Chapter Twenty-Six:
Skinner…
Skinner watched as Jekyll and Sawyer boarded the Nautilus. They were talking in low voices as they discussed a subject secret to all but them. Their manner made him nervous. Earlier that day, Sawyer had run onboard, shouting that Kathryn was alive. Then he started shouting for Jekyll. When the doctor answered the call, Jekyll soon left in search of her. Sawyer followed him.
Now, they have returned and speaking secretively among themselves. Skinner was afraid that perhaps they discovered that he lied to them about how Kathryn had gotten shot. But there was nothing he could do about it now. He had made a mistake. He knew that. As soon as the gun fired, he regretted it immediately. He panicked. He didn't know what to do. He had shot the only woman he had ever loved. Over a simple thing as a kiss.
He realised in the months that followed that he should have trusted her more than he did. When that came to his attention, he began to worry about whether or not she was alive. He wanted her to live, and if she died, he wanted to die too. But she was alive, and he was happy even though she wasn't with him.
Nemo called a meeting and the League met in the conference room. The captain stood at one end of the table and said, "According to Mr. Sawyer's information, we have reason to believe Mr. Quartermain is alive. Whether this information is legitimate or not, we will not know until we test it." He paused. "Of course, Mr. Sawyer's informant is a woman who led us to believe she was dead."
Sawyer seemed upset at the last comment. "What was she supposed to do?" he demanded, standing. "She was shot. She healed, broke into Sir Lucas' house, stole the Elixir documents, and ran back to London. We haven't been at port since we left Wales; how was she supposed to contact us?"
"Sawyer, calm down," Jekyll said. "Your concerns are understandable. But it does not excuse the fact that she wouldn't allow you to take the Elixir documents out of her house. Did you or did you not tell me she held a gun to your head?" Skinner was surprised. Sawyer didn't answer. "Did she hold a gun to your head?"
"She was trying to get me out of the house," Sawyer said, trying to defend Kathryn. "Moriarty was there—"
"Moriarty?" Nemo repeated, interrupting Sawyer. "Professor Moriarty?"
"The man who posed as M and the Fantom," Sawyer said. "And the two of them were getting a little to cosy, if you ask me."
"What do you mean?" Skinner asked.
"They seemed to have known each other for a while," the American answered. "He was calling her Kitty and Kit. She called him James. Their behaviour was too intimate for business associates."
Mina turned to Skinner's floating jacket. "Mr. Skinner," she said. "Where do Kathryn's loyalties lie? With us or Moriarty?"
"Honestly," he said, sighing. "I have no idea."
