A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 31: You Saw What You Expected to See

AN:  Episode Transcript provided by Ariane DeVere/Callie Sullivan
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"You are amazing! You are fantastic!" Sherlock yelled as the two walked through Grimpen Village.

"Yes, all right. There is no need to overdo it," John laughed.

"You've never been the most luminous of people, but as a conductor of light, you are unbeatable,"

"What?"

"Some people who aren't geniuses have an amazing ability to stimulate it in others," Sherlock said as he took out his notebook.

"Hang on, you were just apologizing a second ago. Don't spoil it," John paused, admitting his curiosity. "Go on, what have I done that's so bloody stimulating?"

By now the two where right outside the pub and inn. Sherlock held up his notebook to John.

HOUND

"What about it?"

"What if it's not a word?" Sherlock took back his notebook and wrote in it again before showing John the page again. "What if it's actually individual letters?"

H.O.U.N.D.

"You think it's an acronym?"

"Absolutely no idea," Sherlock turned towards the pub door and his attitude changed immediately.

Standing at the bar was a casually dressed suntanned Detective Inspector Lestrade.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sherlock demanded.

"Nice to see you too! I'm on Holiday, would you believe?" Lestrade asked, happy to have annoyed the consulting detective.

"No, I wouldn't,"

"Hello, John,"

"Greg," John acknowledged.

"I heard you were in the area. What are you up to? You after this 'Hound of Hell' like I saw on the telly?"

"I'm waiting for an explanation, Inspector. Why are you here?"

"I told you: I'm on holiday,"

"You're already tan. You've clearly just gotten back from your holiday,"

"Well, I fancied another one,"

"Oh, this is Mycroft, isn't it?"

"No, not exactly..."

"Of course it is! One mention of Baskerville and he sends down my handler to spy on me incognito. Is that why you're calling yourself 'Greg'?"

"That's his name," John commented, amazed that Sherlock still couldn't remember Lestrade's first name.

"Is it?" Sherlock asked, frowning.

"Yes," Lestrade replied. "Look, I'm not your handler and I don't just do what your brother tells me,"

"I invited him," A familiar voice said. Walking towards the group was everyone's favourite American.

"Alice, what are you..." Sherlock began to say before she cut him off.

"I leave for one week to attend a wedding and you break into a military base?" Alice asked Sherlock. "Imagine my surprise when your brother called me on my cell phone in the early morning to tell me that I was needed back in England immediately and that a plane was coming to get me later that morning!"

"Sorry about that," John added. "I was surprised too,"

Alice rubbed her temples. "And out of all places, you break into Baskerville? What's next? Area 51?"