The Good, The Bad and The Woman

Domination

18. Domination

Lestrade sighed as he leaned back in his seat and looked up at the man on the other side of his desk. The cop shrugged his shoulders and hoped his eyes conveyed every ounce of sincere helplessness he felt in his heart. "I don't know what I can do for you, Sherlock. Believe me, I want nothing more than to help her, but my hands are tied!"

"Try!" the detective growled like a cornered beast as he paced the small office. "Give me access to her. Let me see her for five minutes."

"I can't," Greg felt his own displeasure increase as his friend's was almost palpable and lingered in the office between them. "Do you have any idea how big this is? How hard the powers that be pressure me to keep her locked away before an eventual trial? From the evidence I've seen… she could go away for life. I don't know what sick bastard is behind all of this… or if it's true. I don't care. I believe in Irene, either way. The rest of the world doesn't."

Sherlock shook his head. "I know what to do, just give me access to her. I know who's behind this and how to stop him. But I'll need her help."

"How? How do you plan on doing this?"

The tall man looked like he was swiftly approaching the edge, as his emotions seeped into his strained voice. "I… I need her released on bail. Or escaped."

The DI sighed and chose his words with great care, "That doesn't help her, Sherlock. Even if you succeed in bringing down this bad guy… she'll still have to face this eventually. And an escape won't help her case."

"There won't be a case when I'm through!"

"You're willing to risk her life on that belief? Her future?"

"Yes. I have to," Sherlock breathed and his voice heaved with conviction and fear mixed in a terrible blend.

The police man exhaled slowly. "I wish I could help… She's been there for me when I needed someone. But I can't do the same for her this time. You don't understand how badly people want her to stay locked up. Besides… she doesn't seem to want the option."

"Yes, yes, I heard," the detective waved it off in irritation. "She wants to stay protected."

"… Is she in danger? I mean actual danger."

"I don't know!" the coat-clad mad hissed with a weary grimace as he hovered above the desk. "Which is why I need to see her, if nothing more. I need answers only she can give!"

"Sherlock, I-"

There was a knock on the door frame and both men turned from their heated argument to gaze at the man that had stepped into the small office without being noticed. He was mostly bald and had big ears that reminded them of a troll in the woods. He was dressed sharply in a night-blue suit and held a dark suitcase in one hand. He nodded curtly to them both before he faced the DI.

"Hey, Greg," the man greeted in a thick Irish accent that rolled off his tongue with ease. "I wanted to pop in to say hello before I go see my client. We'll be ready for the interrogation in about fifteen... What interrogation room is Ms Adler in?"

"Eh… Two, I believe," the grey-haired man replied as he scratched his head and searched for the paper on his desk. He found the information and nodded. "Yep. Interrogation room 2."

Sherlock squinted as he read the stranger like an open book that needed no title. "You're her attorney."

"That's right," the man nodded and held out his tanned hand for the other to shake. "Ben Freeman."

"Didn't ask."

"No, I kno-"

Sherlock rolled his eyes as he turned to face Lestrade once more and leaned heavily against the desk top. "Please. One minute, it's all I need."