Once again I have to apologise for the long wait between chapters. Real life yet again. Parents, hospitals, cats, dogs (I don't even have a dog, that's how crazy things have been!), work, stress, chaos... This is chapter 13, so I suppose I should have expected it really. At least my father looks to be on the mend now, so that's something. Thank you to everyone who's reading and reviewing - it really does mean a lot and I'm sorry I haven't been more organised with this one.
I didn't want to spoil the surprise by saying that this story was more of a sequel to 'Most Wanted' than 'Broken', but that's what it is. Sunny7777 deserves a special mention for predicting that Sahara was involved!
Chapter Thirteen
Lady Penelope was too utterly broken and exhausted to contemplate another escape attempt. She knew it was hopeless anyway. The car was locked and even if she'd had the strength to tackle Sahara, the man in the back would have easily overpowered her.
No introductions had been necessary there. He was Eric Younger, the man Penny had pursued along with Sahara for months before finally accepting that they were under the protection of the dictator of a small but increasingly powerful island in the Pacific and were far beyond her reach. Then, of course, there had been the fateful mission and the car crash and after that the pair had been the last thing on her mind.
"I look good, don't you think?" Younger said. "You did me a favour, you know, making me change my identity. The ladies love this new face."
Sahara, who Penny believed to have had a relationship with Younger in the past, simply rolled her eyes, an action which caused Younger to lean forward, poking his head into the gap between the two front seats in order to whisper conspiratorially to Penny,
"Sahara suggested I go for something along the lines of your Scott, but frankly, I'm not interested in indulging her fantasies anymore."
"Be quiet, Eric!" Sahara muttered. "You're no match for the real thing, anyway. I expect you wish he was here now, don't you, Penny?"
"He could have been if you'd let me shoot," Younger said, leaning back in his seat. "I was only going to wing him, just enough to bring him down, but no, you had to get all sentimental and knock my hand up."
Penny frowned in confusion. That comment didn't fit with her past experiences with the pair, so did that mean they'd seen Scott more recently? Sahara glanced across at her and smiled.
"That's right, Penny, we saw Scott just yesterday. Unfortunately he managed to get away from us, but I rather think he'll be back. Anyway, we'll pick him up again. With you as bait I'm sure things will get moving pretty quickly."
Penny said nothing, too overwhelmed by the knowledge that Scott was on the scene. Was he really going to come running to her rescue as he'd done in the past? But the glimmer of hope quickly died. He wouldn't even know where to look. Anyway, he'd probably be more worried about his father and brother than her. That had to be why he'd suddenly appeared in the country when he was suppose to be on Tracy Island. Wasn't it...?
She forced herself not to think about Scott . Instead she listened as Younger and Sahara argued all the way back to the farmhouse. She didn't exactly learn much, but at least she was getting a better idea of the dynamics of the relationship between the people who had captured her. Eric Younger clearly had no love for Sebastian Swayne as he complained long and loud about his inability to get anything right, both at Westminster Abbey and at the farmhouse.
"If we hadn't showed up when we did we'd have lost her," he pointed out, waving in Penny's direction.
"She'd have died from the cold before she could have alerted anyone," Sahara said. "Calm down, Eric. It's all going to work out, you'll see."
"Is it? I'm not even sure I trust you, Sahara. I know there's something you're not telling me."
Sahara just laughed.
An hour or so later, Penny was feeling better - physically at least. Emotionally, she was a mess, but she was finally beginning to warm up. She'd expected to be thrown straight back into the cellar, but to her surprise the first thing Sahara had done was to get her up to the bathroom, run her a hot bath and even bring her a cup of tea once she was in it. Penny had accepted it gratefully, too cold and weary to worry about the source. She'd been allowed to stay in the bath as long as she wanted, Sahara informing her that she was too valuable to lose to hypothermia, and she'd taken full advantage of this, partly because it was doing her the world of good and partly to delay the inevitable backlash she'd face for her escape attempt. She'd heard the sound of raised voices and although she'd been unable to make out the words, she'd guessed Sebastian Swayne was getting it in the neck for allowing her to escape.
But she couldn't stay in the bath forever and eventually the hot water had run out and she'd been forced to get out. Now, sitting in Swayne's living room, curled up in an armchair next to the fire and wrapped in a couple of scratchy but warm blankets, another cup of tea by her side - not Earl Grey, unfortunately, but the fact that she'd felt a momentary disappointment had to be a sign that she was recovering.
