Something Borrowed 3

Janine's blush was visible, even in the low light. The buzz of conversation around them from the other patrons provided enough cover that she apparently felt safe sharing some very intimate details of her recent sleepover, and Mary wished it had been enough to prevent her from hearing it as well. It was too much information, but she couldn't allow that to show. This was the epitome of girl talk, and her reaction needed to look like fascination. Fortunately, Janine's narrative seemed to be reaching its climax, so to speak.

"He's not a cuddler, but he makes up for it with the most amazing..." Words seemed to fail her for a moment. "I sound like a moony eyed schoolgirl, don't I?"

Mary smiled. "Don't apologize for being happy. He sounds wonderful, whoever he is." Janine had still not revealed the identity of her mystery man, and she'd said she couldn't. Not yet.

After two weeks of hearing Janine describe encounters that could have come straight out of a bodice-ripper romance novel, Mary had been completely blindsided when she had stumbled onto who it was.

She had been following Janine, a surveillance that had been mandated by Magnussen. It was a test, he'd said, to gauge her skills as the latest addition to his assets. His most trusted employee was behaving oddly, and he suspected she was involved in a romantic relationship. He had decided that no one would be better suited to finding out the details (and whether it might be a threat to her trustworthiness) than another woman. It was the first contact she'd had from the man since he had revealed himself and what he knew about her. It was, he had told her, the very least she owed him in exchange for his continued silence.

When the very first surveillance had ended in front of 221B, with Janine stepping giddily out of a cab and opening the door with her own key, Mary been stunned literally speechless for so long that her own cab driver had begun to cast worried glances in the mirror.

She had realized instantly that Magnussen wasn't trying to find out what his PA was up to. He was showing Mary that he already knew. A man like Magnussen would recognize the value, as well as the danger, of what was happening, and he would have a plan in place to turn it all to his benefit. For reasons she didn't yet know, Sherlock was apparently using Janine to gain access to information about Magnussen. There was no other possibility. Magnussen's first contact with her had been the week after Sherlock's return from the dead, and she had suspected at the time that her association with John, and by extension, with Sherlock, was what had led him to her. Now he was planning to use her to stop Sherlock, or to find a means of controlling him, too. Mycroft would, of course, be the ultimate goal. And Sherlock had unwittingly set it all into motion. It was serendipity for Magnussen, and potential catastrophe for her.

"Mary?" Janine had reached across the table and was squeezing her hand. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry. Guess I got lost in the imagery." She gave Janine a lascivious smile that seemed to satisfy her.

Janine beamed. "I have the same problem. Embarrassing when the boss catches you having a bit of a moment at work, too. Oddest relationship I've ever had, but oh my god it's lovely. Getting a bit... frustrating though." Her smile slipped. "You're a nurse. Can I ask your medical opinion? I just want some assurance that I'm not carrying on with a lunatic."

Mary's frown was the first genuine reaction she'd allowed all night. "Why would you think that? What's he done?"

Janine rested her forearms on the table and leaned in close. "I told you I was going to just come straight out and ask him why he won't do more than we've been doing. It's not that he can't. I've seen some pretty impressive evidence to the contrary." At Mary's wince, she smiled, "I'm not gonna give you the details, but believe me when I say that it's going to be worth the wait. When I asked him why he's holding back, he said he's on some covert assignment and has to use intravenous drugs to keep his cover. He won't have sex with me until the assignment is over and he's tested clean for HIV."

Mary quickly grabbed her tea and took long sip to hide her smile. It was an ingenious dodge, she had to admit. She had wondered how he could manage to maintain a relationship with a woman like Janine without indulging in activity that she could simply not imagine, knowing him as well as she did. "I think he sounds like a very... thoughtful man."

Janine frowned. "You believe the story about the undercover assignment, then? It doesn't seem like a story he's making up to sound like James Bond? Or maybe that he's crazy enough to think that's who he is?"

Mary let her see the smile this time. "James Bond would hardly be avoiding sex with you, now would he? It seems plausible to me. You said he was a detective. Have you seen any sign that he's actually using drugs?"

"Yes, he showed me the needle marks." She smiled ruefully. "He couldn't avoid it, really. There's no inch of that gorgeous hide that I haven't seen." At Mary's rolled eyes, she added. "Sorry. I do go on, don't I?"

Mary glanced at her watch. "You do, but who could blame you?" She reached over and patted Janine's hand. "Now, I have to get home before my own Prince Charming locks me out."

Janine looked distressed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't even asked you about John. I'm such a selfish twit."

"Don't be silly. John is fine, and I understand completely. Young love, and all." A thought made her pause. "Is that what it is? Do you think this is serious?"

