***Sorry, for the long wait. Let me know what ya think!***
Sherlock led us into the living room of 221B Sarah following behind us; much to Sherlock's displeasure. He immediately stood in front of the fireplace, taking his coat off, he began staring at the pictures he still had stuck on the mirror.
"They'll be back in China by tomorrow," John said, plopping into his chair, a nervous Sarah standing beside him.
"No, they won't leave without what they came for," Sherlock said.
I stood beside him and removed my own coat.
"We need to find their hideout; the rendezvous," I stated.
Sherlock walked closer to the pictures, studying them intensely. John stood, joining us; Sarah hovering nearby. I kinda felt bad for her this had to be the worst date she had ever been on. Sherlock ran his fingers over the main picture of the painted brick wall.
"Somewhere in this message it must tell us," he said.
We all fell silent as Sarah looked at us finally realizing she was surplus to requirements.
"Well, I think perhaps I should leave you to it," she said.
John and I both looked at her. I knew John liked her and didn't want to see him lose his chance.
"No, no, you don't have to go...does she?" John asked turning his head towards Sherlock.
I placed my hands on my hips and waited for his answer, knowing it wouldn't be good.
"You can stay," John and I said at the same time Sherlock told her to go.
I kicked Sherlock in the shin, aggravated by his behavior. He winced and looked pointedly at me before turning his head towards Sarah. After earning a dark look from John he gave in with a dramatic sigh.
"He's kidding. Please stay if you'd like." I said with a smile.
Sarah looked nervously towards Sherlock, who had already turned back towards the photographs. She smiled awkwardly and tried, what she thought, would be a friendlier approach.
"Is it just me or is anyone else starving?" she asked clapping her hands together.
I scrunched up my face as Sherlock sighed closing his eyes.
"Ooh, God," he said in exasperation.
I gave Sarah an apologetic expression. I followed John into the kitchen and stood back as he looked through the fridge and cabinets, of course coming up empty. I sighed as I turned around and snuck out the door. I headed downstairs and into my own flat where I put together some edible snacks and punch. I placed a tea towel over the top and slowly ascended the stairs. I opened the door and headed into the kitchen.
"Hey, Johnny," I said standing still.
John looked up at me a grateful and delighted expression on his face. I shrugged and smiled at him.
"I've brought some finger foods and punch. Now get in there with her before Sherlock does irreparable damage," I said with a laugh.
He took the tray from me and swished into the living room. I followed him shortly after and if the look on Sherlock's face was any indication just in the nick of time. He looked ready to commit murder as Sarah picked up a photograph of the brick wall, the one Dimmock had brought the boys. It was sealed in a clear evidence bag. Sherlock glared at her in utter fury before turning his head away, his teeth bared. I chose that moment to step beside him and place my hand on his shoulder. He tensed for a moment before letting his shoulders slump.
"It's ok Sherlock. Try and remember not everyone can be a genius." I whispered; earning a shiver as my breath touched the nape of his neck.
"So these numbers- it's a cipher?" she asked.
I patted his shoulder and he exhaled deeply. "Exactly." he tightly said.
"And each pair of numbers is a word?" she asked again.
Sherlock's head lifted slowly. I walked over to Sarah and grabbed the bag from her hand in one swift motion. I was to caught up in what was happening to bother with proper manners.
"How did she know that?" Sherlock asked me.
I looked at the picture carefully and almost laughed.
"Two words have already been translated Sher," I said handing him the bag.
Sherlock stared at it momentarily. "John," he said.
John looked over at us from the kitchen. "Yeah?" he asked; a brow raised.
Sherlock stood and joined John in the kitchen. "John, look at this," he said handing over the bag. "Soo Lin at the museum - she started to translate the code for us. We didn't see it!" he said excitement spilling from every word.
I stood behind them and looked over John's shoulder to take another look at the picture. In blue ink, a word had been written over each of the first two symbols in the photograph.
"Nine, Mill," Sherlock read.
John squinted down at the photo shock starting to fill his face. "Does that mean million?" he asked.
Sherlock looked at the photo thoughtfully. "Nine million quid. For what?" he asked; more to himself than anyone else.
He turned around and headed for where he had placed his coat and scarf. "We need to know the end of this sentence," Sherlock said.
