Chapter Twenty-Two
Kate sat there with a blanket round her. She kicked a bit of glass absent mindedly, while watching all the people busying about her. There must be twenty people in here now. They had told her about the helicopter arriving, but she hadn't heard or seen it firing, being partially deaf and hunkered down behind the island. Thankfully it arrived in the nick of time to take out the last of the threats. Of course, Mycroft had a helipad!
He was on the phone and waving away attempts at first aid on the cuts on his face and hands. Her hearing was coming back but everything sounded like she was under water. She was just so glad that Henry hadn't been here. What a mess they made! There was already a team of people tidying up and organising things. The dead bodies had been dragged together and covered with a sheet. Mycroft came over and stood in front of her.
"Well, that was inconvenient", he smiled looking down at her.
"Just mildly" she replied sarcastically.
"Come with me".
He gestured outside and stepped over what was left of the conservatory wall and over to the bodies. Nodding as they approached, someone bent forward and removed the sheet from the corpses.
"Do you recognise any of them?".
Kate looked them over; their head gear having been removed.
"No, sorry".
He nodded again and the person covered them back up.
"That was quite an impressive show Miss Worthing", Mycroft stated.
"Just got some lucky shots".
"Your handy work would suggest otherwise".
"A thank you would suffice".
"Seems like you've been keeping secrets Miss Worthing", he locked her with an icy stare. She glared back.
"And thank you. For saving my life". He loomed over her.
"Anytime Mr Holmes".
"It would seem your reaction time and bravery know no bounds", he mocked.
"Hardly".
"No, don't sell yourself your short. That was quite something".
He started to circle her, his hands behind his back, "To hit a man's throat with a small kitchen knife from 25 feet is, quite remarkable".
She took in a sharp breath, 'She knew she'd have to tell him something'.
Letting out her exhale, "Fine", she conceded, "I may have some other…skillsets that you haven't been made aware of". She turned to face him as he circled her, "And aren't you a lucky boy".
"I am indeed", he smirked playfully, "That will do for now. But I expect a fuller explanation at some point".
She smiled sweetly, "Of course, Boss".
He looked very smug as she said that, which unnerved her slightly. They walked back over to the conservatory, crunching over broken glass and bullets, "What a first day on the job".
"Quite" Mycroft agreed.
"I need a drink".
Mycroft nodded and she followed him through the house, there were armed guards everywhere now. They arrived in the living room and Mycroft headed straight over and pored them a large drink each. He handed her a glass.
Mycroft took a large pull of whisky, "That was close".
"Too close". She sat down in one of the arm chairs and knocked back her whole rum, handing him the glass back and nodding for more.
He poured her another drink and handed it over. "Thank you, Kate", he said sincerely, "How are you feeling?".
"Like I need a day off", she smiled and sank back into the chair. "And a bath, a long hot bath!".
"Well, those can definitely be arranged". The thought of her naked and wet flashed across Mycroft's mind.
"You're going to say But, aren't you?", she teased.
"However", he smiled, "our brief foray into our…'personal' endeavour may have already been compromised, considering our…" Kate shifted slightly in the arm chair and looked down, "…activities right before the incident" he continued. "What do you say to testing out your new programme?", his fingers steepled in front of him.
Kate perked up, "What did you have in mind?".
"Let's head into the office, I have a hypothesis that requires some…research", he grinned "and you can make your new boss aware of all your skillsets".
After quick showers and a change of clothes each, Kate found herself sat next to Mycroft on their way to the 'office', well essentially the 'British Government'. As they set off Mycroft pressed the side of the car door and a small cooler opened, he grabbed a bottle of water and took a sip. He saw Kate looking over, "There's one on your side too if you'd like a drink".
She pressed the side of the door delightedly and the cooler opened, grabbing a bottle of water she took a swig and nearly downed the whole bottle, "Wow I was thirsty!".
"So, Miss Worthing. Your skillsets".
Ignoring him she finished the bottle.
"It's not every day you have to rip your lov…" he paused thinking, "…girl", "erm…" he smiled, "…employee, from one of your colleagues, before they expertly plunge a knife into them", he tutted, "poor Jeffory, he was only trying to help you up" he teased.
"I didn't mean…" she said exasperated, eyeballing him.
She got her laptop out and started typing.
"I didn't want to have to resort to this but…" he reached into his brief case and pulled out a large set of bound papers that were familiar.
"The explicit divulging of all means and uses of yourself, experience and knowledge for utilisation by The Network to your designated superior".
