Charles had them all over a barrel. He was quite enjoying this. Mary Morstan was just the start. It wasn't about just the blackmail anymore. Or the murder of the Morstan family. It was about pulling the Holmes boys strings. Sherlock was boring him, for the moment. Time to throw some petrol on to the fire.
"Greg I have no idea why you still have resources tied up with this." Sherlock stated.
"Sherlock, this Magnussen guy has Mary and your parents." Greg replied.
"Detective Inspector Lestrade my brother is correct. Magnussen was quite specific in his demands that Sherlock and I find them. Anything else could possibly lead to..."
Mycroft's phone beeped.
"Excuse me."
"As much as I am loathe to agree with Mycroft, he is correct." Sherlock said without lifting his eyes from the maps in front of him.
"Mycroft?" John asked softly.
No one else had noticed. Mycroft had retreated into a corner of Lestrade's office to read the text. He was now pale as a sheet with his lips moving silently. John watched as he leaned on the wall. John walked over and stood in front of him.
"Mycroft, focus on me. What's happened?" John asked.
"Sherlock!"
"John, please, no need to shout."
Sherlock and Lestrade looked up and saw John trying to move a very stiff and pale Mycroft. Greg and John saw Sherlock's face change. Sherlock's voice was soft and lacked all the pretense of hate normally reserved for Mycroft.
"Mycroft?"
Sherlock grabbed him by the wrists and led him to a chair.
"Look. Remember me? Annoying little brother?"
Sherlock was kneeling in front of him. Mycroft's eyes became unfocused. He was beyond talking. Sherlock's hand grabbed Mycroft's camera phone. Sherlock stood up and crossed to Greg's desk. He quickly wrote down a list while John descended on Mycroft.
"Greg, water, now. Please." John stated.
Lestrade poured a glass of water and joined John.
"What is going on?" Greg asked.
John shrugged as he gently started checking Mycroft over.
Sherlock went to the door and yelled for Anderson. Sherlock finally got through Mycroft's security codes. The phone had locked down after 60 seconds of no input. Sherlock walked back towards Mycroft.
"Sherlock, did you need something?"
"Anderson. Would you kindly get everything on that list." Sherlock handed Anderson a list with 20 quid.
"Time to see why your so upset." Sherlock whispered.
Time to even the pressure. You have always known that you are smarter than your brother. Time to prove it. Why should Sherlock have most of the weight on him? I even gave you a hint. You'll be hearing from me soon. CAM
The photo attached to the text showed Anthea unconscious on a concrete floor with three, two-foot openings halfway up the wall.
"Anderson!" Sherlock called.
Sherlock quickly forwarded the picture to himself. He could hear Anderson come back down the hall.
"Sorry, I need you to double everything on that list."
Sherlock grabbed the list and started writing. Sherlock produced another 60 quid and handed it all to Anderson.
"What is.." Anderson asked as Sherlock pushed him out of Greg's office.
"John? Is my brother with us, yet?"
"Somewhat."
Mycroft's eyes were becoming clearer.
"Can we please know what happened?" Greg asked.
Sherlock showed Greg the picture.
"Mycroft, your this upset because they got your secretary?"
The growl rumbled out of Mycroft before he could stop it. Lestrade backed up.
"I promised her she would never come to harm, Lestrade. I don't know how she was captured. She knows almost as many ways of killing people as Sherlock does." Mycroft said softly.
John gave a questioning glance to Sherlock. Sherlock leaned over and whispered;
"Figure it out. Impress me."
Sherlock turned his attention to Mycroft.
"I think that would explain it." Sherlock said indicating the picture.
"What?" John asked.
"She was darted between the shoulder blades." Sherlock answered.
Greg and John looked over the picture and there was a tranquilizer dart complete with a bright white feather.
"Mycroft breathe." Sherlock said.
Mycroft took a few deep breaths and just became more agitated. Mycroft got up and paced Greg's office.
John was quietly sitting and thinking. Sherlock knew John had figured it out when he went and stood before Mycroft.
"When were you going to tell us?"
Mycroft looked very annoyed.
"I think we need to know her real name."
"Tried to keep it quiet. Only been a year." Mycroft mumbled.
"What is going on!" Greg yelled.
Sherlock waved at John. "That woman is not only his assistant but his girlfriend."
"How did you figure this out?" Greg was sounding shocked.
"I've seen Mycroft in every situation including terrorists attacks, threat of war, collapse of British government. He has never reacted like that. His body was panicking. But mostly, the rings. They have matching rings. Impressed?"
Sherlock nodded and smiled. Mycroft shook his head and gave John a quick smirk.
"Her name is Charlene. I call her Charlie. She calls me Myeeks." Mycroft stated.
Greg stifled a laugh.