A/N: Thank you to lickitysplit for beta reading. You are the best!
"Her name is Vivian," Merlin said softly, her hand in Escanor's.
Her fingers pressing lightly into his skin. "I reasoned the organisation we are searching for must have a scientist amidst their ranks, someone who can experiment with formulae to create more marketable drugs. Based on our friendly bartender's description I searched Linkedin. Yes, me," she chuckled as Escanor shot her a look. "You have convinced me of the power of the Internet."
He nodded his head. It had been around an hour since Arthur had departed and Escanor's attack was beginning to pass off, his thoughts coming more easily and moving together to form something approaching coherence. He had even managed to grunt out a few words, though talking was still an effort. Merlin had stayed with him, placing a chair next to him so that she could hold his hand as he lay on the sofa, just speaking so that he did not need to respond and helping him to the occasional sip of water. Her stream of conversation had moved from the innocuous - Jericho, the weather, Jericho's cooking, Jericho - then gradually returned to the case they were investigating.
"Vivian works at Imperial College," Merlin continued. Escanor moved his head a little from side to side in an attempt to make himself more comfortable; Merlin reached for a cushion, helping him to lift himself so that she could slide the support under his neck. "She is a postdoctoral research fellow whose academic interests include hallucinogenic narcotics and performance enhancers, and she has worked for the International Olympics Committee as a drugs tester, which is no doubt why the organisation recruited her. I dare say they pay her well and give her some stability, two things most academic jobs are sadly lacking."
Merlin leaned back in her chair, her hand leaving his as she fished in her pocket for her phone. "Here," remarked Merlin. She angled the screen of her phone so that he could see a picture. It was a strange looking woman with wide, half-crazed brown eyes and a bob of tawny hair with flyaway strands, wearing a white lab coat which lay neatly over her form, holding a test tube full of green liquid.
Escanor opened his mouth to speak as Merlin continued, "You want to know what the plan is?"
He nodded. "Very well. I have asked Inspector Gilthunder to pay us a visit later this afternoon, which should give you sufficient time to recover. After that, we are heading to see Ms Vivian in her office in Kensington. She should just be leaving work at that time. Why Gilthunder?" she asked as Escanor began to stammer that exact question. She chuckled before continuing with a grin, "Wait and see. But if I am right, the inspector will be invaluable. Now, can you stand?"
Escanor experimentally tested his legs, which shakily moved on his command. Merlin helped him swing them off the sofa, guiding him into a sitting position. She placed a glass of water in his hands, and he managed to take a good draft, the dryness in his mouth melting away. "T-thank you," he managed to say. "Sorry."
"Do not ever say that word to me again." Merlin smiled at him, then helped him to his feet. "If nothing else, thanks to you we got to meet our antagonist, and that was an event I would not have missed for the world." Escanor managed to return her warm smile, a weight beginning to lift from his shoulders as Merlin escorted him from the room.
Several hours later, and feeling significantly better for a shower and a change of clothes, Escanor found himself once more in the consulting room listening to Merlin and Gilthunder's sharp back and forth. No matter how many times this occurred, Escanor had long since learned the pair seemed to derive some sort of satisfaction from these terse exchanges, and had learned to keep his mouth shut until their words fell into a lull. He was still feeling a little on edge, but found he could just push the thoughts away when they came to press on his brain. That he and Merlin had found another therapist for Escanor to visit - one who was known to the detective personally - and had set up an appointment for the following day had brought him a little comfort, along with a nervousness to be starting his treatment all over again.
"I still don't understand how you know this woman is one of the gang," Gilthunder whined as Merlin gave an audible tut. "Granted she looks… deranged, but that's hardly proof of criminality, is it? Otherwise I'd have arrested half of London."
Merlin's arms folded across her chest. "I have explained this several times…"
"Not well enough." Gilthunder sighed, his hands falling with a slap to his sides. "Look, I'd like to help you, really! I want to catch Zeldris and Gelda as much as you do. What she did is disgusting…" Gilthunder trailed off, shooting Escanor an apologetic look. "But try and see things from my perspective. All we have is conjecture and theories built on thin air. This is not enough for a police investigation."
"Very well. Then do not accompany us as a representative of the law," Merlin said brightly. "You will come with us as a private individual, just as we are. I need you to be there," she added as Gilthunder's eyebrows rose into his hair. "Is that so hard to understand?"
Gilthunder frowned. "Yes it is! I get why you would want a police officer with you when you're questioning someone you suspect of drug dealing and perhaps conspiracy to murder, but…"
"Just trust me would you!" Merlin said with an exasperated huff, causing Escanor to jolt in his seat. "This operation cannot succeed without you. So stop sulking. We need to leave now if we are to arrive at the right time."
"Fine!" Giving one of his trademark sighs, Gilthunder narrowed his eyes. "But this has better be worth it."
"It will be." Merlin gave a curt nod as she moved to the couch. "Are you feeling alright, Escanor?" she asked as she leaned in towards him, her voice lowered and spoken directly into his ear. "You can stay at home if you would like."
