Very long Chapter this time i am afraid. I was liostening to dubstep and got in the groove. Thank you to all my readers! I may take some advice having to do with a young wo... We shall see. ;)
Read on!
I do not own Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes walked down the street and pulled his coat closer against the light drizzle. Hw glanced up at movement on the pavement ahead of him. Stacey was standing at the top of four steps leading to the hotel lobby with another woman. This woman was thin and taller than Stacey but he couldn't tell what else she looked like but one detail caught his eye. she clutched a hankerchief in her left hand with a red letter that he couldn't quite see.
He sped up his pace but the woman climbed down the stairs and was in a cab before he was even halfway close. He shook his head to clear the water from his eyes. He felt stupid for the glimmer of hope that he still clung to, or was it guilt? He slowed down and smiled as the young woman decended the steps. Stacey smiled sadly.
"You looked as if you knew her." Stacey said.
"I thought I did. Not so sure now." He tilted his hat back to look at her. She was wearing a green satin dress.
"So, cab?" she asked.
"Yes, indeed. " He motioned for one and let her in first. The ride was silent as Holmes pondered. They stopped and got out at a small cafe where they sat inside and ordered a coffee each.
"We are meeting the officer here?" She asked.
"Yes. There is to be no word of the plan to him. We are still not sure of his whole role in this. At the first sign of trouble you get out. Ah, here is our partner." He stood and shook the hand of the young officer," Officer Berkley. You look well."
"And you, Detective. There is barely any injury left about you being flung through my skylight. No hard feelings? I had to play it off that we were not conspireing but also not let you know any details. I fear for my life with these men."
"Do not speak so loudly. Do not want anyone else hearing about this." Holmes sat and motioned for the younger man to sit. He reached in his pocket and produced the small piece of paper with the red picture on it.
"What is that you have there?" Stacey asked.
"Officer, what can you tell me about this?" he handed it over and the officer's eyes widened.
"This was not supposed to be sent. I told them it was a bad idea. "
"Them? Who is them?"
"Well, the others."
"Start your account when you joined them. Go from thier and explain Mr. Langley's involvement." Holmes pulled out his pipe and lit it.
"When I joined the force I was approached. They came one night and offered me a sum of money just for arriving at a drop off point the next day. I didn't want to go alone but my close friend, James, said he would come with me. We were both sucked into this sort of underground gambling ring. We were to work for a handsome amount and ask no questions. We had to pick people up and bring them to the took more and more jobs as time went on but they became more sketchy. "
"'Sketchy how?" Holmes mumbled, closeing his eyes.
"They were wearing black and eventually all of them had thier faces covered. when we worked our way into thier good graces we were promoted. We aren't the first conidates for body gueards but we were enough. We had to keep the patrons from fighting. We had to kick a few out. One day they said that James was to be promoted and I was not. I was hurt but now I am very glad. "
"What was his promotion?" Holmes asked.
"Not quite sure. All I know is he left with a hallow look to his face. He cried to me but could not tell me what they wanted him to do but he was afraid. He was to quit the next you must repay all wages if you quite." The officer looked down at his hands,' This was about two months ago."
"He did start to act strange about then. He would fight us to get to the mail before we did and would always insist he opened the front door for visitors. He stayed in his room other than that." Stacey nodded.
"When his father went missing I feared the worst. They told us to get his mother and take her to a secure location. They said for me to get to James and his sister in anyway possible."
Holmes twitched but otherwise made no response. Stacey shifted and smiled at Berkley to continue.
"I regretted that he fought back." Holmes then leaned forward and watched the young officer closely," We had to hurt him to get him in the carriage." His eyes darted back and forth then he shifted under Holmes' gaze," Where were you hiding, Stacey?"
"What? Oh, nowhere of importance." She smiled and glanced at Holmes who inhaled calmly and glanced at her,"What do you gather, Holmes?"
"I think I need to retire to my flat to think this over with Miss. Langley if you will excuse us, Officer."
"I do not think that is possible." He said, looking down at his hands. At this Holmes' eyes darted around, stopping at a few points.
"Do not do this. Let us go." Holmes whispered," I will promise your safety."
"I can not. Seeing this I fear for my family." He nodded to himself and Holmes took a breath. He had to make an opening for Miss. Langley to get away. He wished Watson was there but the danger was too great.
"Would they attack in public?" He asked the officer.
"No. They will wait until you are in an alley or your home or even on a street where there are fewer people." Holmes nodded once the man finished and stood up. He put his hand up for her to take then she looped her arm through his and they started to walk briskly.
"Instep is a weak point as well as the throat. Try to keep your hands free. Hit the nose when the oppertunity presents itself. Do you have any weapons on your person?" He mumbled to her. She just shook her head and bit her lip," I know you are a afraid. I have slipped an adress into your dress pocket. It will be alright. Once you get free, run there. I will meet with you promptly."
"Alright. Be careful, Sherlock." She whispered. She closed her eyes as he led her into the alley. There were six of them. Two he had seen before. There was the rather large one and the one he had used for a human shield. The large one still had a gun but they would most likely only use that once she was gone. She was needed alive.
