Author Note: Sorry its been a while since I last updated but I recently had a bereavement in my family and so wasn't really in the mood for writing and to be honest I'm not really in the mood now either but I felt guilty leaving you so long. So I hope you enjoy and please review.
Chapter 19: Arch Enemies
Scarlett was rather looking forward to tonight she had never experience a night in with both boys when all was well and no one was being threaten, plus Daniel Craig. She dressed and got herself ready before making her way out and into the night air. As she began her walk down the road she noticed a car with its lights on full beam ahead of her. Holding her hand against the light Scarlett noticed a girl get out the back of the car and stand with the door open, her phone in hand, she appeared to be texting.
The purse in her hand began to ring and Scarlett looked down at it, slowly she pulled her phone out and answered it.
"Hello" she called into the phone and for a second there was silence.
"Hello Miss Monroe, would you kindly get into the car that is waiting" said a smooth male voice.
"Now why would I do that" Scarlett said stopping in her tracks and looking around, she noticed a few other people standing in the shadows and many appeared to be armed.
"I would make some sort of threat but I think your situation is clear to you" said the voice and Scarlett looked around again, she was massively outnumbered she could run but she was sure they wouldn't allow her to get far, images of Theo swept through her brain and her heart began to beat so hard it felt as though it would break through her chest at any minute.
"I could hang up and call the police" Said Scarlett into the phone but was meet with a low chuckle.
"Yes Miss Monroe you could but I can promise you they will not come" he said and his voice was so confident that Scarlett knew this was not a threat but a promise.
"Now I don't have all night and I know you must have places to be, so please get into the car" said the voice and with one last look around Scarlett did as he said.
The woman held the door for Scarlett as she approached the car and slipped in next to her as Scarlett climbed into the car. Her heart was pounding a million miles per hour and her brain was screaming at her to run.
"Where are you taking me" Scarlett asked trying to steady her voice, as the car moved off. The woman next to her looked up from her phone and looked at her.
"I'm sorry but that is confidential, but don't be scared no one is going to hurt you" said the woman and Scarlett looked at her as though she were an idiot.
"Forgive me if I don't quite believe you there" said Scarlett trying to work out where the car was headed. She glanced at her phone, she could call Sherlock or John or the police but something made her think that this may get her hurt and beside what would she tell them, "I'm in a black jag, headed I don't know after talking to someone I don't know on the phone". That was hardly going to be easy to find.
But before Scarlett could think any more the car had stopped, the woman looked to her and nodded her head slightly, motioning for Scarlett to leave. They appeared to have driven into an abandoned underground car park, and slowly Scarlett climbed out of the car.
"Ah Miss Monroe, how lovely to meet you" said the small smooth voice from the phone it was coming from a man stood a little way away. He was leaning on an umbrella his legs crossed at the ankles. He wore an expensive suit and held himself in manner which demanded respect.
"So clearly you know my name but I don't know yours, that hardly seems fair" said Scarlett she didn't move any nearer to him, her body backed up to the car so no one could sneak up behind her.
"That is not important" said the man. "You seem nervous but I can assure you none one is going to hurt you, Miss Monroe"
"What is your connection to Sherlock Holmes" he asked quickly his friendly demeanour changing to one of authority.
"Why?" Scarlett challenged.
"Because I asked" said the man again.
"We are friends, he saved my life from someone who kidnapped me" said Scarlett looking around the abandoned car park again.
"Ah yes, Sherlock the hero" he said slightly sarcastically.
"Who are you" said Scarlett searching his face for answers, Scarlett had learnt to read Sherlock now most didn't stand a chance, when trying to hide the feeling or lying to her.
"An interested party" said the man simply and his eyes twitched very slightly, that was odd, Sherlock's did that too when he was hiding something.
"Your interested in Sherlock, and your talking to me. What, are you hoping I can set you up on a date or something" Scarlett said brazenly.
"Hardy. If you were to ask Sherlock I image he would say I was his enemy if not his arch enemy. He can be rather dramatic" said the man and Scarlett scoffed.
