I don't own Sherlock or Moriarty. I only own my OCs. Hope you enjoy this one.

Did everything you asked but your 'flawless plan' backfired. – AT

The man raised an eyebrow after reading the message. It's one of the hundreds of messages he received a day asking for his help in his area of expertise only this one was asking help because his plan hadn't worked out as it should be. But how? Those thieves weren't that much of an idiot nor an amateur and if they did everything he asked correctly, their plan would have been successful.

He opened the television changing from one station to another thinking that the heist the thieves has failed to pull off would be there and there it was. It was one of those local news channels and behind the reporter was the Louvre and several police cars. According to the news, three men were caught in the act of stealing a few prized jewelry in the possession of the museum. The man knew better, there were four men.

In the morning, Jim was curious to know how his plan backfired. It was flawless or at least he thinks it was which was already good assumption. He read the newspaper given to him reading the part about the thieves at the Louvre. This time there was an additional information saying that there was another thief aside from them. Portrait of Lisa Gherardini aka the Mona Lisa was gone and so was the necklace and earrings of the Empress Marie- Loiuse. There was a message left by the thief saying : 'Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.'

He was annoyed but finds himself more amused. Quoting Shakespeare now are we? He thought with a grin on his face. His plans shouldn't be messed with but a thief did it. It was no question that it was done by a professional and the fact that the thief had been getting in his way for quite sometime fascinates him.

It has been the fourth time this thief known to the authorities as the fox became a hindrance to his plans, the thief who was keen on leaving them a warning and leaving messages after the heist. Despite to the precautions they all took, the thief always succeeded. Fox wasn't an idiot to warn the museums or whoever was going to be the target. He knew better, he wasn't the only one getting bored.

"Shoot the thief. Don't want things to get messy." He ordered the man standing on the corner and left to fulfill his command. His client would probably reveal the name Moriarty and he can't afford that. Looking into the bright side, Jim found his trip interesting than expected. He wasn't the only one who was getting bored, perhaps he just found a playmate

-xxx-

With his connection, it was easy for him to do a tiny bit of research and location about the thief. He came with the conclusion that the thief hasn't left the country. If there's anything he was certain, the thief was out for a game with the authorities.

He was alone sitting on a café watching every ordinary person passed by. How tedious it was watching them. On his way back to his hotel room, it has come to his attention that someone was following him.

"Honey!" A woman yelled, adding to the noise of the crowd around the place.

The moment someone touched his arm, he turns his head to see who was the owner of the hand to see a brunette with blue eyes. Taking a quick look at her, it almost passed him that the girl was on a business because she made herself looked like a tourist.

She had a tourist map with her along with a book made for tourists in France, dresses like someone who would be on a vacation from the recently bought clothes for this occasion, her open-faced bag clearly made to travel easier and the camera dangling on her neck.

"There's a man following me and I thought he'd leave me alone if he saw me with someone. I'm so sorry to bother you mister." She said in a desperate whisper before snaking an arm around his. An American.

Looking to the nearest mirror, he glanced at it to see the man not far from them who was staring at them intently. So she was telling the truth.

"He's my ex turned stalker. I really don't want to you to be involved but I have no choice." She explained to him. "I'm Michelle."

The woman sounded desperate enough but the world's only consulting criminal doubted it. He could be anyone he wanted and blend easily in a crowd. The woman may have a similar talent like him. "Jim."

"Thank you very much Jim."

"Shouldn't you call the police?"

"Filed a restraining order back in the States and here he is." She laughed without humor.

Jim was led by Michelle as they both walked together in a fast pace. He was busy reading the woman. Too busy to notice how long they've walked together and that they were hidden in an alley.

"I think we lost him already." Michelle panted after glancing at the street.

"Are you sure?" Jim acted to be concerned while he tried to predict what was about to happen next with the woman.

Michelle nodded her head with a smile. "You just saved my life!"

"It's my pleasure." He said trying to be in a friendly persona.

"Are you off to somewhere?"

Planning a few crimes in advance? There was nothing interesting to do for the day. "Nah.."

"Then you're in for a treat and no I won't take no for an answer. There's a coffee shop not far from here that serves French food worth dying for!"

Before Moriarty could react, Michelle grabbed his arm and dragged him back into the crowded streets. True to her words, Michelle brought Jim into a coffee shop. The coffee was cheap and Jim knew it but unfortunately, he had to be in his role, whining about it would be no help.

