A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 28: Grimpen Village

AN: Episode Transcript provided by Ariane DeVere/Callie Sullivan

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Chapter Text
Sherlock stood at the top of a large rock formation while John stood at the foot, consulting a map.

"There's Baskerville," John said, pointing at a large set of buildings in front of them. "Grimpen Village," he pointed behind them. "So, that must be Dewer's Hollow," He said, pointing to the wooded area to the left of Baskerville.

"What's that?" Sherlock asked as he pointed to a fenced area with warning signs.

"Minefield. Technically Baskerville's an army base. I guess they've always been keen to keep people out,"

"Clearly," Sherlock said as he looked at Baskerville through his binocular.

Sherlock and John entered the Cross Keys Inn, one of the only bed and breakfasts in the Grimpen Village.

"Sorry we couldn't do a double room for you boys," Gary, one of the innkeepers, said as he handed John some keys. Sherlock milled around the large public room.

"That's fine, we're not..." John gave up trying to explain the relationship between him and Sherlock after seeing Gary's face. As Gary walked over to the til, John noticed a receipt from 'Undershaw Meat Supplies". He ripped the receipt from the spike and shoved it into his pocket as Gary came back with John's change.

"There you go," Gary said, handing John his change.

"I couldn't help but notice the map of the moor: a skull and crossbones. Pirates?"

"No, no, The Great Grimpen Minefield, they call it. It's not what you think. It's the Baskerville testing site. It's been going for 80 odd years. I'm not sure anyone really knows what's there anymore,"

"Explosives?" John asked.

"Oh, not just explosives. Break into that place and, if you're lucky, you just get blown up,"

"Ta, I'll remember,"

"It buggers up tourism a bit. Thank God for the demon hound. God bless Henry Knight and his monster from hell,"

"Ever seen it? The hound?"

"Me? No. Fletcher has," Gary pointed out the door to a young man talking on his phone. "He runs the walks- the monster walks for the tourists. He's seen it,"  Sherlock looked out at the young man and walked outside to join him.

"Mind if I join you?" Sherlock asked Fletcher, who had just sat down at a table.

Fletcher shrugged and gestured to the table.

"It's not true, is it?" Sherlock asked as he sat down at the table, across from Fletcher. "You haven't seen this hound thing,"

Fletcher eyed him suspiciously. "You from the papers?"

"No, nothing like that. Just curious, have you seen it?"

"Maybe,"

"Got any proof?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Sorry, John," Sherlock said to John, who had just walked out to the table. "Bet's off,"

"Bet?" Fletcher asked, intrigued.

"Oh, I bet John here fifty quid that you couldn't prove that you've seen the hound"

"Yeah," John added, catching onto Sherlock's plan. "The guys in the pub said you could,"

Fletcher let out a light laugh. "Well, you're gonna lose your money mate. Yeah, I've seen it. Only about a month ago, up at the Hollow. It was foggy, I couldn't make much out,"

"I see, no witnesses I suppose," Sherlock said, unconvinced.

Fletcher handed Sherlock his phone which showed a picture of a dark-furred four-legged animal. The photograph's quality was poor and it was impossible to tell the size of the creature. "There,"

Sherlock snorted in amusement. "That's it? it isn't really proof. Sorry, John, I win,"

"That's not all. People don't like going up there, you know? The Hollow gives them a bad feeling,"

"Ooh, is it haunted? Is that supposed to convince me?"

"Nah, don't be stupid, nothing like that, but I reckon there is something out there- something from Baskerville,"

"A clone, a super dog?" Sherlock snickered.

"Maybe," Fletcher raised his hands in defense. "God knows what they've been spraying on us all these years or putting in the water. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit. In the labs, they say, that there are rats as big as dogs and dogs the size of horses," Fletcher proceeded to hold up a concrete cast of a large paw print.

"We did say fifty," John said, holding out his hand for Sherlock's money. Fletcher couldn't help but smile triumphantly as Sherlock handed John the money.