Chapter One
A woman crouches by one of the lion statues in Trafalgar Square sheltering from a hail of bullets from a window looking over the iconic landmark. The shards from the bullet landing sites creep closer to the frightened woman. Across on the other side of the square two men are pinned into a doorway to shield themselves from the snipers. The frightened woman crawls around the corner of the statue and instantly the hailstorm of bullets stop. The two men spot the woman cowering next to the lion statue as she moves into view. They gesture in an attempt to catch her eye but she keeps her head tucked into her knees curling herself into a ball.
Suddenly, a second woman appears closer to the first but still on the edge of the square. She calculates the distance between the terrified woman and the two men, then between herself and the woman. 'Why are we here Sherlock?' the voice of one of the men speaks from the doorway and floats across the square.
'Because we need to help her.'
'Who is she?'
'Important and in danger.'
'You aren't going to tell me any more than that are you?'
'Nope.' At the one word statement from the taller of the two men, the second woman makes up her mind. She scans the windows looking down on the square finding the window where the sniper has taken up residence. She takes a deep breath and sprint out of her alley and launches herself next to the petrified woman as the volley of bullets start up again. She takes her into her arms and soothes her for a couple of seconds while shielding her from the shrapnel. The second woman scans the square for another possible route out. She makes eye contact with Sherlock. She flicks her eyes to the alleyway she had burst out of then she flicks her gaze to the woman next to her before reversing her eye movements. Sherlock nods in acknowledgement. They wait for a lull in the stream of bullets. When one comes the two of them grab the person next to them and yank them towards the alley. The two women reach the alley first and they duck into the safe ground between the close buildings. Sherlock and his friend join them moments later panting but having the time of their lives. Once Sherlock had regained his breath he runs his eyes over the woman who had been shot at. 'Victoria, are you okay?' He asks gently. The woman who had curled herself at the first opportunity uncurls herself to look at him.
'Sherlock.' She flings herself at the Consulting Detective and wraps her arms around his neck. Sherlock hugs her back unsure at first but he soon gathers confidence in the action. Unconsciously he rubs small circles on her back soothing her. He detaches himself and looks her straight in the eye.
'How are you?'
'I'll be fine.' She attempts to pull herself together. 'I wouldn't be but for-' she turns to look at her saviour. Nothing except an empty alley.
'Where did she go?' The shorter man asks looking around them.
'I don't know John.' Sherlock replies uncertainly as his phone's text alert noise goes off. He grabs Victoria's hand and pulls her along the length of the alley. 'We need to go.' John follows the two of them.
~~~~~x~~~~~x~~~~~x~~~~~x~~~~~
Mycroft sits at his desk looking through paperwork. A beep from his computer makes him glance at the monitor. He sighs and types in a command. On the screen various angles of Trafalgar Square appear. He watches spellbound as the scene unfolds. He sneers at John and Sherlock trapped in the doorway. He watches Victoria cower next to the lion statue as the bullets fly through the air around her. He is surprised at the arrival of the unknown woman but sighs with relief when all four of them disappear out of shot safely. He hovers his hands over the keyboard ready to type a command into the computer but decides not to as the woman's face is constantly shielded. Instead he reaches for his phone and he types out a text to his younger brother. He sits back in his chair and closes the folder. He picks up all the confidential papers on his desk and places them in a drawer locking it for security.
Nearly an hour later the door to his office opens and his assistant is framed in the space where the door had been. He looks up at her. 'Yes?' He enquires.
'Your brother, Doctor Watson and a young woman are outside sir.'
'One not two women?'
'Only one sir.' She replies.
'Send them in.' the assistant retreats and Sherlock appears in the doorway still holding hands with Victoria. John follows on their heels closing the door behind him.
'Mycroft, you need to get Victoria another identity.' She tugs her hand out of Sherlock's.
'Don't I get a say in this?' She folds her arms scowling at the two of them. 'I don't want another, I've only got used to this one.'
'Why Sherlock?'
'The sniper was working against…' Sherlock shuts his eyes thinking. 'Against Operation Beta Gamma Alpha 15937.'
'Ah.'
'You two, I want to keep this identity.' Victoria's voice takes on a whine. 'Please.'
'Could it be arranged?'
'I could try and find away.' Mycroft switched his attention to Victoria. 'You could never come back to England. Not even to visit.' Victoria nods and swallows.
'I only came back for a flying visit. To see home for the last time.' Mycroft types commands into the keyboard and nods to Victoria.
'There is a private car waiting to take you to a private airfield and then onto America.' Victoria nods and turns to leave. She takes out an envelope and tosses it onto the desk.
'That's for the pair of you. And John.'
'Thank you Victoria, have a safe trip.' Victoria waves at him and exits the office.
'I assume you would like a full explanation Dr Watson.' John nods.
'Victoria Rachael Morris was born under a different identity. Her identity was changed after she testified anonymously at a trail but her evidence was as such it was obvious that only she could have told it. Therefore potentially putting her life in absolute danger had she stayed in the country.'
'Witness protection scheme I get it but…' John trails off. 'But how does she know you two well enough to be instantly at ease?'
'We grew up together. Mycroft was her main child minder.' Sherlock huffs. 'We loved taking the mickey out of him.'
'Yes… constantly.' Mycroft fixes Sherlock with a stare. 'The pair of you never actually wound me up.'
'So you say.'
'Why was she pinned down by Nelson's column?'
'I would hazard that the confederates of aforementioned criminal spotted her as she entered the country. I alert Sherlock who I assume had his homeless network trail her.' Sherlock inclines his head.
'Okay. Who was that woman?' Mycroft raises his eyebrow 'obviously not Victoria but the other woman?'
'Her face was always covered on camera.'
'I would recognise her again. But I don't know who she is.'
