Mycroft Holmes and the Edinburgh Affair

by Janina Woods

  With every step my anxiety should’ve grown, exposed like that out in the open, but I found that the opposite was the case. The crowd concealed me to the point I felt almost invisible. It was still very cold, and everyone was hurrying to reach their destination. No one paid me any mind.

  But it wasn’t only that. I knew the culprit now. I knew the reason. There was a plan in place and we had a very good chance to close this out satisfactorily. While I didn’t worry about myself anymore, I did still worry about Thompson. So as I walked along the river I worked out a personal mission: I’d ask Lou to help me apprehend Thompson myself, so I could get him to safety.

  At the river, a mean wind rose up. It wasn’t particularly strong, but it was like a touch of pure ice when it hit my skin. I drew up both shoulders and buried my face even deeper into the scarf. Despite the temperatures, a whole lot of people were streaming east. The frost fair was still up and running, but no one knew how long it would stay this cold, so everyone made sure to enjoy this rare spectacle as well as they could. Just after Blackfriars Bridge, there was a possibility to go down onto the river, and I joined the bulk of people on their way to the celebrations.

  The snowfall of the last days was particularly visible on the ice, where paths had been plowed for the people to reach the fair. So many of them streamed past me that the way seemed too narrow. But I still had over half an hour to reach the meeting point and I wasn’t in any rush... yet.

  The main part of the fair didn’t start until east of Southwark Bridge, but there were a few individuals, who had set up temporary shops along the way, praising their wares and making sales in passing. Hot food and drink seemed to be in high demand, and I procured a coffee from a man, who had carried his whole portable coffee stand down onto the ice. He had cleared a small circle for himself and even built some seats out of compacted snow, on which a number of people sat around him. I had to admire his spirit.

  As I stood to the side, drinking the coffee, I observed the people walking past. Most faces said nothing to me, as was expected. But then I spied a pair, who were dressed as inconspicuous as I, but whose faces were definitely familiar. Two of the group, who always attempted to challenge me when I was at headquarters, walked by me as if they were simply part of the crowd. They didn’t recognise me at all and were gone quickly, but in that moment the magnitude of my undertaking that night sank in.

  It was clear now... no, it had always been clear that I could’ve never undertaken this venture alone without risking my life and that of my close friends... even my own brother’s. How could I have ever been so conceited to think I could manage this all on my own? Now I could easily see through my own, flimsy excuses, as soon as I attempted to dismantle them. I had been working alone for so long, I had stopped trusting the abilities of others. I had become all but paranoid. I had feared even talking to the others in the Service.

  The two agents had long passed, but they were still fresh in my mind. I remembered the game we had played, over a year ago, just before Watson had called upon me to chase after Sherlock. Yes, I had demonstrated my skill, but I had also made enemies with my behaviour. And now they were on their way to support me, despite our history. They were under orders, but still... I had also been under orders and still done as I pleased, even to the point of faking my own death.

  I shook my head and downed the last of the coffee. This was not a time for doubt. It was a time for action.

  There was room underneath London Bridge, where the snow hadn’t accumulated. I walked towards the southern end of the bridge, past the point where the message that started it all, had been written on the Thames. Of course by now it was all cleaned up, but as if a ghost were still lingering, the area was free of any tent, bench or other furniture, which was a feat in itself, as the rest of the space around the bridge had become positively crowded. For a moment I wondered how they would all carry everything off in time when the ice would finally melt. But for now, there was only the atmosphere of a joyous festival with music, good food and copious opportunities to let yourself be entertained.

  Night had well and truly fallen as I reached the meeting point and the lights of the frost fair were reflected in the clear ice that had remained under the bridge. The ground was shining, almost sparkling, as I walked across it, hidden from the view of the windows of the dock buildings ahead. Through the clouds of my own breath I spotted a small group in the distance, and as I got closer I could make out who was waiting for me.

  Challenger himself had graced the mission with his presence. Lou was there, and so was Hawkins. Next to Challenger stood Sherlock, his profile unmistakable. They were mid-conversation, a circle of colleagues and professionals, engrossed in the matter at hand. Sherlock was wildly gesticulating in his usual manner and pointed towards the dock. I couldn’t yet make out what he was saying.

  Watching them like this almost stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly, I felt like I would be intruding on what seemed to be a perfectly running operation. Would they expect me to barge in and take charge, as was my usual manner? To run off, petulant like a child, if I were denied? In that moment I saw myself from the outside as just a nuisance, for which allowances had to made. A thing you had to accommodate, no matter what you thought about it.

  But I hadn’t lived as secret agent Mycroft Holmes for almost twenty years just to fold now. No, I’d make them see my worth tonight. And I would do it by the book, no matter what I had to do to keep myself in line.

  “Gentlemen, my lady, I bid you good evening,” I said as I stepped closer.

  The others turned towards me with various expressions of cautious delight on their face. Other agents, who were standing nearby, turned in surprise. Apparently they had heard of my death, but not my miraculous return from the dead. Or they simply hadn’t expected me to show up at all.