Her wedding dress had been beyond redemption.
"Marcel's most famous creation," Sahara had said. If anyone else is going to do well out of this, it's him. This dress is all over the news. Shame we're going to have to burn it but we can't have any evidence left lying around."
Penny was glad to be out of it, her ribs sore from the constraints of a corset that had never been intended to be worn for nearly two days. To her embarrassment she'd had to allow Sahara to help her remove it before her bath - even without frozen fingers the corset would have been nigh on impossible to unlace herself. It was supposed to have been Simon's job... Of course, Sahara had commented on this, unable to resist comparing this dress to the one Penny had worn when she'd 'married' Scott.
"A very different kind of wedding this time," she'd said. "But just as much of a sham, isn't it, Penny?"
Penny had ignored her, too relieved to be able to ease herself into the warmth of the bath. Sahara had left her to it, much to Penny's relief, but she knew it had only been a temporary respite. Had Sahara realised that she wasn't the woman she'd been eighteen months ago, she wondered? The first time they'd met, Penny had been confident, capable of dealing with any situation. But not anymore. She had to admit that she was scared. Not only about what might happen to her, but about what was to come with Simon. Sahara was going to enjoy shattering his illusions about his wife and Penny dreaded the moment the door would open and her husband would appear.
He'd find a very different woman to the one he'd last seen - in more ways than one. The clothes Penny wore now came courtesy of the boy - Zak - who was the only one remotely near her size. She'd worn many outfits in her time, some as part of a cunning disguise, but she'd never before found herself clad in ripped jeans, woolly socks and a hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with the logo of some death metal group. She hated to think what she looked like, with no make-up and her hair damp and tousled.
She shook herself. Why was she worrying about her appearance? Was she really that vain? Penny tried to convince herself that it was actually a sign that she hadn't completely lost her nerve, that she was still capable of winning through even in such a desperate situation as this. But she couldn't do it. Yes, she'd escaped earlier, but that had been down to luck - if you could call the death of a fellow-captive lucky. The iron resolve and cunning that had found ways out before had gone. Being without Parker hadn't helped, of course. In the past she'd know there was someone to watch her back, someone to come to the rescue when all hope seemed lost. But not anymore. Oh, people would be searching for her alright, including the Tracys, but she had no way of calling International Rescue, so would they know where to look?
Then the door opened. But it wasn't Simon who entered but Eric Younger. "More tea?" he asked. "I'd give you a proper drink - you're probably going to need it - but Sahara wants you to have a clear head."
Then he sat himself at Sebastian Swayne's desk and turned on the monitor which showed the feed from the cameras which had been installed in the cellar. Swivelling it so that Penny could see it too, he leaned back in his chair.
"This should be good. I'll say one thing for Sahara, she knows how to press people's buttons. Enjoy the show."
Penny was greeted by the sight of Simon, Irving Ross and Prince Louis sitting silently around the table. Ken Mantle's body had been removed, much to her relief and she couldn't help wondering what had happened to him. It was cold enough to keep him in some outbuilding if they didn't dispose of him immediately, she supposed, but she hoped the man's family would get some closure eventually.
Then the three men looked up as the door was unlocked and opened. Their surprise when Sahara walked in was palpable. Clearly the woman's resemblance to Penny had thrown them. Prince Louis jumped to his feet and moved towards her, only to be pulled back by Sebastian Swayne's assistant, the burly and intimidating Quinn, just back from wherever he'd taken the Archbishop. He pushed the man back into his chair then retreated to the door.
"Good evening," Sahara said, taking a seat at the table. "Don't try anything, gentlemen. Aside from the fact that Quinn here won't hesitate to shoot you, I have Lady Penelope upstairs and I know you wouldn't want anything to happen to her."
Clearly the men were affected by the news that Penny's escape attempt had failed. Even so, Irving Ross spoke up.
"How do we know she's still here? If you've got her why not bring her in?"
Sahara just nodded to Quinn, who disappeared just for a moment, returning with a torn, muddy and sodden bundle of lace which he threw onto the floor by Simon.
"Proof enough?" she asked.
"Where's Penelope?" Simon asked, tearing his anguished gaze away from Penny's wedding dress. "I want to see her."
