John woke and found a man looming over him. He was roughly helped up to his feet. His hands were still bond from when Sherlock had put them on. A man stood in front of him wearing a suit. When he spoke, he had a heavy accent, "Well, Dr Watson. I'm glad you accepted my invitation. There has been some news that has reached me that your companion is no longer with us. I find that hard to believe, so I brought you here so that you can tell me where your friend is hiding."
John shook his head, "Sherlock is dead, I saw him fall."
The man looked down at the floor and wiped the edges of his mouth, "I think you know more than you're letting on. You've met my acquaintance, Moriarty, no?" Well I taught him everything he knew. Your friend, I understand was the reason he is dead. And what is a teacher if they do not have a student? I find your friend, Sherlock, a great student. So imagine my anger when I heard he had committed suicide."
John shifted in his seat. He needed to find a way of escape.
The man continued, "Now when an owner has a dog and the owner dies, the only right thing to do is to put it down."
Some men pulled out their guns and dug them into John's sides. Another man lowered a crane hook and put John's bounded hands on it. John dangled just above ground level. His breathing quickened and he tried to lift up so he could yell, but his dislocated shoulder didn't enable him too.
"Now doctor, all I need to know is if Sherlock is really dead. If I think you're lying then I will kill you slowly. If he is truly dead then I will put you out of your misery." John opened his mouth, but he couldn't form any words. He was only able to gasp breaths of air. "Lower him. He won't be of any use to me if he's dead." John was lowered to the ground and was breathless for a moment.
"Is Sherlock dead or alive, doctor." the man was getting impatient and the crane lifted him back in the air, higher than before. John felt his spine ache and his arms burn. John saw a flicker of light appeared and it seemed to be moving towards them. John heard a man's scream and he tried to catch a glimpse of what was going on below him. He saw a man in a blaze of fire. The other man looked around searching for the source. John, using all of the rest of his strength, kicked the gun out of the man's hand into the darkness. The man in the suit watched the spectacle with a glimmer of amusement.
The crane dropped suddenly and he fell to the ground groaning. He struggled to his feet and a hand reached out and helped him up. He found himself staring into Sherlock's eyes. When John was to his feet Sherlock turned to face the man in the suit who was still smiling.
"Well, you were looking for me. I'm here now. You didn't have to involve John in this."
"Yes I did. How else was I to get your attention."
"You killed that man in Brixton."said Sherlock.
The man gave a grin, "I don't like to get my hands dirty. Moriarty who you've met might consider himself the consulting criminal. However I am the crime lord. There are many more consulting criminals around the world as we speak under my command. You pride yourself as being the great consulting detective, but your just a boy scout. I'm sure you heard my conversation with the doctor. I'll be in touch, Mr Holmes."
He gave a wave and walked out. The other men had disappeared with the man in the dark. Sherlock watched them leave and when he was sure they were gone, he turned back to Watson. He pulled out the key to the cuffs and unlocked them. John groaned and he rotated his arm until his shoulder went back in place and John let out a sigh.
"Are you alright?" asked Sherlock looking John over. John confirmed that he was fine and Sherlock calmed down.
"What just happened, Sherlock?" asked John. Sherlock didn't answer. "Are you going back into hiding?"
"No, I think it's time I come back." Sherlock said with a smile. John smiled and they both began to laugh, but John's was cut short by a coughing fit. Sherlock helped John outside of the old car shop. John looked around.
"Where are we?" he asked.
Sherlock signaled for a cab, "Brixton, near the man's house who was murdered.