Episode 8

**A Study in `S` Act 1** is the 8th episode of the MORIARTY THE PATRIOT anime.

## Synopsis

After receiving the approval of Miss Hudson, landlady of 221B Baker Street, John H. Watson, recently returned from the Afghan War, becomes the housemate of consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, who himself is soon implicated in a serious crime.

## Summary

Sherlock prepares to go out, but his landlord Miss Hudson surprises him and asks for the rent. Troubled, Sherlock can't pay right now and sees a friend, Stanford, a doctor. He asks him if he can lend him some, but Stamford declines and suggests Sherlock to get a flatmate and share the rent.

Sherlock brings an actor, a prostitute and a homeless man, but Miss Hudson disapproves of all of them as they can't pay. Complaining to Stamford, he recalls someone that is fit to be a flatmate. John H. Watson comes to the address, but as no one opens, he enters and smells a strange odor. Going up the stairs, he sees Sherlock on the ground in a pool of blood and tries to help him and identify his injury. Sherlock then wakes up and reveals that he is working on a new agent that only reacts and precipitates with blood and is successful. While he explains, he wonders who the man is and John introduces himself as John H. Watson, a friend of Stamford.

Looking at him, Sherlock deducts that he is a doctor from Afghan War. Sherlock approves him, but explains that the landlord, Miss Hudson, needs to approve him too. They go in a bar with Miss Hudson, and Sherlock leaves Hudson and John for a bit, and after returning he is surprised how friendly they are to each other. Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard shows up and Sherlock gets excited that they finally have a case they can't solve and are turning to his consulting. Lestrade explains that at about 22:00, Drebber was murdered and next to him Sherlock's name was written in blood, and arrests Sherlock in suspicion of murder.

At the police station, they see the footprints match Sherlock's boots, the gun is the same model, along with other items suggesting he could have done it. Sherlock denies it, claiming all that can be set up and he never fired his gun, a fact which can easily be checked. He asks Lestrade to let him see the crime scene so that he can find the real killer. Lestrade agrees and takes Sherlock to Drebber's mansion, where they still haven't moved his body.

Lestrade explains there are two maids and a butler living in the mansion and an older cook woman. One of the maids was on a date with her lover, but he never showed up and she later found the body. The other maid received news of her father collapsing and she rushed home, but found him in good health. The butler tends to drink between his duties and usually stays in his room, but some drug was mixed into is drink and he was asleep in his room during the murder. The other woman is almost deaf, and once she locks herself in her room, she won't even hear if a lighting strike happens outside her door.

Sherlock then asks John if he can inspect the body and John states that it has four bullet wounds discharged at close distance and aimed at the heart. With no signs of a struggle, Drebber died from blood loss. Sherlock notices something and manages to take it without Gregson noticing. Sherlock then explains that his name was written by the killer, and not by Drebber, as the letters are too thick compared to his fingers and that would mean the killer is a larger man. From the gunshots, Sherlock deducts the killer isn't skilled. Due to this, he believes the killer is an amateur, but someone else helped him plan it. Sherlock manages to give John a secret message before being carried away by Scotland Yard.

Elsewhere, William had used a man who wanted to get revenge on Drebber and due to his illness didn't care for his life. Using him, William knew he can test Sherlock and see if he will be a threat.

## Characters

* Sherlock Holmes
* Miss Hudson
* Stanford
* John H. Watson
* George Lestrade
* Gregson
* Enoch J. Drebber
* William James Moriarty
* Jefferson Hope