Sherlock got an envelope in the post today. I didn't think much of it. His birthday's coming up, after all, and it had balloon stickers on it. Glittery ones, even. I did check with his mum, because he doesn't generally get cards, but there are a number of people it might've been from. Mrs Holmes said to let him open it. I could tell she was doing what I'd been doing - weighing the risk against letting him be a normal kid excited to get mail of his own. And he was so excited he nearly burst on the way home.
It was a birthday card. It's got a bug on it, so someone clearly knows his taste. Inside the card were photos of Lestrade, obviously taken by someone who'd been following him on his bike-less commute recently. Some were taken from quite close up.
Sherlock was mainly confused and thought it was a very silly thing to send him for his birthday. I am... Well, I think you can imagine. Lestrade is on his way home.
It was a birthday card. It's got a bug on it, so someone clearly knows his taste. Inside the card were photos of Lestrade, obviously taken by someone who'd been following him on his bike-less commute recently. Some were taken from quite close up.
Sherlock was mainly confused and thought it was a very silly thing to send him for his birthday. I am... Well, I think you can imagine. Lestrade is on his way home.
125 comments:
OMG gentlemen :-(
I hope Lestrade is home soon so you can be together.
I hope Sherlock is ok and that you and L are as ok as you can be once you're together.
Thanks. Sherlock, at least, doesn't seem too disturbed about it right now.
The sender may have made a mistake now, with all the cameras I bet Mrs H has access to. With timestamps. Get 'im!
Sherlock very carefully put the pictures and envelope in a freezer bag and then took his own fingerprints for epimination, exactly like he learned in the talk I did at his school.
We're very proud of him for being so calm.
I'm glad Sherlock is OK right now, he's one hell of a tough cookie :-)
Oh good lord. That's very disturbing.
I hope Lestrade's home now, and that you're both as OK as you can be.
He is home. We're... I don't know really.
Well done, Sherlock, good thinking!
I'm sorry I ripped it a lot when I was opening it. I didn't know the envelope part was going to be important.
You did an amazing job Sherlock, great thinking you really are a very cleaver boy :-)
None of us knew that, Sherlock. There was no way to know. You did a great job afterwards with the bag, and you were very calm about it. Thank you.
Well, Sherlock, there really was no way to know the envelope part would be important later. I'm pleased that you put it all in the bag - excellent job being so calm and logical about it all.
I know you adults are likely disturbed by it all - I hope it gets cleared up soon.
Tell you what, Sherlock, Sally said she'd take your fingerprints, for the real investigation. You can come to the yard, if you want to, and do it? If your mum doesn't mind.
Yes! Can we do it right now?
Oh, goodness. I'm glad Sherlock wasn't too disturbed by that, but I can't imagine how shocking it must have been. Was it sent to your address? I hope you're all doing as well as you can.
Not right now - Sal's due to go home! But tomorrow sometime, if everyone says it's okay.
Maybe a cheek swab, too. And John needs to do the same, dabs at least. But you can go first and then check he's doing it right.
Make up for such a crap present, huh? Who'd want pictures of me for their birthday? (Don't answer that, John.)
Maz - yeah, disturbed doesn't really begin to cover it. I mean, I'm no secret agent, but I thought I was being reasonably careful. It all makes a horrible sort of sense, though. If you know where I work, make it so I'm taking public transport...well, not hard to follow me, on a crowded tube, is it? I just...I dunno. Hopefully there'll be a lead this time.
Glad you're home, Lestrade. This is getting beyond a bloody joke.
Sherlock, everyone's said it, but well done, especially realising/remembering your prints would be needed for elimination.
I want to come and be able to stand guard on you all, I suspect a lot of us do. It sucks not being able to help, although if positive thought can do anything...
Lancs. Anon
Good job doing all the right things, Sherlock!
Hang in there, guys. The more this person sends you, the more you have to work with--hopefully something will show up.
Well... in slightly good news today, the law on domestic abuse has been changed. Now includes threatening behaviour and coercive control. And applies to 16 and 17 year olds. Good steps.
Of course, the police service and charities are so drastically underfunded that widening the definition will have a limited impact, but I'm still glad it's a move in the right direction.
No idea what made me think of that...
Limited impact is still impact--and they sound like VERY good steps.
That is good news.
That is pretty good news Greg :-) a nice piece of information in a not nice day I guess.
