Who Are You?
Chapter 3:
Sherlock, Stephenie and john all sat in silence. John was trying to get his head around the offer that Stephenie had just laid out. Sherlock was currently studying his female guest, trying to work out if she was telling the truth. Why would one of Moriarty's own, specially chosen, henchmen (or women), offer to help bring down the very organisation for which they worked? Unfortunately for him, as much as he sat there, scrutinising her face and body language he could gather no new data, other than what she had already provided.
"Why?" He asks her, his deep voice echoing around the quiet room.
"Why what? Why do I want to bring down a criminal organisation that I was forced to work for? Why do I want to bring down an organisation that goes against everything I believe in? Hmm, I wonder." Stephenie looks at Sherlock, unadulterated anger flashing behind her previously clear irises.
He sits up straighter, fixing her with a smile which John recognises as his 'I've caught you' look. Stephenie smirks at him and mirrors his position from her chair opposite.
"Go on then." She says simply, her smile not faltering. Much unlike Sherlock's, who now wore a slightly confused and outdone expression.
"Go on what?" he asks, masking his confusion and putting his blank façade back on.
"Tell me how you think you've caught me out"
This simple statement has John and Sherlock glancing at each other, earning another smile from Stephenie. John had hoped that mind reading was merely a Holmes trait. "Apparently not" he thinks. Sherlock looks back to Stephenie, sits back in his chair, legs stretched out in front of him with his hands steepled under his chin, and begins his deduction.
"You said you and your husband started a company selling weapons to Armies. You have also mentioned that you were in the army. This shows that you have no problem with the violence of war, the death of innocents and the general chaos that extreme fighting creates. However, you say you begged your husband to stop his business and you are now saying that Moriarty's organisation goes against everything you believe in. These statements contradict each other, which must mean you are lying. Therefore I have, as you put it, 'caught you out'." He stops talking, rests his arms on the arm rests of his chair and gives Stephenie a smug smile. However, instead of the usual panicked expression that normal people wear when he catches them lying, he sees only an amused glint in her eyes.
"Well done Mr Holmes. You got almost everything. But then there is always something that you miss, isn't there?" She smiles sweetly, which is rewarded with a sharp scowl from the Consulting Detective.
"You are correct in saying about my selling weapons and not minding the chaos of war. However, I was not in the army to fight as such. I was a dog handler and trainer. I taught our countries Military Working Dogs to find bombs and other explosives that would have otherwise killed hundreds. And yes, I sold weapons. However, they were not lethal. My company made weapons that armies and police forces could use to distract and disorientate civilians, preventing them from doing further harm. I do not condone fighting. In fact I despise it, unless it is for a reason, for example; against terrorism. What Moriarty set up was a company of playthings. He saw life as a game of chess. The Earth was his board and every living person was merely a chess piece waiting to be played with. This country owes you a great deal, Mr Holmes, for eradicating the threat of Jim Moriarty. However, his soldiers will strive to continue his apparent legacy and I cannot allow that to happen."
She stopped talking and sat in the chair looking deflated. John wonders how long she had been holding that little rant in, as she actually looks relieved to have got it off her chest.
"What I don't understand Ms…" Sherlock trailed off, waiting for the woman in front of him to provide her surname. When she doesn't, he clears his throat and tries again, "What I don't understand is this: if you are as powerful as you say then why can you not bring the organisation down on your own? Why can you not use one of those many contacts you have? And what I really want to know, is how do you know who I am and why are you here asking me for help?"
Stephenie sits forward, her face void of all emotion, but when she talks John notices a slight quiver. Not much, but it's there.
"I am here, Mr Holmes, because I need your help. It was my job to be up to date with any and all threats to Moriarty and his work. Your name kept popping up. A lot. However, Jim would always be there when it did, as if he was expecting it. He would make sure that none of us knew who you were or where you lived. If your name came up on our personal internet history, he would make us disappear. He always kept you to himself. Guess that was his downfall. Rule number one of any combat situation is to never underestimate your opponent. He underestimated you Mr Holmes. And that is why he is now dead." She looks up at the ceiling, as if trying to hold back tears.
"How long would you say Moriarty has been one for Mr Holmes?" She paused slightly, looking at Sherlock, but continued talking before he could open his mouth, "I'll tell you: 6 months, 23 days and 17 hours. I know this because I was there. He didn't know I was there, but I was. I watched him die and I didn't feel anything. He did that to me. Beat any and all emotion from me. As soon as I left, I put a plan of action into place to bring down the rest of his people. I got into touch with my contacts. I tried every single one. But it was too late. He had gotten to them. All of them. It didn't matter which country I went to, or how far underground I went. Hell, even those contacts I thought untouchable, in Governments and Monarchies, had his name written all over them. I have spent the last 6 months, nearly 7, working my arse off to finish him, all while trying to stay off the radar of his employees. I can't do it alone Mr Holmes. I need your contacts. I need your skills. I need your brain and your brilliance. But most of all, Mr Holmes, I need you."
A/N:
Hey guys, just wanted to say thank you to all those of you that have added me to your favourite stories lists and notification alerts! MAkes me smile lots :D Haha.
This chapter is a bit longer than the others and the next one is even longer. Hopefully they will still be good, let me know what you think!