Sherlock Story
Forgotten Memories, Chapter 84
A disclaimer: Sherlock belongs to BBC along with the talented writers and amazing Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. No money was made. The story, however, is my original thought and comes out of my overactive imagination. Other characters introduced are also mine.
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*****.***Warning this chapter M just in case, Violence. ****. ****
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…. The Game…
"The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run."Gordon B. Hinckley
"John, no matter what he does to me. Be quiet and do not interfere."
"Like that's going to happen Sherlock. That animal means for an excuse to get you alone. You think that I, that we are just going to stand here?" John hissed humorlessly.
"You have to John," Sherlock said as he watched the group advance warily. "A life depends on it. Maybe several."
"Who," John asked.
"My other rook," Sherlock chanced a quick look at John. "Your sister was not the only one taken tonight, John."
They stared briefly into each others eyes. Sherlock saw the slight widening of John's eyes and the slight parting of his mouth. He knew the moment that understanding came to him. John gave the slightest nod as he glared angrily ahead again.
Thomas remained quiet and still as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He was careful to keep his head and body still as his eyes looked around taking in every threat and possible route of escape. His eyes now returned to the figures in front of them as they emerged from the shadows to enter the dim light.
His hollow predatory eyes were the first to be seen.
"Mr. Holmes," The voice as smooth as silk floated from in front of him. "Still standing I see," an evil snicker sounded loudly in the dim night air, as glowing eyes looked the Consultant Detective up and down. "Barely standing that is."
Holmes said nothing. John glanced at Holmes and noticed that his face was blank. His body was still shaking slightly, but his fine tremors had improved.
"Shouldn't you be running along to a hospital Doctor Watson, I won't try to stop you." Sebastian Moran looked at Thomas. Thomas glared at the man as his balled fist stood by his side. "And, take that unpleasant looking chap with you."
John said nothing but moved closer to Sherlock. Thomas did the same.
Thomas' eyes pierced into the criminal's eyes. A hint of a frown crossed Sebastian's face before he immediately schooled his features. Moran moved his eyes back to Sherlock.
Sebastian, along with four men who appeared to be of Asian descent, surrounded the men. Two additional large men who appeared as if they ate children for dinner hung back in the shadows.
"Mr. Holmes, I need for you to come with me. I am told that you have a choice. Don't worry. I'll return him to you. Alive." Moran said to John. Moran started to smile strangely, as he looked into Sherlock's eyes. Sherlock looked back expressionlessly. Only John noticed the faint, slight twitch that was on the corner of his mouth.
"I want him alive, and the combination for the box with the antidote if I go with you." Sherlock said to Moran. He ignored John's confused look.
"Mr. Holmes goes nowhere without me." Thomas spoke for the first time. His voice was calm, but his hands move loosely to his side and his body tensed.
John said nothing but prepared to reach for his gun.
They both moved even closer to Holmes.
Moran's men moved closer and the two men in the shadows stepped out. Moran held up his hand. His men stopped moving. Moran looked annoyed. His eyes blazed with irritation. "At the end of this little… entertainment, you will be given the opportunity to get the combination." Moran grinned before adding.
"How much is the other rook worth to you, Mr. Holmes?"
"What do I do?" Sherlock asked all business, he did not hesitate.
Moran held up one finger and motioned with it for Sherlock to come close. Sherlock felt John stiffen and glanced at John and Thomas. John exhaled and frowned as he remembered Sherlock's earlier warnings so did not move.
Sherlock walked with slightly off balanced but consistent steps. He stopped just outside of Moran's reach. He said. "This… game is between Moriarty and me. They stay out of it."
Moran was pleased that Sherlock had said Moriarty and not Jim. This was Sherlock's plan.
Sebastian seemed to enjoy the attention. "They can leave now, I will not stop them." Moran hesitated for drama, "But, if they stay any longer, they become part of the game."
Sherlock did not bother to look back. He knew what they would do. He wanted to stall a few more minutes and make Sebastian feel more in control. He knew the next few hours would be unpleasant, but they would be worse if Sebastian knew what he actually wanted to say to him.
Moran looked irritated again. Both men not only did not leave, but instead, stepped closer. Moran looked at them both as he nodded to his men. One of his men moved in front of John, Thomas, and Sherlock to search them for weapons.