I hope the evening is going OK for you all and that talking is going on (or will after a certain person's bedtime) not active non talking.
AnonyBob - there's talking. I mean, well, we're a bit lost really. It's not like there's a direct message. I'm trying to remember what I was wearing each day, when the photos were taken, where they were taken. Hopefully there'll be some info we can get from CCTV or something.
Very practical stuff Greg and the perfect way to look at it all I would think from your point of view. Any way you can narrow things down gives you a better chance of catching the freak!
I know you're a strong pair and will work your way through this until its sorted but I worry about you ya know.
Do you want a drink? Because I am having one. And you'd better tell me not to follow you to work tomorrow, because I'm tempted.
Yeah, that'd be good.
And I think you're welcome to. I just... are they just following me to get to the boys? To get to you? Following me just...well, because it's me? I feel terrible. What if they're after the boys and I've just basically led them to our front door?
Its not like you've done anything reckless, none of this is anyone's fault, please make sure you remember that, you can't become a recluse, apart from anything else it wouldn't help!
Lancs. Anon
I just have no idea. There was nothing else you could've done though, short of not going to work altogether. It's really not your fault.
Logically, even if they are trying to get to the boys, our flat is the very last place they'd want to do it. We're better protected here than anywhere else. But logic doesn't always seem to apply with people like this.
I suspect they've known where you live for a while now.
Have you considered the possibility that someone is trying to distract you? To keep you from being able to concentrate on some case your team is working by making you worry about John and the boys? Because that's what it feels like to me -- a big shiny distraction. (I don't mean that it might not escalate, but I do think that the very mysteriousness of the whole thing is meant to keep you from being able to think about other problems.)
rsf (who has had to re-enter this comment three times now...)
Oh, no you don't, DI Lestrade! First, you have no idea what or whom this individual is after. Second, blame goes on the one doing wrong, not on the one doing everything right. It's not like you go around posting "follow me" signs, or even are careless, so do not go there! (Please.)
(Ha, rsf, I was thinking something like that, but couldn't think how to phrase it.)
I’m really not being flippant Greg but if it rains tomorrow it will not be your fault and in the same way this is not your fault.
Look after yourself and your boys and let them look after you as well OK?
Lancs - don't worry, the Met wouldn't let me be a recluse. They wouldn't be getting their money's worth.
RSF - I haven't really had one case that I'm working on during this, cases come and go.
RR - well it feels pretty careless, right now.
John - you're right. I'm not worried about the flat, exactly. I suppose I'm just worried about the opportunities it offers for now following anyone coming or going from here. Just... be careful. More careful. And we'll need to talk to Mrs Hudson, too.
Yeah. That part is...not ideal, obviously. But there's also not much to do about it, except, as you say, be careful. Which we will be.
I did talk to Mrs Hudson about possibly getting the other Mrs H to provide an escort for her while this is going on, but she won't hear of it. And it probably would be an overreaction. I just worry.
You took all reasonable precautions, including not saying on here where you were going to be, and that's all you could be expected to do under the circumstances. Please take this the way I mean it--but no one can see the future. All we can do is deal with it.
Maybe Mrs H would agree to escort you and Sherlock around, fight off bad guys, karate chop wrongdoers...
We are still going away for my birthday aren't we? Even if no one knows where we're going even you or anyone before we go there. We could just go to the airport and get a plane to anywhere and then no one would know! And we could go in disguise!
I think Mrs Hudson in full combat mode could be the scariest deterrent in the world ;-)
Disguises sound like an excellent idea, Sherlock. (Also fun. :))
Hmm...did we say we were going away somewhere? I'm sure we were keeping all birthday plans a surprise...
We've got to go away! We always do and we did last time you got pictures of us too even when it wasn't a birthday we went away and we should go now! Or as soon as we've got Mycroft, anyway and no one could follow us and there should be giraffes I want giraffes! And maybe hippos. But definitely giraffes!
Giraffes, right. We'll have to see what we can do. What sort of disguises? Are you going to wear a moustache?
No that would be silly because I'm seven nearly and if you're seven you don't have a moustache. But Lestrade can grow a beard! And you and me can dress as girls in dresses and wigs and put on make up and mine can be sparkly. And Mycroft can put on a suit and have a hat and a newspaper and an umbrella and a long coat and glasses.
um...can I point out that I haven't, in fact, just suggested John dresses as a girl... that was someone masquerading as me. Someone small, without a moustache.
