A Study In Holmes(A Sheryll Holmes Novel)

Hello, Jadis

"Sheryll. I'm gonna go visit Mrs. Hudson, you wanna come?" Hamish had his hand on my trench coat, his eyebrows raised questioningly.
I sighed loudly. "No. Tell her I need more biscuits from her by Tuesday."
"You know, she's not your-"
"Yes Hamish. I know."
He draped my coat around his chair, moving towards the door. He looked back. "Are you seriously not even going to pay one visit to your father's landlady? Even he goes every Sunday. That's as close to sentiment he gets."
I smiled, closing my eyes.
I heard a loud, audible huff from my roommate, and he walked off to catch a cab.

COME AND PLAY.
LEVEL 4 ROOM 207
SH

OOH...IS THAT AN INVITATION, HOLMES?
JM

UNTIL 430, MORIARTY.
SH

I kept my eyes closed as the door creaked open.
"Hello, Jadis."
I looked up. Jadis Moriarty removed her coat, draping it over Hamish's chair. "Hullo, darling."
She was really quite beautiful. Strong, sharp features, earrings dangling from each ear, thick, blood red lipstick lining her lips. Her smile was wide. I gestured to the chair in front of me.
"Chess?"
Jadis grinned. "Aw, thanks, sweetheart."
She moved the black piece forward.
"Your move, Holmes."
I moved a white piece forward. "What do you want, Jadis?"

Jadis groaned. "Oh dear lord. How dreadfully boring. Straight to the point, just like ordinary people-adorable but annoying. Really Sheryll? Really?"
I kept silent.
"I need you, Sheryll. The world is just so desperately boring. You... you can keep me from being bored. Can't you see?"
She smiled tightly and sat on the armrest of my chair. "I need you. And you need me."

I watched her expectantly. "Bless you, Sheryll Holmes. Bless you." She leaned down and planted a kiss on my cheek.
Grinning widely, she grabbed her coat.
"Thanks for the tea, darling. And the game. Ta."

I sat frozen in my chair.
The last words Jim Moriarty said to Sherlock Holmes before he died.
"Bless you."