13

John makes his way through patrons throbbing to techno music. No sign of Thorpey. An effeminate man sidles to John. "Are you …"

"No. Not today buttercup" John ignores the man's wounded look, looks to his left, and spots Thorpey moving into another room.

John dodges the drug-induced patrons and opens the door to a booze storage closet. Thorpey sits on a case of Scotch, out of breath.

"It seems you're out of shape, Thorpey."

"Jesus Christ!" the man visibly jumps with shock.

John calmly sits right next to him. "Who paid for the tickets? Is there a large contract out there you don't want me to sniff out? Hmmmm?"

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John goes to leave with Thorpey leading him towards another office. The bouncer grabs John and hits him. Once again, the Bouncer drops like a sack of potatoes. Another guy rushes John. This time, John grabs an arm, turns and breaks it at the elbow. The man screams as John turns back to Thorpey.

He just stands there frozen, a Jim Beam bottle at the ready. Gently, Thorpey sets it down.

"Heel, Thorpey, before I snap your neck." John snarls as he yanks him towards the exit "Let's go to yours."

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Paintings and artefacts of Hinduism. Various swords and scimitars are displayed on the wall. Decorated by someone who takes his culture very seriously. He must have paid a fortune to someone to decorate this place. Richard puts on some funky, yet disturbing, music. John takes it all in as Richard walks into the kitchen.

Richard returns with a dicing knife. He walks up to Thorpey and stabs him viciously in the arm. "You shoot at me, you die!"

Thorpey wails as John restrains the young man. "Jesus H Christ! Calm down, kid. Calm down. You calm?"

"I'll tell you anything!" Thorpey is howling now as he looks at the two man men, the one in the suit smiling at the older one as he knows he won that round. John finds himself grinning back.

He is really starting to like this guy Ianto asked him to take under his wing. You know … he could have been a teacher.

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The sleek vehicle drives by the entrance and John sees a security guard wave a Range Rover through the gates. Dozens of cars in the driveway, Yvonne is apparently having a 'suspended without pay' party? John pulls around the far corner, parks, and puts on the chauffer hat from a nearby convertible's back seat. He stares at himself in the rear-view and exits.

John climbs over the small fence bordering the car park and makes his way over to a large oak tree. He disconnects the photoelectric sensor and heads for the guest house. The guard watching has no idea.

Guests dressed to the nines drink, mingle, and barely pay attention. John can walk around like he was invited, or looking for whoever he drove there without anyone even noticing him. It's easy. No one looks at hired help.

Yvonne turns while on her phone call and looks directly at him as he pushes the door closed, leaning against it to wink at her. She blinks back with open confusion then finishes her call.

"Really" she scoffs "All those suits and he sends you to do his dirty work?"

John smiles at her as he cants his head "You think I'm a suit? Really? I don't know if I am insulted or touched that you think me one of the. No. No honey bunny. I'm not a Kingsman, I am a mercenary. I work for the highest bidder. A contractor, if you will. It's just my good fortune that a job came along while I was already in town for a wedding so … win - win. Ya know?"

"How much" she demands "How much am I worth to them?"

"You don't want to know" John winces as if he does not want to hurt her feelings "Like … that price you have in your head? Halve it princess. Maybe… maybe halve it again. Sorry. I would 'a done this one for free. But I don't have to."

She is afraid now as she glances around the room, then is suddenly defiant "This place is wired. Tech you could not imagine. They probably already know you are here!"

"Of course they do" he frowns.

"I mean the Families!"

"Princess …. Who do you think is paying for this?" John is tiring of playing with her, like every cat… in the end the mouse has to die. "I'm gonna put on a show for them that makes their dime they are dropping on this little shindig worth it.

Her smile fades as she stares at him, shaking her head as she backs up to the wall "No. no. Oh god, you liar."

"Why would I lie? I am about to cut your heart out and eat it" John snorts with amusement "Jack and Ianto have no idea I am here. Consider it their wedding present. Original, don't ya think? I clean up a mess, get paid AND get to gift it on."

"Wait" she hisses "Wait, I have money. I have…."

BANG

The pounding music seems to have hidden the sound of the gunshot. Maybe they just don't care? John stands over her with a bored expression as he explained patiently to the convulsing body "I know what you have. I already cleaned out your safe and the Families will clean out your accounts, close your file and disappear you from existence. What am I doing? Talking to a corpse? Damn. Ianto is really getting to me."

John exits without fanfare, the music loud and the party blazing.

The bottle of champagne under his arm was quite a nice year too.

Perfect for the wedding.

It could be her parting gift.