Smith and Holmes Chapter 1

AUTHOR'S NOTE: for Sherlock, this is set after the resolution of the Reichenbach Fall, so there will be no deliberate spoilers, save one or two lines which contain a small nod to the cliff-hanger and for The Doctor, this is set after The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe, so no major spoilers at all. 


CHAPTER 1: Meeting

"I hate you, you know."
"I know you do, but please put that aside and help us with this case."
If you ever see Sherlock Holmes he is either A) Bored, B) Annoyed or C) Frustrated. At this moment in time he was now dragged over to Nashville, Tennessee to help Lestrade with a very perplexing murder case, just two days after "returning". Even Sherlock Holmes misses his bed.
"Right," began Dr John Watson, Holmes' companion and regular blogger of their adventures. "Victim is in his late twenties, Caucasian; preliminary findings see no stab or gunshot wound so C.O.D. is internal; possible drug overdose…"
"We checked his medical records," Lestrade said. "He wasn't taking anything."
"Anything?"
"He is completely clean."
"I find that hard to believe," Sherlock interrupted.
"Well, believe it. Here's the proof." As he spoke, Lestrade handed Holmes a sheet of paper upon which the corpse's medical record was printed.
"His name's Sydney Lambert. Intern at Armed Forces; last year in the job. After it finished, they were going to take him on as proper staff. Clean mental health, no signs of depression. Only criminal record: stealing a television from an electronics store, due to peer pressure; spent three days in a cell, set him straight. No grudges against anyone, and takes regular community service whenever he can."
Lestrade joined John and Sherlock in kneeling down beside the body.
"So who would want him dead, and why?"
Sherlock stared hard at the cadaver, his brow wrinkling. John looked at him. He was confused. Really confused. He had only seen this once before, when they were investigating "the woman". She was the first person to outsmart Sherlock Holmes, and now the only person to do that and still be alive.
"What's the matter?" Lestrade asked, noting the sheer look of annoyance on his friend's face.
"I don't know what happened."
John's eyes widened, and so did Lestrade's when they heard Sherlock utter these words.
"What did you say?" the other two men said in unison.
"I don't know what happened. There's no physical evidence; the police haven't even touched this place and it's clean."
The other two men now looked at the detective with the mouths slightly dropped. They knew that if Sherlock Holmes couldn't solve it, then they were in big trouble.
"Perhaps I can help."
The three men did a double take upon hearing another voice coming into ear shot. They saw a man, no older than thirty, messy hair, tweed jacket, black pants, boots and a silly looking bow-tie.
"Who are you?" Sherlock asked.
"I'm you new undercover agent on loan from Scotland Yard," the man answered, handing Sherlock a large, ID sized wallet, which he opened.
"Codenamed 'The Doctor'. I'm here to help out with this crime…"
"Who are you really?" Sherlock interrupted, showing 'The Doctor' the wallet. "The paper in this is blank."
The Doctor looked at the wallet and then at Holmes. "Oh, you are good. Right, I can trust you. What about the other two?" he asked, noting Watson and Lestrade.
"They're okay, you can trust them."
"Right, in that case, still call me The Doctor, but NOT Doc, I hate people calling me that, it's annoying."
"Right, well this is Detective Inspector Gregory Lestrade of London Metropolitan Police, this is Dr John Watson, my companion, and I'm…"
"Sherlock Holmes," answered the Doctor.
"So you've heard of me?"
"Yes, I've seen the website. Both of them."
"Okay, but one question before we continue. Can we trust you?"
The Doctor stopped and stared at Sherlock before giving him his rather lengthy answer. "Your name is Sherlock Holmes; your address is 221B Baker Street. You have a flat share with the doctor, payable to Mrs. Julia Hudson who runs the restaurant below your flat. You have a brother, Mycroft, who works in the Government and never defended you when you were younger and being bullied. You are not a man for relationships but there does seem to be one person in your life you admire. You describe yourself as a consulting detective and a high functioning sociopath and recently you did what many people thought was impossible."
"Which is?"
"You fell."
Sherlock looked at the man and felt stunned. So this is what it feels like, he thought to himself. After much deliberation in his mind, he was asked the question again. "Do you trust me?" asked The Doctor again.
Finally Sherlock gave an answer. "I'll trust you. Just never do that again."
"Not a fan of your own medicine, eh? All right. So do you know who did it, then? The murder?"
"No. Who?"
"The only thing I know is this. The killer is not human and not of earth."



BRING BRING.
BRING BRING.
The noise was unmistakeable. The phone was ringing. He checked the caller ID. NUMBER BLOCKED, it said. It's him, he thought. He picked up the device and spoke into it.
"Yes?"
"Is the plan proceeding?" asked the caller.
"Yes. The student has been dealt with. I have the memory stick."
"Excellent. In that case I have your next assignment…"
"Not yet. You have to keep up your side of the bargain."
"Don't worry. It is done. He is free."
"Good. Send him here and he will find your next item."
"Why?"
"I cannot be seen to act in this. Not with "him" walking about."
"Don't worry. As smart as he is, he will not be able to trace this back to us."
"Okay, what do you require?
"At the local museum, there is a diamond exhibition. One particular diamond is all I require. I will send you the details via e-mail. I hope you trust this man."
"I trust him with my life."
"Which one? I saw what you have done. How you have fooled the world. And how "he" has."
"Well, now I will fool him again. I am the only man who has ever outsmarted him."
"I believe there was another."
"I said I was the only "man"."
"I see. Well, your friend should be there by now. I will talk to you when the diamond is in your possession. Do not fail me."
And the phone hung up. He put the headset back on the pedestal and strolled towards the door and opened it. Surely enough, there he was. The friend, about to knock on the door. "Hi, boss."
"Hello, old friend."
"Thanks for busting me out."
"It wasn't me."
"Who was it then?"
"He wishes to keep himself anonymous to us right now. But soon he will make himself known to us."
"Okay, so what are you up to?"
"A plan. A plan to outsmart "him" once again. And I'll need your help."
"What do you need?"
DING.
"Ah, the e-mail's arrived. This is what is required of you."
Right, local museum, small diamond, discovered in remains of English mansion, Christmas 2009, unregistered, no history. Seems simple enough. What does he need it for?"
"I don't know yet. But this appears to be the last thing he needs us to acquire. He has promised to tell us his plan when we have the diamond."
"And how will this outsmart "him"?
"Our client has given me a weapon. A weapon not of this world. I have used it to deal with a youth who held what we required. Not a single mark was left on him. Not a bullet hole, not a fingerprint, nothing. Even "he" will not be able to solve this. And while he and the police are on a wild goose chase, we sneak in and retrieve the diamond."
"That is brilliant. Right, I'll go get this diamond. Mind if I borrow the weapon in case I get into bother?"
"All right, but don't go trigger finger on it. That will lead it back to us."
"Okay. Wish me luck."
"I will, Colonel."
"See you, boss."
And like that, the colonel strode through the door and off on his task. The boss now remained, on his own, in the dark and quiet. Knowing he was totally alone, he whispered to himself.

"I'm coming to get you, Sherlock Holmes…"