SEVEN: Nicolas Colt (Alexandria)

"You spent all day with Sherlock Holmes?" John inquired over dinner that night. We were having dinner at a very nice Thai place a little out of our way. Near my mothers house, actually. I told John that we had to drop in on her later. She had to meet my boyfriend at some point.

"Yes." I said exasperatedly, "It was like he was following me. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he was here."

"Is your sanity gone?"

"No, not quite. It's going to take much more then that."

"What would it take."

'"Like I'm going to tell you." I laughed.

"You don't trust me?" he smirked playfully.

"Of course I trust you." I smiled.

"Did you get a job, though?" John asked.

"Yes, I did. At a cute little bookshop."

"I'll have to visit some time."

"You will. We'll have tea and read a book. A very relaxing afternoon, if you ask me."

"Indeed. What about a relaxing evening?"

"Dinner and a movie." I stated, "What about you?"

"Dinner, my girlfriend's mother, and a movie."

"What a coincidence!" I exclaimed, "We're doing that tonight."

"Perfect." John gasped jokingly, "It's like we planned it before hand." I laughed.

Our flirting was relentless. Sometimes I thought back and thought, "What the hell was I thinking?" and other times... not. Sherlock and I's flirting was a little more subtle. Not all that noticeable to even us. I noticed, but I pretended to not. John and I flirted like crazy. All the time. Sometimes I wondered if there was ever going to be any more to this relationship.

"Alex?" I heard a familiar voice, but I didn't respond. I had forgotten, foolishly, that my cousin, Nicolas, worked here. I knew the name came too easily. He's only eighteen, but he's a doll. I love him to death. He was like my little brother, and he was at my side, helping me along for a while after my dad died.

As John and I smiled at each other, I lifted my hand and played with my earring. That was my sign to Nicolas, who was standing just a few feet away, that I was Crystal Greene tonight. Nicolas moved away and talked to one of his friends who worked here as well. Alexander. Everyone called him Xander, but he had to get used to Nicolas calling him Alex. For my sake.

"Crystal?" I heard him say next, and he moved closer.

"Nicky!' I exclaimed and turned to look at the short, blond, curly haired boy standing at our table. I moved a little so I could hug him and he hugged back. John looked a bit confused, "John, this is my cousin, Nicky."

"You must be Crystal's boyfriend." Nicky stated and held his hand out to him. John took it, smiling.

"Yes, I am. I'm John Watson."

"Don't hurt her, alright?" Nicky gripped John's hand tighter.

"I won't. I promise."

"That's what they all say." Nicky's eyes narrowed.

"Even if I grow tired of her, or get angry with her, I will not break up with her." My eyes widened, and I sat back, smiling, enjoying this a bit too much.

"Why?"

"I like her far too much. Besides, she seems like the type that is we got angry with each other, she'd be the one to break it off."

"She broke up with her last boyfriend because he cheated on her. Are you going to cheat on her?"

"No. Why would I?"

"Don't pressure her into sex. She doesn't roll like that."

"I'd never do that." John insisted.

"Good." then, Nicky turned to me, "If he breaks your heart, call me. I'll do my job." he winked.

"I don't think you'll have to." I grinned, "You'd better get back to work, kid."

"Yes I do..." he looked behind him, "Alright. I love you. See you later." he hugged me one last time before getting back to work.

"Nicolas seems like a very good kid."

"Oh, he is. Straight A's in school, and has six schools from all around begging him to go there."

"You two seem close."

"He's like my brother. I don't have a brother, and when dad died, he stepped in and he's loved me like a sister since then. We talk every Saturday night, with out fail."

"It's good that you have a sibling you're close to. I didn't."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"Harry and I have never gotten along, and I doubt we ever will. She's a heavy drinker."

"That's horrible."

"It's fine. What about your sister? Are you close to her?"

"Maria and I... we got along well but my boyfriend cheated on my with her. I haven't talked with her since I was in the hospital., and even then we didn't talk too much."

"That... is not a good role model right there."

"That's what I said." I sighed, "I know I have to forgive her, but I'm just not ready."

"You don't have to forgive her, you kn-"

"You know, I don't want to talk about this."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Uh..." I thought for a minute, "What are you and Sherlock up to lately?"

"Nothing much, really. A few cases which he solves upon reading what they've given us. Nothing major."

"Nothing major? That's too bad. I hope something come up soon." I said, trying to sound as sorry as I could.

Something deep inside was happy that there was nothing. That meant I wasn't missing anything. If I missed something, I think I would be very upset, but I'm not worrying about that now. I was just being a little selfish inside. There were no cases. That was... good, I guess.

Even while we were heading to my mom's, It was hard to get the fact that there were no cases to work on. It must be so boring. Sherlock finished his today, which means he has to sit around for even longer to find one.

"Where are you two going?" I heard his voice and stopped. I turned around and glared at him.

"Are you serious?" I exclaimed, surprising John, "Is it your goal or something to drive me crazy today? It's worked, so you can go. I'm done with you today."