  “Mycroft!” Hawkins beamed and reached for my hand before I could stop him. “We’ll finish this tonight, my friend.”

  “I can only hope,” I countered.

  “As long as you do exactly as I tell you, I think we’ll do just fine,” Lou added.

  “Yes. You can count on me.”

  The moment of silence told me exactly how far the other had trusted me to fold so easily: Not at all. Challenger’s eyes narrowed immediately. I could’ve played offended. But I was tired, so I simply waited for him to speak.

  “The agents have been briefed. You’ll follow Turner, as agreed upon. Both of you will infiltrate the dock with the others, but stand back at first. If the situation threatens to get out of hand, I’ll rely on Turner to make the call for you to join in. We may need you to draw as much attention to yourself as possible to distract everyone, if it comes to that. It won’t be without risk, but I trust you to handle yourself.”

  I nodded curtly.

  “Good. We move in at eight. Everyone will be in place by then, and Turner will inform you of your approach angle. I have to see to other things now.”

  Challenger drew his coat closer around his shoulders and donned a bowler, not unlike my own. He left without ceremony. This was it. I hadn’t even been informed of the finer details of the plan. I was back where I had been at the beginning of my work for the Service: A lowly cog in the machine with no say in the bigger picture. It stung me harder than I would ever admit, but I stood there stoically, waiting for the feeling to pass.

  This was a test, I knew it. I had to show I could actually follow orders. It seemed easy enough now, but this silent compliance was already tearing me apart on the inside. I didn’t know how I’d react during the actual mission. Could I hold myself back when I saw an opening? Could I trust myself not to improvise? What if Thompson was in danger?

  I looked towards Lou with a hint of fear in my eyes. Well, that hadn’t happened in a long time. Me, afraid before a mission. And then I realised that she could see the fear on me. I wondered who else could see it.

  “Let
’s go, Mycroft. We have some things to go over yet, and I’d prefer to get in position before that,” Lou said and pulled on a pair of leather gloves that sat snugly on her fingers. She talked to me like a younger apprentice, but I could hear no malice in her voice. And that was enough.

  “Leonard, Sherlock. I’ll see you later.”

  There was much we could’ve said just then. But we had exhausted ourselves over the last days and right now we all had to concentrate on the mission ahead.

  “Mycroft.” Hawkins nodded in acknowledgement.

  “Brother,” Sherlock said. “Make sure Thompson exits the building alive.”

  I didn’t know what he knew or had deduced, but I nodded slowly. Frankly, I didn’t even know if I’d actually be here tonight, if he hadn’t still been in danger. The agency was well capable of handling this without me, and the unnecessary exposure would only threaten my life.

  For all the headaches Sarah Deville and her group of passionate revenge seekers had given me in recent days, they were not foremost in my mind in that moment. And that was something that actually soothed me. They had sought to derail me, and they had certainly succeeded in some aspects, but right now I had put myself above their efforts to dominate my thoughts.

  For once, my mind was firmly set in the possibilities of the future, and that was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Lou said, as we walked around a group of warehouses east of Southwark cathedral. Our angle of approach was from the south, but agents would surround the building from all sides.

  “Sorry. I have a lot to think about.”

  “Are you quite alright?”

  I looked up from the ice covered pavement and found Lou frowning at me. After a quick glance at my pocket watch, I gestured forward to indicate we better keep moving, in case she had contemplated the opposite.

  “Why do you ask?” I countered.

  “You never apologise.”

  Now I did stop for fraction of a second. “That’s true. But I’ve broken so many of my own principles during the last days, I didn’t even realise.”

  “When this is over, you need to take some days off.”

  “My dear, I haven’t even been back at the club for a week. I can’t just-”

  “You’ve been on assignment in Germany.”

  “That was so easy, I don’t think it should actually count as work.”

  “Come on, Mycroft. You know what I’m on about.”

  I sighed. “Yes, I do. And yes, I will. I don’t think Challenger will take me back into active duty, no matter how my conduct is tonight. If I’m lucky, I’m allowed to live out the rest of my life in peace. Incarceration is more likely.”

  “I’ll make a good case for you. And you know that you’re welcome to stay with us in the meantime. I’m sure Edward will be delighted to have you until you find new lodgings.”

  I groaned. With everything in my head, I had temporarily forgotten about my home.

  “Challenger has posted guards at the ruins. They’ve started cleaning it up already, and all salvageable items will be collected, though I don’t suppose there will be many...”

  “I’ll be in his debt until the end of time.”

  “And that’s why he won’t send you away. He’ll work you to your death.” Lou laughed. “Don’t worry. He won’t waste any chance to torture you.”

  “I’m not counting on it, but that does sound like him.”

