Vane tore it open. Inside was a single chess piece—a white knight, stained deep crimson—and a note that read: The king is in check. Will you move, or will you watch him fall?

The phrase "" originally appeared in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I and Henry V , but it is most famously associated with Sherlock Holmes as a signal that a mystery has begun and the "hunt" for the truth is on.

"Do you hear it, Thorne?" Vane whispered, his eyes darting to the window.

Below is a story inspired by the classic detective genre that captures the spirit of this iconic hook. The Shadow of the Spire

A slow, predatory smile spread across Vane's face. He grabbed his heavy wool coat and checked his pocket watch with a snap.