"That glass is tougher than anything." Greg said as we watched a security video of Moriarty breaking the glass surrounding the artifact.
"Not tougher than crystallized carbon." Sherlock replied. "He used a diamond."
The tape rewinded until the point right before Moriarty made contact with the glass.
'Get Sherlock' he wrote with a smiley face in the 'o'.
What was he planning?
A few weeks later it was Moriarty's trial. And we had to go. I wore a black pencil skirt, a forest green blouse, and a black suit jacket with black heels. When we walked out of the flat, we were immediately bombarded with reporters. We got into the police car and were driven away from our flat.
"And remember-"
"Yes."
"Remember-"
"Yes."
"Remember what they told you." John said quickly, "Don't try to be clever and, please, just keep it simple and brief."
"Confident the star witness is charged to come across intelligent." Sherlock replied.
"Intelligent, fine. Let's give smart ass a wide berth." John responded.
"I'll just be myself." Sherlock said.
"Are you listening to me?" John asked.
Oh, why did I have to sit in the middle?
When we got there, Sherlock went to use the men's toilet, and John and I went to get a seat in the stands. We sat there, and watched as Moriarty was brought into the room. He looked me in the eyes and smiled at me.
What was he planning?
"A consulting criminal."
"Yes." Sherlock replied.
"Your words. Can you expand on that answer?"
"James Moriarty is for hire." Sherlock said.
"A tradesman?"
"Yes."
"But not the sort who'd fix your heating."
"No, the sort to plant a bomb or stage an assassination, but I'm sure he'd make a pretty decent job of your boiler." Sherlock replied and I covered my hand with my mouth and John elbowed me.
"Would you describe him as..."
"Leading?" Sherlock interrupted.
Oh no. Here it comes.
"What?"
"Can't do that." Sherlock said, "You're leading the witness. He'll object, and the judge will uphold."
"Mr. Holmes." The Judge stated.
"Ask me how would I describe him, what opinion have I formed of him. They don't teach you this?" Sherlock said.
"Mr. Holmes, we're fine without your help." The Judge replied.
"How would you describe this man, his character?"
"First mistake, James Moriarty isn't a man at all. He's a spider, a spider at the center of a web, criminal web with a thousand threads, and he knows precisely how each and every single one of them dances." Sherlock answered.
"And how long..."
"No, no, don't do that. That's really not a good question." Sherlock interrupted... again.
"Mr. Holmes!"
"How long have I known him? Not really your best line of inquiry. We met twice, five minutes in total. I pulled a gun, he tried to blow me up. I felt we had a special something." Sherlock said.
"Miss Sorrel are you seriously claiming this man is an expert after knowing the accused for just five minutes?" The Judge asked.
"Two minutes would have made me an expert. Five was ample." Sherlock replied.
"Mr. Holmes, that's a matter for the jury!"
"Oh, really?" Sherlock looked over at the jury, and he started deducing them, "One librarian, two teachers, two high-pressure jobs, probably the city. Foreman's a medical secretary trained abroad, judging by her shorthand."
"Mr. Holmes!"
"Seven are married and two are having an affair with each other, it would seem. Oh, and they've just had tea and biscuits. Would you like to know who ate the wafer?" Sherlock asked the judge.
"Mr. Holmes! You have been called here to answer Miss Sorrel's questions, not to give us a display of your intellectual prowess!" The Judge exclaimed, "Keep you answered brief and to the point. Anything else will be treated as contempt! Do you think you can survive for just a few minutes without showing off?!"
The next thing that came out of Sherlock's mouth was the thing that got him locked up next to Moriarty. John went to go get us takeout, since we had no food in our cupboards, and I went to get Sherlock.
"John told you not to be clever." I said to Sherlock.
"I can't just turn it on and off like a tap." Sherlock replied. "Well?"
"Well what?" I asked as we left.
"You were there for the whole thing, up in the gallery start to finish." Sherlock said.
I sighed, "Like you said it would be. Sat on his bum, never even stirred."
"Moriarty's not mounting any defense."
"Bank of England, Tower of London, Pentonville. Three of the most secured places in the country, and six weeks ago, Moriarty breaks in." I said as we walked into the flat. "No one knows how or why. All we know is..."
"He ended up in custody." Sherlock finished. "If Moriarty wanted the jewels, he'd have them. If he wanted those prisoners freed, they'd be out on the streets. The only reason he's still in a prison cell right now is because he chose to be there. Somehow this is part of his scheme."
The next morning Sherlock and I stayed at the flat, in our night clothes, while John went to the trial.
"Sherlock?"
"Hmm?"
"What happens if Moriarty is found not guilty?" I asked.
"You think he'll be pronounced not guilty?" Sherlock replied, looking at me.
"Like you said last night, if he wanted the jewels, he'd have them. If he wanted the prisoners freed, they'd be on the streets. He pleaded not guilty and has no evidence and no witnesses. If he wants to not guilty, he's probably not going to be guilty." I said before Sherlock's phone rang.
"Not guilty! They found him not guilty!" I heard John exclaimed from the phone. "No defense and Moriarty's walked free."
Sherlock lowered his phone and ended the call.
"Amelia, get dressed. We're going to have company." Sherlock said as he stood up.
"Of course we are." I mumbled, "Let's hope he doesn't try to kill us."