In the morning, it's still dark, Mycroft and Tara run side by side along a dimly lit pathway. Tara stops Mycroft so she can catch a breath. After a few seconds of rest, they nod at each other and continue their run. As they reach the house, Mycroft sees Anthea from a distance. She was waiting outside the house with their security detail.
'Anthea' Mycroft greeted her breathily.
'Tried calling you' Anthea ignores the pleasantries and gets straight to the point.
'I left my phone in the...'
'We need to talk' Anthea cut him off. Her tense body language and expression made Mycroft think it was Sherlock again.
He walked towards Anthea. Tara stayed behind, not wanting to intrude in case it was work-related. 'What's going on?' he asked Anthea as he pulled her aside, outside earshot of the others.
'It's Evonne' she whispered to him
'Smallwood?' he furrowed his brows.
Anthea is interrupted by her phone ringing. She sighs and she hands it to Mycroft.
'Mycroft' Mycroft heard Lady Smallwood's voice.
'Lady Smallwood, how may I help you?' He asked.
'It's my daughter, Evonne. She is missing... They found her car abandoned on a flyover. Mycroft, I need your help. I am on my way to the scene right now' she told him and tried to sound as normal as possible. She didn't want to look weak. It didn't matter to her that her relationship with Mycroft didn't end at the best of terms. This was a temporary truce.
Mycroft sighed. 'I'll meet you there. Do you want Sherlock and Dr. Watson on the case?' He asked.
'Yes... Yes' her voice broke.
'Elizabeth, we'll find her' he assured her. Sensing that she was very distressed by the situation, even more, distressed now than the Magnussen fiasco. He could understand why she would be so upset. It was her daughter who was in danger.
'I know' she sighed.
Mycroft hung up and sighed.
'Mycroft' Tara called from inside the house. She didn't have to use more words. She was asking if he was going to come inside anytime soon.
Mycroft turned and looked at Tara, who was standing at the door. He sighed and motioned for her to go inside and not wait for him, he would be there in some time. This was going to be one long day.
He called Sherlock and Dr. Watson, and let them know about the situation. Sherlock would've refused but he owed Lady Smallwood, she was instrumental in approving his exile. John told Tara that they were going out on a case so, she agreed to babysit Rosie till they were back.
...
Sherlock, John, and Mycroft were already at the scene when Lady Smallwood got there. A team of agents gathered around the car, looking for evidence. She ran to the car, Mycroft stopped her.
'She is not in the car, Lady Smallwood' He stopped her a few feet away from the car, so she didn't get in the way of the officers, letting them do their job.
'I know' she breathed. She knew but she couldn't help herself. Mycroft nodded in understanding.
They watch as Sherlock, John and a few agents try to find any leads around the car. Her phone rang
'Put it on loud speaker' Mycroft said to her before turning to one of the agents and ordering 'Trace the call'
'Hello' she answered the call
'Hello, Lady Smallwood. How are you?' a deep voice spoke in a sing-song voice.
She was no idiot, knowing this had to be about her daughter. 'Where is my daughter?' she growled.
Mycroft took one of the agent's com 'Rachel come in'
'Yes Sir!' Rachel answered on her com.
'Have you tracked down the call details? Did you get a location?'
'No Sir, he is making an internet call. He's using TOI to manipulate his location and IP address. It refreshes and shows up as if he's in a different country every second' she informed her boss.
'Lady Smallwood, don't worry, your daughter is right there in the boot' the voice told her sweetly.
Agents rushed to open the boot.
'Ask them not to open it' he warned.
'Stop' Mycroft stopped them.
'Why?! Why not?' Lady Smallwood asked anxiously.
'There are some pictures under the backseat. Have a look at them'
John rushed to the backseat, retrieving an envelope. In it, pictures of Evonne wearing a bomb vest. She was tied up and lying inside the boot.
'Oh, God! Evonne, my baby' she cried.
'High ED Bomb. Customized. I made it with the utmost care, just for your daughter. The bomb is connected to all the sides of the boot. The car so much as moves and disturbs any of the wires, everything in a 200 meters radius... BOOM!' he laughed.
'Who are you? What do you want?' she asked him.
No answer. All she could hear was him whistling a tune.
'Hello! Hello! Hello!... Please leave my daughter alone!... Hello! Hello! Hello!... Please.' She begged.
'I'm not a fan of foreplay. I'll come straight to the point. You have assets worth 100 million pounds. I'm not asking for much. All I need is 2 million. You spend millions so that your daughter can live a comfortable life. If your daughter's comfort and desires are worth so much, just 2 million pounds for her life. Not a big deal. Right?'
'If I hand over the money to you now, what's the guarantee that you'll defuse the bomb and leave my daughter alone' Lady Smallwood asked.
'Guarantee?' he laughed at her 'If you want your daughter back, you play by my rules Elizabeth. You don't have a choice. I know all your agents are already on the case. They can't help you. See darling it's very simple if you want your daughter back, shut up and do as I say'
'Fine, when do you want it? Where should I come?' she swallowed her pride and asked.
'No, no, no, no, no Lady Smallwood, you don't have to come. I want someone who plays better... Nayantara?' Mycroft and Sherlock flinch at the mention of that name and share a brief look.
'Who is that?'
'Don't you recognize the name? Major Nayantara Singh Rathore.' He teased.
'I don't know who that is' she told him.
'You don't? Why don't you ask the man standing next to you?' the voice asked
Lady Smallwood turned to Mycroft. He had absolutely no emotion whatsoever on his face. After all, he was the Iceman. Years of the practice of controlling his emotions and reaction was paying off, but there was internal chaos.
'Senior Holmes, why don't you help her'
Sherlock shared a knowing look with Mycroft. John was still confused and looked at the brothers for answers. They avoid his gaze.
'Looks like Junior Holmes caught up. Come on Holmes boys help out the clueless Lady Smallwood and Dr. Watson.'
Both Lady Smallwood and John looked at them for answers but the Holmes Brothers stood there not being able to meet their eyes.
'Aaawwww. Are the two Holmes Boys dumbfounded, too shocked? Let me help you, sweeties, out. Major Nayantara Singh Rathore is none other than. Wait for it, drum roll please...' He made a drumroll sound and announced 'Is everyone's favorite baker Tara... Matthews' he said in a singsong voice.
John was shocked, glaring daggers at Mycroft and Sherlock, who looked away not wanting to face him.
'Let Nayantara bring the money. I've been desperate to meet her. I'm sure she'd love to meet me too. I'll meet her face-to-face and get the money. I'll get back on where and when in some time. Byeeeeeee' he said in a sing-song voice.
'I don't care, who it is. I'll arrange the money. Just get her to make the drop' she told Mycroft and left. Not giving him a chance to refuse.
After Lady Smallwood was gone, Sherlock and Mycroft turned to John. He was still glaring daggers at them, knowing very well they knew the truth and chose not to tell him. His face is red with anger, his rage evident to both Mycroft and Sherlock. He stormed out of the scene, got into his car, and left, leaving Sherlock behind.
...