Sherlock & the Illustrious Client
by Soledad
Fandom: Sherlock BBC
Genre: Drama/Family
Rating: Teens, for now
Disclaimer: Sherlock and all related characters belong to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The modern versions of them belong to the BBC, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, may their muses never abandon them. I only borrow settings and characters to have some fun. No copyright infringement intended and no money made.
Summary: a modern retelling of the classic ACD story, with a mighty twist.
Prologue – Log Entry of Dr. John H. Watson
April 19th 2024
It has been a long time since I last revisited any old cases solved with Sherlock. The current ones – and my daily work as a full-time GP – give me enough stuff to blog about. And I'm not getting any younger.
The case of the illustrious client, however, is one I have hoped to be able to share for the last ten years, cause it was one of the most exciting and dangerous ones I assisted Sherlock with since his return. For ten years, I've been emphatically discouraged from doing so by a certain minor government official whom we won't name here (hint: he's Sherlock's overbearing, meddlesome brother). Until now.
"I guess it won't hurt anyone now," he commented the last time I asked. "In fact, shoving things into the right light may even be advantageous for the people involved, now that they've managed to put some emotional distance between themselves and the unfortunate events."
Don't be put out by the stilted phrasing; that's how he always speaks. And yes, he always pronounces the word emotional as if it were something dirty. It goes with being a Holmes, I guess. The point is, I finally can publish the full story that has been slumbering on my HD for a decade – now that the person most likely to be hurt by it is dead.
You might remember the case itself. The tabloids were full of the murder process of Baron Adelbert Gruner in Prague, his planned marriage to Miss Violet Merville after his unexpected acquittal and his no less surprising and gruesome end. Hell, it overshadowed even the circus around Sherlock and his return from the dead for a while! There was much wild guessing, there were – supposedly – scandalous photos and videos, a murderous attack on Sherlock himself… and not a quarter of all this was actually true.
So, as Sherlock's annoying brother said, setting all those false rumours straight may be good for everyone. Especially as we all know just how reliable the sensationalist press is – NOT!
Yes, I do still have issues with them, so what?
Personally, it will be good to remember a time when Mary was still with me, although it wasn't necessarily an easy time for us. I still miss her very much.
10 Comments
Finally! I was waiting for years to find out what happened!
Molly Hooper, 19 April 13:46
Didn't realise you were still updating your blog, John. I thought you've abandoned it after Mary… well, it's good to see you back.
Mike Stamford, 19 April 13:56
Please, answer your phone!
Harry Watson, 19 April 14:07
What's this thing exactly? I remember having seen something on the news, back then. Was that when Sherlock was attacked and nearly died?
Bill Murray, 20 April 10:16
Seriously, John, is it all right to post this now? I don't want you to get in trouble!
Harry Watson, 20 April 12:37
No need to panic. As I said, I've cleared it with Mycroft and got the nod. I'll write up what happened but I want to make sure nobody will be embarrassed. Give me a couple of days.
John Watson, 20 April 13:10
You can't just leave us hanging like that! Tell us what happened!
Harry Watson, 20 April 13:12
Oh, yes, do tell us how Sherlock did it!
Mike Stamford, 20 April 14:25
And will you just answer your phone! I don't want you to mope alone about Mary!
Harry Watson, 29 April 22:01
When are we going to find out more?
Bill Murray? 30 April 19:46
# To answer Bill's last question: weekly updates are planned. Let's hope the muse cooperates.