John looked at me swiftly before looking back at Sherlock. "Where are you going?" he asked.
Sherlock put on his coat quickly before finally looking at us. "To the museum; to the restoration room," he said. He grimaced in exasperation at himself. "We must have been looking right at it!" he practically shouted.
John frowned deeply, Sarah standing at his side. "At-at what?" he stuttered.
Sherlock stared at him in wild exasperation. "The book John! The book- the key to cracking the cipher!" he said opening the front door. He brandished the photo at John for dramatic effect. "Soo Lin used it to do this! Whilst we were running around the gallery, she started to translate the code. It must be on her desk." he said hurrying out the door.
I stood beside the window and looked down at the swish of his retreating figure.
"Well, that was dramatic!" Sarah said in a laugh.
I couldn't help the smile that covered my face. "That's Sherlock Holmes," I said joining in on the laughter.
John and Sarah relocated to the kitchen leaving me alone in the living room. I decided to let them have some privacy, after all, this was supposed to be a date. I shook my head at the lengths Sherlock would go to if it meant solving a case. I couldn't help but think about what he would be willing to give up if a case demanded it. Was that really someone I could consider a relationship with? Especially after my past relationship drama. Sherlock was a complicated man and I guess it all came down to whether I thought a relationship with him would be worth the complications it would bring me. I placed a hand on my forehead and sighed. Why was I even thinking about a relationship with him? It wasn't like it would ever happen. Sherlock didn't believe in sentiment.
"Lizzie, want some takeout?" John asked standing in the doorway, a menu in hand.
I walked over to him and grabbed the menu. "Of course. You should know better Johnny!" I grinned.
After John phoned the restaurant we all sat at the kitchen table. John had poured us all punch and we sat nibbling on the fruit I had brought. A knock on the front door interrupted our conversation.
"Oh, blimey, that was quick. I'll just pop down." John said.
I handed him some extra cash for the tip and he headed out the door. Sarah and I looked at the experiment covered table and decided to grab some trays and head into the living room. A loud thump came from downstairs and I looked a Sarah quickly I grabbed her by the arm and pushed her into Sherlock's room. I opened the closet and pushed her inside.
"Sarah, stay here and be quiet. No matter what you hear!" I said as I closed the door.
I rushed back into the living room and removed the tray meant for Sarah just as the door opened. I tried to rush away but the man grabbed me knocking his pistol into the side of my head. The light around me faded as darkness covered me.
I blinked several times as I opened my eyes. I tried to move my hand to my aching head but couldn't move my arms. I looked down and finally realized I was sitting in a chair, my hands restrained behind my back. I could feel the heat and hear crackling from somewhere behind me. I squinted looking for John in the darkness around me. I finally found him to my left a bleeding cut on his temple. His head was slumped, having yet to gain consciousness.
"John! John, please be ok. Please." I cried.
I refused to even imagine losing John so instead, I looked around me for Sarah but couldn't find her. I was thankful for that. I knew Sherlock would find her. A groan came from John as he began to wake up.
"John! Oh, thank God." I said; taking in a deep breath.
My body was trembling with fear and adrenaline. He looked at me in confusion before swiftly turning his head left and right presumably searching for Sarah. I caught his attention with a loud cough.
"She is ok." I mouthed silently.
He nodded in relief. "Are you ok Liz?" he said; eyeing my bloody temple.
"Same as you, I'd expect." I sighed.
Suddenly a voice filled the air. One I recognized but couldn't place.
"A book is like a magic garden carried in your pocket." the female voice spoke' an accent evident.
John winced as he turned his head towards the voice. A Chinese woman came out of the shadows and I growled remembering her from the Lucky Dragon Theater. Despite the darkness around us she still wore a pair of dark sunglasses. It made me hate her all the more. She walked towards John and I pulled on the rope holding my hands behind me.
"Stay away from him!" I viciously said.
She turned her head towards me with a wicked grin on her face. "Chinese proverb, Mr. Holmes," she said looking back at John.
I tilted my head in confusion, Mr. Holmes? John looked at her startled.
"I...im not Sherlock Holmes." he stuttered.
I let out an exhausted laugh. The woman gave me an incredulous look.
"You daft cow! Does he look like Sherlock bloody Holmes?" I asked in annoyance.
