Chapter 22
Mycroft and Sherlock threw a perplexed glance at each other and then smirked in unison. Turning back to Aoife, Sherlock laughed and she smiled in return. "'Sherlock Holmes' is getting on a flight to New York with Michael early in the morning. We're going to Kerry though, very clever Aoife." Michael frowned in annoyance.
"Can we all catch up please? Sit down everybody, this is doing my head in. We need to pool all information so we join the pieces together. I have the gist of what's happening but I have information myself to share, so please, sit." Aoife put a placating hand on his shoulder and gestured to everyone to sit around the table. Mycroft nodded but excused himself.
"We have an agent that doubles as Sherlock, do excuse me while I set this in motion, I have to get him to Dublin Airport to hook up with Michael. I'm terribly sorry Michael, but can you hold off on your report for a few minutes please, I'd like to hear it." Michael threw his hands in the air.
"Fine. Sherlock, can you start then, and fill me in on the addresses in New York at least, seems I'm going there in the morning!" Michael was thoroughly pissed off now. Sherlock cleared his throat and responded quickly, knowing that the way Mycroft and himself sometimes moved too far ahead of others around them could grate on his friends. John had told him off often enough.
"You're right Michael, and I'm sorry. Things just came to a head there in the last few minutes. Let me recap." Sherlock told him about their theory on the Sinn Fein intervention and how they now believed that Aoife was the one in the crosshairs. Michael nodded in agreement.
"That makes more sense. No offense Sherlock, but they wouldn't be all that concerned if it was you. Aoife has worked with them tirelessly, she's Irish, she's highly regarded by the Government and the people, and a major employer here. If they were connected to her being harmed in any way, they'd lose a lot of votes, let's put it that way."
"Exactly." Sherlock agreed. "I was just the bait to get her back to Ireland." He threw a watchful glance at her. Aoife's mouth was set in a grim line. She'd opened her laptop and put in the address in Kerry. She smiled grimly at the group.
"Who needs an Intelligence Unit when we have 'Google Maps?" She spun the laptop around to show the others a photo of the property. The large house on the screen looked brand new and was magnificent. It was built sympathetically to the wild rustic landscape of West Kerry and was constructed entirely in the local stone. "Needless to say, this is not the same house that young Jim Moriarty stayed in that summer. It was a modest bungalow at that time. This asshole must have purchased it and then knocked it to build this." She paused to send off an email to the Intelligence Unit, instructing them to find out who was the registered owner. "Sick bastard, he must have been so proud of his boy, to go to the trouble of acquiring the exact property," she muttered. "Let's see who pays the property tax on this house, and from what bank account."
Aoife was simmering with fury. Sherlock frowned in concern. He needed cool heads or mistakes could be made. "Aoife," he said gently, "can you fill us in on what else you discovered today?" She inhaled angrily and nodded at him, as Mycroft returned and sat down beside her. He gauged her mood immediately and caught his brother's eye questioningly. Sherlock narrowed his eyes in caution. Aoife pulled out a manila file from her briefcase and opening it, she began to report to the group.
"It appears that the old bastard worked on an 'if you can't beat them, join them, policy'. He certainly was exiled, but apparently on the condition that he provide them with a support network operating from the Eastern Seaboard States. Safe houses for men on the run, arms smuggling, money laundering, you name it and he provided it. I suspect that Jim Jr was in touch with 'Daddy Dearest' all along, because he emulated him. Jim Snr was the original 'consulting criminal' and he was so good, they couldn't catch him. Nobody even got near to stopping him, not the FBI and not either of our security services." She paused, indicating Mycroft, who grimaced but gestured for her to continue.
"He got a cut of each deal and I suspect, has become a very rich man. It's unclear what he's been up to since the ceasefire and 'Good Friday Agreement' but I can imagine there has been a very uneasy relationship with Sinn Fein, now that they've gone legitimate. Unlike his brother he murdered in the nursing home, he's no Republican, and couldn't give a shit about any notions of a united Ireland. It suits Sinn Fein to assist us because I'm guessing they want rid of him now too. He killed a major fundraiser and ally of theirs when he killed his brother, and he knows where all the bodies are buried, in some cases quite literally." She took a deep breath and anger emanated from her.
