It is with both curiosity and a slight sense of… apprehension that I recount the case of the missing ruby stone, or “Blood Stone”—an intriguing mystery Sherlock and I desperately needed after the relatively quiet holiday season. Like last year, Sherlock, Rosie, and I visited Sherlock’s parents, and, like last year, the warmth and laughter brought by the visit mended old pain within me. Although our mini-break from London was everything the three of us needed, spending the days cooped up inside made Sherlock feel… agitated and snappy. So, I was quite relieved when an interesting client called early on the morning of the third of January.
A wealthy antiquities dealer named Edgar Thornbrook sought our help. Thornbrook, a man whose business was built on the acquisition of rare and valuable relics, was in a panic. His most prized possession—the Blood Stone—had vanished overnight from a secure, locked cabinet in his private study. The room showed no signs of forced entry. Sherlock only took the case because Thornbrook didn’t want the stone back—no. The esteemed man just wanted to live to see another day, and would compensate us greatly to offer him his safety. Thornbrook believed his days were numbered and that his obsession with the Blood Stone would be his undoing.
The Blood Stone, according to many stories, is surrounded by mystery and superstition. If I recall correctly, in various cultural myths, the Blood Stone is said to possess healing properties or even the ability to influence fate or luck. “Nonsense,” according to Sherlock. To him, the stone was “just a ruby,” a symbolic gem “too unworthy for a wedding ring,” bearing mere “industrial usage.” But I must admit, I was intrigued by its alleged properties, especially because our client believed his own interest in the stone had led to his downfall.
From the outset, Sherlock was fascinated—not by the object itself, but by the circumstances surrounding its disappearance. It seemed too neat, too calculated. We found nothing in the shop except for some red dust.
Upon closer examination, Sherlock @artofdeductionbysholmes discovered a rare, distinctive chemical compound in the dust and recalled encountering the same compound in the sealing wax used to “repackage” stolen goods to make them appear legitimate. That discovery was odd, to say the least. Was this distinguished antiquarian dealing in stolen goods?
Interviewing the owners of the shops on Thornbrook’s street also led us to believe that the antiquarian kept shady company. The shop had been closed for three weeks before the stone’s disappearance, and many recalled seeing Thornbrook at the shop, acting stressed—frantic, even. Some mentioned “shadowy figures” lingering in the street, prompting Sherlock to enlist The Network to track these individuals down.
We were led to a dangerous organized group operating within the underworld. Thornbrook’s accumulated wealth and high-society connections made him a tempting target for those looking to exploit individuals with significant and valuable assets. The antiquarian’s own ambitions, however, played a key role in his predicament. His obsession with acquiring increasingly rare and “powerful” artifacts—coupled with his desire for even greater wealth and influence—blinded him to the possible dangers. He became increasingly willing to bend his morals in pursuit of these treasures. This, of course, made him susceptible to the underworld’s allure.
The antiquarian was drawn into the criminals’ network and received “protection” at a cost. Gradually, Thornbrook became entangled in illegal transactions and shady deals. However, by “losing” the stone, he also lost his leverage and protection.
Sherlock and I didn’t find the stone, unfortunately. But we did uncover proof of the existence of the organization in which Thornbrook was ensnared. Although the antique shop is now closed and Thornbrook has been placed in witness protection, Sherlock and I remain on the lookout for the stone’s—and thus the network’s—reappearance.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/Greg Lestrade, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson - mentioned/unfulfilled
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Greg Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson (Sherlock Holmes)
Additional Tags: Panic Attack, First Kiss, Hurt/Comfort, Contemplating Past, Past Violence, John's POV, Greg's POV, Sherlock's POV, Dialogue Heavy
Summary:
“That’s right, that’s right,” mumbled Greg in a low, raspy voice. Shifitng even closer to the detective, Lestrade put his broad palm upon Sherlock’s shoulder, “Breathe properly, in and out, focus on your breathing and on me, I’m here.”
these are about the best and the most powerful words I’ve ever heard in my life. and here they feel like Steven Moffat stabbed me in the heart using Benedict’s hands.
