A haunted Sherlock Holmes, weakened by his descent into drugs to save John Watson, and fighting his way back to health after taking down Culverton Smith, is plunged back into the past thanks to Lestrade's cold case offerings. Back to his very first case. Never solved, but also never forgotten. The death of Carl Powers.

After cleaning up the crack den and the evidence wall from the kitchen of 221B, as told in Pink String And Sealing Wax, Mycroft tackles the next room. And everything in it. Most especially his younger brother. This story stands alone, but will make more sense if you read Pink String And Sealing Wax first. And also perhaps The Door.

Every January 6th Sherlock Holmes has a table booked at Angelo's restaurant. A taable for one. Only Angelo knows why. Until this January 6th, that is. After St Caedwalla's. After the hug. After especially, and immediately after, cae.

Hospital visitors usually bring grapes. But John Watson brought his ugly old walking stick to Sherlock Holmes. a symbol of final rejection and dismissal. And yet...between the fire extinguisher at St Caedwalla's and the cup of tea in Baker Street, something happened to change his mind. This happened.