Having a gun pointed at you makes the adrenaline sharpen all your instincts, making you ready to run of fight. Irene considered her position and realized neither would probably guarantee her survival.

Besides the Baron, pointing a 9mm pistol to her heart - he was pointing more to her stomach, but that would hurt and most likely kill her too -, the three security guards were pointing their own guns with silencers to Sherlock and Jon's heads.

"I don't see how killing me would get your diamond, Ivan." She said, sipping her wine again, and looking astonishingly not scared.

The Baron stepped closer. "That's what the message the Smiths' left me said." He said with a trembling voice. "Kill Irene Adler and I'll give you your diamond back."

A spark of understanding lightened Sherlock's face and he looked at Irene. "You weren't running because you had the diamond. You were running from whoever stole it. Who is it?"

"Not now, Sherlock." She said, without taking her eyes from the Baron and his gun.

"You're not seriously going to kill the three of us here. People saw us coming up." John said.

"As my man said, there's no security tapes and the only one who saw the two of you coming up was one clerk. You assured me you were discreet about this meeting, weren't you Mr. Holmes? I assure you that once I have my diamond back I can buy that clerk's silence and if that isn't the case, well, I'm already damned, aren't I?"

Sherlock didn't answer, only calculated the position of the men around him and John. The probability of a successful outcome was flimsy, but worth a try. It would depend on Irene's capability of overcoming the Baron, though. Knowing her, he was sure it wouldn't be a problem.

"I'm sorry about this, I can guarantee you I had no intention of hurting you Mr. Holmes when I called. I received an indication of your blog, Dr. Watson, and thought you could help me. I see now that I'm being used in a more sinister kind of game that I don't want to be part of. I have no choice though." He said, cocking his gun and putting it behind a pillow to mask the sound.

"He's not going to give your diamond back." She said. "He's bluffing to get me killed. What guarantees do you have you won't be left with three bodies to dispose of and no diamond. Don't be stupid, just think."

The Baron took a deep breath and though for a few moments.

"What do you propose we do then Miss Adler?"

"Offer him a trade. Buy us time to find your diamond and maybe catch him."

"He said he doesn't like to get his hands dirty. The deal is your body for the diamond." The Baron said taking one last step on her direction. "I have until tomorrow to deliver or he'll go public with the robbery and I will never see it again. What guarantees do I have that you even can catch him?"

Irene looked at Sherlock for help. He moved his eyes quickly from her to the gun on the Baron's hand to the guard on his left. She nodded. It was a crazy idea, but it was better than nothing.

"You have me, Baron. I guarantee you'll have your diamond back today." Sherlock said.

"You're very confident Mr. Holmes, but I can't risk it. No, no I have my reputation. I'm sorry. Kill them all."

On that cue, Irene threw the rest of the wine she had in her the glass on the Baron's face. He closed his eyes surprised and shot, missing her and hitting the mirror behind her.

At the same time, Sherlock and John moved, trying to grab the gun from the guards closer to them, who were taken by surprise by Irene's action.

While the Baron cleaned his face, trying to see again, Irene jumped him and broke the glass on the right side of his head, grabbing his arm and the gun from his hand, pointing it to the guard on the left of Sherlock and shooting him in the heart, before he could shoot Sherlock.

The Baron tried to get hold of his gun again but Irene put a knee on his crotch, making him fall to the ground with a loud moan.

Meanwhile, Sherlock had managed to take the gun from his guard and hit him in the back of the head with it making him fall unconscious to the ground.

He and Irene now pointed their guns to the guard John was still fighting.

"Drop it." Sherlock said getting closer and putting the gun on the guard's head. He let go of John and raised his hands. Sherlock took his gun than hit him, knocking him down.

John checked the three guards. "This two are down. This one is dead." He said than looked to Irene.

"It was self defense Dr." She said in her defense, then looked at Sherlock. "Do you believe me now?" She asked.

He looked at her untouched. "Who wants you dead?"

She ignored him and turned to the Baron, who was still moaning on the floor. "No wonder you lost all your fortune. You're as dumb as a doorknob, aren't you? But I'll be nice with you. We can still make a deal to get your diamond back."

The Baron stopped to listen to her.

"Are you crazy?" John said surprised. "He just tried to kill us all. I think we should call the police.

Irene looked at John. "Calling the police is in no one's interest, John." Then she looked at Sherlock.

He stared at her for a while, keeping his guard up. She was smiling to him and that was always a sign of danger. He kept his distance controlling an unexplainable impulse to hold her. He was sure it was the adrenaline from the fight.

"I'm waiting." He said.

Irene sighed. "I'll give you a clue. He's your fan."

A sting on the back of his neck took Sherlock by surprise, because it came before his brain had finished to sort the information out: Moriarty was behind the stolen diamond and Irene's attempt of murder.

Then the Baron's cell phone began to ring.