It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

79 - Doubt Roots Itself

She breathed a small laugh, "Work. I start next week, Thursday, six a.m. Might have to rely on you waking me up!"

No lie was detected. That said, he hadn't asked about the other, more suspicious points of her call. And he couldn't bring himself to despite the nagging feeling of doubt. He had accused Mycroft of being blinded by love but it would be foolish of himself to end up in the same place as his brother - even more frustrating when it was what Mycroft had warned him about from the start.

"Yes." Sherlock gave a single nod, "I can do that but don't you - have an alarm?"

"I do but I might miss it. You don't miss things like that though. I remember a couple of days ago when you woke up to a dog barking outside. It wasn't even that loud."

No. He didn't miss things. How clever and tormenting of his mind to do so.

"Fair enough. I'll wake you."

"Perfect then."

She smiled, hoping to get past the detective who stood in the doorway, still staring down at her blankly. Elizabeth tilted her head as she looked at him, waving her hand in front of his eyes to make sure he hadn't spaced out.

"Something wrong?"

He inhaled, still looking at the her, unblinking, "I - uh - nothing wrong as such."

"Meaning?"

"I found Irene."

Elizabeth stopped, processing this, remembering their last conversation with her that ended in tears for both women, "She okay?"

"Not really." Sherlock grimaced at the thought, "She's been captured by a terrorist cell in Karachi. They plan to...behead her."

"Oh my God." Distress crossed her expression. While she disliked Irene for the pain she had caused, she still never wished death upon her. After all, at one point Elizabeth quite liked her as an ally, "Can't we - do anything?"

"I can. That's what I came to tell you. I'm leaving for Karachi tonight."

"Well then, me too - "

"No. Mycroft can't know, neither can John."

"Why?"

"Because it's best if they don't, particularly best if Mycroft doesn't know. John will barely be here, he won't notice that I'm gone. Mycroft shouldn't notice either but in case he calls or comes 'round I need you to cover for me."

Elizabeth was nervous letting Sherlock go on his own as she remembered that look of desire to devour the detective that had been on Irene's face almost the entire time she had been here. She was afraid he would be tempted by her. Sherlock knew this. He brought his hands to her shoulders, running them down her arms to reassuringly squeeze her upper arms in his vast, delicate hands. He looked at her sincerely.

"I don't love her, Elizabeth, not in the way I love you." Sherlock reassured her, "I can't let a mind like hers be barbarically silenced when I know I can help. I'll be in and out and back early morning on February first. I promise."

"I trust you, I just - "

Could he trust her though? He was irritated by these thoughts now. They needed to stop. She wasn't a liar. She wasn't. Not her. His thought process was halted by her lips on his. Sherlock blinked at her as she pulled away.

"Go. Save her. Save Irene Adler because I can't forgive myself if you don't go."

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A/N - Some exciting things I want to share with you all!!

Some art appreciation coming up:

JordanDefratis made some EPIC alternate covers for ISWS - look at how talented they are! ❤❤❤

How cool!!! This was also a first for me to receive any kind of art related to any of my books - past and present - so thank you so much again JordanDefratis! I love your work! 😄❤

If you keep an eye on the cover of 'I Am Ironheart' you'll see that I'll also be experimenting with a few alternate covers designed by them as well!