Things had certainly gone a different route than what Holmes had anticipated. While before, he was vaguely curious, now he was certainly more intrigued and more determined to get to the bottom of what was beginning to unfold in front of them, smelling rather pungent in fact. The man teetered from his left foot and then to his right as his friend began to investigate the new found corpse of the young boy. The man had made a comment and crouched down to take a closer look. Holmes looked back behind him, thankful that no other locals had been curious or concerned by the sound of a woman's broken hearted exclamations. He was sure the woman was in good hands with Irene and Mary, given the tone the day had suddenly become enveloped in. He would have warned Mary or Martha to watch for the woman's sticky fingers but right now, he was rather certain that Irene Adler would cease to be a sneaky criminal and take the guise of a shoulder to lean on. John soon drew gloves for sanitary reasons and continued with his own musings. Holmes knew this must be hard for John. While not every case was this gory and awful, Holmes often wondered how the sights on the battlefield had effected John's poor mind. Seeing such a horror, and near such a happy holiday, must be quite tormenting. 

As much as Holmes was flaky, he did try to keep John happy with their friendship and seeing such carnage, Holmes was sure that John might lose sleep because of this. He was more sure however, that the poor mother having to outlive her son and see any presents remain untouched, was immersed in an even worse flurry of depression.

Holmes hoped the boy didn't suffer terribly long. By John's estimate however, the boy had been dead from a day to perhaps two. It didn't give them much consolation but at the least, it could give them a lead as to who was where in the area, and who might want to take apart humans and do some sort of weird carnal experimentation. Whoever it was, Holmes was sure they weren't in the right mind at all, which only meant that they needed to make haste. "They were very crude with the stitching." He nodded when John mentioned the use of a hacksaw. No medical professional would do such a thing, it had to be someone else, clearly a very deranged and desperate man. Then John rose and turned to him, mentioning that the incident was done in order to provoke something. A very interesting notion but Holmes wanted John to run with that thought himself now. "Whoever is behind this, is a man who is in dire need of something. A rabbit...it could represent luck, good fortune, rebirth, quickness...quick quick quick." He looked back to the body and noted that only certain parts of the animal had been attached. No ears or fur, just the heart and paws. "He wanted to test the animal's speed...by giving it to the boy." He concluded. 

"I believe Charlie could be reunited very shortly with his canine companion but it's not one I would look forward to with earnest." He frowned and patted John before trotting back to the three women. By now, Mary had already been into the complex to bring back a glass of water for Martha from one of her neighbors inside who had heard the distressed commotion. Seeing the two finish, Mary got up and closed the gap between them, electing to meet them halfway as to spare the poor mother any more trouble. Mary inquired as to how bad it was but Holmes held up his hand, even he knew it was a sight not meant for the eyes of Mary, nor Adler. "To describe it as unpleasant would be a rude and disrespectful understatement." Holmes told Mary and glanced back to John, sure that he would agree. "I would not wish for you to see such a thing." He said. Though Peter was returned home but in a state where he could be forgotten, overlooked or easily stumbled upon. It was interesting indeed. "To have his own mother find it, and so close to Christmas too..." For a moment he could reflect once more upon the timing of these kidnappings and heinous experiments and wonder what sparked someone so mad, to begin such a barbaric endeavor.

It seemed Mary was slowly following along his train of thought.

"Come to think of it..." Mary began to say. "I really can't think of a string of such vanishings ever happening, not even around the same time last year. Whoever is doing these...these things, has been prompted by some event or realization." Mary mentioned. "In the books I've read, these criminals either develop the urge over time, or something happens to push them to beyond the brink." She said. "I think the man we're looking for, isn't calculated, but in fact frantic, almost afraid of something."

Martha got to her feet but then sat back down again. Mary glanced behind her shoulder and then looked to John and Sherlock once more, fully aware the odds were already dwindling for Charlie. "I'm not giving up." She assured them. "I spoke to Martha," She began to say. "from what she could tell me," Mary had been as gentle as possible when it came to getting anything useful out of the woman. She knew first hand how hard it was to swallow sorrow and be forced to move on for the greater good. "the only enemy she had was the landlord but Peter was supposedly doing errands for the man to help pay for the rent, why he'd be behind this would make no sense to me." She shrugged a little. It wasn't much help but she was well aware that the next step would be to figure out a connection for more disappearances. Like where they were all last seen, or if they all knew someone, or if they all had money trouble. For now, she was sure they needed to keep moving if Martha was inconsolable at the moment. "If we leave Martha, give her space, we could return and she might have remembered something important."

"But trust me, hanging around here and expecting her to remember important facts, isn't going to do her or us any good. Certainly not Charlie." Mary said firmly, even more determined to keep up and be helpful in some way. Holmes finally tore his eyes away from the pressing blond governess to look to his medically trained friend, finding himself slightly more impressed than when he first laid eyes on the ordinary looking woman, who appeared to be playing a role unfit for herself. Even though Holmes wasn't sure about Mary yet, he still could commend her tenacity. He was sure most women would cry or cower in the face of adversity but Mary, like Irene, had guts to go along with her heart and brain and he had to cut her some slack. It seemed she was trying to keep up like John, and Holmes was hoping Mary would be an asset, as opposed to a liability. And of course Adler was for now, an asset but still a wild card, often unpredictable, which was why he was so fond of her acquired charms. Holmes gave a thoughtful nod finally, agreeing they should leave. "I was thinking it might be better if we split up." Mary mentioned. It had been Irene's idea back on the stoop but Mary had been asked to present it, and so she was. "Perhaps Mr. Holmes, you and Irene could go question this landlord and Mr. Watson and I could follow one of the other leads I had spoken to yesterday."

She turned her blue eyes up toward the sky and saw no new signs of rain, but London was unpredictable, yet often soggy.

"We could meet up back at the manor for a warm lunch in an hour?" Mary looked back to them.

A smile flashed upon Sherlock's face and he swung an arm around John's shoulder. "I'm sure Watson will be fine under your supervision, Ms. Mortsan." He teased. "He loves getting himself into trouble, do be careful."

"Of course." Mary shook her head slightly, rather certain it was Sherlock who ought to come with a bold warning label. Mary then turned and went back to Irene and Martha to explain what would happen now. Irene and Mary helped Martha up and get back into her flat before they headed back outside. "I hope I'm not too forward but...I've caught you and Mr. Holmes eyeing each other...do you two have a...history?" She gave her friend a sly smile as they stepped back out into the cool winter morning. "You two must make...a rather exciting match." Mary considered with a chuckle. Part of her was slightly envious. But of course, she was fond of Irene, even in just knowing the woman a short time. She was sure Irene had good judgement and she just wanted her friend to be happy. Everyone deserved happiness, after all. 

While the women were off for a few moments, Holmes dropped his arm from John, now actually feeling like a protective mother hen. As often as they squabbled, Holmes found comfort in having someone by his side. Irene was fine company and like minded with cunning and wit, but he didn't want to send John off with a stranger. Of course John could handle himself, Holmes knew that, deep down. "Watch yourself, there are rumors of people being kidnapped." He said as he took out his pipe and began to fiddle with the matches, trying to light it.