This story takes place about a year after the events of "His Spare Watson" and "Can't Manage Ordinary", three years before "Invictus." It is based upon ACD's short story "The Boscombe Valley Mystery". As usual, all the best lines are his, and in italics.

My sincerest thanks to mrspencil for her invaluable help and encouragement.

000

While Lestrade and Sherlock took Alice Turner in to the police station, Mary and John stayed behind to try to console the young woman's father as best they could. They were concerned as to how his emotional state might adversely affect his already fragile physical health. Maggy proved invaluable in this cause, and eventually Mary and John felt comfortable in leaving the two together to await Jimmy's release from custody.

They arrived at the station in time to hear Alice give her statement. Alice, concerned for her friends' happiness, had taken it upon herself to go to Jimmy's father and try to smooth the way for their engagement. She had found Mr. McCarthy intransigent and verbally abusive. As she pressed her case, he angrily revealed to her the truth about her own father's criminal activities and the blackmail McCarthy had demanded from him over the past twenty years.

"I told him I would give him any sum of money he demanded to leave Jimmy and Maggy alone," she explained tearfully. "I arranged to meet him by the Pond that afternoon to give it to him. But I never meant to pay him. I was so angry, thinking about how he made my father suffer all these years. I never wanted him to get one more cent of my father's money. It was such a simple plan. It would have worked, if Jimmy hadn't come home unexpectedly. He was meant to be safely in Birmingham."

She had waited for McCarthy in the wood just as Sherlock had described, but before she could let fly a stone with her catapult, Jimmy appeared on the road beyond. She waited for him to leave, and when she felt he was far enough down the road, she killed her adversary, afraid that if she'd waited longer she would miss the opportunity forever.

"I never meant to get Jimmy involved," she sobbed. "I never thought he would hear anything and come back. I was horrified when he was arrested. I didn't know what to do to fix it."

She turned her grieving eyes to Mary. "I was so relieved when you e-mailed. I was sure you would help. I thought, even if your friend figured out the truth, you could persuade him not to say anything to the police. He deserved it, Mary! He deserved to die! He was a horrible, cruel old man, and had been all his life."

Mary sighed. "I know. I know," she whispered. "I might have thought to do the same. I should hope I would not have let thought grow into deed, but I can't say for certain. Oh, Alice," she held her friend in a comforting embrace. "We'll do all we can to help."

000

Lestrade drove them to the Gloucester train station late that afternoon. Although he still had reports to file and meetings to attend, the other three had no desire to remain in Herefordshire another moment. John had arranged for a solicitor for Alice and had seen to Mr. Turner's continued care. Now Lestrade hugged Mary goodbye on the platform. "I'm sorry things turned out as they did. But I'm thankful you thought to e-mail your friend. I appreciate all you did to help."

Mary smiled sadly. "I thought I was helping Alice," she replied ruefully. "But helping Jimmy is a good thing, too."

Lestrade shook John's hand and thanked him as well. "I don't know what I'd have done without you dealing with the press today, mate," he said gratefully. "You handled them better than I could have done."

"Handling Sherlock has prepared me for dealing with anyone, I suppose," John smiled.

Turning to the third member of the party, the D.I. offered a reconciling hand. Sherlock, unusually subdued, accepted the offered hand and shook it with a warmth that Lestrade clearly had not expected.

"I'm grateful, Sherlock," Lestrade admitted. "I hate to think that I might have been responsible for putting an innocent man in prison. I apologize for doubting you, and I thank you for your good work."

"No need, Detective Inspector. Just remember not to doubt me in future."

Mary cleared her throat. "Manners, Sherlock," she murmured.

Sherlock looked her with a question in his eyes.

"When someone thanks us, we say . . . ." she prompted.

Sherlock sulked a bit. "You're welcome, Lestrade," he pronounced. Mary patted his sleeve affectionately.

Once on the train, she collapsed against John in exhaustion, the past two days' events and the lack of sleep catching up with her. She had felt a bit ashamed of herself as she had stayed in the background most of the day, avoiding the press conference, avoiding speaking to anyone; letting John do all the talking and make all the arrangements. Mary had been strong and self-reliant all her life. It was such a relief to have a sturdy, dependable companion to take care of things at times such as this, to be strong for her. She closed her eyes and relaxed against her husband's shoulder and drifted off for a bit.

