Opening scene: Mycroft Holmes' spacious office at Whitehall. It contains a large polished mahogany desk. Two visitor chairs are placed before the desk. The furnishings, paintings and curtains are expensive, yet the room seems cold and impersonal. Sherlock is pacing impatiently in front of the two long casement windows. John stands nearby.
Mycroft enters. He is tall and thin like Sherlock, but bears very little resemblance to him in other respects. While the younger brother is rakishly handsome, Mycroft's looks are unprepossessing and his black hair is thinning. He nevertheless carries the air of a man with power who is used to having his orders obeyed. He looks very grave indeed.
Sherlock: Well? What is it?
Mycroft: That I cannot tell you, other than to say it is a matter of state security. I can say it appears that someone – presumably Yakov or the girl's father – intended to pass on information about our military patents handled by Tactical Gear. I cannot imagine why the suspect chose to secrete it in such a fanciful way. Perhaps they feared they or their homes would be searched and thought it safer to pass it on to an innocent third party. Perhaps their plans were interrupted before they had a chance to retrieve the document.
John: Maybe when Laura's mother went to rehab and Laura had to enter foster care?
Mycroft: Possibly. In any case, that is no longer a matter you need concern yourself with, brother. My staff is giving this matter top priority. We will make every effort to track down the security leak and learn who is at the bottom of it. I would suggest you focus your efforts on helping the police recover the two girls. I am willing to assist in any way, of course.
John: Well…what will happen to the girls once their abductors learn they don't have the document?
Mycroft: Well…they could simply be murdered outright or…
John: Or…?
Mycroft: Or sold.
John: Sold?
Mycroft: We have a complete dossier on Yakov's "friend," Viktor Abhesit. He is connected with a group that smuggles young girls from Africa and Eastern Europe into Britain to work in the sex trade. If I were you, I might consider looking in that direction. After all, why should he kill the girls when instead he could be paid for them?
John: (Utterly appalled) My God, Mycroft, are you serious? Did you know Yakov was associating with such a man?
Mycroft: Of course.
John: How could you let such a person work for the British government?
Mycroft: Because he had other skills which were useful to us. Often things are not as cut and dried as one might like them to be, John, and there is a dark side to international relations.
John: Obviously very dark.
Sherlock: (Glaring at his brother as if he could burn a hole right through him.) You say that I can count upon your assistance in this matter?
Mycroft: Absolutely.
Sherlock: Come, John.
(Without another word, Sherlock sweeps out of Mycroft's office and strides down the hall, John beside him. He obviously is seething. Absolutely furious.)
Sherlock: Well there's the filthy truth, John. You have occasionally asked me why I have such a malignant opinion of my brother. Now you know.The worst of it is he's right. It isn't just Mycroft. Governments the world over cozy up with strange bedfellows, if they believe it is in their overall best interest. Moral principles sold on the world market to the lowest bidder. I am no exception. I'd have nothing to do with him either, if it weren't for the fact that his high connections make him useful to me. (He pulls out his cell and dials.) It's me. Any news?
(Cut to Lestrade.)
Lestrade: Yes, Sherlock. A vehicle matching the one described by the security officers who were ambushed while escorting Miss Devereux has been found in a car park in Dover…Dover, yes. It is possible she has been taken over the English Channel into France.
(Cut to Sherlock)
Sherlock: I'll handle France. In the meantime, Lestrade, I'd suggest you start searching all of the known red light districts and put a bulletin out for Victor Abhesit.
(Back to Lestrade.)
Lestrade: (Incredulous) The sex trader?
(Back to Sherlock)
Sherlock: Yes. We have strong evidence to suggest that, now that these girls are no longer of any use to them, they might be sold on the open market. (He rings off.) Well, John, are you ready for a trip to France?
John: We're going to France?
Sherlock: It's the only lead we've got! Lucy Hannibal was abducted there and now Laura Devereux may also be there.