Sahara smiled. "Not just yet. She can see you, though. Give her a wave." She indicated the cameras. "I've enjoyed catching up with her. I haven't seen her for a long time."
"Who is this woman?" Prince Louis asked.
"I have no idea," Simon told him. "Some relative, I'm guessing, by the look of her. Although I thought I'd met all Penelope's family. But then, if she's the kind of person to get involved in something like this it's no wonder my wife has had nothing to do with her."
He stopped in the face of Sahara's laughter. "Oh, I'm no relative," she said. "Don't let the way I look fool you. No, I'm one of Penny's failures. There aren't many of us, I'll give her that."
Irving Ross drew in a breath. Sahara spared him the briefest of glances before she continued.
"You look confused, Lord Warrington-Farr. You do know what I'm talking about, don't you?"
"I... Are you connected with Penelope's charity work? Did she try to help you in some way?"
"Hardly! She'd have willingly seen me dead. Your wife's a ruthless woman. But you know that, don't you? You know everything about her?"
"Of course I do." Simon was clearly refusing to let his obvious bewilderment get in the way of his loyalty to the woman he loved.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure that I love her," Simon told her. "I trust her, too. Whatever happened between you two, it's all in the past. It really doesn't matter to me."
"Oh, I think it will," Sahara said. "Because the past is the reason you're here now."
Back in the living room, Penny was aware of Eric Younger watching her intently as she slumped down in her seat. This was what she had dreaded. Simon was going to find out all about her past, about her failure to be honest with him. But worst of all, she wasn't going to be the one to reveal it. Instead, Sahara would do it, twisting the knife as much as she could as she did so, whilst Penny could only watch with no chance to explain herself or to make things right.
"You still haven't told us who you are." It was Irving Ross who spoke. He'd been watching Sahara carefully and the uncertainty in his eyes had been replaced with wariness.
"No, I haven't. But then names are complicated things. Aren't they, Lord Warrington-Farr? You know, actually, that's a bit of a mouthful. Do you mind if I call you 'Simon'? But you still don't know what to call me, do you? Eve? That's what most people know me as nowadays. Irving here knew me as 'Sahara'." She flashed him a smug smile as he closed his eyes and let out a long breath. "I was christened Sarah, but I was never too fond of that. So you see, I've gone by quite a few names in my time, Simon. But then so has your wife. I mean, think about it: today she's Lady Warrington-Farr, a couple of days ago she was Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward. But when I first met her she went by something much simpler. She called herself 'Lola'."
Simon had looked apprehensive all through Sahara's speech, but when she came to this point, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Lola? Penelope? Really? Look, Miss... whatever your name is, I think Sebastian Swayne must have hypnotised you, too. This is ridiculous."
"You don't believe me?" Sahara put on an expression of exaggerated hurt. "Well I'm many things, but I'm no liar. Take a look." She reached into a pocket and pulled out a photograph.
Upstairs, Penny's eyes widened as Simon took it. She didn't need to see it to know that it had to show her and Scott as they had appeared when they'd gone undercover as man and wife. Simon's face told her everything she'd needed to know. He had gone pale and his hand shook as he wordlessly passed the photograph to Irving Ross.
"Here." Eric Younger's voice made Penny jump, but she took the photograph he held out to her, presumably a duplicate of the one Sahara had given Simon.
Sure enough, Sahara had somehow got hold of a still from one of the numerous security cameras which had been set up on Sir Reuben McAllister's island. Penny and Scott were shown walking arm in arm along a beach, their heads close together, a classic depiction of a couple deeply in love. Penny knew that they'd actually been discussing - very quietly, hence their closeness - their mission, but what on earth was Simon going to think? She was staring at Scott with such adoration. No wonder Sahara had been able to tell that she was really in love with him.
But why hadn't Scott worked it out? Had he really believed she was just a good actress? That she was throwing herself wholeheartedly into the mission? Or was he aware of it but just didn't feel the same way so tried to ignore it?
And why was she worrying about that right now when all her focus should be on her husband?
"It's a fake." The tremor in Simon's voice betrayed his true feelings.
"No fake. It's your wife. Dark hair, Kansas accent, playing the part of a cheap gold-digger who married a billionaire's son for his money... It was quite a performance. Well, some of it was a performance. You know Scott Tracy, of course? No? Well I suppose Penny wouldn't want you meeting the man she's been in love with for years. Simon, you look a bit pale. You did know your wife was in love with another man?"
