The Case Of The Missing Hand

Chapter One

The flooring creaked beneath his feet as Sherlock rocked back and forth on his heels. He had heard it come through his police scanner moments ago, a murder, at none other then Diogenes. Diogenes also happened to be a restaurant chain owned by Mycroft. His brother, who also happened to be an operative for MI6. How my brother got away with hiding this for years is beyond me, Sherlock thought, rolling his eyes. His brother is a bafoon. 

It wasn't that long ago that Joan had been kidnapped due to himself snooping around dodgy business at that restaurant. Dodgy business that had involved his older brother. And now another crime had been committed behinds its doors. 

The lyrics to 'Bad day' was belted out from his living room as his phone went off. 

"Right on time...WATSON! NEW CASE," I yelled out, knowing Joan would of heard from her room. 

"Captain?", I greeted.

"Sherlock, there's been a murder that I need Joan and your assistance with. A young female. I'm downtown at your brothers restaurant actually, I'm sure you know the way, if you think it causes any conflict I'm sure Detective Bell and I can handle it"

"No no, we will be their momentarily," I replied before the call came to an end. Excellent. There hadn't been a murder in 10 days, 16 hours and 15 minutes. It wasn't that death caused him excitement, it was the opportunity to solve another case and to test his investigative skills. Life was too mundane otherwise, he needed something to focus his mind on, to hone his observational skills on. 

"WATSON!!" I yelled out once more as I sat to shove my shoes on and quickly tie them.

"What is it?" Joan asked as she wondered down the steps in her pajamas, yawning.

"Get dressed, eat breakfast, we have a new murder to investigate. At Mycroft's restaurant of all places,"

"At Diogenes? Does Mycroft know?" Joan asked.

"I have no idea, all I know is that a murder of a young female has taken place at Diogenes, and that we are to meet the Captain there as quickly as possible," I replied, standing back up straight.

"So, if you could be so kind, clothes, shoes, I'll make the toast," I said waving towards the stairs. She smirked at me with her hand on her hips before retreating back to her room.

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Police tape was everywhere as we ducked underneath to get to the crime scene. Sirens and flashes of red and blue lit up the early morning sky as we approached the Captain.

"Guys! Over here," Captain Gregson said, waving us over. We quickly walked into the building, eyes scanning the room. A young female, no older then 21, lay on the floor. Her legs were bent at an unnatural angle with her arms stretched out at her sides. Her eyes, lifeless, as they stared up at the ceiling. She was covered in blood as it pooled out from her. Wound site, her hand, or more so the absence of said hand.

Where her hand used to be now pooled blood, the rest of her arm with her bone protruding lay across the floor, her flesh hacked.

"Meet Miss Cassandra Tate. She worked here as a waitress," Captain Gregson stated. 

"Who found her?" Joan asked.

"Another staff member, he was opening up the building when he came across her, looks like she's been here for a few hours," Detective Bell said, walking over to join them.

I crouched down closer to her, she was definitely beautiful with long dark hair and striking blue eyes. Her face was set in more of a state of confusion then fear. Detective Bell was correct, her body had been deceased for no longer then a few hours. She smelt of perfume - cheap over the counter stuff, the rich scent of blood was overpowering. 

Apart from the blood pooled around her, seeping into her clothes, there was only splatters across her face.

"I would say she was already lying on the ground when her hand was brutally hacked off," I stated out loud for the others. 

"Was she already dead?" Detective Bell asked.

"She needs a blood toxin test, my best bet is she was dying on the floor before an attacker, perhaps the administer to said toxin, took off her hand," I said.

She was clean other then that, no scratches, no scrapes, no bruises. Her inner arm. I pulled up her sleeve, and as expected a tiny pin prick was discovered.

"There, a drug was administered to her," I stated. Carefully, I moved her arm, nothing. I slightly pulled her body over, bingo. A syringe lay underneath her which I carefully picked up before dropping into an evidence bag. 

"Here, get this tested too, its Heroin but test it anyway to see if anything else is in it," I said handing it to Detective Bell.

"How do you know its Heroin?" he asked.

"I know what it smells like," I replied, looking away. And that I did. I hadn't smelt it for a while now, but it was definitely of a good grade. The burning sensation of need vibrated through my body before I forced it down, now was not the time. I took a deep breath before standing up.

Her other hand caught my eye, it was stamped.

"Stamp on her other hand?" I asked.

"Uhhh not entirely sure at the moment, our best bet is a club," Detective Bell said before walking off to take another statement. 

Looking closer, I took out a pencil and quickly scribbled down the basics of it, it was slightly smeared, but was still intact. 

"I'd say we should start our search at this club, I also think Mycroft should be contacted" Joan said.

"Yes, yes, I will call my brother, we might be able to get some more information on Miss Tate from him," I replied, pulling out my phone. 

I blew out a deep breath before dialing Mycroft's number. It only rang once.

"Sherlock, what a surprise. This call wouldn't have anything to do with a girls murder on my property would it," Mycroft said.

"Believe it or not it would. I need to ask you a few questions about a Miss Cassandra Tate," I replied.

"Save it for a few minutes, my dear brother. I shall be at the brownstone soon, I took a flight out as soon as I heard, thought you might need my help," Mycroft said. I rubbed at my face and shut my eyes tight. The case of the missing hand just got more complicated.