How stupid could this woman get?
She smiled at us humorlessly. "Forgive me if I don't take your word for it," she said; reaching down and removing Johns wallet from his jacket pocket.
I looked at John who was watching me intently. Afraid of what my mouth would get me into. I shook my head at him an apology. I just couldn't help how annoyed she made me. I could only handle so much stupidity. She opened Johns wallet and pulled something from it.
"Debit card, the name of S. Holmes," she said.
Johns' eyes glazed over as he remembered Sherlock lending him his debit card. It seemed so long ago. Why the hell did he still have it?!
"Yes; that's actually not mine. He lent that to me." John said; telling the truth, even if she would never believe him.
She pulled out a folded check from his wallet next. "A check for five thousand pounds made out in the name of Mr. Sherlock Holmes," she said.
I shook my head trying to pull my hands-free again.
"Yeah, he gave that to me to look after." John tried.
She pulled the circus tickets from his wallet and showed them to him.
"I realize what this looks like, but I'm not him."
The woman sneered down at him. "We heard it from your own mouth."
John had shock and surprise etched on his face. "What?" he asked.
I continued to pull on my binds with no success. We were trapped.
"I am Sherlock Holmes and I always work alone..." she began to say.
"Did I really say that?" John said cutting her off.
John chuckled weakly. "I suppose there's no use me trying to persuade you I was doing an impression..." he tried to say before he was cut off by a pistol being pointed at his head.
I gasped loudly and pushed my body forward as much as I possibly could. "No stop! Stop." I begged.
The woman completely ignored me focusing all her attention on John who was cringing away from her. The woman grinned evilly.
"I am Shan," she said earning a panicked stare from John.
"You're...you're Shan." I gasped.
I looked at John in panic, this was bad.
"Three times we tried to kill you and your companion, Mr. Holmes. What does it tell you when an assassin cannot shoot straight?" she asked.
She lifted the gun and cocked it. John looked away whispering something to low for me to make out.
"No please! He isn't Sherlock. Please" I cried tears streaming down my face.
This was it. I was going to lose my best friend. I caught Johns frantic gaze and tried to convey everything I felt for him; a silent plea for him to understand what he meant to me. He struggled against his bonds as Shan stared down at him ominously. Johns breathing became heavy as she moved her finger to the trigger. He stared into the barrel of the gun as she put pressure on the trigger. I closed my eyes in utter fear as a loud click echoed off the stone walls. Relief flooded through me, but only for a moment. John grunted in shock as Shan smiled.
"It tells you that they're not really trying," she said answering her previous question.
John breathed heavily trying to stay in control of his emotions. Shan slipped a clip into the pistol and cocked it before once again pointing it at John. He cringed away from it closing his eyes.
"Okay," John breathily said.
"If we wanted to kill you, Mr. Holmes, we would have done it by now. We just wanted to make you inquisitive," she said; looking at him sternly. "Do you have it?" she growled.
"Do I have what?" John asked annoyed.
"The treasure!" Shan spat.
"Listen, lady! We have no clue what you're pattering on about. You don't even have the right man, you fool." I said the pain in my head making my vision blurry.
I was really starting to get pissed off. John looked at me in frustration.
"I would prefer to make certain. And I know just how to do that," she said turning to her men.
One of whom pulls the cover off the large object in the corner. The crossbow from the show. My face paled as I remembered how I had thought it could easily be used as a torture device. An arrow had already been loaded inside. We both stared at it and John sighed deeply. Shan turned back to him a grin on her face.
"Everything in the West has a price, and the price for her life..." she said turning to look at me. "Information." she finished as two men walked towards me.
They picked up my chair and carried me over to the crossbow.
"Im sorry, Liz. I'm so sorry." John said in anguish.
The men sat me down in front of the crossbow, facing the tip of the arrow. I stared ahead of me my focus on the arrow that would soon find a home in my chest. Shan glared down at John.
"Where's the hairpin?" she asked him.
John tugged at his restraints in spite of the pistol pointed at his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about. If you hurt her, I'll kill you." he spat.
"The Empress pin valued at nine million sterling. We already had a buyer in the West, and then one of our people got greedy. He took it, brought it back to London and you, Mr. Holmes, have been searching," she said.
