A/N: I don't own Sherlock or its characters. The OC, though is mine. Posted this because the last chapter was fairly short. Enjoy :)
Why was Moriarty doing this? Why did he feel the need to make everyone's life a misery day in and day out? Thoughts like those ran through Mari's mind.
Mari was dressed smart along with Sherlock and John.
"Ready?" John asked Sherlock as he was reaching out towards the door. "Yes." Sherlock curtly replied.
They stepped out of 221B Baker Street and were immediately photographed by journalists. Mari ignored all the questions that were thrown at her and got in the car after John and Sherlock before it sped away.
The three arrived at the court and were bombarded by even more journalists.
"Remember." John started. "Yes." Sherlock said instantly. "Remember." John said persistently. "Yes." "Remember what they told you. Don't try to be clever..." "No." Sherlock talked over him. "Oh and keep it simple." Mari pointed out. "God forbid the star witness at the trial to come across intelligent." Sherlock sarcastically replied."Intelligent fine, but let's give smart arse a wide berth." John said."I'll just be myself." Sherlock replied. "Have you even been listening to anything John has said?" Mari said, rolling her eyes as John gave out an irritated sigh. Sherlock said nothing and began to walk away.
"Sherlock, wait." Mari said catching up to him. "What is it, Mari?" Sherlock asked, without looking at her. "How long do you think he'll get?" Mari asked. "The decision isn't mine, it's up to the judge." He replied, knowing why she asked.
Even though Moriarty did terrible things, he was still her brother. A long amount of time without him would feel like forever. It seemed unthinkable. He was her rock. Life without him didn't seem worth living.
Mari didn't realise she had followed Sherlock into the men's toilet. She spun round at the sound of a voice.
"You're him..." Said a woman's voice, dropping her bag in surprise. "Wrong toilet." Sherlock said, not even looking up. "I'm a big fan." She said. "Evidently." He said, turning to face her. "I read your cases, follow them all. Sign my shirt, would you?" She said, taking a sharpie out, stepping one step close and pulls her coat off, revealing a blouse showing a lot of cleavage. She offered Sherlock the pen she had in her hand.
"There are two types of fans." Sherlock starts. "Oh?" "Catch me before I kill again, type A." Sherlock explained. "Uh-huh. What's type B?" She asked. "Your bedroom's just a taxi ride away." Sherlock said, causing the woman to grin. "Definitely type B." Mari inputted. "Neither." Sherlock concludes. "Really?" Mari asked, surprised. "No, she's not a fan at all. Those marks on your forearm, edge of a desk. You've been typing in a hurry, probably. Pressure on, facing a deadline." Sherlock deduced. "That's all." The woman said, looking away.
"There's a smudge of ink on your wrist and a bulge in your left pocket." He finished and they look down on her pocket which had a red light shining on, showing it's recording. "Bit of a giveaway."
"The smudge is deliberate, to see if I'm as good as they say I am." Sherlock said, picking up her arm and smelling the ink on her wrist. "Hm. Oil-based, used in newspaper print, but drawn on with an index finger, your finger." Sherlock finished. "Hmm!" Is all she can say.
"Journalist. Unlikely you'd ever get your hands dirty at the press. You put that there to test me." Sherlock finished.
"Wow, I'm liking you!" She says impressed. "You mean I'd make a great feature, 'Sherlock Holmes, the man beneath the hat.'."
"Kitty Riley. Pleased to meet you." She says, taking her hat off. "No, I'm just saving you the trouble of asking. No, I won't give you an interview, no, I don't want your money." Sherlock said as he pushed past her and headed for the door, only making er chase after him.
"You and John Watson- just platonic? Or is she the new one?" Kitty said, stopping Sherlock from opening the door. "Oi! 'She' has a name!" Mari exclaimed. "What is it then, Mystery Girl?" She smirks before turning back to Sherlock.
"There's all sorts of gossip in the press about you. Sooner or later you're gonna need someone on your side." She said, pulling a business card out of her pocket and tucking it in Sherlock's pocket instead.
"Someone to set the record straight." Kitty said. "And you think you're the girl for the job, do you?" Sherlock said, smiling sarcastically. "I'm smart. And you can trust me, totally." Kitty persists. "Smart, okay, investigative journalist. Good- well, look at me and tell me what you see." Sherlock said. Kitty only stared back. "If you're that skillful you don't need an interview; You can just read what you need." Sherlock explained. Kitty refused to meet his eye.
"No? Okay, my turn." Sherlock said, pacing around, looking over her. "I look at you and I see someone whose still waiting for their first big scoop so that their editor will notice them. You're wearing and expensive skirt, but it's been re-hemmed twice, only posh skirt you've got. And your nails, you can't afford to do them that often. I see someone whose hungry. I don't see smart and I definitely don't see trust worthy, but I'll give a quote if you like, three little words." Sherlock said, reaching for her recorder. "You. Repel. Me." And with that, Sherlock left the restroom, Mari following behind, smirking.
A/N: Hm. Just seemed like a re-run, didn't it? Meh. Reviews and criticism appreciated:)