You See But Do Not Observe

INTERFERENCE

CHAPTER TWELVE : INTERFERENCE

Serena was walking up to her apartment when her phone rang. She flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Gambles, there is a car for you. Please get inside."

Serena looked around to see that there was indeed, a black car idling at the curb.

"Who are you? How did you get my number?"

"Because I know you are distrusting and have a basic knowledge of self-defense, I will simply tell you this. I am an interested party in Sherlock Holmes, and I require your assistance. No harm will come to you."

"Who are you?"

"Get in the car and find out."

Serena looked at the car, and the door opened. Her survival instincts were pretty good most of the time, and they weren't kicking in now. She may not be in danger. Serena sighed and got inside.

The car drove to the outskirts of London, into an abandoned factory. The driver said nothing the entire trip. Serena felt a ball in her stomach. Maybe she miscalculated.

She stepped out of the car and faced the man standing in front of her. He held an umbrella in his hand nonchalantly.

"Hello, Ms. Gambles." He was the one who had spoken to her on the phone.

"Um, hello." Serena's voice sounded strange even to her.

"Would you like to take a seat?" The man gestured to the folding chair.

"No thank you."

"Afraid I'll try to attack you?"

"I prefer to be in control."

The man smiled. It was a perfectly pleasant smile, she supposed. But it had an undercurrent of mystery she didn't like.

"So, what do you want? Because if you're another admirer, you could have just given me chocolate."

The man chuckled. "I am an admirer, of sorts. I've been watching you."

Serena felt her blood turn to ice. "Oh?"

"Serena Gambles, psychologist specializing in treating phobias. Has cleithrophobia. Changed identity upon arriving in London to Amanda Gambles. Not a huge change. You left your last name the same. According to most records, Serena Gambles no longer exists. But here she is."

"And you managed to find her. How?"

"I have a small position in the British government. I have access to information like this."

"And you admire me, why?"

"You approach Sherlock Holmes with a case he can't solve, a mystery killer, and he likes you."

"He can't figure me out. That's the only reason." Serena protested.

The man shook his head. "I'm not so sure. That's why I am here."

Serena looked closer. The man seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't place his face. "Who are you?"

"I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned me. My name is Mycroft. I am the brother of Sherlock Holmes."

Serena could see the family resemblance in the way Mycroft talked. "So you stalk your brother?"

"I keep tabs on him. We don't get along."

"You would think sibling rivalry would be above two geniuses."

"Never mind that. What is the nature of your relationship with Sherlock Holmes?"

"What relationship?"

"Don't play dumb, Ms. Gambles. You pop into their flat at random hours. He's been to your flat. He even apologized to you. What is the nature of your relationship?"

Serena sighed exasperatedly. "I don't know, friends?"

"Nothing...more?"

Serena laughed out loud. It wasn't forced at all; it exploded from her lips like a bomb. "You think we're romantic? Sherlock and me. Has he ever even had a girlfriend?"

"Not that I know of. But one doesn't just toy with Sherlock Holmes. Someone did once, and well, let's just say it wasn't pretty."

"What happened?"

"Classified. I'll tell you this though. It almost ended in Britain being brought to its knees by one woman."

"So what makes you think I'm his girlfriend?"

Mycroft walked toward her slowly, swinging the umbrella slowly. "My brother knows that love is a disadvantage. He still chooses to have friends, that idiot detective Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, John...chosen over the space of years. What makes you so special that he has chosen you within two days?"

"I don't know. But I seriously doubt that Sherlock truly cares about me as more than a friend considering we have a row every other day and he never stops pestering me about my past."

"Oh, yes, that unfortunate business."

Serena paled.

"I know who you are, Ms. Gambles. That nasty period, the falling-out with your parents, how you ran to the one place you knew you could find help. Lestrade was the one who wiped your identity, wasn't he? He must know the basics, but does he know everything?"

"I may have..." Serena cleared her throat. "I may have glossed over some of the more vivid details."

"Do you intend to tell my brother?"

"That is behind me. What's the point of dredging it up now?"

"It's only been a month. The wounds are still fresh."

Serena barked out a laugh. "Some of those wounds are never going to heal, Mr. Mycroft! If you truly know everything, you would realize that."

She turned and walked back to the waiting car.

"I do." Mycroft murmured so she could just hear him. "I can understand that."

"Then you know why I can't tell Sherlock."

"I suppose. But you do realize that you'll have to tell him eventually."

"No."

"You can't keep hiding forever. Sooner or later, you're going to want to stop hiding. It seems like you want to stop now. Did Sherlock do that to you?"

"The moment I stop hiding is the moment it happens again!" Serena yelled.

The air was quiet for a few long seconds.

"My brother is many things, Ms. Gambles." Mycroft said. "He is brilliant, cunning, somewhat caring at times, but there is one thing I know he isn't, and you know he isn't. It will not happen again."

Serena got into the car silently, and it took off, leaving the man behind.

She could not believe a word he said. She just couldn't.