"Of course you aren't. It's only just the beginning."

"I have a question, John." I turned around, took John's arm, and started walking. Sherlock followed.

"What is your question?"

"Why is Sherlock so intent on stalking his neighbor. He hasn't left me alone all day."

"Because it's fun and I am bored." Sherlock chimed in, "Now it's the only way I can entertain myself while there's nothing to do."

"I guess we're all going to meet my mother." I commented.

"That's how it works."

"You must be John." my mother hugged my boyfriend as we stepped into her flat. She ignored the fact that Sherlock existed for a good six and a half minutes while she fawned over John, complimenting him on everything. My mother obviously liked him. I took that as a good sign.

"And who is this?" she asked me, finally acknowledging Sherlock's existence.

"Sherlock Holmes." he introduced himself.

"A friend of mine. He insisted on tagging along." John said.

"Oh. Nice to meet you." Mom and Sherlock shook hands only briefly, and I could tell Mom didn't like him very much. I took that as a good sign.

"So, Mom, how have you been?" I asked, taking my mothers arm and leading us into her living room.

"I've been good. It's very slow around here."

"You should get out more." I said in a well-meaning way, "How is Maria?"

"Maria is... I can't say. She's been upset lately."

"Well, I think I'll leave her that way before I talk to her again."

"Why?"

"Well, she went behind my back and..." I trailed off, looking at John who sat in the armchair across from the couch my mother and I were sitting on, "I don't want to talk about this now."

"So," my mother turned on John suddenly, "What do you do for a living?"

"I help a consulting detective work on his cases."

"Oh. Who would the consulting detective be?"

"Sherlock." John and I chorused.

"Sherlock and I live in the flat next to Crystal." John continued.

"Oh, really? Is that how you met?"

"No, actually." John said, smiling at me.

"Do you remember when I worked at that museum?" I asked.

"Of course." Mom said.

"Well, Sherlock and John were working on a case related to the museum, and they asked for my help. Since I know a lot of languages, Sherlock asked for my help. John and I talked a little and we hit it off, really." I smiled in his direction, then at Sherlock. He read my sarcastic gaze. I left out the part where I left him speechless. "Then," I continued, "I got the flat next to theirs, not knowing they lived there. One think led to another and we started going out."

"That's pretty much it." John said, our eyes met. It was obvious we wanted to keep Sherlock out of our relationship as much as we possibly could, even though he technically was the one who brought us together.

"Oh, how cute." My mother cried.

"Mom." I glared at her.

"I need to get a picture of you two together," she smiled at John, "I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not." John said.

Mom got up and left the room to get her camera and John and I finally noticed the bored look on Sherlock's face. He was leaning back, his eyes wandering the room. John and I sighed simultaneously. "You didn't have to come, Sherlock." John states, "We were doing just fine on our own."

"I was bored." Sherlock sighed.

"Look at where your boredom has got you." I said, smirking.

"I'm bored."

"You could photo-bomb us, but I doubt that it would be fun for long."

"Oh, please, I'm not that desperate."

"You could just leave." I stated, "I would like time with just my boyfriend and mother."

For some reason, it was very satisfying to call John my boyfriend. As I looked at him now, very happy, I started to dread how I would break to him that I was actually Detective Alex. How long could I keep this up? I liked John. I liked him a lot. I couldn't bear hurting him, but I had no choice. When I told the two consulting detectives who I was, John was never going to forgive me.

"What if I don't want to go."

"I can make you go. Do you remember who I'm friends with?" I glared at Sherlock.

"I'm going to stay." Sherlock gave me a pointed look as my mom came back in the room.

I stood up and moved to sit on the arm of John's chair. I sat on the arm, but John pulled me backwards, and I ended up sitting in his lap. When I look at my pictures from when I was twenty five, I'm going to think about how I probably slept around a bit. Well, on the other hand, I was laughing, and so was John. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked at my mother, ready for the picture. I think she took five, actually.

"Oh, you two are so cute." Mom gushed, "I got twenty seven pictures in about thirty five seconds." She squealed and switched the mode of her camera to look at them.

I looked over at Sherlock and stuck out my tongue before turning back to John. John and I grinned at each other and then I whispered something in his ear. John gave me a questioning look.

"Look," I whispered, "It's at least fun for us and he'll leave promptly afterward."

"I still feel a bit bad." John rasped.

"He'll leave us be so we can widen the topics of conversation."

"Good point."

"And mom will be less uncomfortable." I gestured towards Mom who kept looking nervously at Sherlock.

"Alright. It could be worse."

I stood up and moved to sit next to my mother. Then, I got an "idea." I turned to Sherlock. "Would you come help me get some wine, Sherlock?"

He seemed shocked that I would ask him and not my boyfriend. "Why me?"

"I just need your help, come on."

So, we went into the kitchen and I pointed to the shelf with wine on it. I wanted those two bottles at the very top. Sherlock looked at me like I was insane and I just shrugged. So, he reached up, aiming his hands at the wine. Slowly, as he fumbled around, I reached slowly, oh so slowly into his coat pocket and pulled out his mobile phone. I grinned as I slipped it into my inside jacket pocket.

