CHAPTER 10. MINOR DETAILS

Davy snapped the picture with his mobile, the doctor was unconscious but pretty much alive, the dark haired man couldn't wait to get him somewhere private. Already having an idea where to start the cutting, Davy had always favored his knife.

"Kill him." Was all the new incoming text read. Sure, Davy would definitely do this after he had a bit of fun.

"Pack it in boys! Let's find somewhere a little more private." He slammed the trunk of the newly acquired squad car, locking in the unconscious doctor.

"Yeah. I'll drive." Ryan unbuttoned the paramedic uniform trading it in for a crisp constable uniform, discarding their most recent disguise at the side of the road, the second member of Davy's crew Nick did the same lighting up a cigarette. Davy climbed into the back seat of the stolen police car, his two friends into the front. To anyone traveling past it looked like two officers with a prisoner in the back, the best disguises were the kind you could wear out in the open. This was Davy's favorite game to play, it proved his cleverness.

~0~

Mister Thobius Hughes was a chess player, a damn good one at that. After all politics, was another game of chess, but on a fairly larger scale. The politicians, heads of government, states and military all pieces in the game. He wasn't a fool, he knew his strengths he knew his pawns and though he'd moved his pieces into advantageous positions Mycroft Holmes was just a better player. Thobius always regretted the fact you couldn't choose family like employees, and a promise was a promise. He wouldn't kill his nephew, but he would use him as a sacrifice.

True Thobius had originally deemed his nephew's plan as viable, but now that the heat was on, it was best to cut all losses. Mycroft Holmes could not be touched at this point, but you cant blame a man for trying.

The soon to be ex government official knew only a handful of things about his secretive adversary. One of them being that he had only one weakness and that was his pride.

The Iceman would lose much face if his brother's quest for vengeance got out of hand. Poor Mycroft would have to focus all his energy on the impudent younger brother, just to save face. And oh, Thobius didn't doubt the younger Holmes would go rogue when word reached him that his favorite little pet had been brutally murdered. So, the soon to retire government official, did what any good Chess player would, he offered up his pawn. Because while Sherlock was out for blood, his older brother would be trying to rein him in, and at the same time trying to maintain some appearance of control.

This amused Mr. Hughes, his only regret being he wouldn't be around to watch. No matter, he would use the time to get the hell out of the country.

Underestimating Mycroft Holmes was dangerous. Being just as capable a government man as the noted "Iceman", Hughes knew when the game was at an end. The Sharks were circling smelling blood in the water, time to offer them a slower moving target.

Reflecting over his mistakes, Thobius tried to find where in his original plan, things started to go wrong. It seemed easy, thus far, and that should have been the first clue, but too late in the game did he realized the false information leaked directly to his office, that's what he gets for delegating delicate matters to one of his minions.

This was why he grabbed his briefcase caring all documents for a new identity and the banking information for his accounts in the Cayman Islands. Mycroft could have this game but this was far from over. The government official tossed his mobile out the window of his car. Just as the incoming call from his nephew flashed across the screen.

High ranking Government officials such as himself, could always find work. Many governments would pay for his advice in matters of war and state, or even pay for some of the secrets he knew or could arrange for others to know.

"Alright Johnson, the private airfield."

"Yes sir." The chauffeur, nodded and the expensive black car sped off down the private country drive.

Thobius glanced back at his old family home, he wasn't a man attached to positions but damned if anyone else could have what was his. A private smirk playing across his face, he pulled out his new mobile connecting a call to one of his security men. "Tell the boys to take the rest of the day off. We are going on holiday. Oh, don't forget to turn on the security system. I'm sure we'll have visitors shortly."

~0~

"No!" Sherlock growled flinging the stack of photographs and documents at his older brother, both men were standing now, with a large expensive oak desk between them, but it might as well have been a sliver of ice, for what good it could do to hold either man back from leaning forward dangerously.

"Sherlock-" Mycroft irritably started to reprimand his petulant little brother, when the DI interrupted both men.

"Now is not the time!" Greg growled, this surprised both Holmes brothers who faced off, with cold thunder storm like glares. "Mycroft. How reliable is this source?" Greg couldn't hide the edge in his voice.

"Very DI. This is the information we received. Just moments ago. John Watson is dead and those are the pictures to prove it."

"I wont believe it! Not until I see a body!" Sherlock sneered. "You will understand my hesitation and distrust of course, with your track record. For being so honest. And let's not leave out the incompetence that your officers have displayed so far!"

