Okay so, I guess you all know who Sarah's brother is and yes, Brook is Sarah's real last name. And so is Moriarty's. I believe (and many other Sherlockians do, but idk if it's canon) that Richard Brook is James's real name because it makes sense. I'll get to that when the time is right. So basically in my story I made it that Richard James Brook is Jim's real name and he goes by his middle name now and he made a new last name - Moriarty. Anyway, enjoy new chapter and my first ever attempt to write a murder mystery on my own and not a case from the show, but I got a little inspired by a certain song from Taylor Swift, you'll find out soon which one... (: Thank you for every review, follow and favourite! Love you and enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 8 - Runs in the family
„Welcome, Miss Winston. Or should I say Miss Brook?"
Sarah stuttered. „How the hell do you know my last name?"
„Oh, I know everything about you." The man looked at her with his x-raying look.
Sarah frowned. „I have no idea what you mean" She crossed her arms in defense.
„I believe you do. Now, what is your connection to Sherlock Holmes?"
Sarah stood in the big hall, frozen with shock. The man in front of her knew her last name. He knew that she met Sherlock. Has he been watching her? Stalking her? Is he one of her brother's men? Were these her last moments?
„Who the hell are you?"
„I believe I asked you a question, Miss Brook." the man glared at her.
Sarah flinched at the sound of her name. „Do not call me that."
„Well it is your name."
„It's not. Not anymore." She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes.
„It has been brought to my attention," the tall man said as he walked closer to Sarah. „That you met Sherlock Holmes four days ago. You have investigated a crime together with him and Dr. John Watson."
„So? That is none of your business."
„Oh, it could be." The man smirked, reminiscing about a similar conversation he had about a month ago with one significant army doctor.
„What do you want from me?" Sarah raised her eyebrows at the man.
„Information." he said as stood in place, with his umbrella like a statue. „You could provide me with information about Sherlock Holmes, his whereabouts, activities, just the ordinary check-up. That is of course, if you plan to continue with your relationship with him."
„You want me to spy on Sherlock Holmes? If you know my former surname, I'm sure you know where I live. Wouldn't that make it a tad bit difficult for you?" Sarah tilted her head with a smirk.
The tall man did not seem amused. „That wasn't a no. Though you live in Liverpool, you could still be of use with your skills. I believe you have a doctorate in psychology and a masters degree in criminology. Are you accepting my offer?"
Unbelievable. Sarah shook her head internally. „Of course not! Now, I'm going home since you aren't going to tell me who the hell you are." She said as she turned around and started walking away.
He smirked. „We have... a difficult relationship. I am the closest thing to a friend Sherlock Holmes has and I am very concerned about him and his dangerous... escapades."
Suddenly, a lightbulb (a metaphorical one, of course) lit up above Sarah's head. She stopped walking away and she turned to face the man. „Um, no." she smiled. The man frowned. „No, John Watson is Sherlock's friend. I dare to say that I am Sherlock's friend too. But you? No." Sarah „If you want to know of his activities, why don't you just ask him? He's your little brother, after all." She said, very proud of her deduction. It was all very clear now. Even though they didn't look very much alike, the man vas very intelligent. Interested in Sherlock, concerned about him. Not old enough to be his father. Controlling older brother then. Everything fitted into place now.
„Yes, you are clever. Almost as clever as him."
„Well thank you, but I don't think I'm nearly as clever as Sherlock." Sarah said, walking away again.
„I didn't mean Sherlock." Mycroft Holmes said coldly. Sarah felt her blood freeze in her veins. She turned around and she swiftly closed the distance between them. „What did you just say?" She glared at him with both fear and anger in her eyes.
„People like me, we know about people like your brother, Miss Winston."
„What do you mean people like you? What are you, the secret service?"
„You could say that. We keep close surveilance of people like your brother. And people close to him." he said as he gave her a look.
„You mean me?" Sarah scoffed. „He killed our parents! I would never work with him!" She said, outraged.
„That doesn't mean you and people around you are safe." Mycroft said.