Holmes could tell which was going to be the first to move. he would jab and Holmes would duck and punch him in the stomach and swipe the next ones feet out from under him. He would then spin Stacey around and lean forward, pulling her down as a swing was aimed over them. When it was drawn back he would pull her over him and she would kick the man in front of them as she flipped over his back. They would be faceing eachother and he would spin and hit the last in the throat. She would run the other way and then the fight was in either hand.
The jab came and he ducked but Stacey grabbed the man's wrist and hit his elbow, flipping him over into the largest man. She spun around, spinning him so that he took out the next man's legs. As he stumbled she kicked him in the chest, knocking him into the next one. Holmes stood up and was punched in the face. He stumbled away and grabeed the mans hand as he fell.
When the man was on top of him he put a foot in his chest and flipped him into the wall. Stacey pulled him in a circle and the force was enough to stand him up so that they were back to back. He huffed and blinked a few times. Stacey shifted so that she pressed her stomach close to his back, her arm over his shoulder, a gun pointed at the large man that had finally stood up.
"Sherlock, walk back slowly." She took his hand with her open hand at thier side and moved back. Once they were out of the alley she put the gun in his waist band and took his hand with the one she had the gun in and they ran. The rain pelted them painfully in the face as he led her through the streets. They ran for a good few hours as the sun set and dark rose around them. He led her to a hotel and ran in the lobby.
"Room for Mr. and Mrs. Wilks." He stated, breathing hard. He leaned on the counter.
"Yes. Third floor. Here is your key." the man handed him a key and Holmes took it, leading her away.
The room was huge. Holmes smiled and pointed," the bathroom is that way. I had a dress ordered for you. I hope it is to your likeing. I need to send a message promptly." He walked the other direction as she went to the restroom. He took the stairs back to the street and walked across to a door he knew too well for the few times he had seen it. Mary Watson answered it and smiled coldly.
"What is it, Holmes." she hissed.
"Could you tell Watson not to go near Miss Langley's hotel room or the old flat for niether of us will be there. It is of importance. Do not tell him how you came to this knowledge."
"He misses you."
"I know. Tell him as soon as you can." Holmes turned on his heal and walked across the street. She closed the door as Holmes lept up the front steps of the hotel two by two. He was back in thier room before he even realised it. Stacey came out in a satin blue dress with her hair pulled up on her head. Holmes froze, his eyes widening. Watson had been right. Why else would he buy a dress for this girl that looked just like the last one he had seen Irene in?
"Sherlock." She said, sitting down.
"Yes." He said, apsentmindedly looking around the room.
"Are you injured?" She asked, lounging in a very unladylike manner on the couch nearby.
"No.I am fine, thanks to you. Where did you learn to fight like that?" He asked.
"My father was always in business like this. He was always being called upon by mysterious, nonexistant men and would dissapear with only letters to support us. I learned it from him. James went into the same business to get Father out and... This is where it ended up." She stared at the ceiling.
"I am sorry to hear that."
"Sherlock. How did that help the case?"
"Helped a great deal. I found out the weaknesses of almost all the men I shall be faceing very soon. I also retrieved your brothers location." He pulled out a little, brown, broken leather bound book.
"Really? That is wonderous news. Where did you get it?"
"When I shook Officer Berkley's hand. You must be fast and smart whitted." He sat down on the chair near the couch and hung his legs over the side.
"Sherlock." She asked.
"Hm?"
"Why did you take this case?"
"Because I wanted to help." She stood up and walked over, sitting on the very little space he left on the chair. It took all he had not to shove her off.
"Sherlock, we both know that isn't why. Tell me the truth."
"Everyone else had given up hope of ever finding any of your family or even protecting you."
"And you think I need protecting?"
"No. Not anymore. "
"Tell me the truth." She stated. He avoided her eyes and sighed.
"I knew your parents were dead the second I took the case but your brother, well, they need him to pay off the debt. They need him alive and you as leverage against him."
"Why did you take this case."
"For you." He said. She leaned her face close to his so that thier noses touched and her lips brushed his.
"Why did you take this case?" She whispered, barely audibly.
"Because... you look like her." He closed his eyes to fight off the initial guilt he felt saying those word. When she didn't move he opened his eyes to find her still just as close but her eyes were closed.
"Was she pretty?" She almost sighed.
"Very. And Whitty."
"Am I whitty?" She asked, her lips close to her ear.
"Yes. In a few years you could outwhit me." She smiled then kissed him lightly. He inhaled and closed his eyes. For a moment he enjoyed the kiss until she parted. She sat up and turned away from him.
"I am so sorry. That was inaproriate. I would like a seperate room." Holmes reached up and lightly grabbed her face, turning her and kissing her lightly.
"I'll arrange it. Go get some tea in the lobby and it will be done. This will never be spoken of again. I am sorry."
"I... Irene Adler. She is The Woman isn't she. I've heard of your involvment with her a few times. Sherlock. Don't give up yet." She stood up and left the room, wiping her face furiously. Holmes sighed and wiped his eyes. He suddenly stood up and screamed, throwing a lamp at the wall and shattering it.
I hope you enjoyed the super long chapter!
Thank you WriterMonkey0626 , Zenappa , HannaHazzard and Irene for your reviews and being faithful readers thus far. Hope I don't dissapoint. Thanks to all who are reading!
Sorry about mispellings. It is really late. LOL hope it doesn't hinder anything. :)