A/N - I honestly don't know how I feel about Sherlock with blond hair but sometimes we needs the disguises (and sometimes we are lucky the actor changes his hair colour for different movies 😂).
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The moment Sherlock had boarded the cruise, he headed straight to his single cabin to unpack.

He would meet with Lucetta later to discuss her case.

Every time the detective had glanced into the mirror and saw that he had blond hair, he had to do a double-take himself. He hadn't dyed it, no, but he knew a wig-maker and had approached them, asking for a hairstyle that made him near-unrecognisable to the famous detective that the papers knew him as. He wasn't that keen on it but it was suitably different enough to himself for him to accept it.

At dinner, he decided, Sherlock would make the effort to try and track down Elizabeth and work out where her room was. He would also have to pinpoint the locations of the Sandborns and of the secret service agent whose name he had forgotten. The detective would work it out eventually. It couldn't be that far lost in his mind, he thought.

Perhaps some time in his mind palace would do the trick?

Sherlock decided this would be best as he had time to kill before he met with his client anyway. The detective sat down in his comfy cabin chair and closed his eyes, steepling his hands under his chin, readying himself to travel back into his mind in search of a name.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"You're - you're part of the Forty Elephants?"

Rita nodded, seemingly finding no issue with this, "Yes."

"But you're also - "

"Mycroft's friend and confidant. Yes, that too. But there are things friends can disagree on. My position in relation to the man in the government made me a prime candidate for the gang."

"I'm...I don't know what to...say..."

"Then...don't say anything." Dr Rahat shrugged, standing up to go and sit beside Elizabeth on her bed, "Not yet anyways. I just need you to listen now."

Elizabeth's brow had raised, bunching in the middle. Listening was easy, it was the processing she was struggling with right now. She simply hadn't expected it to be her. Although it made sense how the leader knew about the cruise now.

"You complete this mission and you're free to go, clean slate and all. Mycroft's promised you that. We know you'll finish this well. All you have to do when you're officially off the hook is get a job at a cafe."

"What?"

"You heard me. It's as simple as that. As long as you are still in, all you need to do is come down to the Rob 'n' Cat Cafe and ask for a job."

Elizabeth still didn't know how to respond.

"Nothing bad will happen if you decide you're out again. All we ask for is your confidentiality."

Elizabeth shook her head, "This is too much - "

There was a knock at their cabin door.

"That would be Olly." Rita stood, approaching the door.

"Olly?"

"Yeah. He's your security guy. The only other person on this ship who knows you are Elizabeth and not Eva."

Elizabeth needed time to cool herself down but before she could even consider what she would do to kill the overwhelming feelings, Rita opened the door to reveal an average-looking man who smiled at the two, only stepping inside once Rita beckoned him in, greeting him.

"Hi, Rita. And Elizabeth I'm guessing?"

"Y - yes, nice to - meet you."

"She's just feeling a little sea sick." Rita mumbled, lying effortlessly to his face.

Elizabeth struggled to comprehend how easy Rita was finding this to explain and lie about. How could the thief treat this normally after what Rita had just told her? Did Rita not once consider what Mycroft might do should he find out? Looking down at her lap, she rubbed her hands over her eyes.

"Sorry..." Elizabeth stood slowly to greet Olly with a handshake.

"No, don't be. Sea sickness gets the best of us sometimes." He smiled understandingly, shaking her hand too, "Not only have I come to greet you but also came to say that the ship should be leaving in approximately one hour. Most people will be staying in their rooms so there's no real point trying to find anyone now. Daniel Silva, Simon Sandborn and Grayson Sandborn are all on the lists of reserved seating in the restaurant level so I have booked Rita and yourself a table in the The Gala too."

"Wow - um - " She was amazed by what he had done so far, "Thank you, Olly."

"It is my job, after all." He paused and then remembered something else, "Oh, uh, just a warning though, it appears Mr Silva has brought his wife, Lucetta, with him however she does not appear to be booked in for a meal with them so I doubt she even knows what's going on. Lucetta will be in the spa during dinner. I have - " He fished in his trouser pockets, "A picture of her for you. I just took it from her passport. I assume you have - "

"Pictures of everyone else, yes." She gratefully took the photo off of him, "Thank you this - this helps a lot."

Olly nodded, "Anything else you need," He placed a small black radio on the round cabin table, "You can contact me on there. I'll be staying in the security office for a large majority of the time. I'll be on cameras too, trying to track down rooms. We're currently checking the paper registers match our digital one and correcting any mistakes so you may very well find out before me."

