The Valley of Fear, Part I: Bonnet-Strings

[methylviolet10b]

Author: methylviolet10b
Rating: PG
Character(s): Sherlock Holmes, Inspector MacDonald
Summary: Holmes remembers what Inspector Mac said regarding Moriarty.
Warnings: Trivial references to VALL; looking ahead to other canon stories.
Word Count: 60, plus a quote from the story itself, in italics.
Author's Notes: 60 words of my own inspired by one of the canon stories. This week, I was inspired by the character of Inspector MacDonald, whom Holmes familiarly calls "Inspector Mac" and who seems a promising sort. Yet this is the only story in which he appears. Why?
Disclaimer: I don't own them.

VALL (Part 1) – Bonnet-Strings

“I won't conceal from you, Mr. Holmes, that we think in the C.I.D. that you have a wee bit of a bee in your bonnet over this professor.”

I long remembered Inspector MacDonald’s cheerful, dismissive words. Indeed, I could hardly forget them. I did not blame him for them; one of Moriarty’s greatest criminal talents lay in his ability to appear harmless.

No, I didn't blame the man, but months later, sorrowfully looking down at his surprised-looking, pale corpse, I wished he’d been less dismissive and more careful.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Now that is sad. Poor Inspector Mac.

[methylviolet10b]

I know - I liked him a lot. Unfortunately, I could think of only one reason why he only appeared in this fic, and wasn't mentioned in FINA, or any of the other stories... :-(

Thank you!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like to think he missed his native Scotland and after a few years honing his craft in London he returned home.

[debriswoman]

Very sad, and very neatly linked to his words.

[methylviolet10b]

Thank you! I don't know why, but when I read that offhand comment of his this time around, all I could think was "oh, dude, you just spoke your own epitaph, didn't you?" :-(

[debriswoman]

It is interesting that you often get a different "take" on a scene or sentence on re reading:-)

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

Sad but all-too-plausible. Underestimate your criminal mastermind at your peril.

[methylviolet10b]

Yes, that exactly. :-(

Thank you!

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

O death, where is thy sting? Now we know. Poor Mr. Mac, but yes, there's something of an inevitability to his end. Brilliantly done!

[methylviolet10b]

To use the parlance from another fandom, he was pretty clearly wearing a red shirt, poor fellow.

Thank you!

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Nicely done! Impressed with the way you've connected things!

[methylviolet10b]

Thanks! That line just begged for linkage to future Moriarty action.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! You've killed lovable Mr. Mac! But that sure makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Because he is pretty wonderful in this story, and yet never shows up again.

I wished he’d been less dismissive and more careful.
Me too.

[methylviolet10b]

I did, sorry to say. But the evidence was suggestive. :-(

Thank you!