Future's Past

Part 4

by Mary Christmas (unicorn_76010 at lycos.com)

Lestrade sighed in exasperation. Moorehead had agreed to Holmes helping out, but he wouldn't let him come into the lab without an extensive security check.

"Look, Professor," she gritted out through clenched teeth. She was forestalled from saying anything more by an amused chuckle coming from behind her.

"No need to fret, Lestrade. A security check on me is relatively quick." Holmes grinned at her astonishment. His expression grew serious as he turned to Moorehead. "Where was your time machine at?"

"This way." Moorehead led the way to his private laboratory.

"Professor Moorehead!" A young assistant came running out. "Come see! The indicator shows that the other time machine was used!"

Moorehead, Lestrade and Holmes all ran the rest of the way to the lab. Amidst equipment sat a large chamber that looked as if it could fit two people in it. To the side of it, the assistant was pointing excitedly.

"Hmm..." Moorehead said, "It appears that your friend has gone back to the twentieth century. 1983 to be exact. Washington, D.C."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Lestrade exclaimed. She knew that whatever Moriarty was up to, he had plenty of time, while they had only a narrow margin. Especially since they didn't know what exactly he was going to do.

Moorehead frowned. "This one hasn't been tested yet...oh, very well. Both of you step inside. He pointed towards the chamber.

Lestrade shrugged and went inside, then turned to see Holmes follow. The door was shut behind them; then a few minutes later, there was a blinding white light.

Lee Stetson moved quietly about Agent Andrew Carrington's office. Even though it was an exercise in futility. There was absolutely nothing here to indicate an intruder.

"Great. Just great," he muttered to himself. Taking one final look around he started to leave. As he opened the door, there was a blinding flash of light.

Pulling his gun out, he whirled around and gaped at what he saw.

Behind the desk, a strange-looking device had appeared. It was dome-shaped with electrical wires sticking out, which were sparking.

He started at a banging noise coming from within. Then he walked towards it cautiously. Avoiding the flying sparks, he pulled on a handle-like bar. A panel opened slowly.

"Lee! What are you doing!" He winced. Amanda. He turned to her and noticed she was not alone. A man who looked to be about fifty stood just behind her staring open-mouthed at the object.

"Agent Carrington, I presume?" Lee asked dryly.

The other man nodded, not taking his eyes off the...whatever the heck it was. Then he pulled his gun out and yelled, "Get down!"

Lee's instincts took over and he dropped to the floor.

"Put your hands in the air, and walk towards me slowly!"

"We mean you no harm." Lee blinked in surprise. The voice was feminine. Cautiously he got up and stared. There were two people. One was a woman dressed in skintight attire. It looked like some kind of uniform. The other was a man wearing an Inverness cape and a deerstalker cap. Great, he thought, Someone from an episode of Star Trek and a Sherlock Holmes wannabe.

Before he could say anything, Amanda walked up to the woman and held out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Amanda King you're from the future aren't you I thought so how did you get here and how did Moriarty get to the future to come here?"

The strange woman smiled and took Amanda's hand. "Beth Lestrade. Inspector Beth Lestrade. This is Sherlock Holmes."

Lee snorted in derision, and the inspector glared at him.

The Sherlock Holmes wannabe smiled and said, "I am afraid it is a rather long story, madam. Lestrade, please do control your temper. Now sir, perhaps you would be so kind as to lead us to your headquarters where we can talk without fear of someone overhearing us."

Lee bristled. "Okay, mister, tell me how you knew I was Agency?"

The man raised an eyebrow and said, "I didn't know you were 'Agency', but it is obvious that you were some sort of law enforcement. The gun you carry was standard issue for people in your profession. The way you ask questions is the same as every police or government agent I've ever come across, be it in this time, my time, or the future."

Lee stared at him and sighed. "Okay, fine. Let's go. Carrington, you take Amanda's car with Lestrade. Amanda, you're riding with me and Holmes, and you're going to explain what you're doing here when you were supposed to be questioning Carrington."

TO BE CONTINUED

Back to part 1 and part 2.

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