From A Very Holmesian Christmas: Come Find Me: After a challenge, Watson must find where Holmes is hiding in the rural countryside.


"Dr. Watson," Mycroft Holmes said, rising ponderously from his chair to greet me. "This is most unexpected." He waved me to one of the Stranger Room's stiff, uncomfortable chairs. "Where is Sherlock?"

"Thank you," I said, perching gingerly on the chair he offered. "That is precisely why I wished to see you. Holmes is hiding somewhere in the countryside, and I wondered if perhaps you might know where he is."

"Hiding?" Mycroft asked. He paused a moment. "And what are the terms of the challenge?"

I did not waste time asking how he knew it was a challenge, not some new danger to Holmes, that had sent him into hiding. Behind Mycroft's enormous, fleshy face hid a mind and powers of observation that easily rivaled those of his younger brother. "If I can find him before tomorrow morning, he will acknowledge that he has over-exhausted himself in recent weeks and will agree to accompany me to Cornwall for a week of rest and recuperation. If I cannot, I must drop the matter entirely."

"Hmm," Mycroft said. "How incurably childish of my brother. The countryside is vast, and no doubt he knew you would stand little chance of locating him in time."

I nodded in defeat. "I admit it was a long shot, coming here," I said. "It was foolish to think that Holmes would have informed you of his whereabouts."

Mycroft's eyes narrowed. "I am perfectly aware of what you are attempting to do, Doctor," he said. "I never said that I did not know, or that I could not easily find out. Yet despite his childishness, it is not for me to interfere in my brother's affairs."

"Not even when his health is at stake?" I asked without much hope.

Mycroft studied me intently for a moment. "May I ask what made you choose the countryside? I assume that Sherlock offered you that or the city for this challenge. Why not London, with which you are more familiar?"

I shook my head. "I could never dream to match Holmes here; he knows London better than anyone else on earth. He would simply disguise himself and disappear, though he would hardly need to among millions of souls." And then I admitted, "And I thought...well, if it were the countryside, even if I were to lose, Holmes would spend at least a few days out in the fresh air. And a partial victory is better than no victory at all."

To my surprise, Mycroft snorted in amusement. "You are full of hidden depth, Doctor Watson." He sat back in his chair. "Very well, give me an hour and a half. I shall not entirely ruin my brother's plan by giving you the precise address, but I shall at least point you in the right direction."


"Watson? Ah...excellent. You have taken my advice about visiting the pub for information. But...how did you know I was in Sussex at all?"

I smiled, a trifle smugly. "I have my ways."