The Death Game

Chapter 15

A few moments later, John was now sitting beside the pilot inside the large black helicopter that had come to take him away. Still in the air, he looked down as he flew over London. His eyes widened in surprise, confusion and awe as his destination appeared before him. 

Buckingham Palace.

Not long afterwards, John has been shown into an enormous hall with a massive crystal chandelier. He followed his escort to a nearby room before walking away, leaving Watson alone in the middle of Buckingham Palace. On a small table in the middle of the room was Sherlock's pile of clothes and shoes. A sofa was placed on either side of the table and sitting on the left-hand one was Sherlock, still wrapped in his sheet and to his right, was sitting an anxious Juliet Waters.

The detective looked across to John calmly as he held out his hand in a confused gesture. Sherlock shrugged disinterestedly and looked away again. Nodding in a resigned way, the doctor walked slowly into the room, sitting down on the sofa beside his friends. Gazing ahead for a moment, chewing back a soft giggle, he looked around the room again before looking at Sherlock, peering closely at his sheet. He quickly turned his head away again.

''Are you wearing any pants?'' he asked looking blankly at the wall in front of him.

''No.'' was all his friend answered, hugging the sheets tighter around his body.

''Okay.'' Juliet sighed quietly. A moment later, all three looked at each other, their eyes meeting as they promptly busted out laughing.

''At Buckingham Palace, fine...'' John said, trying to get himself under control.

''Oh, I'm seriously fighting an impulse to steal an ashtray.'' the girl announced stuck between her two friends, making Sherlock chuckle loudly again, ''What are we doing here, Sherlock? Seriously, what?''

''I don't know.'' he replied a smile on his lips, ''Here to see the Queen?'' he mocked. Just as he had finished his sentence, Mycroft, his brother, walked in from the next room.

''Oh, apparently yes.'' Juliet laughed, making John and Sherlock crack up again. All three continued to giggle as Mycroft looked at them in exasperation and disappointment.

''Just once, can you three behave like grown-ups?'' he sighed walking closer to the trio on the sofa, all slumped over each other, having a giggle.

''We solve crimes, I blog about it, she spends her time at the morgue observing dead bodies and he forgets his pants, so I wouldn't hold out too much hope.'' John Watson stated, holding back a small smile.

''I was in the middle of a case, Mycroft.'' the tall man replied, all humour gone from his face.

''What, the hiker and the backfire? I glanced at the police report. Bit obvious, surely?'' his brother sighed, ''Time to move on then.'' he bent down and picked up the clothes and shoes from the table, turning to offer them to Sherlock, only to be given an uninterested gaze, ''We are in Buckingham Palace, the very heart of the British nation. Sherlock Holmes, put your trousers on.''

''What for?'' Mr Holmes shrugged, letting his head fall down on the top of the couch.

''Your client.'' Mycroft answered sternly.

''And my client is?'' the other man spat out at his brother while standing up.

''Illustrious... in the extreme.'' another man said as he walked in. His eyes and smile could light up the whole world yet there was something strange about him. Juliet couldn't put her finger on it yet she knew she had seen him before, ''And remaining, I have to inform you, entirely anonymous.''

''Harry.'' the older Holmes brother smiled, walking over and shaking the man's hand, ''I must apologize for the state of my little brother.''

''Full-time occupation, I imagine.'' he mocked, making Sherlock scowl, ''And this must be Doctor John Watson, formerly of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers!'' he leaned over to shake John's hand before turning his head to the quiet girl between the two men, ''And this is?''