"Please. Please, listen to me. I'm not Sherlock Holmes. You have to believe me. I haven't found whatever you're looking for." John said in exasperation.
Shan stepped away from him and raised her hands above her. "I need a volunteer from the audience!" she said loudly.
John snapped his head back in anger. "No, please. Please," he begged.
Shan walked towards me. "Ah, thank you, lady. Yes, you'll do nicely," she said.
I spat at her and sneered; I refused to die looking weak. Shan pulled a knife from her robes and slashed the nearby bag of sand, the only thing stopping the arrow from killing me. I watched as the sand began to pour into the bowl, a clock ticking away the last minutes of my life. John stared up at the emptying bag of sand in horror.
"Ladies and gentlemen. From the distant moonlit shores of the NW1, we present for your pleasure Sherlock Holmes pretty companion in a death-defying act." Shan said, dropping a black origami flower in my lap.
A symbol of my impending death.
She bent down to stare right into my eyes. "You've seen this act before. How dull for you. You know how it ends." she sneered.
I looked into her eyes and smiled bitterly. "I would have been bored either way. Your performance leaves a lot to be desired."
John started to pull at his restraints frantically, his chair tipping lightly. "I'm not Sherlock Holmes!" he yelled.
I kept my gaze on him and tried to catch his attention. I needed him to know that I was ok, that I could do this; for him.
"I don't believe you," Shan told him.
A voice filled the tunnel; one that sent my heart into a frantic beat. "You should, you know."
Shan spun around squinting into the darkness. A familiar silhouette appeared at the far end of the tunnel.
"Sherlock Holmes is nothing like him." Sherlock sarcastically said.
I tried desperately to pull my wrist from the rope that bound them together as Shan pointed her pistol towards Sherlock.
"I will kill you myself! Don't you dare." I spat.
She ignored my protesting and cocked the pistol. Sherlock immediately dodged to the side of the dark tunnel, disappearing into the shadows. One of Shan's thugs hurriedly ran into the darkness after him. John sighed deeply, half relieved half exasperated.
"How would you describe me, John? Resourceful? Dynamic? Enigmatic?" Sherlock asked from the blackness of the tunnel; earning an eye roll from both John and myself.
How could he be so calm?
I looked at the bag of sand that was steadily spilling. The arrow still stared at me menacingly.
"Late?" John snidely said.
Shan moved the pistol left and right, trying desperately to find Sherlock who was still hiding in the darkness.
"That's a semi-automatic. If you fire it, the bullet will travel over a thousand meters per second." Sherlock said his voice echoing throughout the tunnel.
"Well..." Shan asked still aiming the pistol at the shadows, where Sherlock's voice had come from.
"Well..." Sherlock began.
I searched for any sign of what Sherlock was up to as Shan's thug reached a large storage container standing at the side of the tunnel. I jumped when Sherlock ran out from behind it and thwacked the man across the stomach with a metal pipe. The man grunted loudly drawing the attention of Shan who spun around and aimed the gun in the direction the sound had come from. Sherlock was immediately hidden in the shadows before Shan had the chance to even registered what had happened. I couldn't help the smug smile that covered my face at her expression of disbelief.
"...the radius curvature of these walls is nearly four meters. If you miss, the bullet will ricochet. Could hit anyone. Might even bounce off the tunnel and hit you." Sherlock cockily finished.
He burst forth from the darkness and ran to the nearby burning dustbin, and kicked it over, once again hiding in the safety of the darkness. John flinched at the loud crash and Shan's eyes widened as she realized it would now be impossible to see that side of the tunnel. She was beginning to lose it her hand; that was still wrapped around the pistol, began to shake. John peered into the tunnel searching frantically for his friend. His head shooting from the darkness and back to me, his fear for me radiating from his entire being. Suddenly the familiar smell of wintergreen filled my senses as Sherlock reappeared squatting down behind me, he began to untie my bonds.
"Are you ok Elisabeth? I found Sarah in my closet, she said you gave yourself up to save her." Sherlock said, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Im fine Sher. Let's just get this over with. I'm growing bored." I tried to joke.
