"A Gap in the Resume," February 2024 Holmes Minor Monthly Prompt

[gardnerhill]

Title: A Gap in the Resume
Author: gardnerhill
Fandom: ACD
Pairing: None
Word Count: 360
Rating: G
Warning: None
Summary: Lestrade can explain.
Author's Notes: Written for the February 2024 Holmes Minor monthly prompt “gap.”

***
Story on Dreamwidth
Story on AO3



Chief Inspector Prentiss ran his finger down the page. “Giles, your record for closing and solving crimes is exemplary. An especially outstanding collection of bastards in April 1891.” His finger paused a third of the way down. “But here...”

Lestrade held stone-still, though he seemed at ease. He knew what was coming.

“…Poor numbers in July 1891 – well, understandable with that haul your lot did in April. But going forward, and for the whole of the next two years, through winter’s end 1894.” Prentiss pursed his lips. “Your extraordinary number of closed cases and arrests become … ordinary.”

“Respectable results.” Lestrade said no more.

“Respectable, yes. But a marked change from your usual work before. And a marked return to your previous exemplary rates midway through 1894. Your last five years are an uneven history, Giles, and consistent results is what I’d look for in someone wishing to make Detective Inspector.”

Hang the consequences.

“I can explain the gap, Chief Inspector.”

Prentiss looked at the small wiry man. “Then do so.”

#

Sherlock Holmes leaned forward, eyes twinkling. Watson pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “And did you explain?” he asked.

Lestrade took a fortifying draught of brandy. “I did indeed, Dr. Watson. I looked Chief Inspector Prentiss in the eye and told him that our best detective had died that year, but he came back to life three years later.”

After a few seconds of dead silence, Holmes and Watson burst out laughing together. Lestrade joined in.

“Oh it really is too bad, Inspector Lestrade,” Holmes cried, wiping his eyes. “Still, there’s always next year.”

“There’s not going to be a next year for this, Mr. Holmes.”

The other two men stopped laughing and looked at him. The tone had been solemn, but Giles Lestrade did not show the hangdog look of someone who’d been sacked or demoted.

Sherlock Holmes was the first. “Either the Chief Inspector was impressed by your courage and honesty, or he knew what we bring to your work and approve of your use of all available sources to do your work.”

Lestrade grinned. “Something like!”

Watson reached out his hand. “Congratulations, Detective Inspector.”

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Oh yes, Lestrade's a good man!

[gardnerhill]

He is indeed.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Ah, great use of the prompt! Well deserved promotion!

[gardnerhill]

The real challenge was telling a story about a performance review that wouldn't be boring.

[scfrankles]

That's such an original look at the hiatus--not really something I'd considered. Of course Lestrade would have been emotionally affected by Holmes' "death", but without Holmes' consulting work Lestrade's work would have suffered too. And I love that Prentiss sees Lestrade's willingness to put his ego aside and use help from a greater talent as a positive, not a negative. Getting the crimes solved is always Lestrade's priority.

[gardnerhill]

Thanks. I can imagine that Lestrade's record would have dropped immediately after the roundup of the Moriarty gang, so he'd have to explain to his higher-ups why his numbers suddenly started looking like everybody else's.