Janine's smile answered before her words. "I think he's the most attractive, most intelligent, sweetest man I've ever known." She shrugged. "Maybe. I guess we'll see." She picked up her gym bag from the floor next to her chair and got to her feet. "Same again next week?"

They had been meeting for drinks after yoga class for months now, although the baby had changed her pints to cups of tea. The class was where Mary had acquired her, in fact, 'acquired' being a euphemism from her old life. The target being Janine. "Of course. Wouldn't miss it." She returned Janine's quick hug, then sat back down. Her phone had just announced a text with a double vibration, the signal she had set for Magnussen. "I'll just finish my tea. Then I've got to go next door and get some takeaway for John."

As soon as Janine was out of sight, she pulled out her phone. The text from her blackmailer told her she had just run out of time.

When she had met with him to go through the motions of reporting what he already knew, Magnussen had told her that there were three phases to the current task, and she had just completed the first. The second, he'd told her, would involve Sherlock, although he would not reveal the details until the time was right. She knew he would never order her to kill him. Dead bodies provided no leverage. But she knew that whatever he did have in mind would be just as bad. Seeing his text, she realized that he had finally underestimated her. He was leaving her no alternative, and that was a surprisingly stupid move for such a careful man.

Tell him who you are and ask for help.

She stared at the message until the waitress came over to ask if she needed anything.

"No, thank you. I'm leaving."

She stopped next door for takeaway, then hailed a cab. Sitting in the darkened backseat surrounded by the savory aromas wafting from the bag next to her, she stepped through the contingency plan she'd been working on for days, all the while hoping it would never be needed. Knowing now that hope had been futile. The silencer fit both pistols, but she thought the smaller caliber would be the better choice. No chance of an exit wound, and very little blowback. The soft nose rounds would maximize the internal damage. It would be quick and final.

Janine had mentioned just tonight that she would be working late tomorrow because her boss had an important dinner meeting, and he would be coming back to the office afterwards. She'd been grousing about the time she would miss with her boyfriend. Mary calculated the possibilities. Weighed risk and benefit. The timing was critical, and she would probably have to hurt Janine to avoid being seen, but she was confident that this would work. It had to.

She looked up when the cab slowed. John opened the front door and stood waiting while she paid the fare and got out. When she got within reach of him, John gave her a quick hug and sniffed the air.

"What's that I smell? Kung Pao?"

Normalcy. Sanity. "And fried Won Tons." She pushed the door shut and handed the takeaway to John. "It will need a few turns in the microwave. I'll be there in a minute."

He raised the bag to his nose and took another sniff, then grinned and headed for the kitchen. Mary removed her coat and hung it in the closet, watching the love of her life steal tidbits from the bag. He glanced up and caught her looking. She instantly lifted her chin and smiled.

Janine was sitting up in bed with her legs bent at the knee and her arms folded on top of them, resting her chin on her hands, watching him dress. She always watched, even if she had to follow him into the bathroom. It was, to him, more invasive than anything else they did.

"Sherl, how can you do that to your hair?"

She was making a face at the homemade concoction he used to slick down his hair and make it look like it hadn't been washed in a month. He had designed it to smell as nasty as it looked, and he had succeeded.

"It keeps the women at bay," he said, and winked, which charmed her a tad more than he'd intended.

"It better," she purred as she got up and came over to him, pulling the sheet around her. It trailed across the floor like a train. She stretched up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck but stopped short of the kiss she'd been about to plant on his lips,. wrinkling her nose instead. "My god, you smell like a dirty sock." Then she kissed him anyway. It started out as a playful peck, but being separated by nothing but the sheet stimulated a more enthusiastic response. It was several more minutes before she allowed him to resume getting dressed.

Janine went back to bed, curled on her side under the now-untucked sheet. Her dark hair spilling over the pillow did paint an alluring picture. He'd seen much less attractive women photographed that way in the magazines John seemed to find so intriguing. Janine could put most of them to shame. Speaking clinically, of course. He pulled on his oversized jacket, and turned to the mirror for a final inspection. He often overdid the dirt on his face, but this application seemed about right.

"You look like a proper lowlife," Janine assured him. "I can't wait to help you clean it all off in the morning."

He came back to the bed and cupped her cheek. "I'm counting on it." He dropped his voice an octave the way she apparently preferred. It had the desired effect. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, then turned and kissed the palm of his hand.

"Go. Before I drag you back and tend to you the way you deserve."

He paused in the doorway to look back at her, and she blew him a kiss. He smiled and closed the door behind him.

Safely on the other side, he released a suppressed shudder and wiped his hand on his coat.

End of Chapter 3

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