19. The Game Is Revealed

            I didn't get the chance to check if Sherlock had chipped me when I got back to the mansion: Jim had gotten my attention from the moment he knew I was back. He hadn't worried over me and pestered me with questions. Instead, he gave me affection, something to take away the surprising fear I had still in my body. I hadn't been that afraid, had I?

            Heidi grabbed Elena so she could eat, leaving Jim and I alone in the bedroom. We were out on the balcony, with me sitting on the railing.          

"What spooked you?" Jim asked. "You don't fear anything."

            "I had another run-in with Sherlock," I whispered.

            Jim's eyebrows came together. "How did that one go?"

            "Not good."

            "So I noticed." He swiped a hand across my neck; it was stained red when he pulled it back. "You didn't lose a lot, it's already healing. Did you pay him a visit?"

            "No, he found me first. He caught me right after I'd slipped a man poison into his drink. He drugged me and brought me back to Baker Street. He would have made a trade, Jim, if Heidi hadn't come for me. H-he knows about the baby."

"I'm sure he's the one who figured it out before you did."

"He would have traded me for Elena and John."

            "Well, he can't do that now, can he?"

            "I-I think I could be chipped also." I bit my lip. "It could be on my clothes somewhere."

            "Best bet would be your jacket."

            "We should check it."

            "Not now, though." He kissed the crown of my head. "Later. We've got some time to ourselves now."

            "Jim, we need to check the coat. I don't want Sherlock coming up out of nowhere only to catch us in the middle of something."

            "Someone's self conscious."

            "I'd rather be ready for him than not if he comes tonight." The sun was setting behind us, casting a warm glow all over him. "We need to check it."

            "Alright, alright, we'll check it. You sure pick the worst times to talk about other things, angel."

            Both of us left the balcony to fetch my coat. With both pairs of eyes and hands, we examined every inch of it. I wasn't having much luck, and it looked like Jim wasn't either. Maybe Heidi and I were wrong. Maybe we were just being paranoid.

            Ping. My phone. Jim and I looked at each other before I grabbed it. My heart leapt into my throat. Why didn't I assume he'd gotten my number when I was drugged? I scowled, opening the message.

            Time's up. –SH

            I couldn't say anything at first. I couldn't even think up a witty retort to send back to him. Those two words said it all: he'd chipped me somehow. That was the only explanation, the only reason behind the text. Where he got the technology, I wasn't sure. How he managed to get it on me, I wasn't sure.

            "Who's that?" Jim asked smoothly as he inspected one of the sleeves of the coat.

            "He's coming," I murmured, looking up from my screen to Jim. He stopped his inspection to stare at me. I swallowed.

            "It's about time he did something." He tossed my coat back onto the bed. "I think you and I should dress up for the occasion, don't you think?"

            "You're pretty much set, I'm not. What about John and Elena?"

            "I'll talk to Logan; you get Heidi to get Elena back in here. She stays out of sight."

            "Who does?"

            "Elena. Have Heidi go down to the weaponry and pick herself out a gun. I'll have Logan do the same. They'll be our protection in case something goes awry."

            "You trust that they won't turn on us?"

            "Raine, do you honestly expect them to join the side of the angels?"

            I pursed my lips. "I guess not."

            "No worries, darling. It's time for the big finale."

            After an exuberant kiss on the mouth, Jim strutted out. I swore I heard him whistling a happy tune, something like his ringtone. I went to my closet, figuring out what to wear. Color wise I was pretty limited. I would have gone for the black dress, but that seemed too fancy for a confrontation with Sherlock Holmes.

            Hmm, let's go simpler. I picked some black skinny jeans and a tight fitting black V-neck. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Not too plain but not too fancy. I grabbed my phone and my pocketknife before heading downstairs to find Elena and Heidi. They had to still be in the kitchen, Elena ate a lot.

            Sure enough, that's where I found them. Heidi was having a little fun with Elena, having a food fight. At first, I almost thought I was looking at a different person. The Heidi I knew wasn't fond of children. I didn't know how or when it happened, the change. Maybe when she didn't have a temper she was good with kids.

I cleared my throat loudly. They both stopped, Elena looked about ready to run and hide from me. I gave them both a stern look.

