Chapter 1

A note arrived at 221 B Baker Street with only the name Sherlock written on the front. John Watson inspected it as he brought it up the stairs.

"Hrph," he said to himself as he entered the doorway into the sitting room. Sherlock was lying down staring at the ceiling, as he often did. He said no words as John handed him the envelope. He seemed to be uninterested but John saw the sparkle in his eye that told him that this note had caught Sherlock's attention. Sherlock's long, thin fingers toyed with the flap of the letter until it came open. Sherlock blinked a few times.

"What's it say, Sherlock?" John asked in a curious tone. Sherlock flicked the note in John's general direction without saying a word.

It read: THE NEXT PERSON YOU SPEAK TO WILL DIE. SPEAK CAREFULLY. John's eyes widened as he read the words on the note.

"You can't seriously believe this Sherlock?" John laughed trying to ease some of the awkward silence he was now experiencing. He scratched the back of his neck and looked at Sherlock for a response.

Sherlock opened his mouth and then closed it. He couldn't tell John that he believed that the note had every intention of carrying out what it promised. There was only one thing that Sherlock could do. Find the culprit and talk to him. Brilliant! He would let the author of the note lose at his own game. He then got up from the couch, grabbed his coat and scarf, popped his collar, and ran from the room down the stairs and out of the apartment.

John stared towards the direction of the stairs shook his head and then took a seat on his favorite chair. Just as he was starting to relax he heard a knock at the door.

"Great," he muttered to himself as he ran down and opened the door. No one was there. He looked around and down the street, but he could not see anyone. He was about to close the door when he noticed a note sitting on the ground. He picked it up and inspected it. It had his name written on the front and it was very close to the note that Sherlock had gotten.

He quickly ripped open the envelope and read it.

YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO GET MR. HOLMES TO SPEAK TO YOU. WE HAVE PLANTED A BOMB AT A PLACE WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL GET HURT. IF YOU FAIL AT THIS TASK IT WILL BE DETONATED.

John felt his stomach churn. So this was their game. He would have to somehow get Sherlock to speak to him, and in all essence kill him. He would have to die to save everyone. He was brave. There was no choice but to force Sherlock to speak to him. He had been in combat before; he would bring a gun and hope that he could get the upper hand on his killer. This is what he held onto as he walked straight out of the door and went to find Sherlock.