AN: Okay firstly I am so so so so sorry it has taken me so long to get back here and update. Life has been pretty crazy lately with me getting a new job, and still having a second job to that, and other stuff that I've hardly had a chance to touch my computer... and even when I have the time, I find myself with horrific writer's block, even though I already know what I want to happen. But I got there in the end, and I've even made it a fairly long one for you, with an extra helping of Sherlolly (because looking back I've been neglecting them a bit much for a Sherlolly story). So without further ado...
"So, Kaitlin. What do you want to be when you grow up?" Mary asked, as she put down dinner in front of Kaitlin and sat opposite at the tiny table with hers.
"An actress." Kaitlin replied, smiling brightly at Mary for a second, before tucking into her spaghetti. Either her parents or Moriarty had at least taught her some manners, as she waited until she had swallowed before continuing. "I'm in my drama class at school, and Miss Young says I'm really good and if I keep working hard I'll get the lead role in our school play at the end of the year."
"And I'm sure you will. What play are you doing?" Mary encouraged her.
"Snow White and the seven dwarfs, with the songs and everything!"
"Cool. So you like musicals do you? And looove stories." Mary grinned.
"Ew, no! I mean… maybe sometimes, but I like action films best, and superheroes. When I get older I want to play one of those really awesome girl heroes, like Cat woman, or Black Widow or maybe Lara Croft, or someone like that. And I'll do all my own stunts."
Mary nodded, understanding the attraction. It reminded her of when she was younger, only she didn't want to play those heroes in a film, she wanted to be like them in real life. It hadn't worked out quite how she imagined. She refocused back on Kaitlin, an idea creeping into her head.
"Yeah, I like those films too. Have you done anything like that in your drama club? Like, fake punches and stuff?"
Kaitlin shook her head, her mouth full of spaghetti that she quickly swallowed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Not yet, but we are going to do it next term. I'm so excited."
Mary fought the grin sliding across her face. It was better than she could have hoped.
"I know a few tricks myself. I could help you get ahead, if you like?"
"I don't throw this word around lightly, John, but your wife is a genius." Sherlock's smile was nearly as bright as the Kaitlin's was, as he and John watched the scene play out from John's laptop.
"I don't get it. I mean, I get that she can pretend to hit her, but how does that help us?" John asked in confusion.
"Pictorial evidence, John! If we can get a few good screenshots, it'll be perfect to convince Moriarty if he tries to call our bluff." Sherlock pulled the laptop towards him, setting it up ready to take screenshots, just as his phone dinged from his coat pocket on the back of the sofa. John waited 10 seconds to see if Sherlock would actually get it himself for once, but as usual he remained focused on the task at hand.
"Aren't you going to get that?" He prompted.
"It's Molly, letting me know she's leaving the hospital. Dammit, just as things were getting interesting." A few last keystrokes and he stood up, scooping up his coat and donning it without bothering to check his phone still. "You'll have to get the screenshots, I've already set up the software, just click that big red button and it'll appear in the folder in your pictures labelled 'Operation K'. Best take a few to be sure we get a good one, then email me the results. Okay?"
"Yes, I think I can manage to operate my own computer, thank you." John retorted snarkily, rearranging the laptop back in front of him on the desk, before a thought occurred and he turned back to Sherlock.
"Wait, how are you even going to send these out to Moriarty? It's not like you've got his number or email address. Do you?"
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Kaitlin has been missing for an hour and a half now. I imagine it won't be long now before he gets in touch, do you?"
"Oh, right." John agreed, looking back at the screen to see the girls finishing their dinner and Mary taking their plates over to the sink. It wouldn't be long until the lesson started. "I'll… get on this then. Cya round."
Sherlock didn't need to reply, letting himself out and walking the short distance to Baker Street. Even though Molly had left first, it was a longer journey and the traffic this time of day was atrocious, so Sherlock got home first. He wasted no time, dashing about getting the things ready for Molly's return, fighting the urge to check his phone every few minutes for the email. He would hear it when he came. Before that though, came the jingling of Molly's keys in the door. She dragged her feet into the kitchen and all but collapsed into Sherlock's arms.
"Urg… so tired." She groaned against his chest.
"Bad day?" Sherlock enquired, wrapping his arms around her in return, and internally cursing that his phone would choose that moment to ding with an incoming email. Molly didn't even blink at the sound, but Sherlock had to fight the itch to pull it out and look.
"Not bad necessarily, just long. I ache all over and I reek of formaldehyde… all I want is a nice long soak in a hot bath." Molly sighed
Sherlock smirked. "Good thing I ran one ready then."
"You did?" Molly gasped, seeming to regain her energy as she half jogged to the bathroom and peered in, before letting out another delighted gasp. "With candles and everything!" Her lips quirked up in a mischievous smile. "Will you be joining me?"
"Mmm, tempting,"
The mischievous smile dulled, but didn't disappear entirely. "You still have casework to do?"
"Unfortunately so… it can wait if you really want-" he followed her at a slower pace and rested his hands on her hips.
"No no, that's fine. To be honest I don't think I have the energy right now for anything but laying back and relaxing in the water until my fingers prune."
"Maybe later then." He winked, making her giggle as she slipped out of his hands in into the steamy bathroom. He hesitated only a second, smiling fondly after her, before hurrying back to his armchair, grabbing his laptop off the desk on the way, and opening into examine the email and its contents.
It was better than he expected, a nice assortment of slaps, punches and hair-pulling, all superbly acted by Mary and the unsuspecting Kaitlin. There was even a picture taken on Mary's phone and sent to John, of Kaitlin done up with face paint and make up to look bruised and bleeding, pulling the most heart-wrenchingly sad face she could muster. Of course with the fairly high resolution of the camera phone the fact is was make-up was obvious to Sherlock's trained eye, as it would be to Moriarty's. But with a little computer editing to make it grainier like those from the surveillance cameras, it could definitely work.
"Genius." He muttered again, sending a quick text off to John and Mary congratulating them for their good work before getting to work on the editing. He had finished with 5 minutes to spare, when his phone started buzzing in earnest, the number blocked. His lips twitched. As if that would stop him? With a press of a button the real number was displayed on screen; an app that he had programmed himself for such an occasion. Of course it would be no good to trace Moriarty, he'd have the phone destroyed once he knew Sherlock had the number, but it would serve his purpose for now. He memorized the number, and accepted the call.
"Hello, Jim."
PS/AN: I know, horrible cliffhanger, I'm sorry. I'll try not to leave it too long before updating this time though. :) Please please let me know what you think, or if you're even still there, in the comments, they really do help me write quicker, honestly.