A/n: Hello all you wonderful people. As always I'd like to thank my amazing Beta thischarmingpsycopath. You should all go read her story Love Interruption it's wonderful as well. Usual disclaimer I don't own Sherlock et al. That honor goes to Anansi who all stories belong to. Does anyone know where I can find that trickster monkey? Anyway I hope you enjoy. Feel free to review and let me know what you think.
George had only been working for James Moriarty for six months. During which he had seen many things he wished he hadn't.
Bodyguard duty was a boring job for certain, but George preferred it to some of the more unsavory tasks he'd been dealt in the past. He longed for the simpler days of petty larceny, small time cons. He had taken the position offered to him because he had thought the benefits would outweigh the cons. And while there were certain things the Boss looked down upon, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to his moral code. If you were to ask George he would tell you the Boss was insane. Brilliant, but insane.
So when his current partner Michael spotted a young woman wandering around the area, he knew that the day was going to add to his list of things he'd rather un-see. Walking up behind her, the woman gave a shriek of fright as he caught her arm in a tight grip and flashed his gun.
"Be very quiet and do as your told, you just might walk away unharmed." George told her. Nodding her head very quickly, she made little fuss as he dragged her back to the building where the Boss was waiting.
Walking past Michael, George only sighed as the other man grabbed the woman's ass. "Maybe the boss will let us have little fun with her. You think?" he laughingly commented as he followed the pair into the building.
Disgusted George told him "Leave her alone. We'll let the Boss decide what to do with her."
James stood looking at the pitiful woman in front of him. Taking in her blond pigtails, the camera round her neck, and the abject fear she was positively radiating he couldn't help but smirk. "So who do we have here?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head.
"Caught her wandering around outside. Poking around. Taking pictures. What do you want us to do with her Boss?" one of his enforcers Dan...or was it George, asked. James could never keep any of their names straight. What was the point? They were all so interchangeable... so replaceable.
Stepping towards her James lifted the camera from around her neck. Flipping through the digital interface, all he found was art photographs. Nothing of him or his men. Only pictures of the surrounding docks, the water, and some of the more derelict buildings in the area. "Well, it looks like you've caught an artist boys."
Bored already, James turned his attention to his phone as he pulled it out of his pocket. With a negligent flip of his hand he barked an order to his men "Kill her then dispose of the body. Do it quickly, our guest should be arriving soon."
Turning his back, he didn't see the pigtailed woman's expression change from the absolute terror to a self-satisfied little smile.
Sandrine took the opportunity afforded her. With her target's back turned, she threw the full force of her weight into the solar plexus of her would be captor. His grip on her arm loosened as he doubled over, gasping for breath. Grabbing the gun from his holster, she fired off two shots in rapid succession at the cretin who had wanted to play with her. Even before he hit the floor, Sandrine was on the move again. A hard rap to the back of the wheezing man's head with the butt of the gun had him dropping like a stone, out cold.
Pointing her gun at James who had by now turned around at the unexpected noise, she smiled.
"Sebastian Moran. I believe you've been waiting for me? Oh and be a dear. Take your hand off your gun and then raise both arms in the air slowly." she demanded.
Raising an eyebrow, James reluctantly complied. "So you're Moran. Not quite what I expected to tell you the truth."
"You and everyone else." Sandrine replied. "So since you're currently being so truthful, how about you tell me what you were expecting. I'm curious." Reaching into his suit jacket, she pulled the concealed gun from it's holster. Tucking it into the waistband of her capris she patted him down for further weapons.
"Up a little higher love." James smirked down at her as Sandrine checked for an ankle holster.
Her turn to raise an eyebrow, she asked "Really? That's all you've got? I'm sad to say I'm highly disappointed." Shaking her head at him as she rose "It's a pity that a supposed criminal mastermind is reduced to innuendo as a diversionary tactic. I would have thought you could do better."
Stepping back from him Sandrine spoke again. "You can lower your arms now. So, where were we? That's right you were about to tell me what you were expecting."
"Is it really that important? You have the upper hand and this is what you choose to talk about?"
Sandrine just shrugged "Always leave them guessing, do the unexpected. And once again speaking of expectations... You were saying?"
Exasperated now, James gave in "Fine. Fine. Obviously I was expecting a man. Someone taller. From the background information I could find, which I see now has been falsified, some scarring along the jaw. Someone less irritating." he paused at Sandrine's laughter "And I thought you'd be a ginger. Satisfied?"
"Hehehe... You...Hahahahaha... you..."
"I what?" James asked flatly.
Her laughter subsiding she admitted "You actually got one right." Sandrine reached up and pulled off the wig she was wearing, revealing her short ginger tresses. "What made you think ginger though?" she asked as she tossed aside the blonde pigtails.
"No reason." His eyes followed the path of the wig before he glanced back at Sandrine "Not that this hasn't been mildly entertaining, but could we move this along a bit? I did have other plans for today."
"I'm sure you did." Sandrine smirked. "However, as pleasant as being tortured sounds, I'm afraid that's been struck from the agenda. I should thank you though. Your little obsession made my job a lot easier."
"Job? Is the part where you kill me?" James mocked. "I take issue with that. For a sniper you certainly are taking the up close and personal approach."
"Nope. Wrong again. I'm seriously starting to doubt that the mastermind status you're trying to achieve is ever going to be within reach." Sandrine chided. Taking in the slight bristle her words caused she continued. "Touchy subject? Well no worries. With my help, I'm sure you'll attain it soon enough."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Here's my proposal. You need a second in command. Someone to help keep your men in line. Someone brilliant. Someone skilled. I'm everything you could hope to find. Now, I'll give you a day or two to consider of course." Walking towards James she pulled out a business card. "Be at this address at the date and time I've specified and we'll go over my terms." Sticking it into his breast pocket, she patted it before turning her back to him and walking away.
Calling out to her James asked "What's the catch?"
Smiling over her shoulder Sandrine replied "I work for the British government." Blowing him a kiss she sauntered through the doors out of sight.
