Title: From Zachariah to Zulu
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 314 words
Summary: Dr Watson considers some of the entries in Holmes' index under the letter Z

Whilst Holmes has a great number of entries in his common place books under certain letters, such as ‘S’ and ‘B’, it might be assumed that he would have none, or maybe but one, under certain other letters, such as, for instance, the letter ‘Z’.  However, there were in fact a surprising number, of which the more interesting included:

Zachariah Medloe.  Blackmailer of limited intelligence.  When Inspector Hopkins went to interview him, he discovered a newspaper with words cut out from the headlines in use soaking up the water from a leaking pipe.

The Zealots of Upper Slaughter.  Village rivalry involving cheese rolling.  An internal matter that Holmes deemed best left to be sorted locally.  We caught the next train back to Paddington.

The Zephyr.  A brig which was involved with the case of Matilda Briggs.  Its subsequent history is one of mystery which Holmes continued to investigate for many years.

Zinnia (yellow).  A salutary reminder that a minor event, such as the daily delivery of a single flower, can hide much darker purposes. 

Zoltan the strong man.  A case which, for the sake of all concerned, was never recorded.

Zoological Society.  The rivalry between two professors regarding the structure of the heart of the alligator and the subsequent anonymous letters received by various esteemed members of the society was quite unexpected.

Zulu War medal.  The case had involved a medal retrieved from a pawnshop which had belonged to a survivor of the battle of Rorke’s Drift.  The medal itself had held no particular significance to the case but following the route it had taken in arriving at the pawnshop provided Holmes with valuable information.

It should be clear from the above that nothing escaped Holmes’ notice and however minor something may be, whether it is a fact or a letter of the alphabet, there is still much which can be found within it.