He had felt empty for eight months. His life had been empty for eight months. It was continuous, boring and repetitive. Nothing changed. He went to work at an office every day, at the same time, at the same desk on the same floor of the same building after walking the same streets. There were no case files given to him the moment he stepped inside, no pictures of dead bodies or autopsy reports. No congratulations for a successful detection, no promises of celebratory parties, no people staring at him in awe, eyes filled with the feeling of safety and respect.

He had felt the same nothingness for eight months. No one cared if he were once a world-renowned detective. No one cared if he had met presidents, prime ministers and the queen. No one cared that he had been knighted just for looking at crime scenes and finding the murderer within a week. Everyone was too busy fussing about their own skin. He had been worthless for eight months but he still didn't want to go back to where he had once been.

But they wanted him back. So he had come back.

Logan walked into the police station, getting many respective nods from workers. A few newer recruits, by the looks of it, practically grovelled as he breezed past them. Everyone in the police station knew Logan Croft. After all, it was he who had solved the Gunningforth murders four years ago when he was just a new recruit. He had outshined the old detectives, completing the case in record time and he was supposed to be retired. Or, at least, working without dead bodies.

But here he was. The Sherlock of reality. Back in business because, apparently, there was a new case that had specifically asked for him. Damn his popularity.

Logan only exchanged a small nod with people he knew, who all looked stunned to see him back. Because he said he wasn't coming back. Not after his last case. Not after he nearly became the murderer's' final victim. That can put a person off detecting.

The young man stalked up to his old office, where he was told to go and swung open the door bossily. Police officers looked up and one young man in the corner straightened happily.

"Well?" Logan said before any could exchange polite greetings. "I thought I said I don't want to be called in unless no one else could solve it."

"Mr Croft, we're so sorry we've pulled you back-"

"What's the case, Archie?"

Archie had been one of Logan's' best friends when he still worked here. The man used to be the superintendent's' assistant, the man who fetched coffee. But, Logan had put him all the way up in the food chain and it looked like, even after his friend was gone, the timid man had climbed up himself. He had curly black hair, dark eyes, pale skin and warm freckles. He spoke chirpily with a small stammer, hardly noticeable.

His old friend smiled nervously. "Well, it's an odd one. We were called by a young man, frantically begging us to send in Logan Croft because there had been a murder. He said his name was Patton, he had found the body with his friend, Janus."

Logan clicked his fingers at a young woman who was sitting down and she hopped out of the chair obediently. Many rumours had been spread around about Logan's' wrath and he was definitely in a bad mood which no one but Archie seemed to face. Logan sat down in the seat.

"I was requested?" He frowned.

Archie nodded, sitting opposite him. "Yes."

"Where's the case?"

His friend leaned back. "It's at Blacksky Manor, an old country house. Classic, Edwardian, renovated to suit modern needs. Absolutely huge, it's got a pool, an orchard, live-in servants. Even some horses on-site, with a carriage."

Logan nodded, letting the information sink in. "Who died?"

"Ali Blacksky," Piped up a young, attractive man. He was Latino, with green eyes, light brown hair and smooth skin. His arms were strong, his teeth were white and he had a natural tan. He spoke confidently, hiding away the amazement of being in the same room with Logan. But he didn't lose himself over it. That could be respected. "He owned the manor, age thirty-two. The people in the hamlet the manor belonged to said he was a nice man to most, but never had the best relationship with his younger brother."

"And the brother's set to gain the inheritance?" Asked Logan. The young man nodded and Logan turned to Archie. "Case closed, it was the younger brother. He's got a strong motive, already had a bad relationship with his brother and the murder could have happened in a heat of an arguement. He ran away in shock and the body was later found by Patrick-"

"-Patton-"

"And they called in for me. Solved." Logan stood up. "May I go now?"

~'^'~

"You could've said no," Logan grumbled grouchily, sipping the coffee.

"And would you have listened?" Joked Archie. "You were far more likely to say yes if I asked you out for coffee to catch up then if I said you had to stay."

Logan sighed, smiling with exasperated fondness at his friend. He lost his humour as he remembered he was supposed to be annoyed. "I've already solved the case, Archie."

"No," Archie replied, wagging his finger, "You guessed at the case."

The old detective sighed again, averting his gaze out of the window. "You know why I don't want to do this. Eight months ago was too... just too wracking." He glanced back at his sympathetic friend. "I still wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and screaming, because of what happened. Get someone else in, disappoint them. I don't want to go back."

"But you need to," Archie replied, gently. "I barely recognised you when you came in. You looked tired, drained and bored as hell. And don't pretend you didn't love all the respect you got from people when you came in." Archie quickly jumped in with a grin, wagging his finger and making Logan smirk guiltily. "Your eyes lit up like a Christmas tree with everyone staring after you like you were a god."

Logan locked eyes with Archie, the smile reluctantly fading. "Maybe I do enjoy the attention again. But it's still not safe. After last time, I swore to never put my life out on the line again. I nearly died, Archie, and I'm not going through that again."

Archie reached out, putting a hand on his friend's' shoulder. "We can give you someone to help out, then. If you stay with them the whole time, whoever killed Mr Blacksky is gonna think twice before trying to get you."

Logan still looked unsure.

"I know what," Archie said, smiling again. "I'll get you Roman."

"Roman?"

"The Latino, back at your old office," Archie explained. "The guy who told all about Mr Blacksky. He's got a lot of athletic achievements on his resume, he'd be great at keeping you safe if you still feel uncertain. Besides, he's the second-best detective we've ever had.

Logan frowned. "Who's the first?"

Archie grinned. "I'm looking right at him."