A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 40: Hostage Situation

Episode Transcript provided by Ariane DeVere/Callie Sullivan

***

"Greg," Alice said as she entered Lestrade's office at Scotland Yard. She was surprised to receive a call from him since she was positive that he was with Sherlock and John all day.

"Alice," Lestrade motioned for her to sit in one of the seats across from him. "You may want to sit down for what I'm about to tell you,"

"I'm fine with standing if that's alright with you,"

Lestrade nodded. "Of course, I called you here because we have a difficult case on our hands,"

"The kidnapping of the American ambassador's children, correct?"

"I take it Sherlock told you about the case,"

"Only that I shouldn't worry. The last I heard from him he was on his way to the school,"

"Well, we found the kids. They were in a disused factory being poisoned with mercury,"

"Oh God, are they alright? Have they seen a doctor yet?"

Lestrade nodded, encouraging Alice to sit down once more. "Yes, and Mr. Bruhl is on his way from Washington as we speak,"

Alice obliged in sat down across from Lestrade who put a file on his desk. "Okay, that doesn't explain why you've called me here,"

Lestrade opened the file and handed her photographs of the kidnapper's footprints Sherlock found in both ultraviolet light and regular sunlight. "I need your opinion on this,"

"Same footprint. When measured correctly, you can easily guess the kidnapper's height and walking pace. But that's not why you've called me here, is it?"

"No." Lestrade then showed her a photograph of a singular footprint under the ultraviolet light. "He managed to find the children using a singular footprint,"

"Knowing Sherlock, he probably took some samples of the flooring with the footprint and ran some tests on them," Alice looked up from the photo and notice Lestrade fidgeting. "You're trying to dodge something. Please tell me what happened when you found the children,"

Lestrade sighed and sat up straighter. "When Sherlock went in to question the young girl- Claudette- she began to scream in terror. We had to remove him from the room. Something about Sherlock reminded her of the kidnapper,"

Alice took a deep breath. "Greg, you're not thinking that-"

"No, but think Donovan is. I just thought you should be prepared for whatever comes next. If she goes to the Chief Superintendant, I'll have no way of stopping her,"

Alice stood up and walked to the door. "Thank you for informing me about all of this, but I know that Sherlock is innocent,"

Greg nodded. "I believe he is innocent too. I just don't want things to get too out of hand,"

Alice gave him a small smile and exited his office. On her way out, she couldn't help but notice the letters I O U spraypainted on the windows of the building across the street.

*

"So there are four assassins living right by our doorstep?" Sherlock asked as he and John entered their flat after watching an ambulance wheel away Sulejmani's body.

"As far as I know, yes. The one that saved you was Sulejmani. Mycroft showed Alice and me his file along with three others. He's a big Albanian gangster or something like that,"

"He died because I shook his hand. He saved my life but he couldn't touch me. Why?"

"I don't know,"