It Started With Stealing | Sherlock Holmes

81 - Watson & Parrish, Adler & Holmes

John nodded, an understanding gleam in his eyes. Wanting to spread a bit of a lighter note back onto the conversation, he smiled at the thought he spoke aloud.

"Together we, Watson and Parrish, will solve this mystery."

The light in her eyes lit up again and she quirked her right eyebrow, "You mean Parrish and Watson?"

"Mm, no. Watson and Parrish sounds better, you have to admit."

The thief shook her head, bemused by the army doctor, "Shut up. Let's go, Mycroft's waiting for us in the CCTV office."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

A short while later John and Elizabeth were sat in the CCTV office, Mycroft looming behind them somewhat sinisterly as the shadows cast on his face gave him an intimidating appearance. However, under the shadows, Mycroft stood, biting his thumb as he watched the footage with the two companions again.

"So the young girl's face is the only face we see?" John questioned, "And nobody has any record of her?"

"Doesn't attend a school." Came Mycroft's drearily stressed tone, "May be homeless and trying to earn some pennies but I rather think she's homeschooled. She doesn't look scruffy enough and homeschooling isn't policed as much as it should be."

"She looks familiar." Elizabeth noted, leaning forward in her chair to get a closer look, "Are you sure she isn't a missing person?"

"Positively. I had it triple-checked by five different people including myself."

Both John and Elizabeth just gave a little nod as they kept their gaze glued to the screen. They continued watching, acknowledging how the man who wheeled Rita away, never once looked up directly at a camera and how they were never able to see what car they had left in.

"Did the officers see the car?" John inquired.

"Navy blue SUV," Mycroft drawled, "They didn't see the number plate."

"Helpful." Elizabeth widened her eyes for emphasis but went quiet momentarily, "Rita didn't look threatened. She went with them willingly. That or she's good at putting on a brave face."

Mycroft's gaze rested on Elizabeth from behind. He wasn't sure what to make of her own simple deductions, "I agree."

"Why?" Elizabeth now turned to face Mycroft, "Why did she leave willingly?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because I ran out on her and passed you and Sherlock on my way out. Sherlock came after me and I assume you went back to Rita. What did you say? What did she say? What did you talk about when I wasn't here?"

John looked between the two, somewhat surprised by Elizabeth's cold, accusatory tone.

The thief was fishing for information, hoping that Rita's bloodlust for Moriarty wasn't the only reason she left. Although, thinking about that point did make her wonder. The last thing Rita had said to her was 'when' she was out of hospital 'she would find and kill' Moriarty. Rita, being a doctor, had to have known she would have to stay in hospital for a certain amount of time to recover. She wouldn't leave prematurely, would she? Unless...she had been promised care elsewhere?

Mycroft countered her questions with an analytical gaze, "What did Dr Rahat say to you?"

Elizabeth knew, then, that at the very least, Mycroft was on to them. Maybe Rita left to prevent her involvement with the gang being found out. She wouldn't lie to him though.