She awoke with a start perhaps an hour later with the sudden shock of a parent who had been distracted for a moment and lost track of her three-year-old. She opened her eyes and saw with relief that Sherlock was sitting in the seat facing them, occupying himself with his phone. She smiled at him.

"You're being very quiet. Are you all right?"

He looked up her seriously. "You have been very traumatized by the day's events. I was attempting to be considerate."

Mary's dimples deepened. "Thank you, Sweetheart. That was lovely of you."

"Also, I threatened to toss him from the train if he woke you," John added wryly.

Sherlock huffed. "Threats weren't necessary." He looked at Mary with as much concern as she'd ever seen him convey. "I hurt you today. I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "You didn't. You found out the truth, and if the truth was hurtful that wasn't your fault."

"You might have conveyed it a bit more compassionately," John remarked wryly.

Mary elbowed him gently. "Leave him alone, Captain. He did good work. He saved an innocent man from being charged with murder, and now Jimmy and Maggy can live happily ever after. And you both did wonderfully well in convincing the authorities to leave out all mention of Mr. Turner's crimes. I'm glad he'll not have to suffer further for what happened so long ago." She reflected silently for a moment on how surreal life could be. "I suppose it seems odd to the general public, that the son of the murder victim is now living with the dying father of the accused murderer. But I'm glad to know that Mr. Turner will be well taken care of until his time comes."

"And if Alice is convicted, I understand Mr. Turner will make Jimmy his heir. All of Turner's money and property: McCarthy may get what he wanted after all," John mused. "Except for the living long enough to enjoy his triumph part."

"I've been doing further research into the embezzlement investigation," Sherlock told them. "I believe the old man who was convicted of the crime was actually the embezzler. Whether Turner was his partner in crime and turned on him, or whether he gained control of the money during the course of the investigation, I can't tell. But at least he did not frame an innocent man."

Mary sighed. "I am glad to know that."

At that moment, Sherlock's phone signalled an incoming text. He read through it briefly, then handed it to John. John smiled at his friend grimly and handed the phone back.

"What?" Mary asked.

Sherlock looked at John inquiringly. John hesitated, then nodded.

"We've been researching you, too," Sherlock admitted. "We have found out where your cousin's husband is now. The one who assaulted you. He's in prison."

Mary decided not to be surprised that John had talked to his best friend about the man who had harmed her. Of course he would. He needed a sympathetic ear in which to vent his outrage; and Sherlock was family, and would want the right to be angry, too. She chose to be surprised by his statement, instead. "Still? It's been twelve years."

"Again," John explained. "Apparently he's made a habit of beating people up. Why didn't you tell me you had him prosecuted? It would have made it easier to find him."

Mary looked at him, rather insulted. "Just who do you think you're dealing with?" she demanded. "Do you really believe I'd just let him get away with it? Of course I pressed charges, and of course he was convicted."

John smiled admiringly at her. "You always were courageous, weren't you? I can't imagine feeling brave enough to take you on."

"Well, I guess that spoils your vengeance plans, doesn't it? With him being safe behind bars?" Mary teased.

Sherlock had a mischievous glint in his eye. "It only complicates things. I enjoy a challenge."

Mary turned to John and saw the twin to Sherlock's expression. "Now, boys," she sighed, entering into their little joke. "Please don't do anything that will land you in the dock. Haven't I suffered enough, without losing you both to the penal system?"

John waved penal servitude away with a casual gesture. "Mycroft will get us off," he assured her. "He's keen for a bit of revenge as well." Mary gave him a look of surprise. "What?" he asked. "How do you think we got this information so quickly? You never even told me your cousin's name. It took pulling a number of strings."

Sherlock steepled his hands and began to plot. "Mycroft could get us into the prison, and rig the security cameras for us," he began.

"We could dress as guards," John suggested. "Incite a riot. In the confusion, we could . . . ."

Mary smiled and leaned back, listening to the amusing, familiar banter. It was good to get back to their version of normal.