30 years old

Sherlock opened the door to his one bedroom flat, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He sighed and tossed his keys to the side. He fell against the door and breathed heavily. There was a noise from the bathroom. Curious, but carefully, he picked up the umbrella from the stand and held it out like a weapon. He edged forward.

"Shit, Sherlock!"

"Irene?"

Irene Adler looked over at him, her eyes terrified. She had cropped her hair completely into a short style. But it suited her. In fact it looked better than her previous style. She smiled up at him and tucked her hands into her suit pant pockets.

"Hey," She said. She eyed the umbrella. "Are you going to hit me with that?"

Sherlock looked at the umbrella and put it down against the wall. She grinned at him walking around the room.

"Nice flat. A little boring, but you always wanted freedom."

"What are you doing here Irene?" Sherlock asked.

Irene said nothing staring at the bookshelves. She sighed. "I need your help." She said.

"What if I'm not liable to help?"

"Well, that would be a shame, but the thing is Sherlock, you always help." Irene said.

"What's with the suit?" Sherlock asked.

"Ah, yes." Irene looked down at her appearance. "I'm trying out something new."

"Suits you."

"Like the haircut?"

"Meh."

"Meh?"

"You heard me." Sherlock replied.

Irene smiled and pulled out her phone. "I need money."

"Well, I have none."

"I kinda guessed. Mycroft does though."

Sherlock watched her walk around the room. "Mycroft and I aren't talking."

"Shame."

"Irene, leave."

"Don't want to." Irene said. "Besides I have something for you."

She reached to her necklace and pulled it out from under her top, she unclipped it and handed it to him.

"What is this?" Sherlock asked.

"The jewel from the Sultan of a kingdom at the Mongolian desert." She smiled. "He was a little... well..."

"You stole this from him?"

"Better than been given it." She caught his expression. "Oh come on, I hung out with him a week after I nicked it and he never really noticed."

"Stealing is still stealing," Sherlock said.

"You used to enjoy the buzz it gave you." Irene said.

"What do you want?" Sherlock snapped. "Really?"

"Really?" Irene smiled unhappily and dropped onto the chair. "I'm in real trouble, Sherlock."

He stared at her. "What kind of trouble."

"I mean. I ran into the wrong sorta crowd while in East Peru." She said. "They took me to meet this man. He was an expert criminal in all sorts of ways. He is more like you than you'll ever know."

"Your point?"

"He took me under his wing. I was supposed to deliver money after I conned some old guy. I liked being free. You know me Sherlock. I can't stay anywhere for more than ten days. I got bored and I used the money to leave."

"So?"

"He's after me. I've seen his spies everywhere."

Sherlock sighed. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that." He said. "I don't hide fugitives of criminals masterminds in my home."

"You used to."

"I've changed."

"Yeah. I can see that."

"Irene. Get out."

"At least put me under the protection of one of your cop buddies." Irene said. "I know that you are in with that lot."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Karma." Sherlock said plainly.

"What?"

"You heard me." Sherlock said.

Irene stared at him for a minute, stood up moved to kiss him. But he moved away from her. Tears in her eyes, she ran from his apartment.