Vanished

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock had been getting used to having Malcolm in Watson's life, and, consequently, in his own. The profiler had more than proven his worth as an investigator, even if Sherlock still maintained his doubts about profilers as a group. And Sherlock had come to accept the relationship between Malcolm and his partner. It was clear she loved him. The notion that Watson would soon be moving out of the Brownstone and into another home with Malcolm was still difficult to accept, but he was starting to get used to the idea, however grudgingly.

However, there was still doubt. Doubt about this man. He had a tendency to run into danger, and was sufficiently volatile that the FBI expelled him. Was he dangerous to Watson? Would he, wittingly or unwittingly, bring harm to her, or allow her to be harmed? Sherlock still wondered. Still worried.

So when he comes back to his computer with a cup of tea and sees an alert on the screen, his worries kick into fear. Back after Watson was kidnapped by French terrorists and nearly killed, Sherlock installed a tracking device on her phone so that if it ever happened again, he and the police would be able to find her. The device would work even if the phone was powered down. Even if the SIM card was removed. Even in water. Even underground. The tracker would have to be either physically destroyed or placed in a lead bag for it to fail.

The red box flashing on Sherlock's screen tells him that the unthinkable has happened. The signal had ended half an hour ago.

Sherlock grabs his phone and tries calling Watson. It goes instantly to voicemail. He leaves a terse message. Then he stares at his phone. Watson had been on her way to meet with Malcolm, had some vital information for a case he was working, something that involved very dangerous people.

What has he gotten her into?

Sherlock hears the door open upstairs, and immediately heads up, hoping it's Watson.

Comments

[prodigalmess]

The longer it takes for Joan to meet him at the cafe they had designated as their rendezvous point, the more worried Malcolm gets. He checks his phone several times, texts Joan, even calls her. Thirty minutes after their meeting time, Malcolm is in a panic. He could call Sherlock, but instead he'd rather go to the Brownstone and check on her. Hopefully she just got caught up in something. Maybe her phone is dead.

Joan gave him a key to the Brownstone a while ago, so Malcolm lets himself in when he gets there. "Joan?" he calls as soon as he steps inside. He hears the footsteps on the stairs and is a little disappointed when he realizes that it's Sherlock. "Oh. Hey. Is Joan here? She was supposed to meet me about 45 minutes ago."