"Well yes." Scarlett agreed.
"Do you plan to continue your association with Sherlock Holmes?" said the man his tone turning serious again. Scarlett's phone bleeped a text alert message and she peered at it.
"Your late, everything OK? SH"
the text read and Scarlett unlocked the phone to reply.
"I hope I'm not distracting you, Miss Monroe" said the man.
"Not at all" she said quickly, putting her phone back into her pocket, but as she did she turn on her GPS tracker and made sure that she was sharing her location with Sherlock and John. She looked up at the man expectantly.
"What did you say again?" she asked politely.
"Do you plan to continue your association with Sherlock Holmes?" the man repeated himself.
"What does that have to do with you?" Scarlett asked and the man sighed slightly.
"Nothing yet, but it could be. I'd be happy to pay you a meaningful amount of money on a regular basis." said the man smiling at her strangely.
"Really and what would that be for" Scarlett asked.
"Think of it as an exchange" said the man and Scarlett felt her phone vibrate again.
"So you give me money in exchange for what exactly" said Scarlett, her back still flush to the car.
"Information" the man said simply. "Nothing indiscreet, nothing you'd feel uncomfortable with"
Though his face was masked much like Sherlock his eyes were key and she saw no malice there, she could be wrong but she trusted her gut, he was not dangerous, he was not trying to hurt her, but she did not know why he wanted information on Sherlock.
"And if I refuse" said Scarlett to him, pulling her phone from her pocket and reading the text on the screen.
"Are you OK? SH"
She stared at the message before unlocking the phone and quickly replying. "Just running a little late, start without me XX"
She hit send and hoped her gut was right and she would not regret it.
"Well we will take you home and you will not hear from me again." said the man answering her question as she slipped her phone back in her pocket.
"I just want to know what he is up to, that is all Miss Monroe, I am not threatening you or Sherlock" he said and her gut told her he was not lying.
"Why do want to know" she asked and the man smiled slightly.
"Honestly, I worry about him. Constantly" said the man and Scarlett laughed slightly.
"How sweet" Scarlett mocked.
"But I would prefer for various reasons, my concern go unmentioned. We have what you might call a difficult relationship" he said and Scarlett try to read him.
"How much" said Scarlett an idea popping into her head, she wasn't sure if it was because for some odd reason she trusted this man to not harm her or if she her underlying terror was making her foolish.
"20,000 to start and more when I have information" said the man.
"That's not very much" said Scarlett brazenly again, this bravery was very addictive and hugely foolish.
"30 then" said the man and Scarlett smiled warmly.
"Deal" Scarlett said her grin forming.
"I will have it transferred to your bank immediately" he said he held his hand out for her to shake and she approached cautiously, he took her hand in his and kissed the back of if before bowing his head to her.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Miss Monroe, I'll be in touch" he said politely before he walked away further into the car park and out of sight. Scarlett turned around when she heard the car to the door open, the woman got out and smiled to Scarlett.
"We can take you back now" said the woman and Scarlett only nodded.
"Address" prompted the woman as Scarlett made her way to the car.
"221b Baker street" said Scarlett and the woman only nodded as Scarlett climbed into the car.
As the car pulled away Scarlett's email alert went off and she pulled her phone from her pocket. '£30,000 has been transferred to your bank account' read the email and Scarlett simply grinned.
The car pulled up outside 221b and Scarlett got out quickly without saying anything to the woman she headed to the door quickly and knocked. Mrs Hudson answered quickly and Scarlett made her way inside and up to the boys flat with only a quick hello to their land lady.
She rushed into the flat pushing the door open quickly. John's chair had been moved round slightly so he got a better view of the TV and the two men looked up at her as she entered. The end credits of the film began to play and Sherlock yawned widely.
"Sorry I'm late" said Scarlett her heart pounding.
"No problem just about to order food, then we can watch Casino Royale" said John standing up and stretching slightly.