It was Michelle who started their conversation. She told the consulting criminal her life as a secretary, how she grew up in New York as the youngest child of three children, her dreams of owning a chateau in Paris someday and the reason why she visited the famous city of Love in the first place.

"Wow. The whole conversation's just about me." Michelle nervously giggled.

"Don't worry. It was entertaining."

"Since you know a lot about me now why don't you tell something about yourself? Anything you're comfortable to share."

Jim looked at the woman, his eyes twinkling in curiosity. At first glance, one might say she's just ordinary. Just like the people passing by the window, living their ordinary boring life. But she's not. The way she told her life story was almost similar to a biographical information. It was anything but intimate.

"It's a secret." He grinned as he sipped his coffee shortly, not breaking eye contact.

"That's unfair."

"Guess it then."

Michelle scanned Jim from head to toe. Judging from the way he dresses,he looks like someone on a vacation but he doesn't exactly look like on a complete vacation. Perhaps he was here in a business but he took the liberty to explore the city? The kind of business that doesn't need physical contact. What could that be? Top manager maybe? It must be something that focuses with planning. He certainly wasn't alone because if he was, he could have brought a bag with him just like any other tourist instead he only got his phone in his left pocket. He's not with a girlfriend probably a male friend or colleague since a girl wouldn't carry stuff for a guy. "You're a businessman and single." Michelle shrugged. You're a single busy businessman here for vacation but somehow job gets in the way to be exact, the woman thought.

"How did you know?" Jim leaned towards her.

"Between the two of us. I'm a psychic." Michelle whispered the last part.

Jim laughed. "Tell me more about me then."

A lie after another, it was how the entire conversation went on. To be honest, Michelle didn't enjoy Jim's company and his story about having a small business in Ireland. It fascinates her how a man could be satisfied that easily. Is she the only who gets bored? Apparently, her demeanor would have changed if she knew who he really was. She was lost in her own thoughts while pretending to listen to Jim that could have sworn it has been a year before the man who was following her earlier was gone. Flirting with Jim was the best option for her to get off of the list.

She looked at her watch and gasped. "Oh my God! I took so much of your time." Not really.

Michelle paid for their food and drinks, ending their time at the coffee shop.

"I'm sorry if I kept you long."

"I had fun."

"I should get going."

"Actually, it's only reasonable for me to see you get into your hotel safely. Who knows if that ex of yours is still following you?"

"I think-"

"Pleeeeeease?" It would have been a lie if Michelle didn't find him cute.

Dammit. "Fine but you'll stay in the cab. I know you're a good guy but a girl couldn't be more careful, right?"

"That's alright with me."

He hailed a taxi and it only took them a few minutes before reaching her hotel.

"I've enjoyed this."Michelle looked at Jim before leaving the taxi.

"Me too." Something about his response made her almost feel guilty but then again, he wasn't the first person she had to use for her schemes.

"Thank you." She kissed his cheeks to Jim's dismay before heading to the hotel.

-xxx-

Heading to the hotel, Michelle quickly went to the fire exit so that she could finally go and rest for the day. After leaving the hotel, she walked on her way to her real hotel which wasn't far from where she is. It wasn't an extraordinary day nor was it boring. Buying a cheap coffee for someone was surely not in her plans.

It was already dark when she reached her room. She pours herself a glass of wine before opening the television to watch the news. The news mostly contains about the robbery at the Louvre and she felt proud of herself. Four men against one woman? It has been a bit of a challenge but it was the kind of game she has been playing for years. Then the news shifted to the man who was shot by an unknown suspect. The face of the victim appeared and it turns out, it was one of the thieves but the news only named him as an innocent civilian.

She emptied her glass and settled the glass down on a table. Nope, she wasn't affected by his death but his death led her to the conclusion that it wasn't only his little group who knew about the heist. There was no such thing as coincidence. Someone doesn't want to be involved.

-xxx-

Jim found himself amused by the woman. He even doubts that Michelle was really her name. It was amazing how natural she was at lying and the fact that she had used him didn't escape his mind. His act was bought by her and the thought that they were playing both games with one another made him less bored. Michelle may not know it but she wasn't the only one playing games with him.

A snap of his fingers would all it takes him to get actual information about her and with all of his connections it wouldn't be hard. He closed his eyes as he lay on the bed, knowing that the cat got all the time in the world to play a game with a little mouse before killing it.

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