            "Is this what you've been doing the entire time?" I groaned.

            "No, she did eat, I promise," Heidi explained, wiping off the counter. I rolled my eyes. "She started it."

            "Nice. Blame a little girl."

            "But she did. She got food in my hair."

            "Well, I guess this is the best fight that could come out of it." I shrugged. "Listen, we're going to have company. Elena needs to be back in the room."

            "But I don't want to!" the little girl protested. "Aunt Heidi, let me stay out! I'll behave."

            "Sorry, sweetie, but what Aunt Raine wants, she gets," Heidi said sadly. "Try and clean a bit of this up while I talk with her, okay?"

            While Elena skulked cleaning up a bit, I pulled Heidi outside of the kitchen.

            "He's finally coming?" she whispered.

            "Yeah."

            "Is he bringing backup?"

            "I don't know. All I got was a text that said 'time's up'."

            "What do you want me to do? Stand guard at the door with a gun?"

            "No, but do head to the basement to grab a weapon. I'm sure Jim is talking with Logan right now. If you go down now, you might be able to catch them."

            "What about Elena?"

            "I'll get her in the room, you go to the basement."

            "What about the mess in the kitchen?"

            "Somebody will get that eventually or just leave it alone. Maybe when it smells enough in there someone will tend to it. Get going."

            Heidi bounded off just as Elena came out, looking wiped out.

            "I want to sleep," she declared.

            "Alright. Come on."

            "No, carry me." She raised her arms, expecting me to snatch her. I sighed, complying with the tired girl's demand. I hiked her up the stairs, and by the time I got inside and set her down, she was out like a light. I pushed Chloe into Elena's hands, and she hugged the stuffed dog tight, like she was her guardian angel.

            I sighed, touching my stomach. That could be my child in a few years' time, sleeping with me on the bed. I wasn't sure where everything would be in the future by that time, but I hoped Jim would still be around, and we'd still be causing mayhem in London. Maybe we could even leave England and go start madness elsewhere. Whoa, one thing at a time.

            I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes. I could hear a mental clock ticking in my brain. How long would it take Sherlock to get here? Would he bring backup? Would they be delayed in getting here so that we didn't see them coming? Maybe he'd come alone. Maybe he'd think that bringing Scotland Yard into this could endanger John and Elena. I wasn't too keen on having a Scotland Yard encounter tonight, so I hoped that didn't happen.

            Once I shut the door behind me, I lithely made my way down the hall and stopped at the top of the stairs. I tapped my fingers against the wood railing, waiting. All I could do now was wait. Elena was safe in my room; Heidi was down in the basement with Logan and Jim, picking out her weapon of choice. Soon they'd be around the mansion, our snipers at the ready. Truthfully, I didn't know if Heidi or Logan were good shots. I could possibly find out tonight.

            I was almost about to doze off before I heard it, the creaking of the door. He's here. My muscles tensed. I had no idea what Jim's plan was for Sherlock, I hadn't been given any orders. I wasn't about to attack the consulting detective, though some fibers in my body told me to. If Jim couldn't kill off Sherlock, maybe I could. Falling was not the same thing as being stabbed. I just hoped he didn't have an impenetrable vest under his clothes.

            It was hard to say if a man like him would come prepared or not. If he was very confident that he wouldn't get hurt, maybe if there was an order to kill Sherlock Holmes, we'd have an easy time taking him down. He wasn't invincible.

            "Nice of you to finally find us," I sang, my voice echoing throughout the mansion. "We probably would have grown old if you took any longer."

            "Where is he, Ms. Whitmore?"

            "He'll join us shortly." I took my careful time getting down the steps. Sherlock peered around a corner, taking notice of me. "Come in, nobody's got a gun trained on you, I promise. Too bad you didn't come in that robe you were in the time I broke into Baker Street. Oh well, we can't get everything we want."

            "Where are John and Elena?"

            "Here."

            "Where?"

            "Oh, I can't tell you that. I can't spoil everything for you, Mr. Holmes." I smiled wryly. "I can't take over the game when I'm not the one who's really playing it."

            "Speaking of the players, I believe we're one short."

            "Not anymore you aren't."

            I turned my head to Jim as he emerged. I reached an arm out for him; he gladly took my hand, standing behind me.

