Watson dared not even attempt to try and undermine Holmes' attention to detail in the sewers, leaving that scrutiny up to the detective. Rather than pour over the dimly lit corridors for clues he kept an ear out for would be travelers, not having any inkling of who else might be traveling beneath the roads of London. As chance would have it they encountered no one in their journey through the sewers, and upon surfacing some several minutes away he was relieved to say it didn't appear as though they had any trouble on their hands. Helping his companions up and out of the sewers, Watson carefully slid the lid back onto the manhole and pulled a handkerchief from his pockets, wiping his hands clean before tucking it away again. This was certainly an unsavory neck of the city, where the poor and destitute seemed to call home and all of the seedy individuals made their business known. Prostitutes and peddlers, pickpockets and muggers, Watson would be hard pressed to say he would ever wish to be here any other time than now. Such a lovely job this was turning out to be, though he'd not be dissuaded by some off-putting odors below and some shady looking individuals here. No, they had a job to do and come Hell or high water he'd see it through.

While Holmes and Mary spoke, Watson made it a point to watch those around them, not quite attempting to even do so candidly. No matter how he may try to play it off it was obvious that their group, well dressed as they were, did not belong in this place. It would be a futile effort then to even try and conceal their intentions, which while somewhat of a blessing was also a curse; If someone like them were spotted prowling in such a poor neighborhood then it couldn't mean anything good, and chances were behaviors would change and any illicit activity going on would cease, if only temporarily. Aside from the few stares that Watson got back they were mostly paid no mind, yet he knew their presence was plenty well known. Noting the sidearm securely tucked away in the holster beneath his coat he frowned, wondering what the chances might be of their asking around here for information. No doubt it would come at a cost, and knowing Holmes it would be from the doctor's pocket, but any price was a small one to pay to ensure they found Charlie.

As things stood they would be going to meet another woman it seemed, an acquaintance of Mary's. Then again they may not even be able to call this Martha that much, as it sounded more like she was a friend of a friend. When you entrusted things to those who you truly did not know, Watson reflected, there was greater chance for something to go awry. Not that he was being cynical and accusing Martha of any foul play, but not being in the "know" as it were could lead to letting something slip, and God knows they had seen plenty of mishaps come about as a result of loose lips. He loathed to think that some poor soul would have led to a child's abduction simply by speaking of them, albeit when compared to the other potential causes having someone let something slip was far from the worst. With Holmes and Mary taking the lead, Irene close behind, Watson took the rear of their group, lowering the brim of his cap slightly as they moved along. The chances of word spreading about a few "stiffs" looking around would no doubt spread, and he was certain that it would inevitably reach the perpetrator of these abductions as well. If that were the case then time would be very much of the essence, as knowing that authorities may be closing in could prompt the abductors to kill their quarry, something they were trying to prevent from happening.

For a moment Watson wondered what it was that Holmes seemed to be curious about, noting the vaguely perplexed look on his friend's face, if for the briefest of seconds. Not a second after he had seen that did a woman's cry ring out, and promptly thereafter did the source of the grief stumble out of a home, looking incredibly disturbed. Hand habitually going to the grip of his pistol Watson exchanged a glance with Holmes before following him inside, not knowing what to expect. Entering the building Watson quickly picked up on the unmistakable odor of blood, not having noticed it for some reason prior to getting to the door. It took only a second more to spot the source of the stench, his stomach sinking like a rock in a lake at the grisly sight. He had seen numerous murder scenes in his time, but it was always just a little bit harder to take when it was a child. That aside just the condition of the body was purely appalling, and the things done to it... 

"Simply disgusting... To think someone would do such a thing," Watson mumbled, frowning as he knelt down on one knee before the corpse. The poor boy, hardly seemed to be older than nine years of age. Turning his head as Holmes threw out a question, the doctor swallowed uncomfortably at having to perform an autopsy on the boy when Martha seemed to be in hysterics, making the connection that this must be her missing boy, Peter. Taking a pair of gloves out from his coat he slipped them on meticulously, reaching out and opening one of the boy's closed eyes, inspecting the vessels and coloration. "Hard to say immediately, but if I had to make a guess..." Watson began, grabbing one of the boy's hands and inspecting his nails, "I would say anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. The skin has begun to discolor and his blood vessels are thinning due to the lack of blood flow. Of course... Given the state of his limbs it's possible he died before then too, as he likely bled out simply from the crude work. It's like someone just took a hacksaw to the boy and chopped the parts off..." Repulsive, simply repulsive. Given how the skin was shredded and how hastily the sewing looked to be done it was obvious this was done in haste, either that or with lack of care. The latter was perfectly probably given the fact the deed was even carried out.

"I don't know if I can apply reason to such a disgusting act honestly, but if I had to make a try of it," Watson began, sighing as he looked up at Holmes, "It almost seems like it was done to provoke something. It would be one thing if the body was returned here after he was killed, but given the mutilations it was like there was an ulterior motive to bringing him back. Obviously we can't ask this moment, but we should see if Martha has upset anyone recently. Either that or if Peter has gotten into trouble... It almost seems like someone went over the top with this killing to send her a message, but what for? And if these are the same monsters that took Charlie..." He didn't have to finish that statement, Holmes would no doubt already be thinking the same thing. If these were the kinds of people they were working against then the situation did not bode well for Mary's young ward.