our every waking moment."

"Yes, okay, but..." John says.

"But it's all computer-generated, electronic codes, electronic ciphering methods. This is different. It's an ancient device. Modern code-breaking methods won't unravel it." Sherlock says.

"Where are we headed?" John asks.

"I need to ask some advice." Sherlock says.

"What? Sorry?" John asks.

"You heard me perfectly, I'm not saying it again." Sherlock says.

"Wait, advice about what?" Ava asks.

"Nothing." Sherlock says and John and Ava blink confused.

"You need advice?" John asks.

"On two matters. One on painting. Yes, I need to talk to an expert." Sherlock says as they head around the corner. They walk over to a young teen and Sherlock shows the guy the pictures while Ava takes off her heels. The moments the officers come around the corner, Sherlock, Ava and the guy they were talking to takes off.

Later that afternoon, John returns and Ava giggles as she looks at how angrily John was. He yells at Sherlock and Sherlock was barely paying attention.

"You wanna tell your little pal he's welcome to go and own up anytime." John says.

"This symbol, I still can't place it." Sherlock says. John goes to sit down but Sherlock makes him get up and the three leave again. Sherlock and Ava go one way while John was bound for the station.

Sherlock and Ava go to the bank where they learn of the receipts that Van Coon got. Ava and Sherlock head to the location of the pizza joint and the two start talking to one another before Sherlock bumps into John and Ava almost trips. Both guys grab her by the waist and she giggles as she stands up straight.

"Eddie Van Coon brought a package here the day he died." Sherlock says, "Whatever was hidden inside that case... I've managed to piece together a picture using scraps of information."