It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

94 - The White Knight Is Taken

John laughed through his nose, "Love makes you do strange things, even broken-hearted love."

"Clearly."

"Right, I'm back!" Elizabeth announced, strolling back into the living room, "Did I miss the cutting of the cake?"

"Not at all, dear!" Mrs Hudson clapped her hands together, toddling over to the kitchen to fetch a cutting knife to present to John.

The doctor took it and began to cut the cake, eliciting cheers from the two women and another pitchy rendition of Happy Birthday. Wide smiles crossed the faces of the three as Elizabeth organsied paper plates and spoons for the cake.

Sherlock sat in his chair, staring at Elizabeth, wishing he could find more joy in himself for his best friend's birthday.

Sherlock watched the fake continue to seamlessly fit into their lives.

Sherlock's shattered heart ached even more.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

The thief stayed in the backroom of the café, dressing into her catsuit, trying to psych herself up to this ambush. She stared at her figure in the mirror, holding her breath to make herself appear a little thinner, puffing out her chest to appear a little bigger, struck a pose with her hands on her hips and then laughed at herself.

"What am I doing?" She asked herself, shaking her head as she stepped closer to the mirror, "You got this, Elizabeth. Channel your inner...Moriarty, your inner psychopath. We're just making an example of a guy who wrongly stole from the gang, even though the gang stole the stuff originally. You just have to appear big and scary. No doubt Amber and Cleo will want to do the dirty work. Especially Amber. Okay," She nodded, "Let's go."

She strolled out of the backroom and headed for the back door that led out into the damp alley. It had rained recently and pungent smell of petrichor was especially prominent in the alleys - that and the smell of some funny cigarette smoke. She started heading up the fire stairs to the roof where Cleo, Amber and one other woman - Sandy - were waiting.

Sherlock (and his network) kept an eye on them from afar.

"Ready for some exercise, girls?" Cleo asked with a smile.

Elizabeth mumbled, "Never ready for exercise but yes."

"Then let's jump, follow me."

And four women started sprinting towards the edge of the building, leaping across the rooftops as a means of getting to their destination more covertly than by a car. Elizabeth just prayed it wouldn't rain again for the fear of slipping and taking a nasty fall.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The girls, two on each building, peered over the side at the alley down below. It was pretty much empty save for the random phallic graffiti and overflowing, gigantic, metal bins for the buildings.

"He'll be here soon." Cleo said, removing her backpack and taking out a black rope.

On the opposite building, Amber did the same. Both women paced back to secure the rope onto some sturdy object on the rooftop. Elizabeth was tilted her head as she watched them complete this task.

"Shouldn't we just use the stairs?"

Cleo laughed, "He'll hear us coming down those stairs given how much they shake. Plus, who said we couldn't have a little fun with this?"

Elizabeth couldn't argue with that and proceeded to help Cleo secure the rope on their side.

"Ever abseiled before?"