Simon recovered himself enough to look her straight in the eye. "Penelope told me there had been someone, yes. But it was all over before she agreed to marry me."
"And she always tells you the truth," Sahara smiled. "She doesn't deserve you, you know. I've done my research. You're too good for her."
Simon shook his head. "None of this makes sense," he told her. "Why on earth would Penny pretend to be someone else?" Then he laughed once again. "I was right, wasn't I? Sebastian Swayne. This is insane enough to be his work. Either you're under his influence or I am."
"Not this time. You really don't know why your wife would pretend to be someone else? Ah, something else she hasn't told you. I really thought you'd know all about her old job. No? Irving, would you like to enlighten poor Simon?" Sahara sat back with obvious enjoyment.
It was clear that Irving Ross didn't want to play the woman's games. But in the face of Simon's obvious desperation to find some answers and also in the hope that he could break the news more gently than Sahara would, he finally did as he was asked.
"Penelope has worked for MI5 for the past eight years, Simon. She was one of our top agents. This photograph was taken when she was working undercover trying to track down the people who murdered the former head of the organisation."
Prince Louis's reaction was one of amazement, spluttering something to the effect that despite the shock of the revelation he had to admit that now he admired Penny even more than he had before. Simon, however, was silent, simply staring into space as he tried to process this information. If Sahara had told him he'd have rejected it outright, but coming from Irving Ross he knew it had to be true. It fitted, too. There had been a few things he'd wondered about during his time with Penny, but now everything made sense.
"Her accident...?" he finally asked.
"She was injured whilst on a mission." Irving reached out and put a hand on Simon's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Simon. She debated telling you, but then she resigned and, to be honest, I did my best to persuade her that in this case honesty really wasn't the best policy. It's not that I don't trust you - I do - but state secrets are involved and it's really not the kind of thing that any agent should discuss with someone else. Penelope wanted to make a fresh start, to put it all behind her."
"I see." Simon leaned forward and buried his head in his hands.
"Poor Simon," Sahara said. "I wonder what Penny would say to you if she was here now? I'd love to be a witness to that little conversation, but unfortunately there's no time."
She got to her feet. "I'm afraid I have to leave you. I know you've got a lot of questions but I really don't have the time right now. Perhaps Sebastian will be able to enlighten you. Not that he knows everything... Anyway, nice to see you again, Irving. Prince Louis, I'm sorry about all this but you'll be home before you know it. Sebastian will sort you out. Simon, I'm afraid I'm going to be taking your wife away with me, so if you've got anything to say to her you'd best do it now. You know where the cameras are."
Simon raised his head and looked up at the camera. Penny was moved to tears by the haunted expression on his face. As she'd expected, he looked shocked and unhappy and she wished she could say something - anything - to explain herself. But Younger had told her the microphone was turned off, so all she could do was hope that he could somehow sense the depth of her feelings right now, that he'd understand how terrible she felt about all this, how sorry she was and how much she hoped they'd be reunited one day so that she could beg him to forgive her and tell him that despite everything, she did care about him.
She practically held her breath, hoping he would say something. But Simon was a quiet man under the best of circumstances and right now, he didn't have any words. All he had were feelings, and he'd never found it easy to articulate those. He was confused, hurt, angry, embarrassed at having been deceived so easily, filled with hatred towards Sahara, but above all, desperately anxious for the safety of the woman he was still in love with - even if, as it appeared, she didn't really love him. Certainly she'd never looked at him the way she'd looked at that other man. Maybe if he'd had some privacy he'd have been able to articulate something of how he felt, but with Sahara, Quinn and the others watching him with unconcealed curiosity, he just couldn't do it.
"No?" Sahara said, waiting impatiently at the door. "Oh well. Maybe you'll get the chance later. Or maybe not. Depends how things go."
Leaving the three captives sitting at the table, she ordered Quinn to shut and lock the door.
"I enjoyed that!" she announced. "Poor old Simon. He must wish he'd never met Penny, let alone married her. 'For better, for worse', eh? Well, he's got the 'better' side of it, whatever he may think." She flashed Quinn a dazzling smile. "And now for the 'worse' part - which is always more fun. Come on, let's get moving. It's time to get Penny out of here."