"Sounds like a lot of effort." Rita commented.

"Oh, it is." Olly chuckled, "Well, I think that's it. Like I say, anything you need, contact me on the radio on channel...seven. Yeah, seven. Have a good evening, ladies. Love that dress too, Dr Rahat, very striking."

"You can call me, Rita. Charmer. Go on, out with you then. We have important things to discuss."

"Ooh, sorry." Olly joked in a higher voice as he headed to the door, "Oh, actually - " Again Olly fished in his pockets before he left, "Master key card." He waved the silvery looking piece of plastic around before chucking it on the cabin table by the radio, "That will get you into every cabin when you feel like doing a bit of...snooping." He nodded, "Alright, I'm gone, I'll leave you both to it. Laters." He waved before disappearing out the door.

"He's lovely."

"Isn't he?" Rita smiled, "And clearly very good for sea sickness too."

"Hm?"

"He calmed you right down by just being Olly."

"Yeah, I guess he did..."

"I kind of need you not to do that though in future if we discuss 'Elephant business'. It looks awfully suspicious."

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay this time but just don't have a minor break down about it again. Like I said, if you want out, you can have out but - we will need a decision by the end of the cruise."

"Of course you will."

"Look, I'm not going to bite, Elizabeth." Rita meant this genuinely, "Come on, we have Mycroft's business to discuss now. We have an hour to organise ourselves."

And so they sat (albeit apprehensively in Elizabeth's case) at the cabin table to discuss the three day plan.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

A couple of hours later, the cruise was well on its way, as was Sherlock to the location where his client had asked to meet him - the cruise library.

It was a reasonably sized book collection in a beautifully large room. Shiny mahogany bookcases reached up to the ceiling, a moss green carpet ran through the expanse of the room, giving the impression of a serene forest, small seating areas were sprinkled around the woodland.

It was in the far right corner of the room, hidden behind one of these trunk-like bookcases that he found her, facing away from the rest of the room - was she hiding from her husband? Probably. If he saw his wife with another man then he would lose it a bit too even though it would be hypocritical. Humans were funny like that.

"Mrs Silvan?"

"Oh, it's Mrs Silva. No 'n'. Who - who are you?"

"My apologies. Sherlock Holmes." He offered her his hand.

"Mr Holmes? You're...blond."

"For undercover purposes I can assure you. If everyone knew I was on board, there would be nothing private about the case you have asked me to commit myself to."

"You do have point there. Well, in that case you can call me Lucetta."

Sherlock had tried to remember the name of the agent that Elizabeth would be taking the weapons off of but had struggled and failed miserably to do so. His mind was on Elizabeth and all he did was replay every negative encounter with her out of guilt. He shouldn't be here but there was quite literally no turning back now.

"Please, sit down, Mr Holmes."

He did as he had been asked, "So, tell me about your case."

"I thought you read it?"

"I prefer to hear it from my client's own lips as well."

"My husband, Daniel - "

Penny in the air...

"For the past few weeks now has been going on these...midnight excursions. Every time I ask him about it, he just says it's work."

"And what does Mr Silva do for work?"

Silva...Daniel Silva...

"Um, he is a...secret service agent. But his work is very respectful of family boundaries so I don't see why he would just decide to start working in the middle of the night and not tell me about it."

"Unless it was something bad?"

"Yes. Exactly. One night about a week ago now, when he actually did stay the night at our home, I saw he got a text."

"What did it say?"

"'See you on the cruise. Don't forget to bring what I want. - S.S.' The first place my mind went was another woman."

"Yes, of course. There's very little else one could think...of..." The gears in his brain began to turn.

"Mr Holmes?"

S.S...Daniel Silva, secret service...Sandborn drugs and arms dealing...Alistair's sons...Grayson and Simon...S.S...Simon Sandborn...

"Oh." Sherlock sat up a little straighter.

And the penny dropped.

"Oh?"

"I - uh..."

Mentally, Sherlock was face palming. Yes, pick a case that gets you on the cruise so you have something to do while looking after Elizabeth. Little had he known the case he had chosen had now planted him directly within Elizabeth's mission. Admittedly, not the detective's finest move.

But no. It could still be fine.

It could still be fine had he not solved this case within a minute of meeting with her.

Should he be honest with her? Or would his honesty cost Elizabeth her mission?

"I - I don't think I can take your case."

"But you already have, Mr Holmes, or else you wouldn't be here."

"I'm afraid I don't have enough information Mrs Silva. Although, what you are thinking at the moment is probably correct. It most often always is. That's the male species for you."

