Dancing With The Devil (part two)

Chapter 67: Take The Case

The second the annual fireworks display began, there was a relatively big explosion on the bridge. The bomb had gone off on the hinge of both sides of the drawbridge, causing the entire middle section of the bridge to fall into the Thames. Off in the distance, an equally large explosion could be seen, around the area of the Bank of England, in fact, the exact location of the bank of England.

As it played on the screen, everyone in the room was incredibly confused. Well... almost everyone. Astrid easily resisted the urge to smile and moved backwards from the television. She looked around the room, her face full of fear mixed with confusion. Everyone else looked equally confused, and after a few seconds of silence, a phone started ringing.

It was Lestrade's. He reached into his pocket and immediately answered the phone.

"...yes I'm seeing this!... how the hell did it happen?... you what?... all three? Again?... yes I know it's not our division but I want it!... yes he's with me now... of course I'll tell him... right... bye."

He hung up the phone and looked at everyone in the room, all happiness drained from him. By now Grace had snuggled closer to Astrid, who held onto her tightly. Molly was stood just behind her and she stepped forward, in front of her and Sherlock who was looking between Greg and Astrid. Molly raised her eyebrow.

"Well."

"Tower bridge, bank of England and Pentonville prison have all been blown up."

"What?" Molly breathed out, then after Greg repeated, she looked at Astrid angrily, "it's the same places as... you knew about this?"

Astrid shook her head violently moving backwards at Molly's harsh tone of voice, "it wasn't, I swear it wasn't!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"Molly." Sherlock cut in, taking her by the hand and turning her to face him, "she's got nothing to do with it"

"How do you know?" She growled, "she's fooled you before, she could do it again."

"No! Please, you have to believe me!"

"I don't funnily enough!" she looked around the room, "have none of you noticed that that child is five years old. Add nine months to that and you're likely to get to 2015, which is when he came back! And she looks like Moriarty too, she could be a re-incarnation of him!"

Astrid looked at Grace who was now shaking in her mother's arms. Astrid held her child tightly and looked back to Molly and shook her head.

"She's not, I promise!"

"What can you do to make me believe you?" Molly sighed with her hands on her hips.

Astrid racked her brain for answers.

"I think I know who's responsible, well, for providing the bombs at least."

"Who?"

Astrid was reluctant to answer, she looked at Grace and then back to the group who were now all stood in a group in front of her.

"I'll tell you, just, let me put her to sleep. I don't want her to think I'm a bad person," Molly then scoffed, "please?"

Sherlock nodded, "okay, put her to bead then come back and tell us everything you know."

Astrid nodded her head and left the room. As she left, everyone in the room let out a sigh. John slumped down into the arm chair nearby, letting his hands fall into his head. Mrs Hudson just nervously tapped the edge of her glass whilst Greg sat down on the sofa, copying John's action. Molly stayed stood up, anxiously tapping her foot. Sherlock stood in front of her and took her shaking hands in his.

"Molly, it's not her."

Molly shook her head, "you don't know that."

"It might not even be his people. It's likely just some shoddy attempt to scare us. Trust her, okay?"

Molly reluctantly nodded again as Astrid walked in. She smiled slightly and stood in front of the TV, now plying the news that was reporting what had happened. Sherlock and Molly sat together on the sofa, Molly urging Astrid to talk.

She cleared her throat, "um, so, there's a man, his name's Ciaran Walsh. He provided the bomb vest for when Jim... when Moriarty, um, ya know," she scratched her head, "I haven't spoken to him since..."

"Since when?"

"2011-2012-ish." she nodded, "we met first at a gala, where Jim introduced us. I only ever saw him when he came for meetings and things. I don't know his address or his number or email or anything." She chuckled, "he's a bit of a misogynist, but he and Jim were mates in school."

"Do you think your sniper friend will know anything." Molly grilled and Astrid shook her head

"He knew about the same as me." Sherlock nodded, "what'll happen now?"

John stood up.

"If you still want to stay the night, then you can. If you want to go home then I'd understand, ya know. Check up on your friend again, see how he's taking it."

Astrid nodded, "I'll do that" She had managed to make a tear roll down her cheek, "I don't want to be involved in any of this shit again."

John nodded, "sure."

Astrid smiled, wiping the tear from her eye, "I'll go get Grace then."

And with that the blonde left the room to get ready to leave. The child and her daughter were out of the house by quarter past midnight and when they had driven out of the dark street, they both glanced at each other through the review mirror and smiled. Grace even started laughing.

"Did your plan work?"

Astrid smiled smugly, "yes it did."

"Can we tell daddy?"

"I'm sure he already knows, now you should go to sleep, it's very late."

There was no reply from Grace and ten minutes later Astrid glanced in the mirror at her to find she was fast asleep. She then dialed her husbands number in the car and let it ring, after a few seconds, he answered.

"Well hello, what can I do for you," he smirked and Astrid rolled her eyes.

"I just wanted to congratulate you."

"Whatever for?"  he frowned, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Is this gonna be the beginning of fishing for compliments that I'm going to have to start putting up with."

There was a pause.

"Umm, yeah." Astrid chuckled at his monotonous reply, "how's Grace?"

"She's fine. Asleep in the back."

"How did she take it."

"Hard to tell, I didn't know whether she was genuinely scared or just acting," Astrid chuckled, "Molly was the first to blame me, then Sherlock defended me and we left."

"Did Lestrade get a phone call from one of his superiors?"

"Yup," Astrid nodded, "he's taking the case."

"Brilliant," Jim then lowered his voice, "I've got a little present for you when you get home."

This caused Astrid to smirk, "ooh, I wonder who it could be."

"You'll see, you'll see."

"Can't wait. We'll be back in about forty-five minutes."

"Can't wait."

"How's your new year been, by the way?"

"Interesting to say the least, but, there is something I need to tell you about myself and Ciaran , that I've put off telling you for a while..."

"Why do I get the feeling I already know what you're gonna say?"

Jim froze.

"I could ask the same thing."

"Just tell me when I get home," she sighed, "so, how is Mr Walsh."

"He's in a bad place," Jim grinned and Astrid laughed.

"Goody."