A New Mystery at 221 Baker Street

Chapter 42: Sibling Rivalry Part 2

Episode Transcript provided by Ariane DeVere/Callie Sullivan

***

Mycroft sat in 'The Stranger's Room'. John and Alice stood in front of him with the file they got from Kitty.

"She's really done her her homework, Miss. Riley," John said. "Things that only someone close to Sherlock would know. Have you looked at your brother's address book lately? Three names: Yours, mine, and Alice's, and Moriarty didn't get this from me. Alice?"

"No,"

"That narrows it down,"

"So how does it work, your relationship? Do you two go out for coffee, you and Jim?" Alice asked, her arms crossed over her chest. "Your own brother! Now I have dealt with men like you for a long time but at least they have boundaries when it comes to their family,"

"I never intended... I never dreamt..." Mycroft began to explain.

"So this, this is what you were trying to tell us, isn't it: Watch his back, 'cause I fucked up," John slammed the file down on the table between them. "How did you meet him?"

"People like him: we know about them; we watch them. Alice has been one of those people, but we now know that she isn't a threat," John gave a confused look at Alice, who gave him a meek smile in return. "James Moriarty is the most dangerous criminal mind the world has ever seen and he has the ultimate weapon in his pocket: a keycode. A few lines of computer code that could unlock any door of his choosing,"

Alice scoffed and pulled out her phone. "You idiot,"

"I beg you pardon?"

"There wasn't a key," Alice showed her phone to Mycroft, it was the security room footage from Pentonville Prison. "Remember what I said to you last year at Buckingham Palace? Loyalty can easily be bought. Moriarty had helpers in each place. I only figured it out when you sent me the footage this afternoon,"

"So, you abducted him to try and find the keycodes," John concluded.

"Interrogated him for weeks. But he just sat there, staring into the darkness,"

"And the only thing that made him open up was you,"

"I could get him to talk, just a little, but..."

"...In return, you gave him Sherlock's life story. One big lie: Sherlock's a fraud. And everyone will believe it because it's wrapped up in the truth,"

"Moriarty wanted to destroy Sherlock in every way possible and you gave him the perfect ammunition," Alice said angrily.

Mycroft lowered his eyes guiltily. John took in a sharp breath and headed for the door. "John, I'm sorry," Mycroft said softly. "Tell him, would you?" John shook his head and walked out the door.

Alice sat down in a chair across from Mycroft. She needed to make sure they were on the same level. Once John closed the door behind him, her demeanor instantly changed.

"Alice..."

"I am going to get straight to the point. I did warn you, I said that this stupid sibling rivalry was going to hurt you both,"

"I never..."

"I don't care about your intentions. You knew damn well what the risks were when you sold your brother's story to that man. Now, this is when you prove to me right in my belief that you two actually care for one another," Alice got up from her chair and headed for the door. "Don't disappoint me, Mycroft,"

*

Sherlock sat on the floor in the lab at St.Barts, bouncing a small rubber ball off the floor and cupboard in front of him and catching it repeatedly.

"Got your message," John said as he entered the lab, "Is Alice coming as well?"

"No, I don't want her to worry,"

John cleared his throat and sat down on a stool. Unknown to him, Sherlock was texting on his phone.

Come and play

Bart's Hospital rooftop.

SH

By the next morning, John was fast asleep. John's phone began to ring waking the doctor.

"Yeah, speaking," John bolted up from the stool after hearing from the other end. "What happened? Is she okay? I'm coming,"

"What is it?" Sherlock asked.

"Paramedics. Mrs. Hudson's been shot. Let's go!"

"You go, I'm busy," Sherlock said, uninterested.

"You're...? You and Alice almost killed a man because he laid a finger on her. You stay here if you want, on your own,"

"Alone is what I have. Alone protects me,"

"No, friends protect people,"