The Definition of Danger // j.m.✔

13 - The Final Problem

Chapter 13: The Final Problem

SHERON

Me and Jim were in the helicopter as it flew overtop of Bart’s hospital. A ladder hung from the bottom of the copter. Jim got out first and climbed down. I went next. As I got to the bottom, Jim help me down. He let me fall, as he caught me in his arms. The helicopter soon left. It was now time to play. Jim told me to stand as far from him as I could. I stood near the edge of the right corner of the building. Jim sat on the left corner, on the edge. He quickly texted to Sherlock, and then put on his ringtone - Stayin Alive. A bit way through the song, Sherlock finally came out. Jim doesn’t look at Sherlock - he simply just stares off into the city buildings.  Sherlock makes his way to Jim. “Ah. We are at last.” Jim says, but he still doesn’t look at Sherlock. “You and Me, Sherlock, and our problem - the final problem.” Jim holds the phone up higher.  “Stayin Alive! It’s so boring isn’t it?” Jim angrily switches off the phone. “It’s just-” he holds his hand out flat with the palm down and skims it slowly through the air level to the roof. “Staying!” He pulls his hand back and briefly sinks his head into it while Sherlock paces around the roof in front of him. “All my life, I’ve been searching for distractions. You were the best distraction, and now, I don’t even have you. Because, I’ve beaten you.” Sherlock’s head turns sharply towards him as he continue to pace. “And you know what? In the end, it was easy. It was easy.” Jim said quietly and disappointed. “Now, I gotta go back to playing with the ordinary people. And it turns out, you’re ordinary. Just like all them.” Jim lowers his again and rubs his face before looking at Sherlock. “Ah Well” Jim stands up and walks closer to Sherlock then slowly starts pacing around the detective. “Did you almost start to wonder if I was real? Did I nearly get you?” Jim continued to pace. “Richard Brooke” Sherlock finally spoke. “No one seems to get the joke, but you do.”

“Of course”

“Attaboy”

“Rich Brook in German means Reichen Bach - the case that made my name.”

“Just tryin’ to have some fun.” Jim said in a fake American accent. He continued to pace around Sherlock. He looked down and saw Sherlock tapping his fingers in a almost a rhythm. “Good, you got that too.”

“Beats like digits. Every beat is a one; every rest is a zero. Binary Code. That why all those assassins tried to save my life. It was hidden on me; hidden inside my head - a few simple lines of computer code that can break into any system.” Jim stared down Sherlock. “Told all my clients - even Sheron - ‘last one to Sherlock is a sissy’.”

“Yes, but now that it’s up here, I can use it to alter all the records. I can kill Rich Brooke and bring back Jim Moriarty.” Jim looks at Sherlock for a moment then looks away in disappointment. “No no no no no… This is too easy; this is too easy.” Jim turned back around. “There is no key, DOOFUS!” Jim yelled making me jump. ‘Those digits are meaningless. They’re utterly meaningless. You don’t really think that a couple of computer lines are gonna crash the world around. I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in you, ordinary Sherlock.” Jim starts slowly walking farther from Sherlock. “But the rhythm?” Sherlock said in confusion. “Partita: Number One! Thank you, Johann Sebastian Bach!”

“But then how did…”
“THEN HOW DID I BREAK INTO THE BANK, INTO THE TOWER, INTO THE PRISON! DAYLIGHT ROBBERY! All it takes is some willing participants.” Jim started walking towards Sherlock again. “I knew you’d fall for it - that’s your weakness. One final act. Glad you chose a tall building - nice way to do it!” Jim walked to the edge.

“Do it? Do-do what?” Sherlock’s voice cracked. He turned around to look at the edge. “Yes, of course. My suicide.”

“Genius detective proven to be a fraud. I read it the papers, so it must be true. I love newspapers. Fairytales.” They both look down. “And pretty grim ones too.” Sherlock turned to face Jim. “I can still prove you created a false identity.” Jim rolled his eyes. “Oh just kill yourself - it’s a lot less effort.” Sherlock looked upon the city. “Go on” Jim said. “For me” Sherlock started circling. “PLEEEEEEASE” Sherlock grabbed Jim by his suit and held him over the edge. I quickly rose my gun and pointed it at him. “Sherlock, STOP!” I yelled. “Be careful Sheron, if you shoot me, he’ll fall.” Sherlock continued to look into Jim’s eyes. Jim looked at me and nodded. Signalling me to lower my weapon. I did as signalled and lowered it. Jim turned his head back to look at Sherlock. “You’re insane” Sherlock said. “You’re just getting that now” Jim replied. Sherlock shoves him further back, now holding him over the edge. Jim whoops almost triumphantly and gazes back at him with no fear in his eyes, holding his hands out wide and committing himself to Sherlock’s grasp. “Okay, let me give you a little extra incentive.” Sherlock frowned at Jim. “Your friends will die, if you don’t.”