John's reaction, whatever that had been, is going to have to wait to be investigated until there's another lull in cases. It's no less interesting, but it's not as imperative as the photos that lay strewn across the table. John picks up on something else, something that Sherlock hadn't seen, and it reminds him all over again why he keeps him around. He's not just a substitute for his skull, he's a keen eye in his own right, even if he's nowhere near the level Sherlock is. Still, in this case, he begrudgingly has to hand it to him that he hadn't seen the marks on the wrist, which is curious - perhaps there had been an effort to cover these marks up. He wonders how soon after death the autopsy and photos were done, and if that would play some part in the visibility of certain marks. Perhaps they were rushed through before marks had time to really settle in... however, in at least one case, it appeared a greater length of time had passed and the lividity had partly marred the obviousness of marks.

"Get your coat on," Sherlock says, by way of saying that John was right. He's gathering the photographs back up in the envelope they'd come in, and then together, the two were off to meet with Lestrade with what they'd found and dig deeper. The whole thing ended up being nearly two days with barely any sleep for John and none at all for Sherlock, and they'd come out on the other side of it by proving it was homicide and finding the killer. It wasn't half so interesting once it was solved, but then again, almost nothing is. He just likes getting there, likes being the one to unwind it all and find the answer.

The case is over. Like they usually do, after, they stop off to get something to eat, partly because Sherlock has forgotten to in the past couple of days and he's starving, and partly because it's almost tradition now. Sherlock, for all he seems like he despises tradition and anything like regularity, secretly enjoys this little ritual they've fallen into.