"I have no doubt he's cheating, Mr Holmes, but I want to know with who."

"Who? It - it could be anyone from the librarian to the waitress in the restaurant. There are hundreds and hundreds of staff and passengers here. It would be virtually impossible to work it out."

"Fat lot of use you are then. They said you were the best and instead you come here like a bumbling conman."

"I don't expect to be paid, keep your money. But there is nothing - nothing that I can do. Have a lovely cruise, Mrs Silva."

And Sherlock shot up out of his seat faster than you could say 'failed case'.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

The Gala was a golden and grand restaurant on the ship, really only meant for those with the money. Both of which Rita and Elizabeth had. Each table top was decorated with a cream cloth and a simple candle. The lighting was dim and gentle and the atmosphere was rich.

Since the early afternoon, Elizabeth had relaxed in Rita's presence. She didn't find Dr Rahat scary as such but the topic of the gang was still unnerving to her. If she decided to join properly, there would be no turning back and she would have to see her plan through until the very end. But no, Rita didn’t make her nervous - she was another human being and likeable one at that.

It only made Elizabeth more curious as to the reason why she had decided to join the gang.

The two were enjoying a fabulously cooked meal and talking about things merely relevant to the persona of Eva. However, there was moment worth being noted.

"Mr Silva is at the bar currently." Rita spoke quietly and then a little louder, "Would you mind fetching us another drink, Eva?"

"Not at all." Elizabeth smiled, moving to leave her seat.

At the bar, Silva stood, checking the time on his watch as he waited for the barista to finish serving a couple. He waited patiently and yet we was clearly anxious about something. Elizabeth guessed it was his dinner with the Sandborns that was making him sweat.

Elizabeth briefly hung back as she waited for him to place his order.

"Three whiskeys, please." Daniel said.

"Yes, sir." When the barista looked, he noticed they were running low, "I'll just get some more. Won't be a moment."

Silva nodded understandingly.

"Are you married?" Elizabeth appeared right next to Mr Silva, "Sorry, small talk isn't my thing."

"I - uh - yes. I am. Who are you?"

Even though he said yes, it appeared she had still gotten a bite on her hook, "Eva Smith, rising fashion designer that may be ever so slightly obsessed with the male form." She smiled alluringly.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Smith."

"You can call me Eva."

He held his hand out to her, "Daniel Silva. Call me, Dan."

Giving a firm handshake, she let her fingertips gently graze his palm as she retracted her hand, "Ever considered being a model, Dan?"

"Not really, no."

The barista arrived back with three whiskeys for Daniel to take back to his table.

"I won't delay you in getting back to your company. I'm in room one-oh-five if you change your mind. Preferably tonight." She smiled seductively, "And you could always bring your wife too. The more models the merrier."

"I will think...about it..."

"I'm sure you will." She waved as he left before turning back to the barista, "Two chardonnays, please."

"You know," The barista began, "I've done some modelling - "

"I can tell. But I'm looking for fresh faces, sorry." She flashed a brief smile at him before taking the two drinks back to her table.

Rita locked her phone that she had been looking at when she saw Elizabeth return.

"Well?"

"I think I got him hooked. Asked him to be my model and to come by our room later this evening. He may or may not bring his wife. Can't be sure until it happens - which hopefully it will."

"To our little seductress." Rita raised her fresh glass with a chuckle.

Elizabeth chuckled too as she raised and clinked her glass against Rita's, "To the fault of man."

"Ooh, a lot of girls back in London would have liked that toast."

Rita and Elizabeth shared grins and giggles and made-up conversations with each other for the rest of their time at dinner.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Not good.

Those were the two words that came to mind once Sherlock was back in the safety of his room.

This situation was very much not good.

Had he paid a little more attention to the briefing, had he absorbed the names of everyone properly, had he got Lucetta's last name right, then perhaps he wouldn't be on the ship at all. Perhaps he would be back at the flat pacing holes into the dark wooden floor out of worry for Elizabeth instead.

Elizabeth.

She was the main reason why he came. He couldn't lie about that. But now his cover story would be null if she found him on the ship. He needed a new purpose. He needed to find one quick but what? He paused. Think...

But there was nothing.

Not even a silly menial task for him to do. Oh, how the world appeared to be against him...

They had morgues on ships didn’t they? In the event of one of the staff or passengers passing, they couldn't well keep a corpse in the kitchen freezer, no. There had to be a morgue somewhere. He could be a morgue worker for the rest of his time there.

But how would that enable him to keep an eye on Elizabeth?

He ran his hands over his face as fought with himself over the choices he had made.