Escanor leant into the arm rests of the chair, finding his legs steady as he pushed himself to his feet. "No, I can manage," he said. "After all," he added, a smile blooming on his face, "it sounds like, ahem, the game's afoot?" Merlin snorted, then helped him to his feet. They crossed the room together and she gestured Gilthunder and Escanor out of the room.
Escanor gaped as he looked around Kensington, which made Baker Street look like some sort of hovel. All of the buildings were large and imposing, their marble and red brick edifices interspersed with pretty boutiques, over-priced ice cream parlours and foreign embassies. Even the smell seemed a class above, the soft accents of pastry and perfume floating on the breeze. Blinking, Escanor shook his head a little to see that the cars parked on the streets included several Ferraris.
"Yes it is quite ridiculous," Merlin murmured to him as they walked at a fast pace to Imperial College. "No one needs a sports car in central London."
"Gangster money," Gilthunder muttered under his breath. "Some of it is," he protested as Merlin shot him a cold look.
"And much of it is merely the wealthy being ostentatious." Merlin grinned as Gilthunder started to splutter. "Though I can concur with you, the individuals living in that particular property are up to no good." Escanor looked up at a large building, which lay still and quiet, though Escanor could detect the flicker of one of the curtains. Whoever was within did not wish to be seen.
"It is hard to be sure, but given the locale, I would say money laundering combined with the inevitable tax evasion are the most likely options. Do not stare," she whispered as Gilthunder gazed up at the five story house. "You may be off duty but your whole persona screams police officer which is why the occupants are hiding their presence. Keep your eyes forward. You may begin your investigation when we are done with this errand."
They walked in silence until they came to a large set of buildings that Escanor recognised as Imperial College London, one of the capital's finest universities which specialised in scientific subjects. Students milled around, chatting in twos and threes, large satchels swinging over their shoulders as they headed towards the pubs and bars, the streetlights beginning to twinkle in the gathering twilight. He took a deep breath of the cool, crisp air. The city changed as day slipped away, a frisson running up his spine as London prepared for the frenzy of another night.
"Vivian works in the medicine department," Merlin proclaimed as she made her way through campus without using any navigational aids.
"Were you a student here?" asked Escanor as he watched Merlin practically skip over the cobbles, face aglow as she glanced around.
The detective turned to him, her lips twitching at the corners. "Good deduction," she murmured. "I studied analytical chemistry here, along with all the other subjects they had to offer. Undergraduate degrees are insufficiently taxing," she complained.
Escanor was silent, thinking back to his own student days. Unlike Merlin he had found the whole business far from easy. Gilthunder's right jaw suggested he shared Escanor's opinion, and the two shot each other a look as they followed Merlin through a small, narrow into an ill-lit passage which was lined on each side by doors identical in appearance save for various names pinned to the wood on faded plaques.
"These are the postdoc offices," Merlin hissed as they continued down the corridor. "Vivian's is just… here," she said triumphantly, rapping a sharp knock on a door as she spoke, ignoring the indignant "Hey!" that came from within as she pushed it open.
"Good evening, Vivian," Merlin said cordially. Escanor peeked inside, his eyes drawn to the spartan interior, bookshelves full of neatly organised tomes lining the wall to his right, and piles of papers scattered over the desk. The slender woman within glared at them, wide eyed, before her brows drew together in a fierce scowl and he had to resist the urge to grab hold of the detective's arm as she actually snarled at them.
"Who are you?" the scientist snapped. "And how dare you… Oh!" she exclaimed as Gilthunder entered the room. "Welcome, sir," she gushed, the harsh tone completely gone from her voice. Escanor gulped as she batted her eye lashes ostentatiously and smoother down her hair as she looked over the police officer. "What brings such a handsome young man to my office?"
"I-I… um…" Gilthunder's cheeks glowed red as Vivian gazed at him, her head tilted to one side and a simpering smile stretched over her face.
The police officer gave Merlin a sideways look of contempt. "We can discuss this later," said the detective brusquely as she caught his eye. Then she turned back to Vivian, whose eyes were still fixed on Gilthunder. She was leaning forwards a little, her arms pressed to her sides to push out her cleavage. "For now, I would like to ask you about your employer. Yes, we know you are working for Arthur Pendragon," Merlin declared.
Vivian gasped. Escanor had always the notion that blood draining from somebody's face was an invention of the poets, but he could see the woman blanch, her skin turning an ashen grey as her mouth fell open.
"There is no need to be coy," Merlin began. "I am well aware of the hardships academia brings. I imagine the prospect of a steady income was more than you could decline. If you tell us what you know and help us convict the rest of your organisation, I dare say we will be able to persuade the police to leniency where it comes to your own contribution."
"Will we now?" Gilthunder muttered under his breath, but his words were masked by a sudden rush of sobs. Vivian broke down, tears streaming in rivers to leave tracks in the copious power smeared over her face. She rushed at the police officer who, to his credit, stood ramrod straight, his face glossing over to a mask. The only thing that gave his disgust away was the way his mouth twitched slightly as Vivian pressed against him to sob into his shoulder.