I could fill his breath fanning against the skin of my arms as he quietly laughed. However, my escape was cut short as Liang came up behind Sherlock and wrapped a red scarf around his neck. I was getting really tired of his obsession with using a scarf as a murder weapon. Sherlock cried out as he stood up tugging at the scarf. I watched them for a moment before turning back to the arrowhead in front of me. I lifted my gaze to the sandbag and watched it pass the counterbalance weight on its way down into the metal bowl. Behind me, Sherlock had finally shaken Liang for a moment and again tried to crouch down behind me to unbind my hands. Liang hurried towards us and flung another loop of the scarf around Sherlock's neck. He reached out to me as he was pulled away. I screamed out in frustration as tears began to pool in my eyes. I blinked them away refusing to allow Shan to see them. As the men behind me continued to struggle John started to realize Sherlock wasn't going to get enough free time to save me.
"No, John don't try anything stupid," I begged.
I couldn't watch John kill himself trying to save me.
"Shut it, Liz!" John hollered.
I almost laughed at his attitude but kept it inside. John struggled to stand, which was almost impossible with his hands tied in front of him and attached tightly to the underside of the chair, his ankles tied to the legs of the chair. Nevertheless, he managed to stumble forward a couple of paces. I watched him in disbelief, his face strained from trying to stay upright. He was half- carrying and half-dragging the chair with him before he lost his balance and fell onto his side. He looked over at Sherlock who was still struggling with Liang who had once again managed to loop the scarf around Sherlock's neck. I tore my eyes away from John and watched the descending metal ball while the men around me fought to save me. I felt like a damsel in distress and I hated it. My eyes fell on the arrowhead and all hope began to fade away. I closed my eyes and listened to John flailing around below me. I opened my eyes as he groaned and wiggled his way towards me. Suddenly John pulled one foot free from the robes and kicked it upwards hitting a part of the crossbow causing it to shift positions. It twisted slightly to the left just as the ball connected with the bowl. A loud snap erupted causing my heart to stutter. The arrow was released shooting through the air and buried itself in Liang's stomach. He grunted loudly his face full of shock before he slumped forward. My whole body was shaking as I watched him. The adrenaline finally catching up to me. I was completely in shock. It was like I was frozen in fear.
Gasping for breath Sherlock stood up and looked around for Shan. I hadn't even realized she had been missing. I moved my head around tensing up in fear as I looked for her. Distant running footsteps could be heard as Shan left the building. Sherlock looked in the direction of the sound. I knew he wanted to follow her.
"Go," I whispered shakily.
He looked into my eyes debating with himself as he unlooped the scarf from his neck. He headed towards me dropping to his knees in front of me.
"Shh, it's alright," he said soothingly.
He helped me untie my hands and pulled me to his chest. "You're going to be alright. It's over now," he whispered.
I could hear John struggling behind me and spun around. I crawled over to him and helped him free himself.
"Johnny! Oh my god, are you ok?" I said in tears.
"Did you happen to tell Sarah that the next date would be better?" he asked me with a laugh.
I started laughing along with him hysterically. "Oh John, I'm pretty sure she is already running for the hills," I said lying on the ground and covering my face.
I felt someone remove my arms and looked into the eyes of Sherlock. "You're in shock," he mumbled.
I gave him my best sarcastic smile. "Ya think?" I smiled at his weary expression. "I'm fine Sherlock, I promise," I said.
Sherlock pulled me to my feet and looked into the direction Shan had fled wistfully.
"You could have gone after her. I wouldn't have blamed you." I whispered, holding onto him tightly.
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, something that completely surprised both John and myself. "I'm right where I need to be," he said.
I let go of Sherlock and grabbed the scarf he had dropped to the ground. I carried it over and much to both men's amusement; dropped it into the fire.
"There, I feel better now," I said with a laugh.
Later, the police had finally arrived to clean up the mess. Dimmock was waiting beside a police car just outside the tunnel. John put his arm around my shoulder as we exited. Dimmock moved to speak to me, but Sherlock stepped forward.
"She's fine," he said.
Dimmock frowned as John and I walked past him. Sherlock stayed behind to speak with him. After a few short words, he followed us to a nearby cab. John pulled me inside and I rested my head on his shoulders all the adrenaline finally leaving me. I closed my eyes and felt the cab lurch forward.