She stopped typing.
He carried on, "Any purposely withheld information reporting to this section will result in clause 21a being enacted upon, under the discretion of said superior".
"I should have read that damn thing properly, shouldn't I?".
"I'm surprised you didn't. Delighted, but surprised", he gloated.
She looked over at him pleadingly, "I didn't think it would contain all this kind of…faff".
"You miss calculated".
Her eyes narrowed, "And I suppose you're my superior".
"Naturally".
God he was infuriating.
He was enjoying this. "Let's start again", he turned to look at her, "your skillsets Miss Worthing".
"I am very skilled with knives. Are we done?".
"Please do elaborate".
"What's clause 21a anyway? It can't be that bad".
"That's for me to know and you to find out".
"I'm finding this very uncomfortable".
"I can see that".
She sighed and shifted in the seat.
"You know I'll find out…" he looked at his watch, "eventually".
'That's odd' she thought. Why was he looking at his watch?
Mycroft's phone rang, he tutted in annoyance but was soon deep in conversation so she got back to work on her laptop, which thankfully hadn't been anywhere near the action of earlier. Twenty minutes rolled by. He had just finished on the phone and enquired, "Are you making any progress?" nodding toward the laptop. He checked his watch again.
"Lots. I've managed to access the files you requested and have them on a secure server only you and me can access".
"Impressive"
"Thank you. I'm just working on the other little problems you mentioned, although I can't see how they are connected".
"Let me worry about the bigger picture Miss Worthing".
She nodded, "Yes Sir!", she smirked at him.
"You're so talented when it comes to this sort of thing," he said innocently, "I'd love to know more about, you".
"So, you know I'm top-level coding and hacking, I'm also well versed in combat with knives, especially throwing. I know eight languages, can fly a plane, I have a background in antique…acquirement, where I learnt most of my skills. I'm a horrific bibliophile to my own detriment", she couldn't stop herself, "am a natural loner, an introvert who finds any genuine interactions difficult to deal with because I don't believe them to be true. I once drove a motor bike through a shopping centre, I love swimming naked outdoors, I spent over a year planning how to engineer an interaction with you because you're so intimidating, and the fact that you made me cum so beautifully and now you're suddenly my boss is all a bit much to be honest". She finally took a breath in looking shocked at her own outburst.
Mycroft's face was pure smugness. Kate was blushing and looked bewildered.
"Swimming naked?".
"I just love the feel on my skin and the freedom". She looked appalled at herself for just answering.
"What's going?" she shot Mycroft a questioning look.
"A little experiment. Which, is certainly exceeding expectations in effectiveness".
"What!"
"After our little adventure with Mr Greening, and our experience with the psychoactive drugs they gave us I wanted to try my hand at developing one. My hope was that it would engage the subject to actually want to share information. It releases a large amount of dopamine when things are divulged, subsequentially resulting in an addictive effect, as it activates the part of the brain that are connected to emotion and memories. Oh, and obviously negating the unwanted side effects of drowsiness, drunkenness and awareness of being drugged".
Kate's mouth just opened and closed.
"This one is designed specifically for you Miss Worthing". She looked like a rabbit caught in the head lights. He met her gaze and continued, "based on the information from your reaction to the drug they gave you, your metabolism, blood type and hormone levels".
Diabolical wasn't the word. Kate felt utterly helpless. She was completely exasperated but also massively impressive. A stark reminder of just how clever this man was. Whipping up a tailor-made truth serum based on her biometrics and designed to actually make her enjoy telling him everything. She again, felt way out of her depth and just hoped it wouldn't last too long.
"How does it feel" he asked.
"Really God damn good. But also odd, now I'm aware of it. This isn't fair", she pleaded.
"No, it's not. But it's what you signed up for. On more than one level".
She rolled her eyes, "Don't tell me…".
"Section 45, subsection C. Explicit permission to use any drugs, compounds and medicines deemed necessary by said superior both voluntarily and unvoluntary. Do I need to go on?".
"No", she conceded, "my situation has been made quite clear to me. So how long will this last?", she asked sheepishly,
"Good. I estimate around 2 hours".
"2 hours!" she exclaimed.
"However, this is an experiment so we shall see".
He was enjoying this enormously.
"If I've calculated your metabolism correctly, taking into account for the lack of sleep and raised cortisol levels from our earlier incident, it may even be longer".
She let out a defeated sigh. Mycroft grinned wickedly.