"He's nothing but a criminal and a thug, and he has the audacity to think that he can fool the incredibly talented people in this room, and kill me." She wound down then and there was a brief silence. Mycroft squeezed her hand briefly and then addressed Michael.
"What have you uncovered, Michael?" Michael though, was concerned about his boss, who was also his friend.
"Aoife," he said urgently, "you need to call your full security team back here immediately, and you need to inform the Garda Rapid Response Unit of an imminent attempt on your life. You know the policy and procedure in cases like these!" She shook her head adamantly.
"No Michael, it would just scare him off; and don't you dare contact the Gardaí either!" Michael glared back at her.
"That's completely unacceptable Aoife, and you know it, Jesus Christ! You drafted the bloody procedures yourself." Mycroft cleared his throat and tried again.
"Please Michael. I hear and appreciate your concern, and I share it. Let's just pool all our information first, before deciding the next move though, ok?" Aoife and Michael were still glowering at each other but Michael conceded to Mycroft and began his report.
"Ok, firstly, my contact had another visit from Jim Moriarty's messenger. He was given the location of this 'meeting' after he confirmed that Sherlock had agreed to it. It's in the back room of a pub Moriarty's believed to legitimately own, in Brooklyn, and set for midnight tomorrow night. Make what you will of that." He paused in thought and then scanning the group, he continued, "I'm not sure that this isn't a set-up, by the way. There's nothing to stop him from sending a few shooters in to greet us, while he goes after Aoife here; two birds with one stone, so to speak. He's hardly enamoured with Sherlock either, let's face it." He paused then and looked to Sherlock for confirmation of his hypothesis and Sherlock nodded at his friend in response.
"I agree with your synopsis, Michael, and I propose you and my doppelganger play along to the very last minute, in order for us to achieve our objective here; but listen to me now Michael. Under no circumstances are you and 'Sherlock' to enter that back room." He glanced at Mycroft. "He'll go in hard and heavy, so we have to set up a 'sting' from here, and involve the FBI now, and it must be timed perfectly." He grinned at his brother, partly to break the tension in the room. "Do you think you could manage that, brother dear?" Mycroft rolled his eyes in mock disdain and the beginnings of a smile appeared on Aoife's lips. Michael finished his report by informing them that Jim Snr had not been seen in a number of months, which would support the theory that he was probably in Ireland, plotting his revenge on Aoife.
"He's here alright", Mycroft agreed and looking firmly at Aoife, he continued, "and whatever your opinion on their motivation, my dear, Sinn Fein have done us an enormous favour and saved us a lot of time. They have given us what they specifically stated is his 'current location'. By doing so, they have provided us with a huge advantage. He has no idea that we are on to him, or that we know where he is."
He paused and then looked steadily at her. Aoife's eye's narrowed at him. She knew her man and knew he was about to exert his authority now.
"You and I are staying here with Molly, Aoife, and we are carrying on as usual. We will have an armed security team with us at all times because that is normal for us. We will bump up the security on this house, but not enough to draw attention to us. Sherlock is going to Kerry alone, tonight, and as soon as he locates him, if you do not call in the armed unit, I will."
"The hell I'm staying here; I'm going with Sherlock." Aoife's mouth was set in a mutinous line.
"And play right into his hands." He sighed loudly in exasperation. "Please Aoife, think for a second. He is aware of the security here. He has a plan, which we are not yet privy to. It may well involve an all-out attack on this house. We have his address and you have the means to monitor and investigate the internet usage and mobile phone activity from that address. You cannot do that in the field with Sherlock, and confirming his location won't need two of you. You are needed here." He looked firmly at her and said, "Anyway Aoife, if we two separate now, it may well scare him off and the threat to you will remain."
Aoife glared at Mycroft and then looked appealingly at Sherlock." He shook his head calmly and said, pointing a long finger at Mycroft, "what he said…"
Her eyes flickered around the four people, all looking resolutely back at her and she closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. "Oh bloody hell! Alright, you win. I'll stay here. Christ! I hate waiting around." Mycroft exhaled audibly in relief.