It was me! Lestrade always leaves his name logged in.
Working on his disguise already, I see.
Why can't I grow a beard and Lestrade dress as a girl?
that was someone masquerading as me. Someone small, without a moustache.
John?
Here's a little tip in sneakiness, Sherlock--don't tell people ahead of time what your disguise is going to be. Or tell everyone what your disguise is going to be and then use a different one. (But do I think you'd be very effectively disguised dressed as a girl with sparkly makeup!)
....I should've seen that one coming.
Because Lestrade shaves and then even just a bit later his face is already scratchy and stubbly and you're blond and shorter and anyway it's more fun to have make-up and a proper disguise than just a beard! I want things in my hair and jewellery but not like Lestrade's but WAY more sparkly!
Nameless - I should have said someone without the ability to grow a moustache. As we all know John used to sport impressive whiskers.
RR - he might be doing exactly that. Actually, we might all be ninjas. So it doesn't matter what we dress up as, you still won't see us...
Danger - do you actually want to see me dressed as a girl again, after those photos you saw that everyone agreed were, frankly, terrifying?
Only if the alternative is me doing it. I don't especially want to be sparkly. Although I think the terrifying part of those photos was more to do with the 80s than anything else.
Sherlock could ride on your shoulders, we could dress you up in a long coat... it'd be like a normal-sized adult! ;)
Sparkly ninjas would be even better than boring ordinary ninjas.
rsf
(Right, my survival is now doubtful, given the Look John has just given me. Grade 2.)
RR - he might be doing exactly that. Actually, we might all be ninjas. So it doesn't matter what we dress up as, you still won't see us...
[Imaginary "like" button here] :)
What can I say? You looked like a man who wanted a cushion thrown at him...
I shall warn criminals you're armed and dangerous. Cushion bazooka... fnug cannon... blanket launcher...
Found some pics of food. Sherlock might like them:
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/09/terra-cibus-food-photographed-with-a-scanning-electron-microscope-by-caren-alpert/
Whoa! Those pictures are amazing! (The poptart and shrimp tail look pretty inedible like that... :D)
A fnug cannon does sound fairly deadly.
I can demonstrate it.
But that requires you getting to bed. Then I will fling a fnug at you.
Well, I'll fling myself at you, and I'll drag the fnug behind.
By the way...I've volunteered to cover a day or two for the Manchester force, so officers can go to the funerals of the two murdered officers. I mean, they may not want me, because a lot of people have volunteered, but...well, no one who wants to go should be prevented by having to work, it's the least that officers from other forces can do, offer to cover.
when good bloke stuff was being handed out you must have had a double helping Greg, amazing is the only word!
I hope you've had a good evening and you get some good sleep tonight :-)
Quite right. I'm glad there are a lot of volunteers, and not at all surprised you're one of them.
Well, I'll fling myself at you, and I'll drag the fnug behind.
That sounds like a nice end to the day.
Those pictures are amazing.
Sleep well, guys. I hope tomorrow has some better surprises in store!
rsf
AnonyBob - hundreds of people volunteered, I'm glad to say. There are plenty of good people in the world.
hundreds of people volunteered, I'm glad to say. There are plenty of good people in the world.
It's nice to be reminded of that.
It is, after a day like today. Yesterday , even.
I have no idea how you can be at all coherent so early in the morning. *blinks blearily at the screen*
(I'm working late. I have 3 jobs in various stages, all due soon, and I need to spend lots of hours getting to and from and with my dad, so now is when I can work)
practice, RR.
Mycroft, thought you might like to see these: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/picture-galleries/9551435/The-2012-Astronomy-Photographer-of-the-Year-competition-winners.html
Those photos are amazing. I particularly liked the earth and space category with its "here and there" impressions.
Hope you have a good day today guys.
lots of volunteers is good to know Greg :-)
Have a good and safe day guys.
Cheers, SH.
I'm rather distracted, as you can probably imagine.
(I imagine you've already thought of all these, but I didn't sleep much last night which gave lots of time to think, and, well, I thought I'd just throw these out to be ignored: Is there anything to say that the photos couldn't be by more than one person? Anyone can have friends, and cameras are in most mobiles, after all. And could there be someone who might want to prevent you from testifying at some trial? Or maybe it's Mrs Holmes they want to distract?)
I expect you are distracted, given everything that's happened. But you know that Sherlock and John are going to be taking precautions (and Sherlock is exactly the sort of child I expect to notice things long before the grownups do.) And you'll see them when they come in to do fingerprints, right?
