***Author's Note***

"It can be very dangerous to see things from somebody else's point of view without the proper training." ― Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

The criminal in this story is named Alec Cunningham after the murderer in the original ACD tale, "The Adventure of the Reigate Squire," and I make mention of stolen documents.

John's last thought, the one memory his battered, exhausted mind chose to recall, just after the heel of the booted foot landed with crushing force on the fingers of his right hand, but right before the cricket bat designed for a child connected with his head, was something Sherlock said right after they'd first met.

"Yeah, but if you were dying, if you'd been murdered, in your very last few seconds what would you say?"

The instant his assailant shifted his weight back to swing again, John pulled his hand free, mumbled, "Please God, don't let Sherlock be the one who finds me," and let go.