Look out for the <>!

I woke up in my old room the next day with sun pouring into the room. I was not sure how I got here, and I didn't linger on the subject. With a stretch, I got up and looked around and noticed that it looked the same, the mess I left it in was now in neat stacks on my desk. It was as if Sherlock knew I was coming back and he didn't toss out anything. I walked over to my dresser and saw my clothes were still in place. I thought that as soon as I left everything would be tossed, at least that is what I would do, than focus on the memories.

I walked out of my room and into the family room where Sherlock was asleep on the floor with bits of shredded paper lying around him.

I hated to admit it but I really missed him. I missed the company and the feeling of belonging I got when I was around here. I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to see nobody parts in it but a full fridge of food. "This is new," I said as I pulled out some goat cheese and got out a slice of bread for breakfast.

As I put the bread in the toaster, I heard movement from behind me.

"Goat cheese?" Sherlock asked as he moved right beside me.

"I like it on my bread," I said and shrugged as the bread popped out of the toaster.

"I'm on the verge of something. The lady that confronted you. She lives in Scotland. The phone number she gave you has a Scotland area code. Also, she was awarded the best volunteer last year in Gairloch," he said and showed me a photo of the woman with a huge smile on her face looking more like a football mum, not like how I saw her. Hate boiled through me. It was her. "Lives in the Scottish highlands and goes by Alice Parish."

"Ok, Let's get her," I said confidently, not thinking it though. The more time we wasted, the more powerful she could get. I was going to be the last person she would ever black mail or threaten to join her team. This was ending with me.

"No the plan needs to be played out carefully. She knows what she's doing, we can't rush."

I frowned at him, not liking the answer he gave. We had little time until she started killing again.

"We need you working like normal. John and I are you going to take you out on the street and you're going to steal some wallets for practice? You need to be on the top of your game if we want to stop her."

We were just wasted time that we didn't have.

"We are leaving now. Get ready," Sherlock said as John walked through the door of the flat.

I rushed back into my room to change as I pulled my hair up and threw on some clothes that I was sure didn't match. I walked back out, then together went to the river in the center of town. We all knew that this was the place people went for their lunch breaks and in a matter of minutes, being here, we were in the thick of the lunch rush.

Sherlock did not waste any time trying to get me to practice. He would pick a person and I would have to get their wallet, although we had been out here for the past hour and all I got was some pocket change. This was just the first easy step for white-collar crimes and if I couldn't do this, then I was in trouble. I had lost my touch, and I wasn't sure if I could ever get it back.

"Just go for it," Sherlock said.

"I- ok," I said, still unsure if I could take this women's wallet without her knowing. I walked up to her and bumped into lightly and in the process I slipped my hand into her pocket only to pull out nothing. With my head hung in shame, I walked back over to Sherlock and John.

"So?" John asked eagerly.

"Nothing. Wrong pocket," I said and shrugged as I pretended it didn't bother me. I should have seen that it was on her other side, but I was too busy watching her face to notice anything else.

"Try it again," Sherlock said firmly.

"She's been at this for the past hour Sherlock, a break is needed," John said as he defended me. There was a reason John was one of my favorites.

Sherlock looked at me, waiting for a response from me. I needed to get better before time was out, but I was tired. I knew the more tired I got, the more sloppy I got. John was right, I did need a break but I couldn't take one. "I don't want to stop."

"So be it," Sherlock said and looked over at an older man across the road, signaling me to take his wallet.

I nodded at Sherlock and then walked over behind the old man. I looked at him from head to toe, an older man. He lived in this town his whole life based on his cap and coat he wore. He would be used to pick pocketers and he wouldn't have stuck his wallet in his back pocket. No, but in the inner pocket of his coat, it would be close to him and safe.

After making a game plan, I made my move and bumped into him. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said politely, flashing a small smile. I patted his shoulder and I put my other hand in his other coat pocket, then pulled out a wallet. I smiled brighter than before as I stuffed it into my back pocket before he saw. A heavy wallet in my pocket made me feel powerful. I just did that. I beat a Londoner at something he was used to.

I walked over to Sherlock and John and smile as I pulled out the wallet I just took. "I did it."

"And how does that make you feel?" Sherlock asked me with a ghost of a smile on his face.

"Empowered. Let's do it again," I said and smiled at him. Suddenly not feeling tired any more. I wanted to stay out here all night long because I think I could finally improve.

"Wait?! Shouldn't we return the wallet first?" John asked us.

My smile fell. Always John to ruin the fun. "Sure, but you will do it," I said to him and shoved the wallet in John's hands.

He frowned but said nothing.

The next two hours, I had racked up about five wallets and the sun was getting lower in the sky. I was tired, physically and mentally. I was happy calling it a day and going back to the flat for some sleep.

"John and I are going to take a cab back. Do you want to come?" Sherlock asked me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"No, not this time. I would like to take the Tube."

"So be it."

"See you at the flat Rori," John said and smiled at me.

