the game is on

chapter 8

We were back at the lab. John and I are bored out of our minds whilst Sherlock runs tests on Ian's blood. After about 30 minutes of being there the pink phone rings and the same blocked number pops up on the screen. John and I straighten up and Sherlock slowly answers the phone.

"Hello" Sherlock says hesitantly

"The clue is in the name. Janus Cars." The hostage replies

I hear him say this and I whip my head around to face John.

"We have a clue." I tell him excitedly

"Why would you be giving me a clue?" Sherlock asks the man skeptical

"Why does anyone do anything? Because I'm bored. We were made for eachother Sherlock." The man shakily replies

"Then talk to me in your own voice." Sherlock says with a smirk

"Patience." The man says as he hangs up.

Sherlock pulls the phone off of his ear and stares at John and I blankly.

"Janus Cars..." I say under my breath "What could be in the name that makes no sense."

Sherlock still giving us the blank stare replies

"I don't know...yet"

He then diverts his attention back to the blood sample. John sighs obviously on edge with the time limit. Just then Sherlock lifts up the petri dish where the blood sample is and smirks.

"We've got to go." Sherlock says as he storms out of the lab. John and I followed close behind.

-3 hours on the clock-

Sherlock, John and I arrive where Ian's car is being held for evidence. We met Lestrade there.

"Could you atleast tell us what we're doing here?" John says to Sherlock as Sherlock completely ignores his request.

John shoots me a look of anger and confusion

"You'll catch on. He always does this."

"How much blood was on that seat, would you say?" Sherlock questions Lestarde whilst pointing to the passenger's seat

"How much? About a pint."

"Not about. Exactly a pint. That was their first mistake." Sherlock says. "The blood's definitely Ian Monkfords, but it's been frozen."

John and I both look at each other wide eyed.

"There are clear signs. I think Ian Monkford gave a pint of his blood some time ago and that's what they spread on the seats." Sherlock says

"Who did?" Lestrade and John said at the same time.

"Janus cars." Sherlock and I both answer. "The clues in the name." Sherlock says

"The god with two faces?" John questions

"Exactly. They provide a very special service. If you've got any kind of a problem, money troubles, bad marriage, whatever, Janus Cars will help you disappear. Ian Monkford was up to his eyes in some kind of trouble. Financial, at a guess. He's a banker. Couldn't see a way out. But if he were to vanish, if the car he hired was found abandoned with his blood all over the driver's seat..."

"So where is he?" John questions.

Sherlock looks over at me with a questioning look.

"Colombia." I chime in "Mr. Ewart had a 20,000 Colombian peso not in his wallet. He said he hadn't been abroad recently but when Sherlock questioned him about the cars he told me he could clearly see a tan line." I explain

"No one wear a shirt on a sun bed.." Sherlock corrects "That plus his arm. He kept scratching it. Obviously irritating him, and bleeding. Why? Because he'd recently had a booster jab. HepB probably. Difficult to tell at that distance. Conclusion?" Sherlock says looking at me.

"He'd just come back from setting Ian Monkford into his new life in Colombia." I reply

"Mrs Monkford cashes in the life insurance and she splits it with Janus Cars." Sherlock continues

"Mrs Monkford?" John questions dumbfounded.

"Oh, yes. She's in on it too." I chime

"Now go and arrest them, Inspector that's what you do best. We need to let our friendly bomber know the case is solved." Sherlock says looking between Lestrade, John and I.

-At the flat-

Sherlock is clicking away at his computer as I pace around the room.

"That was bloody brilliant you know?" John says to me

"Ah, thanks. All in a day's work I guess." I say stressing out.

Congratulations to Ian Monkford on his relocation to Colombia.

Sherlock then presses enter on his computer and now we wait once more. Within seconds the mobile phone rings. I bite my lip in anticipation. Sherlock answers.

"He says...You can come and fetch me. Help! Help me, please!" The man says on the other line

"Oh god." I say under my breath my words catching in my throat relieved that we saved yet another hostage.

We wait in silence for a few minutes and I drop to the couch once we get word the man is safe. I start to laugh as the adrenaline gets the best of me. John joins in as well as Sherlock.

"God I need a vacation." I say still chuckling a bit