Adler-Holmes

Miss Jackson

I wiped away some tears; beginning to pray to a God my father always told me didn't exist. Begging to be saved from this. I'd heard about the power of prayer, but had never particularly tried it or believed in it as such. But this was different. Everything was on the line. And that was when the payphone started ringing. I gasped, knowing who it was as I realized no-one was around and so no-one had seen the payphone seemed to be malfunctioning. I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Miss Jackson." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was quick."

"We've had our eye on Richard Brooks for a while, you know that." I heard my dad in the background.

"Uncle Mycroft, is my dad there?"

"Yes, and he wants to talk to you. Here." I heard the phone being passed to my dad.

"Charlotte Elizabeth Adler-Holmes, know you are in a huge amount of trouble and you are grounded for life."

"Not that long then, considering who I'm with."

"Don't you dare say that."

"Dad... I'm sorry..." I started crying before trying to compose myself.

"Me too... I should have protected you from this... Lott, please, we're finding a way out. Mycroft can delay the flight. And in the meantime we can get out there."

"There's not enough time... I have 5 minutes before I need to be back..."

"You underestimate him, Lott."

"No, you underestimate Jim."

"Jim... Stupid, stupid how did I miss that? He was the client!"

"I never said Jim was a dominatrix client... He wanted me to help him in return for a favour."

"Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped. I could have protected you."

"Because it didn't matter... then... now I guess it does..."

"Mycroft wants to talk to you. We're all here, we're going to get you home. John, Mycroft, me, Irene, Geoff-"

"Greg, dad." I chuckled, hearing him also chuckle, before realizing he was also crying.

"Lott... I love you. Please, just remember that. I love you."

"I love you too, dad." My dad handed the phone over to Mycroft.

"Charlotte, I will call you Elizabeth Jackson from here, just so we can continue this when we are in further contact. Your plane is being delayed by 4 hours," just as Mycroft said that, there was an announcement overhead.

"Do you know where you're staying?"

"Woodley Island."

"Good. Now, Miss Jackson, I have some work for you to do."

"What is it?"

"Well, news has reached us about your engagement to Brooks, and so you can use that to your advantage."

"I know. I was working on that..."

"I am well aware. Stay close to him. Friends close, enemies closer."

"And husbands?"

"That's a different story. Stay close to him, and keep feeding back what he is doing. Don't try and contact me, I'll contact you."

"Wait... you're still sending me? What about the delay?"

"The 4 hours gives us time to rig the house you will be staying at, as well as providing security all around near where you will be and where you are. We can also get people on the inside without him noticing. That way, you'll be partially safe."

"Partially?" I scoffed.

"Better than nothing."

"Or you could just come and get me." I heard some shouts in the background.

"Dr. Watson, I do suggest you calm down. She will be fine. I have trained her myself." I heard a 'what' from a few people at the other end of the phone, as well as a 'You trained my daughter without telling me?'

"Dad, it's fine. It's a good job he did."

"What kind of training, Lott? Any torture or interrogation-resistance training?"

"Yes..."

"You tortured her?" The phone was dropped as I realized my dad had hit my uncle.

"Please, stop. I have 2 minutes left. I need to go." I heard the phone being picked up as I clutched the payphone in mine.

"Do you accept my offer, Miss Jackson?" My uncle spoke.

"I do."