Chapter 34 – The Dawning (part 2)

Thursday 15th March, 02:00 am

Lachlan's Mansion

"Bo, are you okay?"

Bo looked up and saw Tamsin shuffling forward on her bum. Her hands were bound behind her back, with a red mark evident on her face. A sign of being slapped. In the corner, another body lay across the floor. It was Dyson. The room was dark, except for low lighting on a few walls.

"I'm fine." Bo replied, "What about Dyson?"

"Unconscious, I think. But he's breathing, thank god. He took quite a beat down when I broke a guard's nose. I'll kill him if I ever get out of here." Tamsin sunk lower and sighed.

"No need, Lachlan beat you to it. That guard is dead because he interrupted him, and that madman shot him in the head." Bo replied, hearing Tamsin gasp. "Don't worry, Lauren is here, and she promised things would be okay."

"How are things okay?" Tamsin was feeling agitated. Her face stung, the man protecting her was on the floor, and Bo talked about things being okay. "We aren't even alone in here. There are three women asleep in the cells. Jesus, this is like a film with Liam Neeson, except no one knows we're here."

"Come here," Bo shuffled forward, "Put your head in my lap."

Tamsin stopped moving, asking, "Why?"

"Lauren did it earlier, found a bobby pin and unlocked her handcuffs."

"When and why was Lauren handcuffed," Tamsin asked, "And where have you been?"

"We were kidnapped," Bo answered. "That's another story and one I will tell you once we are out."

"And she showed you how to do it?" Tamsin shuffled again towards and bowed her head into Bo's lap.

"Erm, well no, not exactly." Bo found a pin and screamed, "Ah-ha."

Tamsin sat up, "Now what?"

Bo's shoulders slumped, "I don't know."

"Pass it to me. I know how to do it."

Tamsin and Bo darted around to see Dyson sitting up, then getting to his feet. Bo stood too and shuffled to the middle of the darkened room. Dyson met Bo and took the pin. A few clicks later, his handcuffs were removed, and he also had removed Bo's. She rubbed her wrists, it had only been a few minutes, but the uncomfortable position of being bound behind her back had hurt. Dyson went to Tamsin next.

"Do you learn to pick locks in Spy School?" Tamsin grinned as the handcuffs were set free and fell to the floor.

"Yes, days five and six are dedicated." Dyson jokingly replied. He had hold of her wrists and rubbed them gently. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Tamsin leaned into his frame and closed her eyes as his arms wrapped around her.

Bo watched their interaction with a mixture of love and jealousy. Not jealous of them, but how easy they were in each other's company. No shy looks or missed opportunities. Unlike her and Lauren, when they danced about for weeks before having their first kiss in Morzine. And still, today, they can't open up to their feelings. Bo realised then it was her that made things complicated. It was her who had a secret fake boyfriend, it was her who allowed control to be part of her life, and it was her who still hadn't been honest by telling her that she loved her. Bo no longer wanted things slow. She wanted it all and wanted it now. Before, she'd been scared that it would frighten Lauren away, and she would be hurt again. But she would never know unless she put her heart out there. No more games, no more hiding. Bravery came from the small gestures, not big ones. Surviving tonight was the first step, and then the next was to tell Lauren how she felt.

"Ah-hem." Bo coughed. Tamsin and Dyson turned around. They had been so conceived with each other they had momentarily forgotten about Bo being in the room. "Dyson, do you have a plan?"

"Sorry, Bo, I am not Lauren. I don't know how to get us out of here." Dyson held Tamsin's hand and slowly turned to face Bo.

"We should find something you can use as a weapon, and next time that floor retracts, we can try and fight our way out." Bo was animated and fueled by adrenaline and a desire to make sure Lauren was not hurt.

"They have guns, Bo," Dyson stated. "I feel the best course is to see what Lauren has planned and sit it out. At least we are not bound or restricted, so we can move about or stretch. Lauren has been held in worse situations. Most of them because of you."

"What do you mean?" Bo folded her arms, "What do you know?"

Dyson sat, pulling Tamsin down with him and resting her on his body. Tamsin snuggled into his chest and tucked her legs under her. She felt safe with him protecting her. "Just forget I said anything and try and rest. You don't know when we might need our energy."

"No," Bo stood defiantly in front of him, "What did you mean?"

Tamsin looked up, "You better answer, babes. I have seen that look."

Dyson smiled at being called babes and kissed the top of her head. "Okay." He resisted the urge to kiss her more, as it was still in the new phase. Really new phase, and he didn't want to ruin anything.

"I'm waiting." Bo tapped impatiently.

"So after Morzine, she spent ten weeks captive by the NCB. They wanted details on you, and her resistance to tell them anything ensured she was kept hostage until all agents had completed their assignments." Dyson said, a matter of fact.

