Fic: Ghostbusting: G

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Title: Ghostbusting
Form/Word count: 500
Characters/Pairing: Mrs Hudson, Esme the maid, Inspector Lestrade
Rating: G
Warning/Content:  Mrs Hudson has been having trouble with noises in the broom cupboard, but fortunately help is at the front door.

The gentleman standing on the doorstep, offering Mrs Hudson his card, did seem very polite.  And she had been having a lot of trouble with strange noises coming from the broom cupboard recently.  So, when she had questioned him, the man had told her the noises almost certainly were caused by the paranormal, which he assured her he could banish.

So Mrs Hudson let him into 221 Baker Street and showed him upstairs.  She opened the door to the broom cupboard, and encouraged him to go inside, insisting, in a trembling voice, it would be best if he took a proper look.  The man had seemed a little reluctant, but smiled in a rather patronising manner and stepped inside.

Mrs Hudson shut the door, causing the dustpans hung on the back of the door to rattle loudly, and then very quietly padlocked the door.  (She had had reason recently to purchase a new padlock.)  After which she deliberately walked partway up the stairs to 221B before tiptoeing back down again.  Seeing Esme coming out of the kitchen, she put her finger to her lips and ushered her back again.  Esme, who was used to strange goings on in the broom cupboard, didn’t question the instruction.

After a few minutes they heard the cupboard door rattle.  It ceased and then began again.  Esme and Mrs Hudson looked at each other and waited to see what would happen next.  Mrs Hudson put the kettle on, and then they heard someone banging on the door.

Esme went onto the landing and called out rather nervously, “Hello?”

The voice from within the cupboard said, “Could you let me out, dear girl?  I seem to have been trapped in here.”

Esme gave a shriek of horror, which she nearly spoiled by giggling, before calling out “Mrs Hudson, there’s strange noises coming from the broom cupboard.  What shall I do?”

She then bolted back into the kitchen, where she held a tea towel to her face to drown her laughter.

A little while later Inspector Lestrade called in to see Sherlock Holmes.

He was greeted by Mrs Hudson, who said, “Inspector, we’ve got Artie Grimshaw, the paranormal prowler who pinches possessions, in the broom cupboard.  You might like to take custody of him.”

Lestrade smiled.  “I certainly would.  We’ve been after him for weeks.”  He followed Mrs Hudson upstairs and said, “It would be best if you give me the padlock key, and stand well back.”

Mrs Hudson did as instructed.  Lestrade strode over to the door, so he failed to see Esme pass a large saucepan to Mrs Hudson.

As the door was unlocked Grimshaw tried to escape.  But Esme had been well-trained by Mrs Hudson and the water from her jug caught him full in the face.  Grimshaw paused just long enough for Mrs Hudson to hit him over the head with the saucepan.

Lestrade made a mental note to be sure to creep out next time he and Watson used the broom cupboard.

Comments

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Ghost- or crime-busting, if you want the job done right let the women take care of things!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Exactly. And Grimshaw will think twice before trying that trick again.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Finally, the broom cupboard being put to a noble use! Who you gonna call, indeed! Mrs. Hudson & Esme.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Mrs H knew that padlock would come in useful!

They ain't afraid of no ghost!

[debriswoman]

Gosh...crime busting and not so subtle warnings re broom cupboard use...impressive work, Mrs H:-)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Mrs H is on top of most things - definitely not to be argued with.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

But Esme had been well-trained by Mrs Hudson and the water from her jug caught him full in the face. Maids in Mrs. Hudson's household get a particularly specialised training - that's going to be an interesting letter of recommendation when Esme moves on ^___^

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

There are a number of establishments where training of the sort Esme has received are highly valued. Mycroft Holmes has been known to enquire of Mrs Hudson if there is someone she can recommend.