That night John and William walked into the 'Starz Gazers' side-by-side. Little did John know that they were being watched, not only by Mycroft's men, but by a few men Moran had convinced to work for him. They seated themselves at an empty booth and began scanning the room; John looking for Darla, William making sure Moran's men was in place.
Moran had three men watching them that night. One was a homeless man named Nathan, his wife had left him and took the kids, and less than a week later he lost his job. He was lucky enough to have a friend to let him crash on their couch, but that was over 2 months ago, his friend, feeling like they had been taken advantage of, informed him that he had to get a job within 2 weeks or he was kicking him out. Moran found him in his desperate and paid him to do his dirty work. Nathan didn't mind, as long as he got him money, he would be willing to do anything.
The second man was named Gordon; he was a drug addict who ran out of money. Gordon was a University student who dropped out because he needed the money to buy drugs. Once his mother found out she kicked him out, Gordon bought a run-down apartment about a block from the 'Starz Gazers', his plan was to have one last night out, spend all his money, then commit suicide. That just happened to be the Moran found him and gave him a job.
The last man wasn't a man, her name was Lucy, she was in her mid-thirties and living with her boyfriend. About three weeks ago her boyfriend left her when she told him she was pregnant. Two weeks ago she got an abortion to try and get him back. And one week ago he turned her down and that's when she found Moran. Lucy had wanted to keep the baby, but with a low paying job she was unable to pay the rent for the apartment they were living in, she decide that giving up her baby was the only way. Filled with hate for herself and her boyfriend was how Moran found her, drunk and with no other opinions in life she went with Moran who made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Moran agreed to help pay for her apartment, pay her directly and get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, and all she had to do was spy on and a few people and get rid of few now and then.
John took a sip of his beer and looked around for William, who said he was going to get a refill. John looked over and saw William flirting with a brunette, Gotcha! John thought. Even if that was Darla he could still ask William about her by bringing up the fact that William said he already had a girlfriend.
When William came back he was drinking some fruity looking drink, and it was quite obvious this wasn't his first one. John closed his eyes for a seconded and sighed, this was going to be a long night.
John and William talked for a while to make it at least seem like they were two normally mates just going out. "So who was that girl you were talking to earlier? Anyone you know?"
"Who? Oh Tanya, no, just met her when I went for a refill. Nice girl, single, she said she came here with her friends...Who just happened to leave her here on 'accident'-"
"But I thought you already had a girlfriend?"
William looked panicked for second, and then seemed to recompose himself. "Don't about it mate, besides, we weren't really serious about it. I pretty sure she's going to dump me soon anyways. Hell I bet she's been cheating on me this whole time! Always late from work, going out to meet some 'friends' of hers for lunch dates, and this whole 'new schedule' thing. I bet it's just her way of trying to let me down nicely-"
John didn't catch the rest; he was too busy watching the girl who William identified as 'Tanya'. From the time William had talked with her till now all she had done was get a few drinks and head back to a table where some guy was waiting for her. He was too old to be her boyfriend, but none the less, he kept putting his arm around her and whispering in her ear.
"Isn't that the girl you were chatting to at the bar?" Jon said as he pointed to 'Tanya' and the man sitting next to her.
"Who? Oh yeah, that's her, why?"
"Oh, well than sorry mate, looks likes she's already taken!"
"Oh, that's alright I suppose, can't win them all right?"
"Yeah, bit weird though, don't you think? He looks a bit old for her..."
"Maybe she's just into older men."
"Yeah, do ya think-"
"Listen John, it's late, this lead of yours doesn't look like it's going to show up, and besides that I'm not feeling so well, can we go home now?"
John gave a kind, but fake none the less, smile. This was it, if 'Tanya', who John, although it was painfully hard to see past all the people, could make out as Darla, recognized him everything would fail. It was now or never, fight or flight.
"Yeah sure, hey why don't you go outside and call us a cab. I'll be right out, gotta go use the loo!"
William nodded and went outside. Once he was gone John quickly pulled out his notebook he carried with him (a habit Sherlock go him into which he could never break) and scribbled down his cell phone number.
As he stood he looked around one more time to make sure William was outside.
John splashed his face a bit to make him look a bit drunk and walked over to the table where 'Tanya' was with a slight sway.
"Ummmm, excuse me, you Tanya?" John with puzzled expression.
"Huh, uh, yeah I'm Tanya, who are you and what you want?"
"Ummm...My mate...Willy, he told- tol- said he spoke with you? By the b- ba- drinks?"
John had remembered that once when he went out with Greg and the some of the Yard that he was a confused drunk, he couldn't remembered much of that night, tried to reenact what he could remembered.
"Willy? Oh! Yes, William, yeah we spoke, why?"
"Ya see, Willy's not so good with women and well...he told me he gave you his number...but it was his old one, he asked if I could give you this." He said as he handed 'Tanya', although now that John got a closer look it was most definitely Darla, the piece of paper with his number scribbled on it.
"Oh thanks hon, tell Will I'll call him later K?"
"K...Bye." John said as he turned and walked away still swaying.
