13 LOWER BURKE STREET
It hadn't taken long to discover where Smith was holding Molly. After all his intention had been to get Sherrinford there as quickly and as expediently as possible. As such he'd done little during the live-stream to disguise where he was. The features familiar enough for anyone smart enough to take note.
Upon arrival Sherrinford had wasted little time in dealing with the unfortunate Staples, before hefting his inert body over his shoulder and heading for the stairs that led down to the basement.
13 LOWER BURKE STREET – BASEMENT
Molly had regained movement, restricted as it was, and her awareness became sharper, allowing her to take in her surroundings once again, which meant that the effect of the drug was wearing off.
Whether by design or an error in the dosage he gave her she couldn't say, but she had a sense that her system had very quickly built up a resistance to whatever substance was being injected into her.
What was certain was that the horrid little man would soon return from wherever he'd disappeared off to in order to dose her up once more.
From somewhere above her there were the unmistakable sounds of an altercation, causing her heart to leap at the possibility that her ordeal would soon be over.
But before hope could take full flight, she became aware of the telltale tread of Culverton Smith.
Smith peered down at her and with a sigh of false regret he informed her. "Well, my dear Molly, as Sherrinford has decided to do the right thing," he reached over for the syringe he kept on a nearby cabinet, and emptied the contents of an unmarked bottle into it, ensuring that the dose this time would be a fatal one, before turning back to the now struggling Molly. "As I'm certain you've already realised, now that he's here I no longer need…"
Smith never finished the sentence, knocked to the ground by virtue of Staples limp body slamming into him.
"Oh no you don't," Sherrinford snarled as he walked over to the stunned man, who was attempting unsuccessfully to get to his feet.
Finally giving up, Smith instead attempted to regain control by again provoking Sherrinford. "I never would have taken you, or for that matter Sherlock, for the hero types."
"Oh we have our moments," Sherrinford assured him. "You'd be amazed at what we're both prepared to do to protect those we care about."
There was something ominous in Sherrinford's tone that left Molly on edge.
"Sherrinford…"
"It's all right, Molly."
Except that it wasn't. Something didn't feel right.
It wasn't his words that filled her with dread. It had been the expression in his eyes.
Her fears were confirmed when Sherrinford bent down and picked up the syringe Smith had dropped.
But as he grabbed a hold of the now struggling Smith, Sherrinford's actions were halted by a familiar presence.