Chapter 4
It was about 3 am when Sherlock burst through the door.
"Jasmine!" He yelled. She sat bolt upright in shock.
"What?" she said drowsly.
"Come on! Get up!"
"I'm up, I'm up!" She slurred and turned to face Sherlock, "What is it? Have you figured it out?"
"I didn't have to." He replied smugly, thrusting his phone into her face. It took a second or two for her eyes to focus on a text that read 'Well, well, aren't you a clever boy. But since you're having a bit of trouble, I'll lend a hand. Sherwood green. Outskirts of town. Come find me.-JM x'
"JM?" Jasmine muttered "Jim Moriarty?" Sherlock nodded "Sherwood Green." She read "That park on the way to Hethrow? It's huge! He could be in any one of the houses around there!"
"Don't worry, there'll be a sign." He said as he began to leave the room, "Now get out of my clothes!" He shouted from the corridor.
It didn't take long to get a cab, despite the fact that it was half 3 in the morning. Jasmine could feel herself dropping off and had to try her hardest to stay awake. They drove for about 45 minutes then pulled up by the main gate of Sherwood Green, a huge park of about 5 acres. Jasmine looked around as she got out of the car. There must have been at least 200 houses on the edge of the park alone! 'This is going to take for ever' she thought and sighed aloud. She turned back to the park to see Sherlock jump the locked gate.
"What are you doing?" She half whispered.
"There's bound to be a sign somewhere, something to do with the story" He replied calmly, surveying his surroundings.
"What," she began as she pulled herself over the railings "Like an arrow?" She laughed sceptically.
"Exactly!" he replied as he walked towards the nearest tree. An arrow. There was an arrow wedged in the tree.
"You have got to be kidding." Jasmine half laughed. "You think Moriarty has left a trail of arrows that leads to his house?"
"I don't think, I know." Sherlock replied cockily as he walked over to the next tree. Sure enough there was another arrow stuck in the tree. They followed the trail in silence for another 10 minutes until they came to another locked gate, which they both jumped with ease. They stood side by side facing a huge Victorian house on the other side of the road.
"You think that's the house?" She asked, still focused on the house. Although she wasn't looking, she knew he nodded. They stepped off the pavement together and strolled across the road. They stood by the gate in front of the house. Jasmine noticed a hand written, paper sign tied to the railings with string, that read 'Loxly manner'. "He's made this pretty damn obvious if you ask me."
"He wants us to find him, that's why."
"But why?"
"Because he wants us to play."
"And are we going to?"
"I don't think we really get the choice."
There was a moment of silence. A million thoughts ran through Jasmine's head. What am I doing here? I don't even know this guy! What if I die! Oh my god, I'm going to die! No you're not Jasmine, just stay calm. You know what you're doing. She took a deep breath to calm herself before looking over to Sherlock.
"So do we just knock?" She asked
"I guess" he said stepping forward. But before he reached the door his text alert went off 'Come on in, the waters great!' He read aloud.
"He knows were here?" Jasmine asked.
"Obviously" he replied as he calmly pushed the door open.
"Sherlock!" Jasmine called quietly, "Are you sure?" He didn't reply, just walked through the door. "Oh my god" she muttered under her breathe as she followed.
As she stepped into the grand entrance her eyes were drawn to the roof where a great crystal chandelier hung. The walls were covered in a deep red paper and the skirting was all painted gold. Jasmine could do nothing but gasp.
"Bloody hell! He doesn't do things by half does he!".
"I'm glad you like it." A light Irish accent bounced off the walls. Sherlock's eyes darted around the room, looking for the source of the voice. Jasmine, on the other hand, had suddenly felt a presence behind her. She turned back towards the door where she saw a tall, well built man blocking the way. There was no leaving now.
"Sherlock," she muttered, never taking her eyes off the man in front of the door, "I think we just walked straight into a trap."
"Your little girlfriend's right, Sherly dear.". The Irish voice said mockingly.
