Fic: Bucket and Spade: G
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holmes_minorTitle: Bucket and Spade
Form/Word count: 484
Characters/Pairing: Mr Sherlock Holmes, Dr John Watson, Inspector G Lestrade, Inspector Stanley Hopkins
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Three words enable Holmes to solve a case.
“Bucket and spade,” Inspector Stanley Hopkins said suddenly.
We all turned to look at him in some surprise. I wondered whether our colleague had been affected by the hot weather, and I could see Lestrade was thinking much the same.
Holmes, however, started to grin. “Of course. We were meant to think Green was taking his family on an outing to the seaside. We saw them get on the train to Brighton, and foolishly assumed that was their intended destination. Quick Lestrade, find out where the first stop is. I believe we shall find they will leave the train there.”
Lestrade hurried off, calling two of his constables to follow him. He returned shortly afterwards looking pleased. “The train stops at Redhill.”
Meanwhile, I had been thinking of what we had seen, and raised an objection. “But they were dressed up as if they were going on an outing.”
“They probably were. Mrs Green, if that indeed is her name, may well have family she will visit. Green will catch the train back to London, collect the jewels from the dealer as arranged, return to wherever he has left Mrs Green, and at the end of the day they will all come home on the train from Brighton.”
“That sounds very plausible,” Lestrade said, “The stationmaster told me there was a train back ten minutes after Green’s train arrived, it should reach here in just over an hour and a quarter’s time.”
“In which case, we may adjourn for some coffee and be back in time to confirm this is his intention and for you to have him discretely followed from the train,” Holmes replied.
As we walked towards the coffee shop I asked Hopkins what had given him his inspiration.
“Looking at the children excited because they were going out for the day, and seeing the little boys in their sailor suits, reminded me of the times when we went to the seaside. I can remember holding on very firmly to my bucket and spade as we made our way to the train. And looking around I could see lots of little boys doing just that,” Hopkins explained.
Holmes nodded. “And then you remembered Master Green didn’t have a bucket and spade, and apart from Mrs Green having a basket, no-one was carrying any of the paraphernalia all the other families deem essential for a trip to the seaside. Well spotted, Hopkins!” Then, turning to Lestrade, he added, “How do you intend relieving Green of the jewels? Arresting him at the station would give notice to the rest of the gang to disappear before you had time to round them up.”
“Indeed,” Lestrade replied. “Would you gentlemen care to accompany me to Redhill? I thought we could arrest him when he left the train there. That way on-one will know of the arrest, and Bradstreet will be here to pick up the others.”
Form/Word count: 484
Characters/Pairing: Mr Sherlock Holmes, Dr John Watson, Inspector G Lestrade, Inspector Stanley Hopkins
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Three words enable Holmes to solve a case.
“Bucket and spade,” Inspector Stanley Hopkins said suddenly.
We all turned to look at him in some surprise. I wondered whether our colleague had been affected by the hot weather, and I could see Lestrade was thinking much the same.
Holmes, however, started to grin. “Of course. We were meant to think Green was taking his family on an outing to the seaside. We saw them get on the train to Brighton, and foolishly assumed that was their intended destination. Quick Lestrade, find out where the first stop is. I believe we shall find they will leave the train there.”
Lestrade hurried off, calling two of his constables to follow him. He returned shortly afterwards looking pleased. “The train stops at Redhill.”
Meanwhile, I had been thinking of what we had seen, and raised an objection. “But they were dressed up as if they were going on an outing.”
“They probably were. Mrs Green, if that indeed is her name, may well have family she will visit. Green will catch the train back to London, collect the jewels from the dealer as arranged, return to wherever he has left Mrs Green, and at the end of the day they will all come home on the train from Brighton.”
“That sounds very plausible,” Lestrade said, “The stationmaster told me there was a train back ten minutes after Green’s train arrived, it should reach here in just over an hour and a quarter’s time.”
“In which case, we may adjourn for some coffee and be back in time to confirm this is his intention and for you to have him discretely followed from the train,” Holmes replied.
As we walked towards the coffee shop I asked Hopkins what had given him his inspiration.
“Looking at the children excited because they were going out for the day, and seeing the little boys in their sailor suits, reminded me of the times when we went to the seaside. I can remember holding on very firmly to my bucket and spade as we made our way to the train. And looking around I could see lots of little boys doing just that,” Hopkins explained.
Holmes nodded. “And then you remembered Master Green didn’t have a bucket and spade, and apart from Mrs Green having a basket, no-one was carrying any of the paraphernalia all the other families deem essential for a trip to the seaside. Well spotted, Hopkins!” Then, turning to Lestrade, he added, “How do you intend relieving Green of the jewels? Arresting him at the station would give notice to the rest of the gang to disappear before you had time to round them up.”
“Indeed,” Lestrade replied. “Would you gentlemen care to accompany me to Redhill? I thought we could arrest him when he left the train there. That way on-one will know of the arrest, and Bradstreet will be here to pick up the others.”
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