"I didn't want to, not the killing," Vivian managed to rasp out between noisy intakes of breath. "It was fun at first, coming up with new drugs the Olympics gits wouldn't find. They're all so condescending," she said, the touch of temper stemming her tears. "But murder… it was not something I signed up for!"
Merlin inclined her head. "I believe you," she said, "but whatever your reservations you have now brought about several deaths. Monspeet died as a result of the forced administration of drugs you created," the detective continued sternly as Vivian spluttered.
The scientist collapsed in on herself. "I know," she whined, brown eyes wide and pointed squarely in Gilthunder's direction. He reached out to him, running her hand along his lapel and the inspector swallowed hard, his adam's apple bobbing with his discomfort. "I… didn't mean it! I told them only to give that batch in small doses…"
"So as you see you are in need of our protection," Merlin continued softly. "Tell us all you know. Help us to put a stop to this."
There was a long pause. "Alright," a small voice eventually murmured. Vivian stood, smoothing down her dress before she folded demurely before her. Speaking directly to Gilthunder she rushed on, "But not here. It's not safe. I-I think they're watching me. There's an old storage room in the building opposite…"
"I know the one," Merlin replied. "You propose that we should meet you there?"
"Yes. Come back in an hour. I'll be there, and… I'll tell you everything," Vivian went on, her eyes still on Gilthunder who was rubbing the back of his neck. Merlin nodded, then turned on her heels, Gilthunder practically springing from the room. Escanor had a little trouble keeping up with them as they practically hurtled out into the street.
"You. Are. The worst!" Gilthunder fumed as he strode alongside Merlin, the sound of his boots on the cobbles resounding in the air. "You took me as… as…"
"I deduced that Vivian would be more forthcoming if we were accompanied by a conventionally attractive young man. Her social media profile was… suggestive," Merlin said thoughtfully. "She only interacts with men who do not look dissimilar to yourself. She definitely has a type. Now, sulking does not become you," Merlin added crossly as Gilthunder huffed.
The arguing continued all down the street and into the nearest pub, where the three passed the time until their appointment. The conversation was terse and snappy, each of them nursing glasses of diet sodas filled with ice, condensation oozing in beads down the sides. It was with some relief that Escanor rose on Merlin's command, and they trod the roads slowly back to the university, eeking out the time until their appointment. He was excited, on edge, but still Escanor felt his pulse quicken when Merlin led them to a building dark with the shadows of the night, and he saw a door opening a little as they approached.
"All clear," a voice he recognised as Vivian's hissed from inside and he stepped forward, keen to get on with the case, keen to move on from the waiting and the cold tempers of the two investigators at his side. He arrived at the door, pulling it back and preparing to step into the room, Vivian's pale face smiling shyly before him.
"Escanor, no!"
He felt a sharp pain as he was yanked backwards from the threshold by his clothing, his collar digging into his adam's apple, cutting of his air and making him splutter. The force of the tug knocked him off balance, almost making him tumble to the floor. He cried out, twisting as he struggled to right himself. "Get back!" Merlin yelled as she grabbed Escanor's hand, her squeeze unbearably tight as she dragged him away, his legs fumbling for purchase as he unwillingly obeyed her directions, running backwards away from Vivian whose eyes were wide with fear.
"Gilthunder, run!" Merlin shrieked.
Escanor's eyes found the police officer, his mouth opening in a silent scream as the dark blue of the landscape suddenly flashed bright with white glare and orange flame. There, before he could turn round to face the direction of Merlin's pull, there was an immense, deafening boom, along with the scraping sounds of shattering glass and the thud of bricks falling to the floor. Sparks flew through the night, showers of gold falling all around him along with burning planks of wood and powdery dust. The air was foul with charcoal, and he choked out a cough, his lungs screaming for oxygen as dust coated his airways. His ears rang with agony and as his heart pounded almost painfully as sweat coated his palms and began to drip down his back. He caught another glimpse of Gilthunder's face, which had morphed with shock, before he was pulled round and his own legs turned numb as he ran and ran, letting Merlin lead him away, the police officer pelting after them. They ran, sprinted, flew away from the burning and the sudden heat until they could dip behind another building, shielding themselves from the horrific mess that had just engulfed their primary witness.
"What the fuck happened?" Gilthunder yelled as he pulled alongside them.
"Grenade," gasped Merlin, her voice hoarse. Escanor collapsed in a heap, wrapping his arms around his legs as struggled to breathe. "I heard the pin. There must have been gas in there judging by the smell. Call the emergency services. Quickly! Vivian might still be alive!"
As Gilthunder barked into his radio, Merlin sank beside Escanor and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Are you alright?" she demanded, her voice strained.
Escanor couldn't speak, but he gave a slight nod and Merlin visibly buckled, her head resting on his as she pulled him into a tight embrace. He fell against her, pressing his face into hers as her hand moved up to card through his hair. Tears pooled in his eyes as his insides melted in a confusion of horror, relief and misery and fear. He clung to the detective, his fingers digging into her clothes as he listed to the ragged sound of her breathing.
"I will kill them for this, if it is the last thing I do," she muttered darkly, the many sirens of approaching emergency vehicles screaming in harmony to drown out her decree.