A Study In Holmes(A Sheryll Holmes Novel)

•• •-•• --- •••- • -•-- --- ••-

Sheryll Holmes sat on the edge of her chair, eyes closed, absentmindedly playing Bach's sonata in G minor. Holmes- my Holmes- was one of the few Holmes' who didn't play the violin. Instead, she played the guitar, cello, piano. Sheryll was much like her Father. In many ways. She could be kind when she wanted to, but most she was harsh. Her deduction skills were even better than the great Sherlock Holmes'.

I watched her from the chair opposite, the way her wavy black hair cascaded around her, the way her head tilted when she played the chorus, the way her eyes shone when she opened them. She was really quite beautiful, and I'd always known that.

My feet were tapping. I hadn't realised. My cheeks turned scarlet.
••  •-•• --- •••- •  -•--  ---  ••-

I was hopelessly, desperately, completely in love with Sheryll Holmes. But I couldn't tell her that, could I?
"Watson." I looked up. Sheryll Holmes' eyes were still closed. "Can you get me my phone?"

I sighed. There were times I felt more like her slave instead of her best friend.
I pressed the bright pink phone onto her hands. Sheryll opened her beautiful golden eyes. "I-I'm sorry you feel that way, Watson."

I stared. "W-What?"
She smiled. "You said that out loud."
"Oh my god I am so sorry I didn't mean-"

She cut me off and held my gaze. "I'm honestly sorry, Watson. I don't mean to.. I'm just like that sometimes."
She stood, gripping onto my hand. A soft peck on the cheek and she was gone. "Goodnight, Watson."

I watched her leave, her trench coat billowing behind her. The air mixed with the smell of roses... and the metallic taste of blood.
                                      •••
GOT ANOTHER LETTER
ADDRESSED TO YOU
-WSH

                                                SEND ME A PHOTO
                                                                              -SH

sending image.....

Hello darling,
               It's your Moriarty.
      Found a crown for me to wear when I'm Queen yet? It's okay if you haven't... But I'm getting impatient.
Come and play
Stay Alive,
            XOXO Your Moriarty♥️

                DO YOU HAVE JAMES MORIARTY'S ADDRESS?
                                                                              SH

NO BUT I HAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER. SEND HER A TEXT, WILL YOU?
WSH
                                    •••

                                           HELLO DARLING COME AND PLAY
                                                                               SH

STILL INITIALING YOUR TEXTS? OLD FASHIONED FOR A 21 YEAR OLD GIRL.
JM

         YOURE DOING THE SAME, MORIARTY.
                                                                              SH

YES YES I KNOW...
JM

                                                   COME AND PLAY.     
                          JESSICA? JEMIMAH? JANINE?
                                                                              SH

WRONG ON ALL 3 COUNTS.
BUT ALRIGHT. I'LL PLAY.
JM
                                         •••
I looked up. "Doorbell!" Watson ran to the door. He was fast, of course.
A girl with blonde hair tied up in pigtails, wearing a plaid blue dress stood, shaking at the doorway. Her lip was trembling, bruises lining her wrists and arms.
"Alice?" That couldn't be Jim Moriarty's child. One, she was blonde. Two, Alice was shaking. Moriartys were known for their confidence. A playing piece... a pawn. Alice was just another piece of the game.
Alice sobbed. "No, this isn't Alice. Hello, s-sexy, it's your M-Moriarty."
"Alice, what's wrong? Tell me what's wrong." Watson held her frail hand.
I stared into Alice's teary eyes. "She can't. I'm typing and she says whatever I want her to."
Alice broke down, crying.
"God! This frail bitch. Excuse my language, darling."
"What are you doing to her, Moriarty?" I was furious, of course. Alice was the sweetest person I knew in the Uni.
"Can't you tell, Holmes? Can't you deduce it? Aren't you the daughter of the great Sherlock Holmes?"
Alice was crying violently now. She mouthed: I'm sorry.
She pointed a gun in her mouth.
Watson and I both leaped forward. "ALICE" Watson twisted the gun away from her.
Alice fell silent for a moment, then a jolt of panic flashed through her eyes. She mouthed NO.
"Moriarty." I had my hands on Alice's shoulders now. "Yes?" Came back Alice's weak reply.
"Let. Her. Go." Alice shook and collapsed on the ground, sobbing and snivelling.
"Oh-Oh my Lord. Oh my Lord."
Watson helps her up. "Sher, she's in shock."
"Get her a blanket. Hurry!"
As Watson goes to my room for a blanket, I sit with Alice.
"Here, Alice." I pass her a cup of tea. "Are you okay?"
She's shaking, crying, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. I hold her until she stops. By this time, Watson has draped the blanket over her shoulders.
Shaking, Alice smiles. "Thank you, Hamish. Sheryll. I-I'm okay. You should have heard the horrible things she said... I-"
She choked, tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry. S-She threatened to kill everyone I loved. Everyone. I- as she was transmitting messages to my head... there was some kind of high frequency. My head was ringing so loudly, I was feeling so much pain-"
Sheryll stopped her. "Alice. I don't need a report right now. Go take a rest. My room's down the hall."
Alice nodded, tightening the blanket around her as she left.
Watson turned to me. "She's not okay, Holmes."
"I know."