            "Hello again, Sherlock," he crooned. "Long time no see."

            "I've seen more of your girlfriend than I have of you." Sherlock didn't have the light, easygoing tone right now. "Where are John and Elena?"

            "You didn't give them away, did you?" Jim asked me.

            "Of course not. You've got to keep some secrets to yourself," I responded, throwing a coy look at the detective. "It's no fun when someone knows everything about you. For the record, they are both still alive."

             "For now," Jim butted in. My brows came together.

            "It looks like someone wasn't informed," Sherlock teased bitterly. "I guess you two don't share a lot except for the desire to murder others and devour each other."

            I made a face. "You're basically calling us horny killers, which we aren't." I sniffed.

            "Your sister is ashamed of you, Raine."

            "She isn't alive, Sherlock," I barked. I realized this was the first time I'd addressed him like that. "She's dead. I killed her and Dean years ago. Stop talking as though she's been here in London searching for me!"

            "You've really done a number on her, Moriarty," Sherlock murmured. "If only she knew what you've really done in her life."

            "Stop talking." I stomped my foot on the ground.

            "Oh, acting like a child won't stop me."

            "He's given me the best life I could ever ask for."

            "And do you know how he did that? He's been after you for quite some time, Raine. It all started with your father."

            "M-my dad?"

            "Your father tried to steal from Moriarty, and he got caught doing it. You know how he works: if someone tries to go against him, they're taken care of. The man whose child you're carrying right now is the reason your father is dead. He came after you and corrupted you as further revenge on your father even though he's been gone for years."

            "That's not true," Jim purred in my ear.

            "I know it isn't," I said sharply. "You and John think you can try and bring people back to the good side. I'll never go back there. I was weak. Here, I'm strong. Here, I have nothing to fear. Egg me on more, Mr. Holmes. Jim won't stop me from coming at you."

            "Don't do it." Jim kissed behind my ear. "Control, love. You don't need to be risky right now. I know what I'm doing. Let me handle this. Here's how it's going to work, Sherlock," Jim said louder so the detective could hear him. "The Watsons are somewhere here, both alive and well. Their fates are in your hands. The best part? Whoever you don't choose, Raine kills. Either way, the Watson family is being torn apart even more."

            How come I didn't know this until just now? I blinked bewilderedly, trying to understand what Jim was saying. Two hostages. Choose one to live, choose one to die.

            "But you have people around, ready to stop me," Sherlock countered.

            "We do, but, they'll keep out of your way unless things turn ugly. If you try and save both, you'll sentence all three of you to death. If you try and take any of us out, same result. If any help arrives for you, then you'll sentence more lives to death. Either way, by the end of tonight, someone is going to die. So go ahead, Sherlock, you can either have your little blogger pet, or you can have his daughter."

            My heart thudded in my chest. Jim was making Sherlock choose between a father and daughter? Why did he decide to hide this from me for so long? What did I do to have this kept from me?

            "Oh, and you've got to find them on your own. No hints. Sorry."

            "I won't need them."

            Jim and I both watched as Sherlock stalked off. I bet if we weren't threatening the Watsons he would have tried to go for both of us.

My thoughts went to Elena, who was sleeping upstairs. If Sherlock picked her, she'd lose her father. She'd be an orphan. If Sherlock picked John, she would be dead. I'd be the one to kill the little girl, the girl who'd come to trust me the most out of everyone here in this mansion.

            I thought back to something John had told me. I remembered how he'd told me about the incidents Jim got children involved in, how they had almost been killed had it not been for Sherlock finding them and saving them first. If Moriarty is willing to do that to children, he could do something more extreme with Elena if he sees fit.If you think he won't, I can't wait to tell you 'I told you so'.

            "I think we know who he'll choose," Jim whispered, messing with my fingers.

            "I don't know, I think it'll be a hard choice. It would be to me if I were him," I considered thoughtfully.

            "Too bad he's not choosing her; John would be much easier to kill. Logan has come close so many times."

            "Why didn't you tell me this was going to happen?" I turned around to face him. "Why keep this from me?"

            "Darling, you said it yourself." He grinned devilishly. "I've got to keep some things for myself."

**Hm...I wonder who saw this coming? There's very little story left.**