Lara was alone. Again. She hated the dark, was afraid of it as a child. That is, until her father started… No, she wasn't going to think about that. She had to find a way back to Baker Street. Unfortunately, she had no idea where she was. After walking up and down the street for a couple minutes, a car came driving up the road. Lara started waving her hands like crazy, trying to get the car to stop. The car came to a halt a few feet in front of her.
"Excuse me?"
"Hello love, what are you doing out here?"
"Oh, I went for a jog, and got lost. Can you tell me where I am please?" Lara gave the driver puppy dog eyes.
"Well, to be exact, we're on Dark Hill right now," the kindly driver said. Lara let out a kind of snort. Of all the places Moriarty could've had her dropped off, he had to be dramatic and choose Dark Hill.
"Thanks. Do you know where I can get a cab?" She asked.
"I'll give you a ride,"
"No, that's alright."
"No, really!" And with that, another man opened the back door and grabbed her, trying to pull her in. She yanked herself backwards, pulling the man somewhat out of the car, then slammed her head into the man's head. Very precisely, of course. He fell into the seat, unconscious. As soon as his body hit the leather, Lara booked it in the opposite direction of the car. She had been to Dark Hill before, she knew where to find houses with people who could help her. Following a gut instinct, she took a right, running as fast as she could. She soon stumbled upon a cozy looking neighborhood. She ran up to a house with lights on and slammed on the door. A woman Irene's age opened the door. She was naturally pretty, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. She looked tired, but kind.
"Hello, can I help you?" The woman smiled at Lara. Lara brought tears to her eyes and sniffled.
"A man- a man just tried to nab me, can I please use your phone to call the police?"
"Oh, my Lord!" the woman looked shocked. "Come inside, I'll call the police."
"Thank you," Lara mumbled. Then she burst into fake tears.
"Oh dear, it's okay, you'll be alright." The woman put one arm around Lara while reaching for her phone with her other hand.
"Could you- could you please ask for Detective Inspector Lestrade? He's a family friend," Lara continued. The woman nodded, and guided Lara to a couch. Then she put the phone to her ear.
"Yes, hello. I need to speak to Detective Inspector Lestrade. Well, he has a friend here who just escaped from an attempted kidnapping. One moment." She turned to Lara, "What's your name dear?"
"Lara Adler."
"Her name's Lara Adler. Yes. No. Upper Park Road, London. Thank you." She hung up. "He's on his way dear. Let me get you a cuppa."
John and Sherlock were still sitting in the back of the prison of a cab as Lara was receiving tea from a very kind woman. Sherlock was staring at the back of the driver's seat, trying to piece everything together, and having difficulty. John sat silently next to Sherlock, twiddling his thumbs.
"John."
"Yes, Sherlock?"
He turned to face John. "I'm glad that I'm here with you, John." Then he clasped John's hand. John smiled.
"Do you think Lara's okay?" John asked.
"No, I think another car came and took her."
"Oh, you are a clever boy!" The driver quipped. Sherlock leaned forward, almost into the driver's face.
"What are they going to do to her?" He demanded. The driver laughed, but said nothing. Sherlock leaned back, and John placed his hand on Sherlock's cheek, calming him with the subtle gesture.
"She's going to be alright, Sherlock. You've seen what she can do."
"Yes, but I have also found her weakness, and if I have, then so has Moriarty."
There was a knock on the door, the woman opened it to find Lestrade standing on the other side.
"Detective Inspector Lestrade." He said, holding his badge up. "Is Lara Adler here?"
"Yes, right this way." The woman started guiding him to her living room, where Lara was sitting. "I'm Sarah, by the way. She doesn't show any signs of being in shock, except crying, but she seems tough."
They walked into the room, and Lara looked up. She almost smiled, but caught herself just in time. Starting her sniffles again, she got up and ran across the room to Lestrade, hugging him.
"Oh, Uncle Greg, I'm so glad you're here!"
"Right, well… We, uh, better go." He said, looking at Sarah apologetically. "Thanks for taking care of her."
"No problem." Sarah smiled and guided them out of the house. Once outside, Lara let go of Greg. Brushing herself off and walking to the cop car, she said, "Sherlock's in a lot of trouble."
"What? Where is he? And why are you here?" The detective inspector stopped walking and looked at Lara confusedly.
"I'll explain on the way to The Yard." And with that, she slid into the passenger seat.
"Alright. So, Moriarty has John and Sherlock, he tried to get you but failed, your dad works for Moriarty, and the guy wants to play a game?" Lestrade tried to summarise, in an attempt to understand the situation better. Lara nodded.
Greg ran a hand over his face. He was exhausted. His latest case was on three serial killings. He'd been spending all his time on it, he didn't have time to take care of Sherlock. He sighed. Sherlock was always getting himself into trouble, and all because he was bored. Straightening his back, he asked, "What do we need to do?"
"Nothing. I know where they're taking them, I just needed a ride here, where I could call a taxi, and I knew you wouldn't take me here if I didn't tell you everything." Walking to the door, she added, "Thanks, bye!"
"Wait!" Lestrade started walking after her. She was only a child, she couldn't go by herself to save Sherlock and John from the greatest criminal mind in the world. He ran out the door, and looked left, only to see Lara hailing a cab. By the time he reached her, she was closing the door and the cab was pulling away from the pavement.
"Shit." He ran a hand over his face again. After reading the license plate number, he turned and walked back into his place of work.