"You forget little brother how John was left vulnerable for an attack. How could you not have seen it for the obvious diversion that it was? You practically gift wrapped the Doctor for them! All that was missing was a red bow!" Mycroft clutched the edge of his desk, not caring that his voice no doubt was drawing attention around the closed door of his office, the other Diogenes Club members were used to his going ons he should think by now.

"Gentlemen!" Greg stepped between the two men, putting the oak desk behind him and pushing gently but firmly on the dark haired detectives chest, forcing him to take a step back. Greg knew a rising storm when he saw one, after all the domestics he had to handle when he was just a constable.

Both Holmes brothers were staring daggers at each other, a definite chill in the air. "This isn't helping! John wouldn't want this-he wouldn't-" Greg tried to catch his breath, pushing the morbid idea nagging at the back of his mind that John Watson was gone, that he wouldn't have thoughts or wishes now. "He would never wish for his friends to blame each other or themselves. Sherlock." Greg turned to the younger Holmes, "Sherlock your brother isn't the enemy." Then back to Mycroft "You cant blame Sherlock for this, you cant believe he would knowingly leave John open for attack. Christ there were 12 officers on scene and they still managed to get past us." Greg felt responsible, he'd failed the Doctor, God help him he'd failed his friend. "I might be a simple minded DI with state school education but this reeks of professionals. Now why would professionals target John or even the yard? What are we dealing with Mycroft? Anarchists, the run of the mill Terrorists or does this have something to do with Sherlock's little hiatus? Be straight with us."

Mycroft straightened now, adjusting his expensive gray suit, his face reflecting the usual air of aristocracy that the DI found so damn infuriating. "They are freelancers well at least the ones who tried to kill the doctor at the hospital. It seems one of our own department heads allowed ambition to cloud his judgment. He wasn't targeting the Yard for the reasons you wouldn't think. It was a power play, several bombs were set off across Europe as a diversion meant specifically for me. It wasn't until your offices ran the DNA that we confirmed our suspicions. Those victims at the bomb site where agents of ours working under a Thobius Hughes, he supervisors one of our branches in the government one that is just a little more minor than my own."
Mycroft ignored the snort of indignation coming from his younger brother. "We are not certain of his motives as of yet but it seems that he wished to prove my inapt ability to keep the country secure of terrorist threats. The plan was to cause sever casualties and then fear amongst those enforcing the law. Unfortunately this was not the case due to a Doctor who happened to be on scene, the right place at the right time. This reason alone put the doctor on their radar."

Lestrade swore now running a hand over his exhausted face, he wanted to sit down, it was all to much to take in, innocent lives had been taken senselessly and by those who were supposed to protect it's people. And for what? A promotion? He would never understand politics.

"We are handling an internal investigation-"

"None of this matters we have a killer to find, before he blows something else up. So I suggest we pull our resources and find the bloody bastard responsible." Lestrade cut the British Government off before he could stop himself.

"Do what you must." Sherlock straightened his dark coat. "I'll be looking for John."

"Sherlock you cant go off on your own! That's the last thing we need-" Lestrade's plea was cut short by his phones ringing "oh damn it what now?" Lestrade's phone started to buzz he answered in a clipped tone "Detective Inspector Lestrade." Sherlock rolled his eyes, he was going to take the opportunity to leave but something in the way the DI tensed up, his unshaven face lost color "Where? We're on our way!"

"What?" Sherlock demanded almost immediately. "John?"

"There's been a shooting two officers-one of the officers said it was two men dressed as PC's they had a squad car everything. Our constables Jenkins and Porter asked if the imposters needed assistance it seemed they had two suspects one was putting up a good fight, the other feigned fear. The imposters waited for our men to come further into the alley, before firing on them. Another patrol following protocol stopped when Porter and Jenkins did, when they heard shots fired they called it in ."

"John." Sherlock felt relief flood through him."Did they? He's alive?"

"They were last seen running-"

"Shut up! Lets go!" Sherlock barked half way out of the room, he wasn't surprised that Mycroft stayed behind, nor did he care.

A/N: Sorry for the updated chapter forgot that public school doesn't mean the same in the uk as it does here, big big big difference. Thanks to the guest who pointed that out. embarrassing. Thanks for the reviews and encouragement friends. Next upload is on the way!-Mary