As Anna took a seat and Sherlock likewise, John played mother and put the kettle on. Running her fingers through her hair, Anna arranged it into a ponytail escaping the partial bed head she was suffering with. Sherlock watched all the while as she sat calmly and focused on a small task without seeming concerned by what was going on around her. Once she still again she looked at Sherlock and said normally.

"You have a very lovely housekeeper."

"Yes, she's quite marvellous in her way." Sherlock replied. "I suppose it won't surprise you if I tell you the man we found was certainly the man that was following you. And that his interest in you has been extensive over the past week."

"He'd have had a pointless task, all I've done if shopped or gone to the gym." She said with what sounded like sympathy in her voice. "I just wish I could tell you what all this is about."

"Could you tell me exactly where you've been since we last saw you 8 months ago, you gave me a brief account but I suspect there may be more that you are not aware of."

"Well like I said I went on holiday for a few weeks, to Spain and onto Rome."

"Alone?"

"I travelled alone."

"Did you just take in the sights?"

"Yes, I cannot stay still and sunbathe, I like to be active. I walked, swam and found a delightful tennis partner for two days called June. She was gracious enough to let me win a few when my skill was rather inferior."

"And whom did you stay with on your return, you said to me before you stayed with friends. Where do these friends live?"

John re entered with mugs of tea and set them down before Anna and his own place, Sherlock as usual drank nothing during this interview. John flashed Anna a small smile, worrying that Sherlock's probing might make her nervous, it didn't.

"I stayed with Kelsey or rather at Kelsey's flat, you may remember her she was one of the bar staff from Blitz, black hair down to the base of her back. She was going away and needed someone to dog sit."

"How long exactly?"

"Ten days."

"So where have you been the rest of the time?"

Anna pursed her lips together, then took out a lip balm and coated them with it.

"I was living with a male or two."

John slurped his tea rather two loudly in surprise but the gaze between Anna and Sherlock was not broken, but it was Anna who spoke again.

"Whatever that comment says about me I'm not a whore."

"Your lifestyle choice doesn't interest me." Sherlock said with a strange tone that could not be discerned as disinterested or attempting to make Anna feel more at ease. "How did you meet these men?"

"The first one his name was Graham, I think his last name was Proctor. We met and after a few meetings he asked if I would live with him. Sex on tap I suppose." Anna said nonchalantly but then her tone cooled to an almost insecure one. "I know it doesn't sound great, and I know you say you're not interested but still…. I don't plan to live like this. I just don't think and I'm in a situation. Sorry."

"There's no need to apologise Anna." John assured her. "Is there Sherlock?"

"Where does Graham Proctor live?"

"He has a flat in Kensington, but I think he say he had a weekend house in Dorset."

"I see and why did you part ways?"

"Things go stale after a while don't they?"

"How long?"

"5 weeks."

"Was he married?"

"Separated, I believe." She replied.

"And where did you go then?"

"Richard Porter, ten days in the Bermondsey Square hotel, back to Kelseys for a few nights on the sofa. I flitted between there and other places, some I'm ashamed to say I can't remember. I did that for three or four months."

"And the remaining time?"

Anna went quiet, Sherlock saw her eyes flick down to her hands that still rested calmly ontop of each other on her lap.

"If you don't tell me Anna it may make me believe that here is where the trouble started."

"Trouble did start." She said looking up again. "But your trouble and my trouble are two different things. It's something I don't want to talk about as its personal. I can give you addresses and names of everything I can remember up to then but…"

"Anna, remember you were arrested earlier this week for GBH."

"It was just a tussle over a man … a man we both had designs on I suppose."

"Who's name is?"

Anna sighed, she finally showed some emotion, the annoyance on her face being evident.

"Have I lied to you about anything so far?"

"No." Sherlock replied. "But then we have only ever had a few short meetings."

John interjected sensing that the rapport between the two was fading.

"Anna, we need to know everything so we can protect you."

Anna looked to John, his reassuring look thawed her anger so she addressed her answer to him rather than Sherlock.

"Michael Eddowes."

Sherlock observed her strong posture, acute eye contact and sturdy voice. She was telling the truth as far as he could see. But none of this made any sense, all of her statements had suggested a perhaps jealous rival rather than any link to the fire at FlirtFetish. Could another woman or a past lover have been having her followed? Possible, but it's strange how the stalker only began recently.

"Michael and I have been living together for a while, we've known each other longer. There was a girl, the girl I attacked, she was bad news."

Anna didn't have to say anymore on the subject, Sherlock heard all he needed for now. But now there was the question of keeping her safe, she would be useful upon Henry Montague's return and was definitely a key pawn in this game. Whether she knew it or not.

"The question Anna is where are you going to stay? I saw you have brought all that you have with you."

"Yes, I will find another hotel."

"No need, upstairs is free." Sherlock replied.

"Are you putting me under house arrest?"

"Not at all, but someone is playing a game Anna and it involves you."

"But I doubt you let all your witnesses stay in the flat above you?" Anna said doubtfully.

"Nor do I get Mrs Hudson to mind them." He said dryly giving her a glimpse of a smile. "I presume you wouldn't have a problem with that?"

"It would be in your best interest." John chipped in quickly, trying to reinforce the argument. Anna looked from one to the other, this strange duo who weren't part of the police force. She nodded her head slowly.

"Right I best go speak to Mrs Hudson." Sherlock replied, darting out the room. This left Anna and John together again, she liked John, as far as she could like people.

"He's enjoying himself." She said dryly.

"Don't be offended, the more you get to know him, the more you'll realise he needs this." John replied, not knowing why he gave such an intimate answer about Sherlock to her.

"Well we all need something from time to time, I suppose. I know that better than anyone."

John felt himself almost blush at her comment, she saw this and said quietly.

"I'm not as black and white as you think you know."

"None of us are." He replied, taking up his tea again as she did the same.

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"I wish I knew, but somehow I think he'll soon find out."

"That's a guarantee."

He smiled at her and for the first time since she arrived today, she gave a full, beaming smile in return. It further ignited the beauty she already had and John looked at her in awe. He didn't fancy her exactly, but he was fascinated. How could one person seemingly be involved in so much, yet have no idea? Just then he caught a glimpse of her eyes, they seemed almost black. It took his breath away, the colour hadn't changed, but it was as though he suddenly saw into the heart of her, the depth of her. For a moment he almost felt disturbed, it all seemed churned, black and unreadable. Just who was she?

….

John met Sherlock on the landing, he had left Anna watching tv.

"Something just happened." John muttered.

"She was lying about Michael Eddowes."

"How do you know?"

"Attacking a woman over jealousy, she's had a string of lovers with no emotional ties, the only time she got angry was when we touched an obviously person nerve but the rest of the time she is borderline apathetic. A woman like that doesn't feel jealousy, that attack was not over a man. There's something more."

"I think your right, just now when we were sat together…. I happened to look at her and…. I don't know in her eyes I saw… something I've seen before in my own eyes when I first got back." John babbled and Sherlock looked at him with affirmation and nodded.

"That's why we need to keep her close by."

"Do you still think this could be Moriarty?" John asked.

Sherlock looked at him square in the eye.

"I think there's more than one game being played."