"I knew that. Lauren and I had spoken about it, and it is hardly my fault." Bo pushed a finger into his chest, "It's your shitty agency that's to blame. But I liked the part where she didn't say anything about us. She said she hadn't, but it's nice to hear. But I won't take the blame for it."

"Fine. Maybe that one, but what about you sending a conspiracist file claiming Lauren was actually Irish Mob hit woman, Siobhan Murphy." Bingo, Dyson could see he had hit a nerve. "Lauren had another delightful twelve days at the hands of the CIA interrogation team where she was deprived of sleep, food, and the only water she got while waterboarded. She nearly died drowning." Dyson stopped speaking when he saw the colour drain from Bo's face; she had no idea.

"I didn't send any file." Bo felt sick.

"That's true. Kenzi, Bo's assistant, sent it." Tamsin pipped up, "I only found out a few days ago. She followed you to the station, and she sent it after Lauren dumped you. She feels terrible and doesn't know how to tell you."

Bo paced the floor, "Does Lauren think it was me?"

Tamsin and Dyson looked at each other and shrugged, "Erm, I guess so."

"And yet she still wants to be with me?" Bo pulled her hair back from her face, "Why, my life is a circus, and the people around me are the clowns."

"Hang on, Bo," Tamsin stood and held the top of Bo's arms. "That's a bit unfair. Kenzi protects you, and when she saw Lauren do, she was angered. She fought for you and will always fight for you. Even if her head isn't, her heart is in the right place."

Dyson stepped forward, "So Lauren is just game in this, is she? It is okay to let her rot in a cell no bigger than a piece of A4 paper, in her own piss and shit and beaten daily because she upset Bo."

Tamsin pushed Dyson back, "You don't know her or us. So put your macho ego back in its box. Christ is everyone in love with Lauren fricking Lewis."

"I'm not in love with her, but she was tortured. Lauren made a bad decision that day, but she paid that price and deserves a break Tamsin."

"So does Bo." Tamsin protected her friend fiercely, "She went through hell and has been controlled all her life. She finally meets someone she has a spark with and is betrayed. It sent her spiralling out of control, and her only root out was self-inflicted harm. Don't forget, she nearly died too, which goes back to what Lauren did that day."

Silence followed. All that was meant to be said was said. All the secrets were out. Exhausted, they each went to a room corner and sat down. Hours passed, but no more words were spoken. The noise of the floor retracting finally woke them.

Each stood up and put their hands in the air. Red lasers filled the room, followed by officers with Police vests storming the area. Dyson called out his rank and badge number and was approached first.

Thursday 15th March, 11:30 am

MI6 Building

Vex joined the group gathered outside the building, "Alright, guys."

Kenzi was the first to turn and hugged him, "Hey. All sorted?"

"Yeah, Codeye reckons it will take hours to dry out. It will be cancelled tonight for sure." Vex answered.

"Laurens late." Tamsin barked, "Where the fuck is she?"

From the entrance, Dyson appeared, "Is she here yet?"

"Yes, here she is," Tamsin pointed to the empty space next to her, "Shall we go in now?"

Dyson half-smiled, "Okay, sorry, silly question." He wanted to hold her and apologise for their fight, but there were more urgent matters right now.

A motorbike pulled up, the helmet was lifted, and Lauren ran toward them. "Where is she?"

Dyson answered, "Not sure, best guess minus three."

Tamsin held Lauren in place, "Where the fuck have you been?"

Lauren didn't have time for this but knew she wouldn't be allowed past without some kind of explanation. Kenzi joined Tamsin's side, and Vex followed suit. All four lined up in front of her. "In exchange for you and the women, I helped Lachlan. Once we were at a safe distance, I called in my team to extract you all. I never expected this."

Dyson was the first to answer. "At first, we were all interrogated, then Tamsin and I were released hours ago, but like I said earlier on the phone, Bo is still being held by MI6 inside. They aren't saying anything, but I haven't left this door, and neither has Bo."

"Tunnels", Lauren replied, "You wouldn't know if they had moved her. Most of London has secret tunnels." Turning her back on the group, Lauren walked away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Kenzi shouted.

"Going to get Bo out," Lauren replied, not looking back.

Tamsin stood before the others, "I'm following her."

"Me too." Said Kenzi.

"And me." Repeated Dyson.

"Fuck it, me too, then." Vex realised no one else was there and was talking to himself.

They turned a corner and spotted Lauren crossing the Thames river on the bridge. Running, they quickly caught up with her.

Lauren stopped in her tracks, turned to the group and said, "Go back. I can't guarantee you won't get shot or arrested. Please, wait at the entrance of MI6. If Bo is there, I will get her. If not, then I will find out where they took her."

