Euston Road
May 22 Prompt: Taxi
No moon tonight, and I’m walking down Euston Road.
Where are the cabs?
I’m thinking about the case, hurrying home so I can go into my Mind Palace.
Male, mid-thirties. Office building. Suffered major heart attack.
Why do they always describe heart attacks as major? Could one suffer a minor heart attack? And is there any other way to have a heart attack other than suffering it? The whole phrase seems rather redundant. And not very scientific. Myocardial infarction. That’s what it is. A clot blocking the flow, blood coming to a halt, pain, damage, death.
Rather young for a heart attack, though it does happen. In an office, I’m talking to someone, and then… I’m falling, and I know…
I was talking to someone. No, I saw something. Someone.
A gun.
Where are all the cabs?
I just want to get home now, back to Baker Street. Right now, I could murder for a cuppa.
Gun. Murder.
It wasn’t a heart attack. Why did I think that?
John would have known, of course. He would have pointed out the blood. And then he would shake his head, that patient smile on his face, and he would say, You’re working too hard, Sherlock. We need to get you home. I’ll make tea, and you’ll sprawl on the sofa, and—
Yes, I need to get home. It’s late, and I’m tired, and I need to go to my Mind Palace.
Where is my Mind Palace?
Euston Road is dark and deserted. It must be very late indeed for that to happen. This is London, where it’s never this quiet and dark. Even the street lamps seem dimmer.
London got its first gas street light in 1807. Electric lights followed by the end of the century, but as late as the 1930’s, half of the street lights were still gas. Before street lighting, people had servants carry lanterns ahead of them if they had to go out at night.
That man, in the office. Standing there, talking to someone, he might have felt like he was having a heart attack, but he was definitely shot. He’s never had a heart attack, so he doesn’t know what’s happening. But he must have seen the gun. He did see the gun. And he knew, in that second, that he’d been fool to go alone.
My mouth is dry. I need a cup of tea, and I need John. John will help me think. He will make tea and ask me questions, and I will put it all together, figure it out. Just a bit further to Baker Street.
John. John found the body. The man was shot in the chest, fell backwards. The mirror behind him was not shattered by the bullet, so that means the bullet is still inside him.
I’ll go see Molly, and she’ll tell me what kind of bullet it is, what kind of gun, how the man died.
It won’t matter, of course. He’s dead. Somebody shot him and his murderer is still out there. Assassin in black. Don’t tell John.
I should have known. I did know.
Where are all the cabs?
There are always cabs on Euston Road. In the eighteenth century, they used to drive cattle along this road. All of this was farmland then. Later, the entire road was dug up to build the underground. Sometimes you can feel the vibration from the trains as they run some thirty metres beneath the ground. Or maybe you can’t. I’ve always imagined that I can.
I imagine what it would feel like to be shot in the chest. People always think they’d have time to dodge a bullet, but an average bullet travels 2500 feet per second, too fast to do any dodging. It’s a very efficient way to kill someone.
Molly described it to me. You go into shock because of the pain. You don’t have time for regrets.
I have regrets.
“John,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, John.”
“I’m right here, Sherlock.”
A warm hand on my forehead. I open my eyes. John looks concerned, but smiles to see me.
“Did I die?”
Chuckle. “No, you’re very much alive. You have a concussion, though. Can you tell me what year it is?”
“2014.”
Another chuckle. “Well, that confirms it. Or maybe you’ve time travelled.”
My eyes close of their own volition. “Did you catch the shooter?”
“You haven’t been shot, Sherlock.”
I force my eyes open. “Tell me everything.”
“You were in the street, flagging down a cab. Another driver wasn’t paying attention and hit you, knocked you over. Your head hit the pavement.”
“What year is this?”
“It’s 2010, same as yesterday. No, don’t try to sit up. Do you want some water?”
“John. I must tell you something.”
His hand holding mine. “Calm down. You need to rest.”
“No. I have to tell you. Before… before it’s too late.”
“Sherlock—”
“I love you, John.”
“So you’ve said. Several times.”
“It’s true. I love you.”
“No longer married to your work?”
“Never was. Not since we met, anyway. Don’t get married, John. Promise me.”
“It’s okay, Sherlock. I broke up with Sarah, remember?”
“Yes. But. No one loves you as I do. I love you so much, John. I promise you, I won’t leave you. I won’t die.”
“That’s a pretty big promise.”
“And you must promise, too. No dating assassins. No getting married.”
“You’re not going to remember any of this the next time you wake up.”
“Do you love me, John?”
Hand on my forehead, fingers in my hair. Sigh. “God help me, I do. When that car hit you—” Lips touch my hand. “Just don’t… you’re so heedless sometimes. Impatient, five steps ahead of me. I know I’m an idiot, but—”
“You’re not.” Eyes are closing again. I blink, trying to stay awake. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Sherlock. Get some rest, okay? I’ll be right here.”
“In 2010.”
I feel his smile. “Yes, in 2010.”
Lips touch mine.
1000 words / Flash Fiction
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Hitman holiday ask: I think that 47 would enjoy a bit luxury, he has expensive tastes. 5 star hotel, presidential suite, the like. Lucas likes it for a bit before the excess annoys him. He could stand it if they had a really private time, like their own sauna or pool in the suite. I think he could be more the rugged mountaineer type, goes hiking, stays in huts....I could conceivably see him going camping and having a great time. That way he doesn't have to plan too much, he can just on a whim decide to go driving to someplace (or maybe even bike? Would Lucas like cross country bike tours?) do what he likes and find a camping spot in the evening. 47....would only go camping under duress. Or if he was promised a really posh hotel stay afterwards. Just imagine Lucas in hiking gear, a bit rugged, content to trek through the wilderness for a month. And 47 in designer gear already googling the location of the nearest spa and maybe a private helicopter to take him there
omg yes Lucas, the hiker and cyclist, totally deterministic with his far too tight cycling shorts, waits impatiently for Olivia, who starts to sweat after only two kilometres and just wants to go back to her computer, Diana on her cute Dutch bike, takes her time and enjoys the landscape (and couldn't care less about speed) and 47, who would still have enough stamina, has already the mobile phone to the next hotel in his hand.
NOBODY except Lucas wanted to go on the bike tour, but everyone knows how much he enjoys riding in nature, so no one says anything and just comes along.
Same with hiking, I imagine Lucas really nicely in those trekking shoes that people like to wear here in Germany, absolute beauties they are. 47 probably wouldn't even touch those shoes in the shoe shop, like ew no, they're terrible
In case you didn't know Liam, that's how I imagine Lucas to be btw (sorry):
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