The Last Holmes

Chapter five

“I’m done. Anything else you think I should see?”

Sherlock took off his gloves and slipped them into his pocket, looking at the DI expectantly.

“The en-suite? The door was open and so was the window. We think that’s how the killer got in.”

“Already had a look.”

“Ok, so what have you got?”

Sherlock led Lestrade over to the small bathroom and pointed at the opened window.

“No fingerprints on the handle so the killer must have initially been wearing gloves. However there are fingerprints curved round one of the posters of the bed as if it had been used it to lean on. Mycroft doesn’t usually lean on things so those need to be checked out. And, if the killer was wearing gloves, why take them off? So his hand wouldn’t slip? His footprints are also evident on the windowsill and throughout these two rooms, size 11 feet and around 6 feet tall but with an irregular walking pattern. Because of this and the fingerprints on the bedstand we can guess that he has some kind of limp or disability. There is also a piece of thread caught in the latch that I understand forensics is analysing. So we’re looking for a man with size 11 feet and a limp. Our killer is also either an imbecile or he wants to be caught. Check for any injured soldiers that might have had something against Mycroft or the government. Did I miss anything?”

Lestrade opened his mouth to answer before deciding to keep it closed. It was always a rhetorical question and Sherlock was already making his way to the door with John right behind. The DI followed the pair as they left Mycroft’s home. It was only when they hailed a cab that he spoke.

“I’ll call you when forensics has a match for the either of the prints or the thread.”

He only got a nod from John as confirmation that he had been heard before the two were being driven away.

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“You think it’s some kind of a vigilante killer then?”

As he said this, John glanced in the rearview mirror to see if the cabbie was listening. He was.

“The fingerprints point to that. Well it seems to be an amateur unless he’s trying to become known for this. Being the killer of the corrupt.”

“Was he? Corrupt I mean...”

Sherlock just raised his eyebrows in reply. The cabbie almost strained his neck in his quest to continue to eavesdrop on this juicy conversation. The doctor had to suppress a smirk before responding.

“Ah.”

Sherlock had noted his flatmates expression and deduced the situation. He raised his voice.

“Well he was working on that top secret government scheme.”

The detective then put on a stage whisper.

“All vehicles from 2012 have been fitted with special equipment so they know everything. The Big Brother scheme has officially been put on high alert.”

John could tell from the startled face of the driver that this had really hit its intended audience. The rest of the ride home was spent in silence and the pair held in their laughs until outside 221B. The doctor erupted first and his chuckles were infectious to the detective, who soon startled laughing himself. Only when they eventually stopped did John ask.

“What made you tell him that?”

“The car was almost brand new and manufactured in 2013. He was having an affair and a supplier of cannabis. All the signs were there.”

John had started laughing again. He was glad to see his friend completely back on form.

“You are brilliant!”