Playing Games With The Devil - A Sherlock Fanfiction

Chapter three: Playing The Part

That night I couldn't go to sleep, so instead I practiced my acting skills. It's not as if I have any other options than to do what Moriarty wants, but I am enjoying this a little. Sherlock Holmes is not an easy man to fool and would be the hardest challenge I ever faced. 

Moriarty sent me another message saying that he had a job set up for me at Barts working in the morgue. He said it would be funny to see Sherlock fall for the same thing twice. I didn't mind the thought too much, at least my job hunt would be over.

I've researched every bit of information I could find on Sherlock. Every case he's solved, his childhood, his brother, John, how he faked his death, every news report down to the very last detail. I need to be extremely thorough.

Some research I've done in the past provided me with some knowledge about him but not enough.

Now I'm studying my story. I won't give anyone my real name just incase. Instead I'll go by Renee Ashworth, my middle name combined with my mothers maiden name. It will be no problem for me to make up the rest as I go along. I work good under pressure.

As I was leaving to go to St. Barts the phone Moriarty slipped to me vibrated on the table.

You better not disappoint me. JM

I rolled my eyes and throw the phone down before leaving.

***

I've been at the morgue for three hours and still Sherlock hasn't shown up. All morning I've had to deal with examining dead bodies (which I don't really know how to do) and putting up with the annoying live ones.

Though I have to say the person who irritates me the most is Molly Hooper. She is excruciatingly cheerful, which I find partially odd to work in a morgue.

"John, keep up! I haven't got all day." A voice said walking into the morgue. Sherlock was finally here.

"Who are you?" He asked looking at me. "I'm Renee Ashworth, I'll be working here from now on." I make sure to mentally note every detail about him.

"Oh? Well where's Molly, I need her to do something for me." Sherlock stated looking around.

"She's on break. I'm sure I can help you with whatever you need." I offered.

"I need to examine a body that was brought in last night at approximately 2:17."

I smile at him. "Aren't you precise. But I know who you're talking about. There was only one body brought in last night and that was Garred Price. Come with me."

After retrieving the body of Garred Price, Sherlock began scanning over it. I watched as his eyes took in every detail. "The police report said it was a suicide." I told him.

"The police are idiots." Sherlock stated.

"That's what I thought. I mean look at the body, there's bruises on his arms and neck indicating a struggle. If he killed himself, why would he have bruises in the shape of fingerprints on his neck? And in the report it said he was found dead holding the knife in his hand. But it's highly unlikely that he would have been able to pull the knife out of his chest after stabbing himself in the heart. Not to mention he was right handed and the knife was in his left hand. This was murder not suicide." The only way to get the attention of Sherlock Holmes is through intellect. 

Sherlock looked up at me seeming somewhat impressed. "Finally, someone who isn't completely ignorant." He said while pulling out a ridding crop.

Molly had returned just in time to see Sherlock begin beating the body over and over with the crop. She looked highly uncomfortable but said nothing. I had the feeling this was a normal routine for him.

"Hello, Sherlock." Molly said with a smile when he stopped. Sherlock barely glanced in her direction and didn't say anything back. The look on her face showed she was used to this reaction.

"He really is back." Sherlock mumbled but I still caught what he said. "Who's back?" I asked. "What? Uh, nobody. John, Riley, come on. We have work to do." Sherlock said walking off. We all looked confused. Then he turned back to look at me. "Are you coming?"

"It's Renee. And I have work to do here. Some of us have real jobs." I say playing the part perfectly.

"Take an early lunch." He said walking out. I smiled internally to myself and followed him. This is going a whole lot better than I thought it would.

John's POV

There's two of them. I think to myself as Renee tells us about the dead body. Even Sherlock seems mildly impressed.

I feel like I've seen her before but I don't recognize the name. Maybe she just has one of those faces.

I stand by as Sherlock continuously hit the body with a ridding crop. I thought it was odd how Renee didn't even flinch, even Molly who has seen Sherlock do this several times looked uneasy. I couldn't figure her out. But then again I'm not Sherlock. I can't deduce every little thing about a person just looking at them.

After Sherlock finished with the ridding crop he stared at the body. He said something under his breath but I couldn't hear it. 

When he asked Renee to come along I really was shocked. Sherlock never showed any interest in others, especially strangers he's just met. Renee looked...pleased.

I'm not sure why but I have a very bad feeling about her. Something just doesn't add up. I need to remember to bring this up to Sherlock later. I'm usually not one to judge someone without really knowing them but she reminds me of Moriarty. Renee has that same look in her eyes that he did. 

And I'm sure no one wants to go through that again.