"Hey John! Where you been! I've been holding this cab for ages trying to tell him it wasn't for a drunk friend!" William said as John came out of the building and spotted him next to the cab. "Sorry William, there was a line."
"Ha! I hear ya! Yick! I can smell the alcohol on you!"
John had to hold back his snicker as he climbed into the cab. "Yeah, there was a bunch of drunks in there doing who-knows-what!"
"Listen, sorry about your lead turning out to be a no-show. What was it again, some girl who worked there?"
"He name was Alice Page, it was a long shoot in the first place, I guess she found out we had our suspensions and 'head for the hills' so to say. Shame really, we were hoping she was in league with Moran and would be willing to give up some information about him...Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait for Lestrade to get back to me about our other guy."
"Other guy?"
"Oh yeah! I forgot! You weren't home when I got the call. I went down to the Yard the other day and Greg Lestrade told me they found one of Moran's men. He's agreed to get some information about Moran and his gang or network. He goes in, gets the info, gives it to us, Moran won't even see it coming!"
"What to do you mean a traitor!?" Moran yelled at a less than pleased William who had snuck out of Baker Street once he thought that everyone was asleep. "I talked with Watson; apparently they got a false lead which led them very closely to a real lead. Some worker at the club called 'Alice Page' I guessing that's a fake name someone was using so maybe they could give the Yard some info about Darla."
"Speaking of which..."
"Yes, I was able to get here the information with Watson getting suspicious. Darla was there with Steve, so he'll be able to rely the information to Marg at America. But later on, on the cab ride home, Watson told me about some progress the DI made in the case. Apparently they got one of our own to double cross us, he said he's gonna give them some info bout us."
Moran was silent and pondered for a moment. Ever since his boss died it seemed like everything was slowly falling out of place. All of his allies in China have stopped contacting him, in fact, all his clients from Asia have stopped coming to him all together.
He had just gotten contact with one of his top smuggler from Africa only to find out all his men from there are either killed or in prison. The smuggler, Ame, had told him their leader was murdered then it seemed a small war had broken out between his African team and all English/American traders.
And Moran didn't even want to think about Germany! He was lucky he still had his Allies from America and two companies from the Mideast.
"William, has Watson given any, and when I say any I mean any, indications that Sherlock Holmes COULD still be alive?"
"Ha! No! If anything he's still depressed about it! This whole 'Flames' business has really taken a toll on him!"
Moran gave a small laugh, "There still going on about that?"
"Yeah, but they're starting to move on, I think their starting to realize that there might be a bigger threat than Flames."
Moran laughed, Flames was nothing more than a pathetic spoiled brat who for once in his life heard the word no. Moran didn't understand how such an idiot couldn't get it through his head that Holmes was dead. What Flames wanted was to do chased down by the best of the best, and he simply couldn't get it through his head that he was gone! No, Flames was done, finished, without Moran's help his business would die.
And that gave Moran an Idea.
"Sophia!"
A young girl somewhere in her mid-twenties came rushing to Moran's side. She was your everyday perfect blonde haired-Blue-eyed-perfect-tan-perfect-body girl. To an ordinary person she looked like someone who slept their way through high school and was going the same at Uni and was doing a good job at it.
But Moran was not ordinary, and what he found was a girl who knew how to manipulate anyone. She was a genius in the making, that is if she could keep her hands to herself long enough.
"Yes sir!"
"Who is the rival company for Flames?"
"That would Mr. Daniels Company, he owns a large string of hotels, 5 which are more famous for their casinos, 4 for their ballrooms, and 10 for their locations."
"Which Hotel franchise is that?"
"Their company is called "The Oasis"."
"Get Mr. Daniels on line 3 tomorrow morning. I have business to discuss with him."
"Yes Sir!" And with the girl left.
"Now you William, do you have any idea who this traitor might be?"
"I'll get Watson to tell me, but I think it might be Gordon. That dirt bag would do anything for money, I would say Bethy, considering the only reason she's here is to get money for her kids. But Watson specially said a guy, so I'd put my money on Gordon."
In a cheap apartment in the most run-down part of London, Gordon lay on his bed in bliss from the cocaine that was just given to him as a 'gift' from his boss. Gordon had already had two run-ins when he was high and was luck he got out. He couldn't risk a three time or he was sure Moran would stop supplying him. No. that couldn't happen. Not again.
Gordon missed his mother. Missed her laugh, her soup, her house. And when it was he hit those thoughts that he knew he was coming down from his high. Gordon sighed and got up; he would wait a little while longer this time before he shot up again. Moran gave him enough to last the month, he would make sure this one lasted and not waste it all like last time; he made a stupid mistake and nearly overdosed.
The one thing Gordon did like about his crappy, little apartment was that it came with a small balcony which at night received a small breeze which was quite refreshing.
As Gordon walked out onto the balcony he took a deep breath of the night air. He looked up and saw the stars twinkling in the sky; it made his think of the songs his mother use to sing to him when he was a child.
Maybe this was a mistake.
Maybe he should get clean.
Maybe he should go home.
But was too late for maybe, because little did Gordon know that upon his chest a red dot dance across is heart.
Blackness soon overcame him.