Chapter 6

'This isn't like him; he likes to play games, that's what he does.' Sherlock said this same sentence to himself over and over. John and Mrs. Hudson were sat on chairs; neither of them was able to sleep even though the dawn light was streaming steadily through the curtains of Sherlock's flat, bathing the room in a pale, watery, dappled, fresh light.

'What do you mean by games?' John asked wearily.

'I mean that he likes to play games! Tease me, taunt me, and tell me he's winning!' Sherlock replied irritably, John was beginning to wonder why Sherlock had even dragged him from his flat in the middle of the night. He was evidently being no help.

'Is he?' Mrs. Hudson asked quietly, her voice wavering.

'Is he what?' Sherlock asked.

'Winning.'

There was a pause as Sherlock stopped and looked at her. Everything in the room went silent as Mrs. Hudson and John waited for his reply.

'Of course not.' He said kneeling down in front of her. 'Do you really think I'd let him win at a game like this?'

'Of course not.' Mrs. Hudson smiled a watery smile.

A doorbell rang faintly from downstairs.

'Well I'd better get that.' Mrs. Hudson said standing. Sherlock collapsed into her vacated seat and rest his chin on his arched fingers. Mrs. Hudson left leaving just John and Sherlock.

'What am I doing here?' John asked after a slight pause. Sherlock merely glanced at him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. 'I mean I can't help you. I met you today. I don't even know her.'

Sherlock sighed and went back to staring into space. 'Because,' he drawled, 'the men who took her, Moriarty's men, they saw your face too. If you went back they'd be waiting. They'll kill you. I might as well keep you here, that way if they come we can hatch some kind of master plan and they reveal where Annabella is.' He said, with just a hint of sarcasm. John didn't realise how cynical he truly was. Had he given up all hope of finding her already?

'Sherlock!' Mrs. Hudson called up from the floor below, 'there are some men here for you, and I'll send them up.'

Suddenly Sherlock looked up and smiled.

'Here are our men!'