Sherlock: Chasing the Dragon 8

Sherlock: Chasing the Dragon

Chapter Eight, Perseveration


Walking down the street with groceries John stopped when his mobile started to ring.  Putting down the bags he dug through his pockets in search of the ringing device.  Glancing at the number before answering John frowned his brow.

"Good morning, Detective Inspector."  John greeted.

"Dr. Watson."  Lestrade greeted in turn.  "I need you to get Sherlock to come to the Isle of Dogs."

"Why don't you call him then?  I'm not Sherlock's keeper."

"Of course you are."  Lestrade retorted.  "Anyways, he's not answering his mobile.  The last three cases I tried to get him interested in he wouldn't even look at, now he won't even answer the phone."

"He's been a little preoccupied the past few weeks."

"With what?"

"Identifying a John Doe."

"That doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would keep Sherlock's attention for long."

"It's been his only purpose for weeks.  I can barely tear him away from the problem long enough to eat."

"Well drag him away for this."

"What's going on?"

"Neville St. Clair is missing."

"St. Clair?  The actor?"

"That's him, but right now his only act is a disappearing one."

"Kidnapping?"

"We don't know.  Just get Holmes down here.  Now."

Lestrade gave John the exact address and hung up.  Putting his mobile away John picked up the groceries once more and continued to head down Baker street.  John doubted that he could get Sherlock to help Lestrade.  Despite the fact that they hadn't heard from their 'client' finding the identity of John Doe had consumed Sherlock's life.  

Getting to the top of the stairs John pushed the door open and stepped into the flat.  Mrs. Hudson came rushing up to him looking flustered and upset.  John glanced over her shoulder and found Sherlock pouring over some colourful sheets spread out on the kitchen table.  

"I wish you two boys would find a healthier way to spend your time."  Mrs. Hudson fretted.  "It's just not right."

"What's not right?"

Mrs. Hudson was too distraught to continue and she just pushed past John and hurried down the steps.  Concerned John brought the groceries into the kitchen to see what Sherlock was looking at.  Taking a closer look at the large sheets on the table John's skin suddenly crawled.  

"Sherlock...is this human skin?"

"Yes."  Sherlock nodded.  "I wasn't able to keep them from cremating John Doe #348-68, but I was able to sneak in and save the evidence."

The sheets that Sherlock was pouring over was actually John Doe's chest and arm skin adhered to thick card stock paper.  The familiar scent of decay told John that they were fresh and not preserved in any way.  The skin would need to be placed in the fridge to keep it fresh, making John less inclined to put the food he'd just brought home in there.

"Wh...why didn't you just take pictures!"  John stuttered.  "You didn't have to skin a man and bring it into the house."

"I needed the actual tattoo so I can try to identify the exact ink.  Also a picture can never give as much detail as the actual object that it depicts."  Sherlock explained calmly.  

"Sherlock, why is this so important to you?"

"It is more than this man's identity, John.  There is something bigger going on here.  I'm looking for our client's motivation."

"I don't care about his motivation, just as long as he doesn't come back."

"If I can figure out the artist I will have a good shot at identifying the man.  Upon closer inspection I'm more convinced than ever that this was the work of one artist.  He would have spent hours and hours working on this man, he will know who he is."

"How do you expect to find the artist?  It's not like tattoo artists sign their work."

"All artists sign their work, John,"  Sherlock muttered as he inspected the ink "some are just more subtle than others."

"Maybe what you really need is a break.  A new case perhaps."

"Lestrade called you."  

"He did."

"I know, that's why I said so."  

"He has a case."  

"A good one?"  Sherlock asked doubtfully.  

"A mysterious disappearance."

"Murder?"

"Maybe."

Sherlock paused his inspection of the skin for a moment.  John could practically see Sherlock weighing the pros and cons of a new case in his mind.  Eventually Sherlock came back to reality.

"Okay."  Sherlock nodded.  "I'll go, under one condition."

"What's that?"

"You come with me afterwards to get a tattoo."

"Absolutely not.  I am not getting a tattoo."

"It's not what you think.  I want to harvest another tattoo from the morgue from a different body."

"Why?"

"To compare it to this one."

"What exactly would you be looking for?"

"I won't know that until I find it."

"Fine."  John sighed.  "But we are helping Lestrade first."

"Let's go."

"Get changed first."  John ordered.  

"Why?"  Sherlock looked down at his shirt.  "What's wrong with what I have on?"

"Nothing, other than the fact that you've been wearing it for over a week straight. If it doesn't get into the wash soon it's going to walk away on its own accord."

"Point taken."

"How did you even survive before I was around?"  John sighed.

"It's a mystery."