221B

Chapter 14 - A Study in Pink

Sherlock shrugs his coat and ties his scarf on just as we step outside the door. All three of us eyeing the passenger in the taxi. Whoever is in there, he keeps looking around, then turns to look out the back window towards us standing in front of the restaurant. He holds his gaze for a few long moments as Sherlock stares back. Then the man turns back to the face the front and the taxi then pulls away from the curb.

With his eyes still fixed on the taxi, Sherlock runs forward before looking left where a car slams on his breaks right in front of him. Without hesitation, Sherlock just rolls over the top of the bonnet and continues to run after the taxi. The driver, angry, honks and John and I run in front of the car.

"Sorry." John says, glancing at the driver as we continue to follow Sherlock, who slows to a hault a few meters away from us, realizing that we're not going to catch the taxi like this.

"I've got the cab number." John offers when we catch up to Sherlock.

"Good for you." Sherlock answers with no emotion. He quickly brings his hands up to either side of his temples, lowers his head, and squeezes his eyes shut.

"Right turn. One way. Roadworks. Traffic lights. Bus lane. Pedestrian crossing. Left turn only. Traffic lights." He says quickly, his head slightly jerking every other word. Then he opens his eyes and lifts his head up and lowers his hand.

I give him a questioning look and he glances at me.

"Tell you later." He says quietly, so quietly it's inaudible for John so only I could hear it.

I raise an eyebrow as he turns his attention to something in front of him. I follow his gaze and find he's looking at a man entering a building. Sherlock races towards the man and shoves him out of the way before running into the building.

The man cries out and John and I race after Sherlock.

"Sorry." John apologizes as we follow Sherlock inside.

We race up a flight of stairs, out onto a cold, metal, fire escape spiral staircase which leads to the roof. Sherlock takes the steps two, maybe three at a time as John and I follow him. We reach the top of the stairs, Sherlock and I both run to the edge and look over before seeing a shorter, metal spiral staircase which leads down the side of the building to another door one floor lower. Sherlock turns and races down the stairs climbs onto the railing before leaping across the gap to the next building. I follow him a second later and John follows me.

Sherlock runs across the roof just as John catches up with me. We both stare at Sherlock as he leaps over to the next building without a second of hesitation. Sherlock turns to face us.

"Come on, John, Kate!" He says quickly.

I look over at the gap and realize it might be too big for me to jump over.

"Gap's too big." I say to John.

"I know what you mean." John agrees.

"Agh, have to go for it." I say, and back up to the edge of the roof behind us.

"What?! Are you crazy?" John says.

I nod quickly without taking my eyes away from the other roof.

"Maybe." I answer, then run forward, picking up speed.

Without hesitation I leap over the edge of the roof and stumble forward onto the next one. Before I can fall down Sherlock catches me, grabbing my arms. I look up at him.

"Thanks." I take a step back and look at John, who has stopped short just a few meters away from the edge of the other roof.

"Come on, John, we're losing him!" Sherlock says.