It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

25 - Intruders

"Wait."

Elizabeth was perplexed: why the both of them? Why not one at a time? No. That was horrible. At least they wouldn't go out alone? No. That was morbid. Feeling the tip of the gun on the back of her head was not a fun feeling at all.

"I don't know the code." Sherlock said in all seriousness.

"One."

The men behind the detective's companions pushed the barrel of the gun against them harder. Elizabeth closed her eyes. So, Scarlett didn't succeed in killing her but no one told her to watch out for Americans.

"I don't know the code."

"Two."

"She didn't tell me, I don't know it!" Sherlock yelled now, the pressure on him rising.

"I'm prepared to believe you, any second now."

Sherlock looked over at The Woman again, quietly praying in his mind that she would be able to give a hint of sorts. God help her if she didn't. But to his relief, a single look down at his coat was all he needed because it wasn't the coat she meant at all.

"Three."

Elizabeth inhaled, eyes squeezing shut harder as she heard the click of the gun, ready to silence her for good.

"No, stop!" Sherlock exclaimed now.

The gun remained on the backs of their heads but the two companions heard the shuffling of steps. Sherlock turned to the safe and took a breath. He hoped to God this was right as he input the code.

The sound of the safe unlocking was music to everyone's ears then.

Both John and Elizabeth sighed with relief. Two near-death experiences within a month of each other. What were the chances?

"Thank you, Mr Holmes. Open it, please."

The detective turned the handle with a satisfying click but it wasn't the click of the lock. No. That sounded much more similar to the cocking of a gun. But to be sure, he cast a glance over his shoulder to see Miss Adler's reaction which confirmed this thought.

"Vatican cameos."

And within seconds, organised chaos ensued. The detective ducked out of the way of the safe as it opened for the gun inside to shoot the guard behind John. And as he spun back around, he grabbed the leader's gun.

The Dominatrix swiftly delivered her elbow into the groin of the man behind her. Elizabeth grabbed her bodyguard's arm and promptly pulled him over her for him to land on the coffee table with a thud. Sherlock slammed the butt of the handgun into the face of the main American.

After wrestling the gun off the guard, Miss Adler elbowed him between his neck and shoulder, ensuring he would go down. Both John and Elizabeth reached for the guns that had been dropped. The two women pointed the barrels of their newly procured weapons at the heads of the stunned bodyguards in front of them.

"Do you mind?" Sherlock questioned the women.

Sharing a look, Miss Adler and Elizabeth unanimously said, "Not at all," Before knocking both of the conscious men out.

As this occurred, Sherlock took the precious item that had been locked away from out of the safe. John rised from his bodyguard with a look of dismay upon his face.

"He's dead."

But, while unfortunate, no one really paid attention to this.

"Thank you. You were very - observant." The Woman said this fondly of the detective.