Adler-Holmes

LA Devotee

In the last 24 hours, I'd run away from home, been forced to another, been forced to leave, had a realization that my mother did, in fact, love me, but that she'd just shown it too late and was now sat on a plane with one of the most dangerous men in the world.

"So LA?" I asked Jim.

"Then we're going somewhere remote." He finished. So this was his plan...

"Why?"

"Because we're all pawns in this game of chess. But I'm fed up of being a pawn being ruled over and being offered as a sacrifice. It's my turn to be King. And honey, you should see me in a crown." He finished the last part with a wink. I smirked at his love of dramatics.

"But why me?"

"Why not? Do you not remember when we first met?" My mind raced back to when my mother had brought him into our home and introduced us.

"There was something special about you. I could see both your mother and father in you, as well as Mycroft. But you were always such an angel when you were under their influence. As soon as you spent an extended amount of time away from them and with me, I saw me in you. It's just a coincidence that you're called Lott."

"Like Lot in the Bible?" He nodded.

"Clever girl. I could use someone with your capabilities. The world gets so boring, I need someone who can keep me entertained and understand me when we're doing business, shall we say?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You're intelligent, like me. You can see the other side of things to what I can. We make a good team." I looked away.

"Right...And there's nothing about wanting to get a one-up against my family by having me?" He laughed.

"No. That's a bonus." I rolled my eyes.

Truth was, Jim had always been so... nice. And gentle. When I was growing up with Irene, he'd always get me away from the house when she had clients. And, unlike some, wouldn't force me to see my father. He encouraged me to use my mind and helped train me, rather than making me feel useless. And there was this guilt that I'd left my family and maybe I wasn't too disappointed because Jim was family to me. I looked back at Jim.

"Okay, but business workers have a contract. So let's make a deal." He raised his eyebrow at me.

"What are you thinking, Miss Adler-Holmes?"

"First, stop calling me that. From now on, you and only you can call me Lott. To everyone else I'm either Charlie or Charlotte. That will take some attention away if anyone's looking for us- there are more people named Charlie than Lott."

"Good thinking."

"Secondly, we don't spend all our time doing 'business'. Wherever we're going, promise me we can spend time away from it regularly. We're going to America- let's go explore it."

"Sounds fair."

"Thirdly, when we get to LA, we spend at least a day there. Oh, and adding to the last point, I choose where we go."

"I like LA. Hmm, I will have to approve where we go though." I nodded.

"Fine. Tell me where we're staying."

"After we've been to LA, we're catching another plane."

"Where to?"

"People could be listening."

"Write it down," I suggested. He looked at me before writing down Woodley Island, showing it to me and then ripping it up and placing it in his bag. I nodded.