What I meant yesterday about distracting you from a case was that you have team members who are working on different things, right? And you were gone on a different assignment, so when you got back and started reviewing all their paperwork and things, the first set of pictures showed up. And now, when you've finished a very intensely absorbing case and have time to think, the new pictures have turned up. So I'm not thinking about a very current case, but maybe one which has been stuck for a while. Of course, I could be wrong -- I frequently am! But I seem to remember you getting threats over a case before.
In any case, I hope the forensic team finds something on the envelope or card that helps you track down this clown.
rsf (who is at an actual computer with a keyboard - can you tell? How do you folks ever manage to be so coherent on phones?!)
There's nothing I can think of to be distracted from. But maybe, RSF.
RR, it could easily be more than one person. Sal and I walked my usual route earlier, but most shops don't save CCTV, so we're relying on either a warrant or Mrs H getting whatever hasn't been deleted of the stuff on the streets. It's a slow process, and not a particularly helpful one.
Can see a good few hours of watching cctv coming my way.
Lestrade, will you have time to come and pick me up from school this evening?
Yeah, I will. I rode my bike into work today for the first time, and the hand seems okay. So I'll give you a call before I leave.
I just need to get fingerprints of those two Desperadoes Doctor Danger and the Pond-loving Kid first.
And you're sure your hand is up to the extra time on the bike? It's all right if it's not.
Yeah, it'll be fine. If it feels bad I'll jump on the tube or bring the car.
All right. Thank you. Is Sherlock excited about the fingerprints? Or, perhaps I should say, how likely is he to implode with excitement before he gets to have them taken?
Yeah, I think he was fairly keen.
I think Sal's also planning to breathalise him...
She is a very patient person.
No comment....
In fact, no idea why she's more patient with him than with me...
The answer to that one is simple Greg, its because he's Sherlock ;-) or because he's not her boss.
I hope the day has been as good as it can be for all of you :-)
Well, I'm very glad to say Sherlock passed the breath test. And has now been thoroughly fingerprinted. And then managed to get a really astonishing amount of ink on me and John. Mainly John. :)
That stuff that's meant to get the ink off...really doesn't get the ink off.
I think Sherlock would consider being breathalyzed and fingerprinted a nice early extra birthday present. :)
(I've been fingerprinted! I worked in the American Museum of Natural History between college and grad school, and they fingerprint all employees--I guess so no one walks off with a priceless skull or something of the sort. There were a lot of bones lying around in the copier room. ;))
Dunno what you're talking about. My hands are clean.
It's only designed to stick to the guilty...
Since everything is my fault, I suppose that explains it...
Hmm. I'm pretty sure only certain things are now your fault.
But I'll hear your confession tonight, to cleanse your soul.
Very kind of you. I'm sure it's in need of a good cleansing.
mine too. It's got glitter on it.
I mean, I assume it does. Everything else still does.
You are the most glittery DI I've ever seen, it's true.
We should write a bestselling book and get a movie franchise. Sparkly DIs. I mean, if vampires can do it...
You could sparkle in the presence of criminals.
You could blind criminals with your sparkliness!
I've no idea what sort of sidekicks the sparkly vampire has. Can I have a sparkly doctor? Or would he have to be some sort of Dr Jekyll type? I'm not really up for that, to be honest...
I think there's a werewolf?
DangerWolf? WereHamish?
Sherlock has just asked if Jo can paint him with giraffe pattern... what's with the giraffe obsession?
Something at school, I think. They're supposed to be picking an animal to do a project on, and he seems set on giraffes.
Is Mycroft with you now? I like it when you're all together!
Lancs. Anon
Did you know that, technically speaking, a giraffe is a kosher animal? It chews its cud, and it has split hooves.
(However, it's an endangered animal, so I don't think any observant Jew would want to make one into giraffe steak. And even if it were not endangered, it would be WAY too expensive! :))
Lancs. Anon - yeah, he is. We like it too. :)
Right...well, I think we can provide giraffe, where we're going.
I hope we can, anyway...
I don't think they're endangered, RR. I expect they're protected in some way, though.
I don't think they're endangered, RR. I expect they're protected in some way, though.