"I just meet your arch-enemy" said Scarlett to Sherlock and he looked at her surprised.
"Really, he took his time noticing you" said Sherlock nonchalantly.
"Wait, let me just check. Tall guy, brown hair, mole on his face, blue eyes" said John and Scarlett only nodded and John scoffed.
"Are you OK, did he scare you?" asked Sherlock standing up and looking her over.
"A little at first, but I'm fine" said Scarlett
"Did he offer you money to spy on me?" Sherlock asked and Scarlett smiled.
"Yes" she replied.
"Did you take it?" he asked.
"Of course, I thought we could split it" she said grinning to him.
"Oh! You gorgeous, clever girl, you" said Sherlock excitably.
"So, who was he then?" asked Scarlett as she pulled off her coat and dumped it onto the sofa.
"That was Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's big brother. He basically runs the British government" said John returning from the kitchen with a takeaway menu in hand.
"He is the British government, when he's not too busy being the British Secret Service or the CIA on a freelance basis." said Sherlock.
"You have a brother!? You never said" said Scarlett turning to Sherlock who had sat back down in his chair.
"Yes, well it doesn't matter. How much did he give you?" he asked from his seat.
"Thirty grand, he was gonna give me twenty, but I bartered" Scarlett said with a short laugh as she placed a chair between each of the two boys armchairs and place a pillow from the sofa onto it.
"You brilliant girl" said Sherlock again and Scarlett blushed.
"But enough of all that, gimme Daniel Craig" said Scarlett sitting down in her chair.
They ordered food and continued to watch the film while they ate, Sherlock asking questions the whole time. Scarlett went very quite when Daniel Craig stepped out of the sea in those little blue shorts, next to her Sherlock huffed and she held a hand up.
"Shh now, pretty people are on the screen" she said her eyes not moving from Daniel Craig's bare chest.
"I wouldn't of said he was your type at all" said Sherlock as he watched Scarlett practically drooling.
"Well he's the exception to the rule" she said with a smiled "Plus he's James Fucking Bond, all girls love a bit of Bond" she laughed and Sherlock looked at her strangely before looking back to the screen.
After the film had finished John emptied the rest of the white wine into all three glasses and switched off the TV. Scarlett sighed happily sitting back in her chair.
"Bored!" shouted Sherlock suddenly causing her to jump spilling some wine on herself.
"What the hell" she whined at him as he stood up.
"I'm bored" he whined like a child as he paced the room.
"Well what do you want to do" she asked and he looked at her his eyebrows raised before he seemed to remember John was there and continued to pace.
"Let play Cluedo" said Sherlock quickly before rushing off to get the board, they played through both John and Scarlett weren't particularly interested as they nursed their full stomachs.
"I've got it the victim, faked their own death" said Sherlock suddenly after only ten minutes of playing.
"Sherlock you can't do that" said Scarlett with a small laugh.
"Well its the only possible solution" Sherlock said with annoyance to her and John.
"It's not in the rules" said John to him
"Well then the rules are wrong" said Sherlock standing up in a tantrum.
"Sherlock, it's impossible" said John to his flatmate.
"improbable not impossible, nothing truly is" said Sherlock as he paced and then in one quick motion he grabbed the knife from the mantle and drove it into the middle of the cluedo board.
"Bloody hell, Sherlock" John exclaimed as Sherlock threw himself into his chair looking impossibly bored.
After a little while Scarlett found herself yawning and so stood from her seat and bid the boys goodbye and goodnight.
"You can stay here if you want" Sherlock said and John shot him funny look.
"No, I'm out early tomorrow meeting with my agent, so I best be off but this was fun, especially cluedo" said Scarlett with a laugh as she pocketed her phone.
The boys saw her to the door and John waved as she got in a taxi and drove off. Her phoned bleeped a text alert and Scarlett took her phone out and read it.
"Goodnight Beautiful. SH"
Scarlett smiled and simply replied
"Goodnight, Mister Holmes"