Fic: Soot and Flour: G

[smallhobbit]

Title: Soot and Flour

Form/Word Count: 221B

Characters/Pairing: Dr Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Lestrade

Rating: G

Warning/Content: Someone has broken into 221B

I had received a message at my club to say that our rooms had been broken into and could I return to Baker Street immediately.  I had hailed a cab and arrived back at the same time as Holmes and Inspector Hopkins.  We were met by Inspector Lestrade, who was already there. 

“Annie,” Hopkins said urgently, “oh, and Mrs Hudson, are they injured?”

Lestrade grinned.  “Don’t worry, both the ladies are well.  They’re having a cup of tea in Mrs Hudson’s rooms, as no doubt you’ll want to see them for yourself.”

Hopkins looked slightly embarrassed but didn’t deny it.  Holmes and I left him to check on the ladies and went up to inspect our rooms.  The sitting room had been rather untidy earlier that morning, and now it was in a considerable mess.  Papers had been scattered all over the room and everything seemed to be covered with a layer of soot and flour.

Holmes took a good look and said, “The ladies clearly came up well prepared.  Mrs Hudson wielding a rolling pin and saucepan, Annie with the poker and coal scuttle.  Lestrade, I noted the emphasis on the ladies being well.  I therefore deduce the two intruders came off rather worse.”

Lestrade grinned.  “Oh yes, by the time we arrested them they were definitely battered and bruised.”