He settled back into his seat and placed his hands together in his lap, "Now, Miss Worthing. Please do go on. I felt you had much, much more to say".
Kate went a shade whiter.
"Let's start with a simple question" he said innocently, "Have you ever worked for the Chinese government in any capacity?".
"No. Although I've moved quite a few Chinese antiques away from the Chinese government".
"Good. I think".
"Let's see just how far we push this experiment".
She shot him a pleading look.
"How many people have you killed?".
"26".
"Do you enjoy killing people".
"I enjoy staying alive".
Kate was on a dopamine high, she felt buzzing! It was like eating a shit load of cake and ice cream and being highly praised all rolled in to one.
"Have you ever killed someone in cold blood?".
"No, only for defence".
"How many serious relationships have you been in?".
"None".
'Interesting', Mycroft thought.
"How many people have you had, sexual relations with?".
She managed a strained, "Define relations".
"Sexual intercourse", his eyes glinted and a smile flirted with the corner of his lips.
It felt like an ache inside her. Her brain was demanding she speak, screaming at her to answer. She wanted to tell him everything but there was still a panicked part inside her which knew she shouldn't. It was being drowned out. Sweat now forming on her brow, her heart was racing, she felt like she was going to burst.
She gulped down her embarrassment, "None", it came out in an almost whisper. But she instantly felt better, relief flooded through her and she sighed as the wave of dopamine hit.
Mycroft's eye brows raised, 'She was a virgin?'.
"That was not the answer I was expecting", he replied, choosing his words carefully.
He turned to look at her, "What if we change the definition to, sexual act?" he purred.
"Four".
That was still so much lower than he expected.
"And how about the great Mycroft Holmes eh? Going to gloat?".
Still taken aback by her answers he stumbled over his words, "Well, I, erm… he didn't want to fully admit to his own lack of experience but also didn't want her to think that he had high numbers either. He wasn't going to go into details but he could at least give an indication and then move on, "…not too far off your own mark".
She couldn't hide the surprise on her face. She'd know he hadn't had any serious relationships but always assumed he'd had plenty of 'partners', what being rich, handsome and powerful.
They were both silent for a while.
Mycroft ventured tentatively, "Why?".
She knew what he meant, "I don't like people".
He smiled, "Snap".
Their eyes met briefly and they both smirked.
"I know how you met Anthea but since you don't like people, how exactly did you become friends and conspirators?".
"She is different though; you must agree surely?".
"Yes, I suppose she is. Our kind of different".
"Something just clicked. I did a few checks on her discreetly and found out she works for you. She's the reason I even knew about you in the first place. I may have somewhat stalked you and once Anthea found out I was actually in love with you she said she'd help us 'meet', as you were…difficult to encounter naturally". She froze as the realisation hit, "I, I, erm, mean…".
"You mean exactly what you said".
She hid her face in her hands, thoroughly mortified.
In Mycroft's mind it was like a jigsaw very rapidly making progress. He'd had the edges done for some time and a few pieces in the middle but now, now he could see an image forming. There were still annoyingly some gaps, but the picture was a lot more complete.
"Well, I'm enjoying this immensely".
Kate just made a pitiful "Hmphf" sound.
"You can come out of hiding now Miss Worthing". Teasing her after that confession was probably a tad harsh, but he couldn't deny he felt much more in control of this personal endeavour now.
She took a deep breath and lowered her hands, "What else do you want to know?" she said wearily.
He gave her a wicked grin, "Everything. However, that time is not now. We are almost here". He looked over at her but she just looked straight ahead.
They walked together through the building and as they got into Mycroft's office, he gestured for her to take a seat at a desk along the wall.
"You are going to have to make eye contact with me at some point Miss Worthing".
She flicked her eyes over for a brief second and then back. 'Yeah, he looked smug' she thought.
There came a knock at the door and Anthea entered, "Sir, it's time". She looked from Mycroft to Kate and back, 'I'm not even going to ask' she thought.
He turned to Kate, "Please continue with what we discussed and keep me updated. Best to stay in here, under the circumstances", he tilted his head and smiled, "help yourself to refreshments", he nodded over towards the sideboard which was filled with sandwich platers, snacks and drinks. And with that, him and Anthea were gone.
'Right', Kate thought, opening her laptop and cracking her fingers, 'I've got work to do'.
As Mycroft and Anthea headed down the corridor he turned to her, "I haven't thanked you properly Anthea. Thank you".
"What for Sir?".
"You know what".
She smiled to herself.