"We are going to be very busy here Aoife. I can assure you there will be very little time for 'waiting around'. He turned then and addressed both Molly and Aoife determinedly. "Oh, and one more thing, under no circumstances are either of you going out running, are we clear?" Molly started to laugh and Aoife looked at her and then reluctantly spluttered laughing too.
"You're a bossy git Mycroft Holmes, and you and I are having a little chat later. Molly and I can do a self-defence workout in the gym instead, eh Molly?" Sherlock stood up grinned at her.
"Excellent idea. Car keys please?" She looked contemplatively at him and shook her head. "No, it'd take too long to drive. I'll arrange a helicopter to pick you up, but not from here, from the airport, in case anyone is watching. Anyway it would look better if you leave for the airport with Michael." Sherlock smirked at her.
"See, Aoife?" he teased, "We need you here." She glowered at him. "Oh shut up you, brat." Sherlock laughed and reached to tug her hair, but her reflexes were like quicksilver and she snatched his wrist, mid-air. He popped his eyes exaggeratedly, but he achieved his ultimate goal because Aoife spluttered out laughing. Sherlock grinned back at her, eyes dancing with mischief, and then grabbed Molly's hand. "Come help me pack?" Molly beamed at him and then gasped when he pulled her up and against him. Michael rolled his eyes impatiently.
"We leave in an hour, Sherlock."
Sherlock frowned. Michael was really out of sorts. Molly gestured that she'd go on ahead and he smiled appreciatively at her. Aoife raised her brows at Mycroft and left the room. Mycroft grinned ruefully and muttered "that's me summonsed. Wish me luck, boys," and followed her up to their bedroom, leaving Sherlock to speak to Michael privately.
"I'll be back down here in a few minutes Michael, ok? I want to go over that file in more detail with you," he paused and then placed his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I'm not going back to New York with you."
"It's not that Sherlock; well not entirely. I feel like we're winging it here and I don't like it. We're not prepared. We just don't have enough info, and Aoife's acting like she's on a fucking crusade."
Sherlock sat back down opposite him at the table and looked at him curiously, realising that Michael was really worried about Aoife. "You don't want to leave her now." Sherlock stated. Michael looked frankly at him.
"No, I don't. She's my friend and she's in danger." Sherlock smiled sardonically.
"What do you know about my brother?" Michael shrugged disparagingly.
"I do know about him Sherlock. I know he's got every resource of the United Kingdom's security forces at his fingertips but look around you. Does this look like the UK to you?" He drummed on the table with his fingers. "It's why he lured you all here. To take his armies away from him. He's even manipulated it so that you and I are also removed from her protection."
"Mycroft is well aware of that Michael. Don't forget, he does have full access to the Irish security forces, if he needs them, through Aoife, and let's be honest, probably a battalion of armed British Agents who shouldn't be here at all. Let me tell you something though, armies or alone, Mycroft Holmes is a force of nature. He is more brilliant than you can even contemplate. He has always been ten steps ahead of anyone else on the planet, except me." Michael laughed at him and Sherlock grinned back but then told him gently, "he loves the very bones of her, Michael. He would kill for her and he would die for her. The smart money is on the former."
"But she's so bloody headstrong Sherlock, you heard her just now!"
"She listens to him though, Michael; you just saw that too." His voice softened. "Look. You do know me. Do you think I would leave my Molly here with Mycroft if I had even the slightest doubt about his ability to protect her?" Michael looked steadily back at him and then shook his head.
"No I do not." He looked awkwardly down at his hands and said quietly, "She's become my family, Sherlock." Sherlock tilted his head and he looked hard at him.
"She's my family now too, Michael. Let's face it, we're all family here now, 'we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.'" Michael laughed ruefully at him as he continued. "But you are right, we are not ready, yet. That is why I need you to go to the States; to go set the bait, and then we'll trap him here in Ireland, either in Kerry, or, if necessary, in this house."
Michael's face relaxed into a grin. "Alright, Shakespeare. Go on up to Molly and I'll stick the kettle on." Sherlock laughed as he stood up to leave.
"So you should. It's way past your turn to make the tea."