„I see." Sarah smirked. „You don't want me to endager your little brother. You want me to stay away from him. How thoughtful of you. So, let me tell you something. Sherlock knows of the danger I am in and it's his own decision to spend time with me or not. I tried to keep him away, believe me I did."
„You've told him about your brother?!" Mycroft asked angrily. „Have you got any idea how much danger you could put him in?" he hissed.
„I only told him a part my story. I didn't even mention my brother's name. Or my former name. I would never willingly put someone in danger like that." Sarah told him.
Mycroft Holmes sighed. „I suppose there is no point of telling you to stay away from Sherlock, but I will keep close watch on you, Miss Winston. But believe me, if you ever endanger my brother, you will not see the light of the very next day." The older Holmes said with a dangerously quiet tone. „Now, I think you have a plane to catch. Goodbye."
„Goodbye Mr. Holmes. I really do hope we won't meet again." Sarah said with a smile as she walked back into the black car.
While riding back to the airport, Sarah pulled out her phone and a certain blog appeared on her screen. The science of deduction, it read. Sarah searched the web for contact information and soon she found a phone number she was looking for. As soon as she got out of the car, being informed that the plane actually waited for her, she dialed the number she found on the website. It rang out for a while, then the call was answered.
„Sherlock Holmes." the voice on the other side said. Sherlock was standing in his flat's living room, he has just returned from the Shad Sanderson Bank, closing the Blind Banker case.
Sarah smiled. „Well, I would know since I'm the one who called you."
„Sarah?"
„Yeah."
„Is there something wrong? Why are you calling me? Aren't you supposed to be on the plane right now?" Sherlock inquired.
„Yes, yes, working on that part," Sarah told him as she made her way trough the airport with Anthea leading her to her plane that was miraculously waiting for her. „I believe I've just met your brother."
Sherlock stopped pacing around his flat, he closed his eyes in exasperation and he blew out air trough his nose. „Of course you did."
„One question. What the fuck?!"
Sherlock smirked. „Did he kidnap you from the airport?"
„Yes, yes he did. God, I thought I wasn't going to walk out of it alive."
„Mycroft tends to be a little dramatic. Sorry for that."
„Yeah, runs in the family I guess." Sarah smiled to the phone, wondering what kind of people name their children Mycroft and Sherlock. She just got to the gate to her flight. „Alright, I have to go now. I'm finally boarding, thanks to scary Holmes senior. Call me if you ever want to solve crimes again."
„Will do, definitely. Bye." Sherlock smiled lightly as he sat on the black armchair in his flat.
„Bye!" Sarah told him and she could hear John ask Sherlock ‚who was that?' before she hanged up the call and boarded her plane to Liverpool.
In a darkened room in London, General Shan was sitting at a desk, talking to a computer. She had a camera on, but the person she was talking to only typed on the screen under a letter M.
„Without you, without your assistance - we would not have found passage into London. You have my thanks." Shan said humbly.
„M: Gratitude is meaningless. It is only the expectation of further favours." it typed on the computer screen.
Shan leaned to the screen. „We did not anticipate, we did not know this man would come... this Sherlock Holmes. He had a blonde woman - he called her Sarah - with him as well. And now your safety is compromised." She said worriedly.
„M: They cannot trace this back to me."
„I will not reveal your identity." Shan said sincerely.
„M: I am certain." The computer beeped and a red laser light appeared on her forehead. With one single shot, a bullet hits the forehead, ending General Shan's life.
Three weeks later
An alarm beeped on Sarah's nightstand. She slowly looked up to check the time on it. It was 7am and she huffed, slowly getting out of the white satin sheets on her bed. She put a dressing gown over her large T-shirt she was wearing as pyjamas. Sarah's flat in Liverpool was quite nice. Her parents left her and her psychopathic brother a lot of money and she was still receiving money from her father's real estate company. However, her brother cut himself off, so all the money went to her now. Despite being quite rich, Sarah still worked. She loved helping children that needed her psychological expertise and she also occasionally solved a few crimes. The only difference was, that she didn't take any money from it, she was doing it because that was what she wanted to do.
