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Ok, so we're slowly moving to the main puzzle ;)

*spoilers* About the name change, basically it's just repeating my thoughts while trying to find a name for my OC. I wish it'd have more esoteric sense, but… no can do.

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Thanks for reading!

Chapter 7. The pocket watch

Sherlock suddenly appeared behind them and violently gripped Rita's hand holding the pocket watch. The chain broke and went flying between them like a torn ribbon in the wind. Rita clenched her fist, but said nothing. Holmes was staring at her almost with pure hate, an expression John never saw on him in the fifteen months he knew him.

"Where. Did. YOU. Get. THIS?!" He repeated angrily.

She pulled herself together, gave him a furious glare, freed her wrist and hissed: "Not. Your. Business!"

Watson just started to recover from the shock of seeing his emotionless friend nearly attacking someone with no reason: "What's going on?"

Squeezing the watch against her chest, Rita shouted: "I'm leaving!" and ran away.

"What the bloody hell was that about?!" John articulated while he was losing sight of Rita, then he saw how agitated his friend was. "Are you alright? Sherlock?"

Holmes was even more pale than usual, not paying attention to his surroundings and murmuring to himself with an almost crazy voice: "Might be coincidence… But it's highly unlikely… It can't be, so why is it…"

Alarmed, Watson put his hand on his friend's shoulder in a shy attempt to attract his attention: "Sherlock?" Holmes seemed to emerge from his strange state. He gazed at John, a little bit surprised by the doctor's worried face. John's worried. About me? Oh, right, I didn't tell him…

"I'm alright, alright… Have you seen it? Where did she go?"

"Seen what? And you just scared her away!"

"The watch, the pocket watch, did you have a good look on it? What was it like?"

Perplexed, Watson still tried to remember some details: "It was an old-fashioned watch, maybe a family souvenir, I guess…" Seeing Sherlock's disappointed face, he continued: "The ornament was really pretty, roses and thorns. But why is it troubling you?"

"I'm not troubled. It is THIS watch, I am certain. We need to find this woman."

"Would you mind telling me what's happening?" John felt irritated. Not so many people are able to follow the pace of Holmes' thoughts, and he never expected to be one of those who could pair with the genius. Watson had his own field of expertise.

"Later. Let's find her first!"

They raced in the direction Rita left, looking for her distinctive reddish brown hair. Minutes passed, but there was no sign of her being around. However they stopped only when both of them were out of breath.

"It's no use…" panted John. "She could have got a cab and go anywhere…"

"It's more likely that she's hiding somewhere" Sherlock objected.

"She's not a criminal, you know…"

"Look!" he shouted, pointing to the other side of the main road. Watson followed his gaze and identified Rita's thin silhouette some twenty-five yards further away across the road at the crosswalk. She was staying still, even when the light turned green, pensively examining a small item in the palm of her left hand, most likely the infamous pocket watch.

Sherlock and John briefly looked at each other and were about to head towards the 'runaway' when a black car stopped at the traffic light. Rita came out of her trance and stared at the car door opening. Suddenly what she saw inside the vehicle alarmed her, since she nervously stepped back.

At this moment, they both realized something was wrong. Sherlock rushed through the road, nearly causing an accident, John ran to the crosswalk, but it was too late. An imposing strong-armed man appeared behind Rita and blocked all her escape ways. She glanced at him with fear, then at the car again. The watch slipped from her hand, she shook her head and obediently went into the vehicle. Doors closed a second before Sherlock reached the spot; the car violently drove off despite his impressive yell "Stop this car!" He even attempted to race the engine, but was almost knocked down by another automobile – fortunately Watson pushed him to the sidewalk in time.

"It doesn't look like she met some friends, right?" John said, gasping for breath.

"Definitely." Sherlock hurried back to the crosswalk and examined the ground.

"What are you doing?" Being at the other side of the road, John couldn't possibly see the pocket watch falling down.

"Finding clues." He stood up, triumphantly holding the broken chain and the device hung on it.

Forgetting about passerby's inquisitive glances, Watson came closer so he could have a decent view of the gadget. "Is there something special about it?"

"She dropped it. She wanted us to find it." Sherlock disappeared again in his mind palace.

"Sound observation. By the way, I should call Lestrade; his colleague being abducted…" Seeing that nothing he could say would have an impact, John just took some steps aside in order to make the phone call. Holmes continued mumbling to himself:

"It couldn't be someone else, not with this reaction… Why this name? Rita, Rita, Ri…ta… ri… Tori…"

John ended his call and turned to him: "I warned Lestrade, he's coming here…"

"Victoria."

"What? Who?"

That was obviously a flash of inspiration, not so uncommon for Holmes. "She is Victoria. She grew up. No, it's still conceivable that I'm wrong… John, I need your help."

"Of course. For what?"

"Identification. I'll be going, need to confirm some information, you deal with the police! See you at Baker Street!"

"Wait a…!"

But the Detective already stopped a cab, while two police cars were driving near, blue lights flashing all around.