Tamsin walked past her, "Come on, Lauren, we're wasting time. God knows what they are doing to her in there."

"What do you mean?" Lauren asked.

"What did they do to you?" Tamsin watched as Lauren's face dropped, "Exactly, now hurry up."

Lauren nodded; extra bodies could be helpful. Everyone followed Lauren down an alley to a gated walkway with another door at the end. Inside that door, past old treatment pipes, down some more stairs to an old brick tunnel. They followed the tunnel back under the Thames River, using the torch of Lauren's phone till they reached a bricked-up wall.

"Now what," asked Dyson.

Lauren didn't answer. She simply started to remove the bricks to reveal a metal door. To its side was a panel, and she placed her hand on it. The scanner turned green, and the door opened up. "All high-level agents have access to these tunnels. They were digitalised years ago after tourists discovered some."

Inside, Lauren held up her gun to eye level, "Follow me and be quiet."

Her entourage did as they were told.

They moved slowly along the corridor, evident that they were now inside MI6 from the signage and branding on the doors. Everyone followed Lauren as they made their way through a maze of walkways. Getting in the elevator and choosing minus three.

Lauren spoke inside the elevator, "Outside these doors, I expect guards if they are holding someone in the interrogation rooms. It may not be Bo, but our arrival won't be welcomed, and there will be resistance. Stick close to the walls or, better still, the ground. They will shoot at us. I will unarm them but need you to pick up those weapons and keep hold of them."

Kenzi and Vex nodded.

"I'm helping you fight." Dyson wasn't asking permission.

"Me too." Neither was Tamsin.

Lauren exhaled. She would need to keep an eye on her. She had seen Dyson fight, but not Tamsin, but didn't have the time to argue.

The doors pinged open, and they were met with six guards in the corridor. As soon as they were seen, they shouted for arms to be raised. Ignoring the request, Lauren shot the lights in quick succession, and everything went dark. Lauren ran forward with Dyson and Tamsin following closly behind. Vex and Kenzi hit the floor. Noises of cracking bones could be heard. Vex and Kenzi crawled on the floor, passing guards and collecting their weapons as instructed.

Turning the corner, they were met with more resistance. Dyson fought the ones on the left. Tamsin the guards on the right. Lauren made her way down the middle, edging close to the closed interrogation room. She was impressed with both Dyson and Tamsin for holding their own. Finally, she'd arrived at the glass window. Inside, she saw Bo handcuffed to the middle of the table, and Jack was talking to her. The room was utterly soundproof, and those inside were unaware of what was going on outside.

"I've found her," Lauren shouted. "Bo is in here, handcuffed to the table."

The door was guarded, and he was a big one. Almost six feet and eighteen stone of muscle. Lauren landed several punches that seemed to make little or no difference. She was joined by Dyson and Tamsin. All of the other guards were on the floor. Vex and Kenzi had all their weapons and shouting at them to stay down. Lauren saw that they both were holding the guns well, but both had the safety on. She sighed. She would need to give them a lesson on guns one day. Or maybe not. This wasn't their world, nor should it be. Lauren had caused this mess, and it might take a long time to be forgiven.

Looking around at everyone helping her gave her a strange feeling. She had worked in teams before as the leader, but this felt like a joint effort and real teamwork. Knowing they were there for Bo and not actually helping her didn't change her resolve. She felt pride and sense that she would repay the favour to any of them anytime they needed her to be there.

Nostalgia nearly hurt her, as Lauren reacted quickly to dodge an attempted blow to her face. "Dyson, remember the Goldberg training centre and that heavy fucker." Lauren shouted.

Dyson nodded and ran toward the heavy guard, scooping up his legs. Dyson picked him up from the floor. Lauren jumped on his torso and sent him crashing against the window. His heavy frame instantly smashed the glass as he toppled through.

Inside, everyone froze when the guard landed in the room with a thud. He was not getting up anytime soon.

"What the hell's going on?" Jack backed up against the wall.

Lauren jumped through the broken glass, scanning the room like a woman on a mission. Her usually perfect bun was slightly deshelled, and her jacket buttons were open. Otherwise, Bo noticed that there wasn't a single mark on her.

Bo smiled, "My girlfriends here."

Lauren looked over to Bo, "Girlfriend?"

"Not now." Bo squirmed, trying to lift her arms to show Lauren her restraints, "Get me out."

Lauren spotted the blood on the side of Bo's mouth and saw red. She rained blows on the men beside her without further hesitation, who fell instantly. The other guards ran toward her. Lauren ducked their attempts to hit her. Dropping to the floor, she swiped their legs; they fell hard. Once on the floor, a few punches ensured they were not getting back up.