"Sherlock, you know what," I took two bottles off the bottom shelf, "This is just fine."

Sherlock glared at me as I ventured into the other room. I looked back at him and stuck out my tongue teasingly. He followed me back into the living room. I handed the wine to mom, then went to sit on John again. Then, as according to plan, he kissed me. I heard my mother gasp as John's arms wrapped all the way around my waist. He reached into the inside pocket of my jacket at got a hold of Sherlock's phone. I grinned against his lips, and a moment later, we pulled apart, laughing. John slipped Sherlock's phone into his pocket.

Then, John announced his need to use the bathroom and I showed him the way. When we were near the door, John kissed me once more. Then, we changed our names under his contacts to "Unknown".

"How do we slip it back in his pocket?" John asked.

"He dropped it in the kitchen." I said, taking the phone from him, "And I'm going to be the epic boss, alright?"

"Go for it."

When I came back into the living room, I was holding four wine glasses, Sherlock's phone and I came from the kitchen. I set the glasses down on the coffee table in the middle of the room and handed the phone to Sherlock.

"You dropped it in the kitchen. I saw it next to the wine rack." I explained.

"Oh, thank you." he looked up at me curiously. Then, John started it. Sherlock raised an eyebrow.

With a straight face, I sat next to my mother, took a sip of wine, and I texted Sherlock Holmes. My phone was in my pocket and so was my hand. "Hello, Sherlock. I assume my associate prepared you for me."

"Of course." he replied.

"You will be given a series of tests that you must finish before tomorrow is finished. Otherwise, someone you care for will die."

"Give me the first test." Sherlock texted. I looked up at him. He looked tense. My mother looked at us, one to another. John came back in the room and sat next to me.

"Here you must go where the next hint is hidden... with out John: What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?"

John looked impressed as he read the text I co-sent him. Luckily, Sherlock wouldn't see that John was in on it, too. Then, Sherlock stood abruptly.

"I'm afraid I have to go. Duty calls." he said, and he let himself out.

"More for us, then." I took his wine and poured half of it in mine, and half of it in John's.

"Goodnight." I said, grinning as I stood outside the flats with John. We had a pleasant night at my mothers house. She really liked him, and as we left, she whispered in my ear, "He's a keeper. Don't frighten him away." I had no intention to frighten him away. I liked him too much.

"Goodnight." John said.

He kissed me. It only took about five seconds for him to get a bit excited and wrap his arms around my waist, his eyes shut. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let myself get lost in the kiss, closing my eyes and letting the sensation overwhelm me.

Suddenly, an ugly presence came into existence. My eyes shot open and I pulled away. John looked shocked. I looked behind me, and a shadow vanished into the alley across the street. It took everything in my power not to chase after the ninja-stalker vanishing into the shadows. Then, Sherlock stepped into the light.

"I'd better go. I have work tomorrow." I said, stepping away from John.

"Of course. You don't want to be late."John smiled, almost knowingly.

We kissed one last time before I moved towards my flat. I looked behind me at Sherlock and sneered in his direction. God, he was annoying. Yet, he was fun. How is that possible? I don't feel like thinking about that. I wanted to get ready for bed.

I ran upstairs to my bedroom and tossed my purse and coat on the chair next to the door. I heard paper crumbling. Oh, yeah... Jordan's letter. I moved back over to the door and lifted the envelope and turned it over. It was sealed with... wax. He never seals it with wax. Usually a My Little Pony sticker or something equally goofy.

Oh... I didn't even see his face. He didn't looked at me, lift his head, or speak.

It wasn't Jordon.

So, if it wasn't Jordon, who was it? I slipped my finger under the flap and pushed the envelope open. I pulled out a piece of trifolded paper, unfolded it, and once I read it, my mouth fell open.

"Dear Alexandria Colt,

I believe by now you will have discovered that it was not your usual messenger who delivered this to you, but one of our own. You can deduce who on your own.

There are thirteen of us in the 미 녀. Or there was. Three of us left, unfortunately. They must die. They will all die, of course, but you don't need to know about this yet.

Do either of the consulting detectives know who you really are? They will soon, I assure you. You'll have no choice but to tell the Great Sherlock Holmes and your boyfriend who you are.

Yes, Alexandria, the 미녀 are back and we know who you are, where you are, and how to get you right where it matters. First, we have taken Jordon. Who knows who will be next.

This is payback, Detective. We have been watching you for a very long time and now we know what to do. Keep your friends close.

We know who you love. Who you hate. Everything. We will use this against you hand you have no way of knowing who will vanish next, and which one of us is doing it. We're all in on it, but we are sworn to secrecy.

You will figure out which one of us is the killer, and the kidnapper. If you take too long figuring it out, people will die. If you bring in the police, John will be the first to die. Kidnapped or not.

Good luck, Detective. You'll need it.

익명~"