I woke up on the couch in 221B, the sun filtering in through the blinds. I covered my face with the quilt someone had sweetly placed over me. I remembered falling asleep during the cab ride home. Which means one of the boys must have carried me upstairs. I could hear rustling in the kitchen and decided to get up for some coffee. I stood up and folded the quilt over the arm of the couch. I walked into the kitchen stretching to find John sitting at the table, Sherlock standing behind him filling two cups with coffee.
"I hope one of those belongs to me. I feel like I'm guest starring on The Walking Dead." I yawned.
John smiled against his cup and shook his head lightly. Sherlock handed me a cup and slyly looked me over. I ran my fingers through my hair and blushed. I ignored the smirk on his face and looked over John's shoulder. He was looking at the photograph with the translated message.
"So, nine mill..." John sighed.
"Million," I said drinking my coffee and taking a seat beside him.
"Million, yes; Nine million for a jade pin. Dragon den, black Tramway." John read.
I looked at Sherlock who nodded slowly. "An instruction to all their London operatives," Sherlock told us.
"Mmm," John hummed.
"A message; what they were trying to reclaim," I said reaching for the piece of toast that Sherlock was handing over to me.
I thanked him with a bright grin and almost devoured it whole. He shook his head and popped two more pieces of bread into the toaster.
"What, a jade pin?" John asked.
I closed my eyes remembering a green pin in the hair of a certain secretary. I shared a knowing smirk with Sherlock.
"Worth nine million pounds. Bring it to the Tramway, their London hideout." Sherlock said, buttering the toast that had just shot up from the toaster.
"Hang on: a hairpin worth nine million pounds?" John squeaked.
I laughed at his expression. "Apparently," I said.
"Why so much?" John asked us.
I stood up and handed a piece of the buttered toast to Sherlock with a raised brow. He reluctantly began to eat it. I dusted the crumbs from my hands.
"Depends who owned it," Sherlock said in between bites.
Shad Sanderson Bank
We headed inside the bank and towards Van Coons former office.
"Two operatives based in London. They travel over to Dalian to smuggle those vases. One of them helps himself to something: a little hairpin." Sherlock stated as we headed up the elevator.
"Worth nine million pounds," John said still shocked by the price of a tiny hairpin.
"Eddie Van Coon was the thief. He stole the treasure when he was in China." Sherlock explained.
I stayed quiet and just listened. I already knew everything anyway and unlike Sherlock, I don't always feel the need to flaunt my knowledge.
"How'd you know it was Van Coon and not Lukis? Even the killer didn't know that." John asked in amazement.
We stepped through a set of revolving doors.
"Because of the soap," I mumbled.
Sherlock and John stopped and looked at me carefully. I sighed and gave them a smug look. They both stare at me blankly for a second before we continue into the office. Amanda was sitting at her desk squirting a bit of hand lotion onto her hands. Sherlock pulled out his mobile phone and dialed the number to Van Coons office. I watched with a smile as Amanda answered her now ringing phone.
"Amanda," she answered rubbing the lotion into her hands.
"He bought you a present," Sherlock said over the phone.
I leaned up against the wall as Sherlock and John stepped beside her desk. I kept out of the conversation, I knew both men could handle it. After hearing a few gasps from Amanda I headed out the door. As I exited the building my phone started to buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out and froze. I reread the message and felt my whole world crash down.
"I hope General Shan didn't give you too much trouble, my love. Don't worry, I've handled the problem. Can't wait to see you! XOXO, J"
My throat became dry as I stood frozen in place. I could hear John and Sherlock coming up behind me and debated whether I should tell them or not. I chose quickly and pushed my phone back into my pocket. I plastered a smile on my face and hailed a cab. There was no way I could tell them about him. That would be getting them involved and he would surely kill them both. How had he found me? I had taken every precaution, I should have known better. I'll never be free of him. Now I had to decide, would I stay or go? As that thought crossed my mind my phone buzzed again.
Don't try and leave Darling. You know how much it upset me the last time. Stay where you are or your new friends will suffer. Don't worry, we'll be together again soon. J.
I swallowed down the bile that rose in my throat and hopped into the cab. I could hear Sherlock and John talking beside me but their words wouldn't register. I looked over at them and couldn't keep the frown from my face. I couldn't tell them and I couldn't run. I would just have to wait until he revealed himself. Then I could tell them and I would help take him down. I looked ahead of us as we sped away, back towards Baker Street.