Chapter Text
Snap, snapsnap, snap, clap
John stopped in the doorway taking in the sight of Sherlock sat at the kitchen table a sheet of paper in front of him and John's phone in his hand, he was making marks on the paper at every snap and clap that came from John's phone a look of intense concentration on his face.
"Er Sherlock." John began only to be halted by a imperiously upraised hand, right working silence.
John gave up on getting an answer from Sherlock and turned to putting the kettle on, he was going to need a very strong tea this morning.
snapsnapsnap, snap, clap, clap
"We have no case, and as messages go this is obscure in the extreme." Sherlock mused sitting back eyes still on the paper "John, why would an unknown man and woman ring your phone at two in the morning to snap their fingers and clap for one minute and seven seconds?"
John shrugged, back still to Sherlock as he fished out the tea bag. "Not a clue, sure it's not connected with the last case?" He indicated the wall where the remains where posted up, including a very elegant cipher.
"No, aural not written, not based on a consistent time signature and two different people set the message." Sherlock countered "unconnected except by the timing." He fixed John with an assessing look "Can you decipher it?"
"Me?" John gave his best 'idiot me' look
"It was sent to you." Sherlock pointed out "At least listen to it." and with no further words he played the message.
John felt the bottom drop out of the world but struggled to keep a bland face, above all Sherlock must not learn the content of the message, the results would be disastrous.
"Not a clue." He said in a level voice "Not enough information to break it?"
"No, not yet." Sherlock seemed disgusted with himself "If you get any more."
"I'll let you know" John smiled outwardly, silently he added when hell freezes over .
Doggedly he went about his morning routine before leaving the flat for the surgery, "Paper work Sherlock, mounts up every time there's a new government initiative. If Mycroft could get them to lay off for a bit until we're all square it's be a blessing."
Sherlock's snort had been comment enough on that but John was great full to get off so lightly, he turned into Baker street station by the Jubilee and Bakerloo line entrance before emerging again from the Metropolitan exit around the corner and out of sight of 221B and was unsurprised to find a black car waiting for him at the bus stop. Bracing himself for anything he slid in and the car rolled away.