Holmes – 5 things

Sherlock Holmes had never been a man to invite friendship. A lone dog could accomplish as much as a pack, and sometimes even more (as his experience and observation of Scotland Yard convinced him.) Still, man is by nature a social animal, else solitary confinement would not be so great a punishment. Holmes had the occasional social visit by Lestrade or Gregson, or from one Yarder or another. Surely that was sufficient company. It was just as well no one had surfaced as a flatmate for the Baker Street rooms. His lodgings on Regent Street were sufficient and he did not have to compromise his privacy.

After ten years as the world's only private consulting detective, loneliness had become such a way of life with him that he quite failed to recognize it as aberrant. He noted his desire to indulgence in cocaine and morphine had increased but failed to realize why.

When Moriarty confronted him in his rooms, Holmes had little doubt he would die in the pursuit of bringing the Napoleon of Crime to justice. He had little regret but was annoyed at the dull, nagging feeling that he had neglected something. What nonsense. He had dedicated his life to the elimination of crime; what could be more noble than that?

With the Reichenbach roaring about them, Moriarty asked if Holmes wished to leave a message to anyone. "Any loved one, any friend? Perhaps a colleague at the Yard?" Moriarty suggested with a knowing sneer.

Suddenly pale and sick with understanding, Holmes snarled a decline and the death struggle commenced.

Both bodies were found within the week.