Chapter 5

John sighed. The sniper had cracked three days ago. Moriarty had made sure that the gang was decimated and burned to the ground.

The police was sure that it was just another gang war, but once again, Sherlock wasn't agreeing with them. John felt like screaming at Sherlock to stop being so smart for once.

However…

John sighed and stared at Sherlock, who was waving his hands around and all but shouting at Lestrade to see reason.

"This was far too violent for a simple turf war! It was methodical. Every. Single. One. Of the gang members were killed. In exactly the same way. A bullet to the head or a razor to the throat. It was personal! The gang would have been able to see the killer, meaning that they would have recognized that person's face. Some even died with a look of terror on their faces! Meaning that this person who killed them all would be, one, extremely capable in the art of killing, two, feared, and three, well known in the criminal circles."

Sherlock shook his head. "No. This wasn't a turf war. This was personal. This was…revenge. This was a revenge play. He or she, the killer, wanted to make every single one of the members of that gang feel terror before they died."

Lestrade sighed. "Who was on that gang's hit list then? They would have had to act before this attack in order for revenge to be an option. Also, it would have to be someone who has secret affiliations. This was done by someone powerful, but the gang would never cross someone powerful. They aren't stupid. They must not have known who their victim was. Not completely at least."

Sherlock stared at Greg. "You can use that brain of yours!"

Greg huffed but sent a worried look at John. John just shook his head slightly. Greg hadn't overplayed his intelligence. John had found out that Greg faked his 'stupidity' so as not to catch attention. He liked his field work and didn't want to be stuck behind a desk. Now that Sherlock had met Lestrade, the man had to be extra careful.

Sherlock started pacing the office. "The only person on record to have been attack in a realistic time frame would be…" He stopped and looked at John. "John."

John stared at him and then put all his acting skills to the test. He started laughing. "Me?" He widened his eyes and then looked at Greg and back to Sherlock. "Oh yeah, I'll just call up a gang friend I know and have them take revenge on a gang that I didn't even know existed! Come on Sherlock. Use that clever brain of yours to think of something a little less silly!"

Sherlock huffed. "It's the only thing that fits, John."

John sighed. "How about you check out all the muggings, thefts, killings, and rapes that occurred a week or two before this attack, hmm?"

Greg had already come to the conclusion of Jim doing this. He still didn't know why though.

"John, speaking of that mugger, do you still have no memory of his face?"

John sighed. "I got a little bit more memory, but I don't know what's imagination and what fact anymore. It's been too long."

Greg nodded. Sherlock sighed. "The brain is almost impossible to control if you haven't started at a young age to train it."

Greg scoffed. "Well, sorry if we can't all be computers!"

John snickered. Sherlock huffed. "I'm going for a cup of tea downstairs."

John nodded. "Get me something too, will you? I just need to tell Greg what I remembered."

Sherlock nodded and left. Greg sighed. "What was he doing protecting you?"

John sighed. "He has a particular interest in keeping me alive."

Greg stared at him. His brain was obliviously going a mile a second. "Bloody hell, you're a fucking lie detector! That's why!"

Greg's phone chimed.

I would be careful what I would say in your office. M has bugs in there. I've set them offline for now, but do be more thoughtful in the future, brother dear. JM

Greg hissed out a breath. "Shit."

John looked at him in confusion. "What?"

"Insects are everywhere this time of year, aren't they?"

John threw his hands up into the air. "Hell."

Greg sighed. "He was slightly more obvious this time around, wasn't he…"

John shrugged. "Never think with your emotions."

Greg nodded. "Analyze."

John smiled. "Check the answers."

Their phones chimed.

And then double check. Never take words as complete truth. C taught us well, didn't he? JM

They snickered. C obviously meant Chiron.

Meanwhile…

Sherlock sighed and relaxed into his brother's car, which was just outside the Yard. "They're keeping something from me. Something big. Important. John's scared."

Mycroft nodded. "I've noticed. Greg Lestrade and John Watson aren't acting normally."

Sherlock tilted his head and clenched his fist in frustration. "I know that the gang was burned out in revenge. I know it! It only fits that the revenge was for John!"

Mycroft nodded and then looked at his laptop. He frowned. "It seems that this higher power is constantly looking out for John Watson. This person has blocked my spyware."

Sherlock moved over to get a better look. The video feed was a loop of Sherlock pacing and the audio was static.

The younger Holmes frowned in thought. "I'm completely lost at one point though. Who would be so protective of John Watson, a doctor and a military officer, as to destroy a whole gang? Who would be powerful enough to block you?"

Mycroft looked at his screen for a second, knowing that his brother would scorn his next suggestion. "Who is the only criminal we know for a fact that John Watson has been in contact with, without you present?"

Sherlock frowned. "The Chinese Triad and Jim Mor-" He cut himself off. "No. No, he couldn't possibly know Moriarty personally!"

Mycroft shrugged. "As you have said before. It fits."

Sherlock looked sick. "I refuse to think that he's spying on us for Moriarty. I refuse to think that."

Mycroft sighed. "He turned up when the serial killings turned up. He turned up when Moriarty first allowed his name to appear to you. He was snatched by Moriarty instead of someone else. Why a man? Moriarty could have snatched Molly Hooper while on one of their pseudo dates. He could have grabbed Mrs. Hudson, an elderly woman. Why did he choose John, of all people? Someone you have barely known for two years at the time."

Sherlock felt as sick as he looked. "John isn't a criminal. His background check came clean. You told me that yourself!"

"Well, there is one more test…" He pulled out his phone. "Anthea, it's time to act on the DNA samples we've collected. Have them tested now, and send me the results immediately."

"Yes, sir." Mycroft hung up.