When John woke up and went to the kitchen to prepare some coffee he found Sherlock sleeping the living room couch. It was good to see Sherlock finally getting some rest. He was beginning to worry about him. It would be better if he was sleeping in his bedroom but John didn't want to find out why he chose the couch instead of his own bed.
He sensed it has something to do with the fact that Irene Adler had recently been on that bed, but he couldn't be sure. Sherlock decided not to talk about that anymore and there was no sign of Irene since the previous day.
Sherlock's mobile began to ring. He opened his eyes and moved to answer it.
"Sherlock Holmes." he said in a clear and soft voice, that didn't seem to belong to someone who had just woken up.
"Mr. Holmes this is the Baron de Crozon. I was informed that you could help me, discreetly, to solve a problem I find myself in." said the voice in the other end of the line.
French accent. Local call. Not wanting the police involved. Interesting already, but he needed more data. The name was familiar but he wasn't sure why.
"That depends." Sherlock said. "What is the problem?"
"I would rather talk about it in person, Mr. Holmes. Meet me in my London office as soon as you can. I'll text you the address." Said the Baron hanging up.
Sherlock jumped from the couch and opened the browser in his phone searching for the Baron's name. Many articles appeared revealing he was a fairly known art and fashion enthusiast, apparently constantly surrounded by beautiful women.
One article in particular caught his attention and he remembered where he had seen that name before: on the file he had on Irene Adler.
"I knew she wasn't here just for a casting interview." He said out loud standing up and grabbing his scarf and coat, preparing to leave.
"Who?" John asked.
"Adler. Come on, John, we have to get her before she has a chance to flee again." He said, rushing down the stairs.
John put his shoes on quickly, grabbed his jacket and followed his roommate.
"What did she do?" John asked when they were already in the cab and after Sherlock told him his conversation with the Baron.
"Stole the Blue Diamond." Sherlock said, still typing something in his phone. "Damn it, too many flights to the State, we'll be lucky if she's not already in one of them." he turned to the driver. "Soho hotel, at Richmonds Mews."
"What's the Blue Diamond?"
"A ring, with a huge diamond colored ocean blue. It's said to be one of the rings Napoleon gave his polish mistress Marie Walewska. It's been with the Crozon's, a noble French family, for over two hundred years. It's priceless."
"How do you know that? I thought the Baron said he would explain when we arrived."
"There's rumors of the financial problems the Baron is facing. He asked me to be discreet which means it's something embarrassing for him, but nothing so serious as murder. Irene is also in the country. He obviously came to London to sell the diamond to save his finances and had it stolen instead."
"Why do you think it was Irene?"
"She's been involved with the diamond before. It's not a coincidence that the Baron is in London at the same time she is." he said and became silent and thoughtful.
They arrived at the hotel and went to question the clerk. In the busy lobby there was a huge sculpture of a fat cat.
"Hello. Sherlock Holmes for the guest in room 2113." He said.
The clerk phoned the room and Sherlock and John were allowed to go up.
"Good, John, we have her." Said Sherlock excited. "I can't deny I'm a bit disappointed though. Thought she would be harder to get, but I guess not even she anticipated the fact that I would come straight here instead of listening to the Baron."
"Wait. I thought we were going to see the Baron."
"Unnecessary, since I already know what he wants and who stole his diamond. And since he asked me not to call the police, I couldn't take the chance of her running away. He'll be much more please when I show up already with his diamond in hand."