  We moved into position behind a rather large tree, which was covered in several feet of snow, and crouched down. The area around us was crowded, especially so close to Borough Market. Many costermongers were still around to take advantage of the crowd the frost fair was drawing in. But we had managed to slip into a row of snow covered bushes without notice. The lights from the buildings on the opposite side of the street barely reached us, so our surroundings lay almost in darkness.

  As I knelt between the mountains of snow, I closed my eyes and felt the frosty air flow around me. I breathed in the ice, and with it a certain calm that helped centre me for the ordeal yet to come.

  Five minutes still to go.

  “You’ll follow me closely. We’re to stand back, but we need to be in a good position to jump in.”

  “Lou, there’s something I wanted to ask you,” I said with a heavy heart. “I know Challenger has asked me to wait this out as well as I can, but I am to follow your orders. And if you order me to help Thompson to safety because the situation called for it... I’d be eternally grateful.”

  I looked at my friend, but she stared ahead towards the dock buildings. “You know it doesn’t work like that.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “You also could’ve just taken off and done it anyway. Did you ask me because you want to keep working for the Service and need my help to cover it up, or because you actually care what I think?”

  “Both, obviously,” I replied, even though Lou pulled a face. “But that’s not the most important reason. I simply need to get Thompson out alive. If they realise he turned on them... I don’t even want to imagine. I owe it to him.”

  “And to yourself?”

  “Yes. And to myself. I need to focus on... something else. I don’t know how I’ll react in there. I’ve solved my problems only one way for entirely too long. I need to make this rescue mission my goal, so I’ll do something... worthwhile for once.”

  “Mycroft, your work as always been worthwhile. You’re the single most accomplished agent the Service ever had. And, yes, that’s me, who’s saying it. You should know what that means.”

  “You’re so far ahead of me, dear. You don’t harm people in the line of duty. I could only-”

  “Stop right there, Mycroft. Are you making me out to be some kind of saint? I’ve been attacked before and defended myself. I’ve been in many similar situations and have fought my way through. Don’t think I’m not able to do what needs to be done. You talked yourself into thinking you’re some kind of monster and want me to pity you - but let me tell you it’s not going to happen.”

  I stretched out my arm and pointed in the direction of the dock. “There’s a party to celebrate the death of a monster in that building.”

  “So you’ll go in there and play by the rules to show everyone that you’re not one.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “That’s because it is. You’re trained, experienced and able to perform under the highest of pressure. This is but a textbook mission.”

  I put my face in both hands and took a deep breath.

  “Just let me get to Thompson, please.”

  “I’ll think about it, but I can’t promise you anything. Challenger was right... I may need to make a quick call once we’re in there, but until then you’re to stay under my watch.”

  “Yes, Agent Turner.”

  Lou simply raised an eyebrow. I consulted my pocket watch one more time and straightened my posture.

  “It’s time. Let’s go.”

  I threw the bowler in the bushes and nervously ruffled my hair. We nodded at each other and Lou inclined her head to signal me to follow her.

  The narrow street in front wasn’t as frequented as the market behind us, but there were still a few people about. Battle Bridge Lane snaked around the dock buildings but didn’t give us much cover. Still, we weren’t the only agents moving in. From the shadows around us appeared ever more people with the same purpose in their stride. We only had to be hidden for so long. Now it was time to attack. I felt comforted in the knowledge that the building was surrounded and the mission in capable hands.

  How had I ever believed I could do any of this alone?

  I followed Lou into the shadow of the high building and right up to a small door that was evidently used to admit the workers into the interio
r. Currently, however, it was in disuse and locked up. I could see several pairs of agents get to work on the many doors of the long building of the dock, so I motioned for Lou to give me the tools she had most certainly packed. With a sigh she handed them over.

  It took me only a few seconds to pick the lock. As I pushed the door open I could already hear a number of voices from within. This was it. I took a deep, steadying breath and... stepped back, waved for Lou to go ahead. She nodded at me and ducked low to enter. I slipped into the interior behind her and slowly closed the door. We had to keep moving, because everyone else was. There was no way to coordinate this further, but we were all progressing at roughly the same pace and would end up in position at about the same time.

  The door led into a corridor, through which we progressed quickly, as it was completely deserted. As we walked, I discarded my coat and scarf, not because it was warmer inside the building, but because they would only hinder me in a fight. We reached an opening directly into the interior of the dock itself, which evidently housed tonight’s main event. I could hear people talking, and there was even music floating in the air, but I still couldn’t see anyone. Then I spotted the illumination on the ceiling.

  “They’re on the ship!” I whispered and pointed upwards.

  “Then they’ve trapped themselves quite neatly,” Lou said and pointed slightly to the right. “Come on, I don’t want to climb this. We’re taking the stairs to the top level, so we can approach them via the walkway. Fools... Didn’t they think the Service wouldn’t come after them after they murdered one of our own?”

  “Maybe they thought you’d be glad to get rid of me.”

  “By Jove, pull yourself together. After this is done, you may sulk and pity yourself all you want. But if you want to do that now, you’ll stay right here, guarding the door.”