NINE
the text
Do you want to help Alana?
If so, respond yes to this text.
I'm being watched.
W
Sherlock frowned.
"What's it say?" John asked.
"It's from someone named W. It says that if I want to help Alana, I should reply yes to the text. He or she says that they're being watched."
"Well, aren't you going to text them?" John asked.
"Why should I? It's probably a trick of some sort." Sherlock replied bitingly.
"Sherlock, a minute ago you were demanding that we find her so you could "experiment" on her!" John said .
"Fine."
He texted Yes to the number.
Despite what he had said to John, his heart was leaping. This girl and her supposed powers could be the most interesting diversion of his life. But he had to keep up his façade so that John wouldn't see. His phone buzzed.
I'm a guard working for M, and I want out. If I get you here secretly, can you get her?
I've got a daughter about her age, and might as well take her with me while I leave, right?
The things Moriarty does to her… I can't go in her cell… but I hear him…
Why does he want her?
W
Sherlock inhaled. This was a very delicate situation. This "W", whoever he was (word phrasing, tone, and the fact that he was a guard increased the possibility that he was male) was playing a dangerous game. It's possible that this was genuine, but either way, it would not do to alert the guard to the exact value of Alana.
Fake? A trick? Real? His sleep-deprived brain was faltering – no. It wasn't. He was fine. He knew what to do.
If you get me in, I'll get her out.
He pressed send.
His choice was made.
Moriarty chuckled. Sherlock was playing right into his hands. He'd calculated how long Sherlock could function without sleep, and Sherlock's mental functions would be deteriorating about now. Once he'd had the calculations, it was easy to use Alana to murder those people so the crime scene looked "impossible" to Sherlock, thereby ensuring a lack of sleep.
He rose, adjusted his jacket, and slipped "W's" phone in his pocket. He'd get one of his most loyal guards to be W, then trap and kill Sherlock.
He couldn't wait.
There was the small matter of Alana, though… leave her to her own devices (Sherlock would be more convinced), or make sure she knew what to do?
The former. It'd be soo fun.
But maybe not. He was changeable, after all.