So I got the lovliest review for Riser and the suggestions were made to me for a new story, one where Mallory is kidnapped instead of Bond as that seems to be the norm for a lot of stories. Anyway, I won't say more otherwise, you wouldn't need to read. Many thanks to Chibicheeberson for the ideas, this story belongs as much to you and it does to me.

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There Are No More Shadows

Chapter 1

…

James checked his watch for the fourth time in as many minutes as he sat waiting, his eyes darting to the door at every noise he heard. As the hours went by, he began to seriously worry, picking up the phone and dialing.

"Eve…sorry to call so late? You're not still at the office are you?"

"No, I finished a couple of hours ago…why?"

"What about M, did he leave with you?"

"No, he was finishing up a phone call. I offered to wait but he insisted I leave. James is something wrong?"

"Do me a favour, get Bill and Q and meet me at Headquarters in thirty minutes."

"But James I…"

"Eve please…this is important."

"Okay, I'll let them know. See you soon."

Eve hung up as James ran a hand over his face before throwing his phone on the table.

"Where are you Sir?"

…

Gareth Mallory lifted his head as he began to feel it pounding in his ears, feeling pain radiate down his back as he tried to straighten himself. He attempted to move his hands only to find that they where tied together above his head. His black suit jacket was ripped at the front and there was a cut to the side of his head, dried blood sticking to him. He took in his surroundings; he looked to be in some sort of deserted barn, no noise could be heard around him so he assumed he was out in the country somewhere. There were shovels and spades lined up neatly on the far side of the barn, a tractor that looked as though it hasn't been used in as many years stored in the corner.

"Hello...is anyone there?"

Mallory could barely keep his eyes open, as the pain in his head worsened. He heard the door to the barn opening and tried to focus on the figure coming towards him, carrying a gun.

"About time you woke up?"

"Who are you, what do you want."

"What do I want…where do I begin."

"Do you have any idea who I am, if its money you want then you've picked the wrong man."

"Have I? I'm not so sure about that."

Mallory eyed the man curiously as he kneeled before him.

"You don't recognize me…do you?"

"Should I?"

"Probably not, you bureaucrats are all the same."

"I'm sorry but I…"

"My name is Nathan Bates…SAS, ring a bell?"

"I don't…"

"You really are unbelievable do you know that, we were held together for 3 months, kidnapped…remember now."

"Nathan…of course, now I remember."

"You got out."

"I did."

"I wasn't quite as lucky as you…you see, once you were rescued, I was left to rot for another two months in that flea ridden cell, the smell of blood and piss reminding me everyday that I was closer to death."

"But you were rescued?"

"Eventually, when I told them what they wanted to know."

"That was you, you gave them the codes to those nuclear weapons, and you caused the deaths of those innocent people."

"Don't you dare, if it wasn't for you then…?"

"Me…I think you're mistaken."

"No I'm not, when we were in that cell…you promised me, gave me your word that your team would rescue us, us not just you. I wasn't important enough."

"Look I'm sorry, I did try. Back then I didn't have the authority too…"

"Don't give me that shit, you could have saved me if you'd wanted. You were free, back home with your friends and family and I was just a nobody to you, forgotten about. Do you have any idea what that place did to me, I was so screwed up that I lost my job, ended up in a psych ward…I was there for nearly ten years…ten bloody years, all because of you."

"I'm sorry I…."

Nathan stood up before throwing a punch in Mallory's direction, forcing the man to fall back, his arms causing him pains as the chains dug in to him.

"You better get use to it here…you're gonna be here a while."

Mallory watched Nathan walked out and slam the door behind him, his whole body beginning to shake, memories of the torture he'd received during his time with the SAS came flooding back.

…

James entered Mallory's office to see Eve, Bill and Q waiting for him, right on time. Eve has a look of worry etched on her face when she saw James entering.

"James…what the hell is going on."

"Right, I'm only going to ask you all this once. Has either one of you heard from M in the last few hours?"

"Well like I said on the phone, he was still here when I left at 7pm." Eve said.

"I haven't seen him, but then again I went home just before Eve." Bill added.

Q had remained quiet and looked up when James addressed him.

"Q?"

"He asked me not to say anything."

"M…say anything about what?"

"A few weeks ago he came to me and asked me to put a tracker on his phone and to have cameras installed outside his home."

"Why?"

"He had a feeling he was being watched…followed."

"Followed by whom?"

"Well that's just it, he didn't tell me, or wouldn't. You know how he can be."

"Q, you said cameras, have you looked over them recently?"

"I've looked over a few but to be honest there's nothing out of the ordinary."

"Okay and the tracker, we can track his phone now right."

Q got out his tablet and began typing away as James, Eve and Bill looked on.

"Oh dear."

"What…what is it?"

"The tracker, it's been disconnected."

"What do you mean disconnected." Bill asked.

"What I mean is that it's been removed."

"So there's no way of tracking him." James said, his voice low.

"I'm sorry double o seven."

"Right, we need to go over all the footage taken over the last few weeks and we need to check out cctv as well, we need to know his last movements before he disappeared."

"James…you don't think anything's happened too him…do you?"

"I don't know Eve…all I know is that I was meant to meet him t hours ago and he never showed up, it's not like him. Right now, we have to go under the assumption that he's taken."

"And if he has?" Bill asked.

"Then we need to find him and fast, he's the Head of MI6 and I'll be dammed if we're losing another one so soon."

They all watched as James walked out of the office and began making calls, before the made a start on finding M."

….

To Be Continued…