Jasmine turned away from the man at the door, back towards the stair case. Her eyes followed the golden stair rail up until they rested on a short-ish man, in a well tailored suit, with black hair and big brown eyes. She would have said he looked cute, if she didn't know what he was capable of.
"And I must applaud you on your choice, Mr Holmes." He continued, "She's much prettier than the last one." He began to walk down the stairs as he stared at Jasmine, she returned the glare. "Although," he began again after a pause "I suppose she can't be as useful as our dear Dr. Waston, she doesn't look as smart."
"That's where you're wrong Moriarty. It was Jasmine who figured out your little puzzle". Sherlock smirked.
Moriarty looked genuinely shocked. "Well, well, Beauty and brains!" He smiled "You do know how to pick them Sherly. Although, I wonder how Johnny boy feels about being replaced?" He fakely gasped, "Why don't we ask him?"
"You'll have trouble with that." Sherlock replied calmly. "He's visiting his sister."
"That's where you're wrong, Holmes." Moriarty smirked as he looked to the top of the stairs. An older man with sandy blonde hair was pushed down a few stairs followed by another well built man with a gun.
"John!" Sherlock said in a hushed tone as he took a step forward.
Jasmine had been to busy concentrating on the stairs to notice that the man at the door had moved directly behind her. She suddenly felt a strong arm around her waist and a gun pressed against her head.
"Sherlock!" Jasmine shouted. He turned to face her, eyes wide.
"Ooh, this is my favourite part!" Moriarty giggled to himself. "This is where you have to choose" He purred, "Your new girlfriend or your best friend. Jasmine or John." The arm around Jasmine's waist tightened as she struggled to get away. John stayed surprisingly calm, he'd obviously been in this kind of situation before. "You see, only 2 people will be leaving this house tonight." Moriarty smirked, "If you choose to save Jasmine then our dear friend Dr. Watson will "fall" over the banister." The man behind john pushed him towards the stair rail. Moriarty imagined John falling with a whistle and as he hit the floor, "Splat.". He slowly looked up at Sherlock grinning. "De ja vue, 'ey Sherly." His attention now was directed towards Jasmine. "But I'm feeling kind today." He smiled, "So if you choose to save John, then I get to keep Jasmine." He winked at her. "And there's always a third option. But that would be boring. And I don't want to kill you. Been there, done that and it wasn't really much fun." He sighed.
There was a long silence as Sherlock's head jumped back and forth, between the man at the top of the stairs and the girl behind him. For the first time in his life he genuinely had no idea what to do.
"Oh do hurry up!" Moriarty finally shouted. "Or I'll choose for you, and I think you know which one I'd choose." Fixing his eyes on Jasmine.
Sherlock shot his head towards Jasmine then turned slowly back to John as he ran the situation through his head. If he chose to save Jasmine, this wonderful, smart, sweet girl, then his best friend would surely die. But if he chose to save John then he couldn't even begin to imagine what Moriarty would do to her.
The arm around Jasmines waist tightened again and John was pushed further towards the rail as Moriarty sighed impatiently.
"Fine!" Sherlock yelled as he looked up at the man in the suit. "Have it your way. Keep the girl.".
"What!" Jasmine half shrieked. John looked at Sherlock in disbelief who turned to Jasmine and mouthed "Don't worry, just play his game." Moriarty grinned like a Cheshire cat as he strutted down the stairs. When he react the bottom step he clicked his fingers. The arm around Jasmine loosened and the man behind John disappeared.
"Thank you very much" He grinned and glided over Jasmine. He locked eyes with her, hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. "Sebby, do be a dear and show our guests out.". He continued never taking his eyes off Jasmine. The man that had been holding Jasmine walked towards the door on opened it wide. Sherlock and John slowly made their way towards the door, both glaring at Moriarty as the went. Moriarty finally looked up "I hope to see you boys soon!" He cooed as the door was shut.