The plot of this fic is an alternate continuation of the second episode of the sixth season of the series called "Know Your Enemy". In it, Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers investigate the death of teenager Sarah Middleton. Her body is found in a lake with signs of sexual assault. When a second schoolgirl, Kelly Stevens, also goes missing, the police begin to realize that a maniac is at work in London. The police focus their attention on Guy Thompson, who has recently beaten his wife Tanya. Havers works to gain his wife's trust by sympathizing with her, while Lynley learns more about her husband's dysfunctional past. As the investigation progresses, doubts grow as to who is more dangerous in the couple. Sergeant Havers and Inspector Lynley are at odds, causing arguments and disagreements within their usually cohesive team.
Lynley was right! But by the time Barbara realized it, it was too late. She went back to Tanya's house that evening to talk to her again and to be sure of what was already certain - that Tanya was as guilty of all these crimes as Guy. She was not at all the uncomplaining victim of her maniac husband that she tried to imagine herself to be. Everything was almost the same as in the afternoon, only this time they were alone in the house (Tanya's parents, unable to stand the excitement around their daughter, preferred to leave London), and outside the gate was no longer on duty a flock of vultures of journalists. She was again kindly offered her herbal tea, and again she accepted, believing that it would encourage Tanya to talk more openly. The flavor of the drink immediately struck her as odd, but she didn't think much of it. In vain! Her eyes suddenly swam, and she felt nauseous, as if she had been on the most hellish of rides for a long time. Her body no longer belonged to her, but there were still some strange scraps of thoughts wandering around in her head that she clung to. For some reason, she was desperately trying to figure out how often Lynley had been right in arguments with her, but she couldn't come to any conclusion about it. The last thought that popped into her foggy brain was about how damn wrong she was now. Wrong for giving up so easily. But this was beyond her. She couldn't resist any longer. The black vortex had finally consumed her.
- Barbara, what the hell?!
Answering her call after the first beep, Inspector Lynley didn't let his partner get a word in edgewise, wanting to vent his frustration immediately. He was angry - his sergeant had let herself just disappear, not answering his calls, which had never happened to her before.
- It's not Havers," the ingratiating female voice on the other end answered him.
It wasn't Havers. And that said it all. He recognized that voice. He understood everything. In an instant his anger was gone, replaced by an unpleasant, clammy coldness. Like he'd never felt before.
- Tanya?! Where's Havers?!
- She's all right. She's fine for now. But that could change at any moment. I've got nothing to lose, Inspector.
- What do you want?!
- You know what I want - freedom for Guy. I'll give you until 6pm. If he doesn't come to me, Havers will be dead.
- Where are you?! Put her on the phone, I want to make sure-
Tanya threw the phone into the river without bothering to listen and press hang up. It had already accomplished its mission. She wouldn't need it anymore. The same fate befell her own phone. Back behind the wheel of the car, she hurried to continue her journey with Sergeant Havers in the trunk.
Barbara didn't know how long she had spent unconscious. When she woke up, the nausea was still there, but it wasn't so unbearable. Her mouth was dry and her throat was sore. Her hands, bound behind her back, were soaked to the point of desensitization. She tried to toss and turn, hoping to regain some circulation. After the physical sensations came the memories. It was like a shoe had hit her head.
- Oh, shit! She's in so much trouble!
But she was alive, which wasn't bad, it meant she had hope. There's always hope. Sometimes unfounded, stupid, but it definitely helps to live. The clouded consciousness gradually cleared up. It was as if the big gears of a rusty, old, but reliable mechanism were turning after a long idle time. Creaking, reluctantly, but gradually they turned. The policeman's brain began feverishly searching for a way out of the situation. Turning her head, Barbara looked around. She was lying on a couch in a house that was unfamiliar to her. Her legs, as well as her arms, were bound tightly with a wide band of duct tape. The surroundings were neat and clean. The decoration of the house was rather ascetic, but obviously expensive. She wandered her gaze around the room until she saw Tanya sitting in a chair by the fireplace. She seemed to have dozed off, but woke up when she felt her gaze on her.
- You're awake at last!
- What do you want? - She said in a weak voice. The ligaments, like the rest of my body, refused to listen. I could barely move my tongue. It was like a hangover. - What do you want? This is a kidnapping of a police officer.
- Don't you get it yet?! - Tanya moved closer to the sofa and squatted down in front of her so that their eyes were at the same level. - Your inspector's smarter than that. He figured it out right away. I'll trade you for Guy's freedom.
The mention of Lynley gave off a strange warm sensation somewhere in the solar plexus.
- It won't work," she shook her head weakly. - They'd never go for it. It's against all the rules.
- It'll work! It will! He'll be free, and we'll leave. But before that, we'll have some fun with you. I bet you haven't met a real man yet.
- Lynley, this is not up for discussion! We can't release a maniac with several lives to his credit.
The superintendent made it clear that such a deal was out of the question, but Linley continued to persist.
- You don't understand.
- You don't understand, Inspector! We've got all our forces on the hunt for Sergeant Havers. We're working with Thomson. It's the best we can do for now.