I waved them off and walked over to the Tube. Before long, I was walking home in the dark, humming a song that I didn't even know the title to. Today was a good day, I was feeling like I had a chance to get back to my normal self. I couldn't wait to see what tomorrow held because I could only go up from here. This place made me feel like I truly belonged here. I felt more confident already, and I had only been back for about only one full day.

<>

Breaking me out of song was a cop car that zoomed past me with the lights on. I quickly hid in the shadows, hoping that no one saw me. It wasn't looking for me, but it was out of instinct. I had a bounty on my head, after all.

As the sirens faded into the night, I continue walking on the path I was going on until I heard someone call my name from behind. It made me jump because it wasn't John or Sherlock's voice.

"Rori!" It rang out again.

I looked back to see Lestrade. I frowned. He would bring me into the station and lock me up if he caught me. I couldn't let that happen just yet. I had to stop Alice first, then as much as I hated it, I would own up to the broken contract that I had with Scotland Yard.

Without waiting a second, I took off on my feet, running as fast as I could from him.

"Freeze! You are under arrest!" I heard him say from behind me.

I would not stop. Now I can see why people didn't stop. That was stupid. I was going to do all I could to get away. I sped up, putting every bit of energy into my legs. At that moment, I felt something hit my back and sent a shock down my spine that crippled me to the ground. Damn tasers.

"You are under arrest for breaking the contract. Any and everything you say can be used against you in the court of law," Lestrade said as he handcuffed me then pulled me from the ground.

"How did you find me?" I had been so good at avoiding cameras and hiding in the shadows. Someone must have told him I was here because we all knew that he wouldn't have been able to find out on his own.

"We got a tip off. Now, who are you staying with? Sherlock?"

I chuckled cynically. "Do you really think I would stay with him? I can't stand that man," I lied easily, knowing I couldn't get Sherlock into this mess. I needed him to look spotless.

"Then where are you staying?"

"Like I would tell you."

"Now Rori, we don't have to play this game."

"We started this game when you put me in cuffs." I had to think fast. When backup came, I would be put back in prison, then Alice Parish would get what she wanted. I looked behind my back for a quick second to see him right behind me, totally oblivious to everything. Without thinking more about it, I kicked Lestrade as hard as I could in the chest. He fell on his butt and I took off running down the road.

"Stop!" I heard him say to me.

"I don't think so, Lestrade! Not this time! And sorry!" As I ran off, I took back alley ways for a good 20 minutes until I knew no one was following me. I shoved myself into a crack in the wall as I took a breather. The cuffs around my wrists were holding me back, and I needed to get rid of them. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a bobby pin.

I scoffed when I remembered the time when Sherlock thought that my lock picking hobby was a waste. Look who's laughing now. I was about to.... And I heard the cuffs click and the right cuff loosened off my hand. I then quickly tossed the cuffs in a trash bin and kept running.

I ran back to the flat in another 40 minutes, knowing that Lestrade's men might be around the Tube waiting for me. With a heavy sigh, I mentally prepared myself to spend the night on a street bench if Lestrade's men were still at the flat, but was surprised to see that there was no Bobbie at 221. I ran inside without saying hello to Miss Hudson and flew up the stairs. Just before I open the door, I pressed my ear to it, making sure Lestrade or any of his men weren't left there, waiting for me. All I heard was John's voice talking to Sherlock.

I opened the door and walked in causally like nothing happened.

Sherlock looked up from the newspaper he was reading. "You look like hell."

"Thank you," I said sarcastically back to him.

"Would you care to tell us why Lestrade's men came here about 20 minutes ago?" John asked with worry in his voice. By the way he was standing and how his hair was messy, I knew he had been pacing and running his hand through his hair an awful lot.

It was nice to know he cared. "Yeah, about that..." I said, scratching the back of my neck, trying to think about what I was going to say.

"They said you got away, kicked him hard, bruised some ribs," Sherlock said while surprising a small smile.

I raised my eyebrows, I didn't think I kicked that hard. "I just needed to get away." I said, starting to feel guilty for my past actions.

"I'm proud, good job."

"Sherlock! Don't encourage her!" John said and pointed to me as if I admired Sherlock and would listen to his admiration.

But in this moment, I listened to him. I didn't imagine that he would tell me something like this and it made me smile a little. I couldn't believe that he was ok with what I did. "Oh relax Watson, I won't do it again."

"Good. So how did you get caught?" John asked.

"You know me, I'm just so popular, everyone wants to talk to me," I said and shrugged as I flopped down on the couch, the weight of the day wearing me down.

John gave me a look as if he was my mother. He wanted the truth, not a joke. I looked at Sherlock, who had a face that said, he really didn't care if I told them or not. "I'm not sure how they found me. He said that he got a tip and I bet you it's Parish trying to make this hard for me. You know I only have four days to get in touch with her. We need to make a plan."

"You need more practice, Rori," John said.

"We don't have time! I can't wait till the very last day John, we need to act," I said to John, raising my voice at him.

"We still have a couple more days."

I looked at Sherlock for help, then back to John.

"John's right. Another day wouldn't be bad," Sherlock said from his newspaper he was reading.

"Fine! Whatever! I'm done, good night." I threw my hands up in the air out of frustration then stormed into my bedroom.