That is is entirely possible. I certainly hope they are protected, as their habitat is definitely shrinking. (Either way, so far as I know or can discover, no giraffe has ever been made into a kosher meal.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1121222/Giraffe-Its-height-fine-dining-says-TV-chef-Hugh.html
Well, people used to eat them. But yeah, I don't suppose there's any way to find out if anyone ate it because it was kosher, rather than because it was there and they were hungry.
There are a couple of interesting pieces about it here and here. :)
I don't want to go to bed it's nearly my birthday and I want to stay up until it is!!
On the other hand, the earlier you go to bed, the faster it will feel like morning arrives....
it'll come more quickly if you sleep Sherlock and you'll need all your energy to enjoy the day properly :-)
You can stay up just a little bit longer. But you have to promise to be on your best behaviour tomorrow morning...
We're going to start the day with breakfast and then make sure the flat is really really clean and tidy, and then, if there are any spectacularly well behaved 7 year olds, we might just be going somewhere for their birthday.
I think being painted with a giraffe pattern would look fabulous.
Sherlock, it's quarter past midnight here, so Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day (which is much more likely if you go to bed and to sleep very soon), it sounds as if John and Lestrade have got some special plans, and you've even git Mycroft home to help you celebrate :-)
Anon, that giraffe link was interesting, but it led me to another link that I just have to ask John about -- John, did you ever have this kind of problem to deal with during your military career?
Good night, Sherlock, and Happy Birthday!
No, no one unexpectedly giving birth. No one in the military, at least.
Giraffes are amazing, nearly as good as penguins and camels, my top two favourite animals. Sherlock, did you know giraffes have blue tongues? And their spot pattern is identical to them, just like a fingerprint? So you'd have to spot-check a giraffe instead of take their dabs!
(Wait, am I thinking of zebras here? Feel free to correct me, Mr Nearly 7!)
Greg I think you and Rider have inspired me, I'm going to a free test ride of a scooter/motorbike! I've wanted a scooter since I was 16 and it would be great to get around in the city
If my multi-time-zone clock app is correct, it is just gone midnight in London, so...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHERLOCK!!!
(This, of course, will still be true in the morning, when I assume you'll see it. :))
No one in the military at least? *raises eyebrow of inquiry* And is there a story attached to that reservation or should I just let sleeping babies lie?
rsf (Who is almost as curious as Sherlock is about his birthday. Will there be a glittery giraffe, I wonder?)
Happy (semi-early) Birthday, Sherlock!
I hope all of you have a wonderful, lovely day with each other. (And Sherlock, please remember that while it might be tempting, a giraffe should not be kept as a pet. Unless it's a stuffed toy.)
Greg - Please don't blame yourself for any of this. You're a good man, and you've proven it over and over again by word and act. And if there must be speculation, let it be over which would be more...appealing: sparkly DI Lestrade or sparkly biker Lestrade. Hmm...
John - I join rsf in requesting military tales. At least, ones that can be told. :) (Also, please don't hold it against me re: sparkly Lestrade?)
Mycroft - I hope your studies are going well. Will you be doing some stargazing with the family this weekend?
~ A from NW (whose thoughts and prayers are with the UK police and U.S. State Dept communities)
Jaws: go for it!
Remember to budget for comfortable riding kit. Try every helmet in the shop on, even the ugly ones and every jacket in the shop, then try your shortlisted set of helmet and jacket on while sitting on the bike and turning your head to look over your shoulder.
If there isn't compulsory training where you are then get some non-compulsory training, and after you have been riding for 6-12 months go and get some more training.
Scooters are good things, easy to manage and great in traffic. Definitely liberating.
Yay! You updated your header! Well done, John.
rsf
I expect I'll ask you and Lestrade a lot of questions after I ride!
We do have to take Compulsory Basic Training (about a day), I guess I'll see how the test ride goes before I book that.
A & Rsf - it's not a happy story. You don't want to hear it. Sorry.
Jaws - good luck. I hope you enjoy it. I think you will.
I'm sorry I reminded you of it then. Although you don't always have to be cheerful for our sake, I do understand that there are some stories that can't be told until the edges have worn away.
I hope you're having fun now, though, playing with steam rooms and jacuzzis and all. You and Lestrade appear to have managed to surprise Sherlock thoroughly, and swimming in bubbles sounds like an excellent way for a birthday boy to spend his day.
rsf
I am not sure about zebras or giraffes but tigers are have a unique pattern of stripes which can identify them as humans can be ID'd by fingerprints or ear prints. Does Sherlock like tigers?
OK Anon
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