Sherlock frowned. This meant that Sebastian thought that they would be tempted to use the weapons early.
As one of Moran's men searched Holmes, Moran came up to him and dismissed him. "This one is clever. I'll search him myself." Moran took over the searching of Sherlock. He reached a hand behind and pulled the gun out of his waistband. "I'll be taking this," he said cheerfully. "You'll get it back later." His hands continued to pat Holmes down slowly. Holmes kept his face blank. Moran threw a kiss to John. John to his credit did not make a sound. The Doctor distracted himself by imagining his hands around the criminal's neck.
"I have no more weapons." Sherlock said evenly.
"Just making sure," Moran said as he finally stepped back.
"Sir," one of the men said nervously as he listened to someone speaking on his headset.
Moran immediately sombered and nodded so that the three men could be blindfolded and hurriedly put into a car.
John and Thomas looked at each other and then focused their attention on Sherlock. The last thing that John saw before the blindfold was put on his eyes, shutting the dimly lit area out, was a blindfolded Sherlock, yards away. He was being led away roughly by Moran.
John tried not to think of the fact that without their weapons, they were completely at the mercy of a mad man's shadow.
The skinny man looked out of his car window as he observed an older woman leave the building.
"Remember your instructions. When you are finished, leave a note on the body and call 999. He doesn't want her dead yet but have fun." he disconnected the phone call. She walked slowly as if her hip was giving her trouble. Her back was to the alley as she picked up the rubbish bag to lift it to her chest level, so that she could throw it in the bin.
"Need some help?" A young voice behind her asked. She never had a chance to turn around. Her back was still turned to the men as they came out of the shadows. A startled gasp seemed to echo off the brick walls as they stepped from the darkness into the dim. They quickly retreated with her, as she was pulled back into the darkness of the shadows.
He listened for Sherlock. John was tempted to try to use his shoulder to shift the blindfold from his eyes. He was not sure if this was one of those. Do not talk or I will shoot you moments, but he had to be sure that Sherlock was not alone with Moran.
"I'm here John, and so is Thomas." Sherlock's whispered voice said from behind him. John exhaled noisily. He said nothing in return. Sherlock's voice appeared perfectly calm. John, however, noticed something that no one else would be able to detect, something that perhaps even the Consultant Detective was not ready to admit to himself, Sherlock was stressed. It was the slightest hesitation in his voice, but it was enough.
John sat back and laid his head against the seat of the motorcar. He felt his body shift from left to right as the vehicle changed directions. He closed his eyes behind the blindfolds as he thought. In any other situation, the gentle motion would have been soothing, but not today. The automobile gently bumped and rocked while driving to an unknown location.
Moriarty glanced at his watch. He pushed in numbers and codes and hit send. A grainy image came on the screen of a computer. He would watch only this time. Probably, he was changeable.
The image became clear now. Moriarty took up his fresh tea and crossed his legs as he sat back to enjoy the game.
Moriarty thought. He picked up his mobile and pushed a button as he spoke. He leaned toward the table to reach for his tea. His mobile phone line was answered on the first ring. Someone in his employ let it ring twice, once. Moriarty was not happy. When the rest of the staff found out what had happened to the staff, they were determined not to make the same mistake.
"Yes. I want some popcorn." Moriarty thought further, "Oh… and those teeny- tiny little sandwiches with the cucumbers. Yum." Moriarty's voice sang.
His voice suddenly dropped all traces of amusement. "I suggest that you hurry." Moriarty disconnected before the staff on the other line answered. He knew that they would do as asked.
He looked down as he blew his breath on the hot tea. He took another sip of the slightly pungent brew. Moriarty glanced up. There was movement on the television screen now. He had the staff transfer the signal from his computer to his flat screen television. He looked at the television as his smile widened. He was not bored, and that was all that mattered. He took another sip as three staff walked briskly in with a small table. They quickly went about as they decorated the table and put the food on it. They were careful not to move in front of his field of vision. They were done and gone within minutes. Moriarty turned up the volume as his strong fingers reached for a sandwich.
Moriarty smiled.
He sighed contently. Everything was so much more entertaining when viewed on a large screen television.