The Death Game

Chapter 37

''Tell me what you want from me.'' Sherlock demanded as the man stared at him, ''Tell me.''

''He left it at your flat!'' the man replied frantically.

''Who?'' the detective asked sternly.

''Moriarty.'' the assassin answered as all three men got to their feet, ''He left the computer key code at your flat.''

''Of course, the computer key code. He's selling it...'' Sherlock whispered as John looked at him, confused, ''The computer key code; the programmed Moriarty used to break into the Tower of London, the prison and the bank. He planted it when he came around.''

All of the sudden, three gunshots rang out and the assassin reeled and dropped to the ground. Sherlock quickly jerked his head and stared up in the direction the bullets came from, then swung around and he and John raced off once more. As police sirens approached again, they ducked into an open doorway as yet another police car drove passed the end of the road.

''It's a game-changer. It's a key, it can break into any system and it's sitting in our flat right now.'' Sherlock explained about the computer key code, ''That's why he left that message telling everyone where to come. We need to get back into the flat and search.''

''CID'LL be camped out.'' John sighed, ''Why plant it on you?''

''It's another subtle way of smearing my name.'' the detective stated, ''Now I'm best pals with all those criminals.''

''Yeah, well, have you seen this?'' John asked as he spotted a pile of newspapers.

He walked towards the pile and picked up one of them. It was one of the same newspapers that Mycroft had at the Diogenes Club this morning, telling of the upcoming exposé of Kitty Riley, a famous news article writer. John showed it to Sherlock.

''A kiss and tell. She got her information from some guy named Richard Brook.'' John continued as Sherlock turned his head slowly, clearly remembering the name from somewhere, ''Who's Richard Brook?''

-Same night, Kitty Riley's house-

Kitty Riley parked her car outside her home, got out and locked the car before walking up to her front door. Opening it, she walked along the empty hall to the door of her flat. She stopped in her tracks as she looked at the door nervously, realizing that it was slightly opened. Hesitantly she pushed the door open and reached for the light switch on the wall.

The lights inside her flat came on and she was greeted with the sight of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson sitting side by side on her sofa, each of them drumming their fingers of their handcuffed hand on their respective knees. All emotions fell from her face as she recognized who the men were, Sherlock gave her a wide grin.

Not long afterwards, Kitty Riley was sitting in an armchair in her living room while John and Sherlock stood in the middle of the room. The detective was using a hairpin to try and pick the lock on his handcuff. He freed his hand and gave the hairpin to his friend before starting to pace back and forth in front of Kitty.

''Congratulations on your article about me.'' Sherlock mocked, ''The scoop that everybody wanted and you go it. Bravo.''

''I gave you your opportunity.'' the writer explained, ''I wanted to be on your side, but someone much more interesting came along and spilled all the beans.''

''Who is Richard Brook?'' Sherlock asked sternly as Kitty shook her head, not wanting to tell him, ''Oh, come on, Kitty. No-one trusted the voice at the end of the telephone.'' he continued, ''There are all those furtive little meetings in cafés; those sessions in the hotel room where he grabbed into your dictaphone. How do you know that you can trust this Richard Brook? A man turns up with the Holy Grail in his pocket.'' he trailed off, ''Who is Richard Brook?''