Sarah made her way to her bathroom across her bedroom, quickly taking a shower. Then, she made herself some toasts for breakfast and placed herself on the sofa in the living room. Her living room was her favourite place in this apartment. It was right opposite the entrance door and it had big windows with a beatiful view of Liverpool. Her kitchen was connected to the lliving room, being placed right next to the entrance door. Between the kitchen and the living room was a small hall on the left with two doors, one leading to Sarah's bedroom and the other to the bathroom. Overall, Sarah's flat was very neat and she liked to think it was cozy and comfortable. She turned on the TV, lazily switching trough the channels. After a while, she found a channel with an overly dramatic soap opera with the main character being torn between two men who were according to Sarah, both awful for the woman. She sighed and she turned the TV off. She lied down on her white couch, facing the huge windows. It's been almost a month since she met Sherlock Holmes. They solved a crime together only about four days later, and since then... nothing. Sure, they both agreed to be friends, but right now it didn't seem like they were friends at all. Of course, Sarah had to consider that Sherlock is not an ordinary man and he's probably just not used to ordinary social behavior, such as having friends. He had John Watson as his flatmate, that was probably enough socialization for him and Sarah understood that, she wasn't eager to spend time with other people as well. But she also kind of... missed him. She knew it was a bit stupid, after all, she knew him for about four days but she could tell they really bonded over that time. Of course we bonded, she thought, anyone would bond over several life-or-death situations, Sarah smirked at the memories. And just like that, her phone buzzed. She frowned, who could that be? She reached for her phone on the coffee table and she smiled at the text she got.
- You don't happen to be in London, do you? SH
- Why?
- Give me a second. SH
Sarah looked at the last text with confusion. Why has Sherlock Holmes suddenly gained interest in her whereabouts after being quiet for almost a month? Her phone started ringing. It was Sherlock, calling. She shook her head and picked up.
„Yes?"
„Coud you come to London today?"
„Why?"
„Isn't it obvious?"
„No, it isn't. I haven't heard from you since we solved the cipher case. And now you suddenly remember I exist? Neat, Mr. Holmes, very neat." Sarah said with a hint of hurt in her voice.
„Oh come on. Can we not do this?"
„Do what? You agreed to be friends with me, this is what you get for doing such a foolish thing." She smiled to the phone, and she was almost sure Sherlock smirked.
„Well, can I skip to the important matter now?"
„Alright then, spill it out."
„I've got a case and I though you would be interested in it too, it looks quite promising. Although not as exciting as the one we solved last month. Could you make it to London today? I happen to know that there is a train leaving in two hours from Liverpool to London."
„Of course you just happen to know." Sarah smirked. „Well, I suppose I could come to check it out."
„Okay, come straight to Baker Street then. Me and John will be waiting for you here."
„Good. I'll see you then. Bye."
„Oh, one more thing."
„Yes?"
„You don't have to book a hotel. Mrs. Hudson has a spare room in 221C. You can stay there. And it would be more practical, since we would be working on the case together, it's only logical to have you around."
„Oh, okay. Thanks. Bye."
„Goodbye."
The phone call ended and Sarah grinned. Well, it seems that she's got a program for a few days now.
Meanwhile in 221B Baker Street, Sherlock put his phone down with a small smile on his face. To say the truth, he didn't even know why he called Sarah on this case. Lestrade called him about it today. He was contacted from the Orpington police station, there was a body found in a lake nearby. The police baffled as always, Sherlock thought. But he was terribly bored with nothing better to do, so he decided to give it a shot. Calling Sarah though, that was sudden and unexpected, but he just sort of did that. No coming back now. He just hoped the case would be actually worth something, praying for the creativity of the killer, so he could forget about boredom for a while at least.
John has just walked into the living room with bags from the grocery store. Sherlock was sitting in his armchair.
„We have a case." Sherlock told John.
„Oh?" John looked over at Sherlock, while upacking the groceries in the kitchen.