- You know where she is. Tell me! Come on!
Unable to contain himself after hours of fruitless interrogation, Lynley threw the chair he was leaning on backwards and dashed across the table separating them to Guy Thomson. Two constables, providentially sent by the superintendent to be present during the interrogation, hastened to moderate the inspector's ardor.
- You're wrong, Lynley," Guy leaned back in his chair and looked at the inspector with a frank sneer, "I haven't the faintest idea where Tanya is.
- This interview is over. Take him away," the superintendent ordered. - Inspector, your behavior leaves me no choice but to suspend you from this case in particular and from the service in general. Surrender your weapon, Lynley! Now!
A few hours later, a call from the House of Lords made the superintendent feel the powerful influence of the Earl of Asherton's blue blood and change his mind. Surprisingly, Lynley had previously preferred to play fair and had never resorted to his connections in high places even under the threat of being dismissed from the service, even under the threat of being accused of murder and losing his freedom. He preferred to solve his problems himself, but this situation, apparently, made Linley put aside all his principles and began to act straightforwardly. He was losing his head. There was a reason for that. But the superintendent decided to think about it later. Now was not the time. His own career seemed to be at stake. Everything was in his inspector's hands. And maybe not all was lost. You had to admit, Thomas Lynley was one of the best in the business.
- I take full responsibility for the operation and its consequences. I'm going with him. I'll have bugs on me, I'll have guns. Our hands will be cuffed together in one pair of handcuffs.
- He'll never agree to those terms," the Superintendent's lips curled into a nervous, skeptical smile.
- So, Lynley, you ready to have some fun? - Thompson asked.
- Where are we going, Guy? - Lynley asked dryly, staring straight ahead.
- Go ahead, I'll show you the way.
Another house, astonishingly luxurious. Another owner who was in no hurry to move into their new home and who had entrusted its security to alarm specialist Guy Thomson. In this they were wrong. A combination of numbers on the alarm system, typed by Guy's dexterous fingers, and they are already inside.
- Why are we here? - Lynley looked around appraisingly. - They're not here?
- Of course they aren't. Not so fast and not so easy, Inspector.
With his free hand Thomson took a metal detector-like device out of the cupboard, swept it along the inspector's body, and it immediately flashed red. With an eloquent gesture Thomson pointed toward Tommy. Without a second thought, the inspector obeyed, silently pulling his watch off his wrist, and another beacon, fixed with a band-aid, was found under the elastic band of his sock. All this, along with the phone, was placed on the tabletop. Guy swiped the phone once more to make sure that this time Lynley was completely clean.
- But this," Tommy pointed to the gun in its holster under his arm, "I'll keep it on me. I must have assurances.
With a show of hands, Thomson made it clear that on those terms he was willing to continue the game.
They spent some more time in the house, sitting on a banquette by the curtained window in the library on the second floor, watching the slow work of the gardener in the yard. Linley understood that there was some sense in it, but he could not solve the idea of this serpent yet. He understood everything when the noise of a running engine was heard under the windows. The gardener, having finished his work, was preparing to drive out of the yard in his old pickup truck. Opening the window, Guy tossed the bugs Linley had removed into the open back of the pickup. Tommy grinned as he watched the car slowly pull out of the yard.
- You don't have anything against this mode of transportation?
Guy ripped the cover off the motorcycle parked in the garage. With the pickup truck stunt, he split up the police surveillance team. Part of them must have followed the gardener's car. The other tried to chase the motorcycle that had suddenly jumped into the road, but Guy managed to get away. A couple of blocks later they traded the motorcycle for an unremarkable old Renault.
- You were prepared," said Lynley.
- One should always be prudent.
They had left London for the rest of the day and were now traveling northward on mostly uninhabited country roads. Tommy felt that they were quite close to their destination when the car pulled into a winding, narrow track leading to the water. There were no houses visible in the closest view. It wasn't until Guy stopped the car that Linley saw a small house hidden between two rocks. It looked as if it was sandwiched between them. A light was burning in the windows of the house.
A warm welcome awaited them at the house. Clasping Barbara's neck in the crook of her elbow, Tanya held the muzzle of a gun to her temple.
- You weren't called here, Inspector!
One look at her was enough for Lynley to realize that she was wound up to the max and ready for anything. Half a glance at Barbara was enough for him to see that she was relatively well.
- I've met your conditions, Tanya. Guy is here. And I'm only here to make sure you keep your end of the bargain.
- Take off the cuffs, Linley," Guy intervened in the dialog.
- Do what he says!
The muzzle of the gun pressed even tighter against Barbara's temple, leaving a mark on the delicate skin. Tommy obeyed, taking the key to the handcuffs from his pants pocket and handing it to Guy. Once free, the inspector stepped back a couple of steps and abruptly drew his gun from his holster, pointing it at Thompson.
- 'Take it easy, Tanya, take it easy. This is just my assurance of safety. Get her feet free, Tanya...
He didn't have time to say anything else. The shot rang out suddenly, knocking Lynley back against the wall by the front door. As if in slow motion, Barbara watched Linley slowly sink to the floor.