Standing, Lauren pulled out her gun and pointed it at Jack. "Did you hurt Bo?"

"Lauren," Bo shouted. "I'm okay. Put the gun down. It's just a bruise."

Lauren did not answer. "What did you do?" She had her gun pointed at Jack's head.

"Lauren, please put the gun down." Bo pleaded, "When they came for me this morning, I tried to fight my way out. But I lost, that's all."

"She took down two men before she was finally restrained. No one meant to hurt her, Lewis." Jack finally spoke.

Lauren lowered her gun. "You made this personal, Jack. Now let Bo go."

Jack moved to the table and unlocked the cuffs. Bo ran to Lauren's side. "Oh, Lauren, I'm so happy to see you."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lauren held Bo in one arm, keeping the other with her gun pointed at Jack.

"Are you?" Bo replied, "I was so worried."

"So was I." Lauren lightly kissed her, "I'm so sorry. You didn't choose this."

"No, but I chose you." Bo held Lauren tight. "This is not your fault."

"Have you slept?" Lauren studied her closely.

"Yes, interviewed for maybe an hour, then given a room and bed to sleep and brought back here to answer the same questions again. Can we leave now?"

"Yes." Lauren kept eye contact with Jack. "I will need to have a de-brief first, but I will be right behind you."

"No." Bo held her ground, "we go together."

"Okay. Jack, you get to ask one question. Then I'm gone. And in case you haven't realised it, interrogating my –" Lauren smiled at her love, "girlfriend crosses a line, and I quit."

"Only one question?"

"Yes," Lauren replied. "So make it a good one."

Jack smiled sinisterly, "Fine. Where is, no wait, you'll say you don't know. Let me rephrase it. What happened to Lachlan?"

"I helped him get out of the country, but I don't know where he is now." Lauren backed towards the door, where the others were gathered.

"Walk out, and I will have you hunted down and arrested." Jack unbuttoned his waistcoat, "Sit, Lewis, I have a few more questions, then I'm done with you."

"Okay. I will give you your de-brief in exchange for us to be free to go." Lauren reluctantly agreed and guided Bo towards Dyson and Tamsin, who quickly pulled her into the corridor. Lauren sat in front of Jack and placed her gun on the table. A guard beside her moved, but a swift kick saw them back unconscious. Lauren cracked her neck and began to tell her story. "On entering Lachlan's home, we were quickly surrounded. He had already captured Thornwood and Taylor and held them in the cellar with the other three unknown Eastern European women. Bo and I watched as he killed one guard for interrupting him. He was not one to try to combat. He would have shot me before I made a move. Instead, I agreed in exchange for us all walking out alive that I would help him escape. We left. I got him to the Scottish border and introduced him to a contact who deals in passports. The one he had, the data strips had been demagnetised, and the only place that would have got him was a holding cell. After that, he trusted me. We travelled to Edinburgh Airport, boarded a flight to Amsterdam, and landed less than ninety minutes later. He handcuffed me to the bike railing out front. I had to dislocate my thumb without attracting the attention of the Dutch police or tourists, and I got a flight back. I landed only an hour ago, shattered and out of my mind with worry. So what now, Jack?"

"Fuck, he could be anywhere now." Jack stood. "I guess he got away with it this time, and based on what you said, I agree you made the right choice for the hostages. You are free to leave Agent Lewis."

Dyson, Tamsin, Kenzi, Bo and Vex rallied around Lauren.

"Let's get out of here," Dyson spoke, pulling Lauren up from the chair.

Jack walked forward, and the group backed into the hall. "Use the front door. No one will challenge you, I promise. There is nothing left to say on the matter."

Jack walked to the lift and pressed his hand to the panel, and it instantly appeared. The door sprung open to reveal it empty inside. "Come."

Lauren nodded, and the others followed. The thirty-second elevator was silent, and as the doors opened on the other side, they were surrounded by more guards. Lauren still had her gun but holstered it. She knew that she would be shot instantly if it was in her hand.

"You can go today, Lewis," Jack straightened his tie and walked to his guards. "But operatives don't leave or quit, and I'll be in touch."

The guards lowered their weapons on Jack's command and parted, making a walkway for the group to pass through. Once outside, Kenzi burst into laughter. Vex joined in. Tamsin and Dyson eyed each other.

"What's going on?" Bo asked.

"I think it's nervous hysteria," Lauren replied. "Not uncommon after a stressful situation."

Kenzi flung her arms around Lauren and Bo, and Vex joined. Tamsin shrugged and joined also. Dyson merely patted their arms.

"Anyone for a drink?" Dyson asked. The group moved apart, and all nodded.

"Great, follow me. I know a place."