„Sarah's coming."
John raised his eyebrows and he glanced at Sherlock. „She is? You called her?"
„Yes. I did. She's had a few impactful insights on our last case together, so I thought we could use her point of view on this one. Lesrade called about some murder in Orpington. A body was found in a lake nearby. No fingerprints, just a single gunshot. This better be good." Sherlock murmured the last sentence to himself.
About five hours later, Sarah got out of the taxi on Baker Street. She was wearing her light grey coat with jeans and a white shirt tucked into them. Sarah walked right up the stairs to 221B and she knocked on the living room door with a small case in her left hand. She packed only the most important stuff, not knowing how long will she stay. John opened her the door with a little hello and she smiled at him.
„Hi, John. Where's Sherlock?" She asked the doctor as she looked around the living room with no sign of the detective.
„He's just in his bedroom. We'll be heading out soon to Orpington. It's about an hour ride from here." John said as he went up to his bedroom to get dressed.
Sarah was left alone in the living room. She sighed tiredly, psychically preparing herself for another hour of travelling. Her train ride was about three hours long, so it was quite understandable that she wasn't too happy about the location of the potential case. Sherlock made his way to the living room, knowing exactly who would be waiting there. As she watched him walk in, Sarah smiled at Sherlock.
„Hey."
He glanced over at her with a light smile. „Hello."
„John told me the case is in Orpington."
„That's right. We're leaving in five minutes. Lestrade is coming to pick us up with his car. I asked him to bring his civil car, I don't like the police ones."
„So Lestrade knows I'm coming along?" Sarah asked.
„Um... no." Sherlock said with a shrug.
Sarah laughed. „Well, he's in for a big surprise. Does he even know that we know each other?"
„No, I don't think so." Sherlock grinned. That was going to be a bit of a shock for the Detective Inspector.
When John walked downstairs, they all walked to the street, with Lestrade's car pulling over to the sidewalk. He got out of the car, leaving the door open with a woman sitting on the passenger's seat. When he walked over to the trio, he noticed Sarah and his mouth fell open.
„Oh, I knew it! I knew it was a bad idea to send you to check out that dead banker thing!" Greg pointed his finger at Sarah, who laughed. „But I guess it had to happen at some point. Clearly you're getting along well. It's not everyday that Sherlock Holmes gets along with someone." Greg smirked and Sherlock rolled his eyes.
„Nice to see you too, Greg." Sarah told the Detective Inspector who pulled her into a fatherly hug.
„You three ready to go then? You'll all have to squeeze in the back, 'cause Donovan's coming with us." Lestrade told John, Sherlock and Sarah.
Sherlock frowned. „Donovan?!"
Greg rolled his eyes. „Yes. And behave. I won't have you arguing the whole ride."
Sarah frowned as she leaned to John. „Who's Donovan?"
John sighed and he nodded his head to a dark skinned woman with big curly hair who just got out of Lestrade's car. „Her." He simply said.
The woman walked over to them. Sherlock put on a fake smile. „Ah, Sally. Haven't seen you in a while."
She looked at him with a glare. „Freak." She said instead of saying hello. She nodded to John as a greeting and she turned to Sarah, who was now glaring at her. „And who's this?"
„Sarah Winston." Sarah said as she looked Donovan in the eyes.
„Sally Donovan." she simply replied and she turned to Greg. „Is she coming with us?"
„Yes." Lestrade replied and Donovan frowned.
„Did the freak invite her? Great another civillian."
„I did, Sally. This is Doctor Sarah Winston, she is an expert on criminology and psychology. Lestrade here is already familiar with her expertise." Sherlock said coldly and Sarah glanced at him. He really was defending her. She smiled. There was a moment of silence where Sherlock and Donovan stared angrily at each other, but then Lestrade interfered.
„Alright folks, let's go, we want to be back today."
Lestrade sat behind the wheel, Donovan regained her position on the passenger's seat and out trio squeezed themselves in the back of Greg's car with Sarah in the middle and the boys on the sides. And so another adventure begins.