Sarahs hand slipped to his cock at the same time as her lips hit his neck.

Kyle scrambled a couple of feet down the fold-out bench seat, leaving a startled and confused Sarah looking at him. He squared his shoulders and his face turned serious.

"Right, Sarah. I apologise for the deception, but I needed you up here, away from the Island so I could speak to you," He began, frowning as her mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"I want to know why you came to my room the other night," He said bluntly.

She blinked a couple of times then replied. "To... to seduce you."

Kyle shook his head. "I know you came into my room to have sex with me, and you did. We did. What I want to know is why?"

She looked out the window to her left, then her eyes flickered back to his. "I saw you walking back from the pier, all soaked, and I thought you looked hot, so I figured I'd sneak into your room."

"No, you didn't," Kyle said immediately.

"Yes, I did," She protested.

"Sarah, have you ever heard of visual accessing cues?" Kyle asked.

"What?"

"See, a couple of years ago I got sick of people lying to me in meetings, so I started reading up on body language and how people's eyes react in certain ways when they're making something up or remembering something that actually happened. Did you know people's eyes betray them when they lie? Or their body language does too?"

She looked at him in shock.

"I mean, ninety percent of all communication is in body language. You just have to know where to look," He stated calmly, despite it being mostly bluff. Kyle could barely remember anything about the two page pdf he had skimmed but Sarah didn't know that. He knew it was a gamble, but he knew he had her uncertain, confused and he tried to press his advantage.

"So let's have no more bullshit, because I'll know," He said bluntly. "I know you didn't come in to my room to have sex with me because you thought I was hot. I want you tell me why."

Sarah tried to speak, but no words could come out. He could see she was panicking, but couldn't get her thoughts together enough to come out with anything.

"See I can have you put off this Island any time I like, Sarah. In fact, I could have you put off this Island on a rowing boat. Good luck if I decide to do that. I think the airport is seven or eight hours to the south. Well, southish," He added. "However, I don't want to be a dick, and I suspect the idea wasn't yours in the first place, so here's what we're going to do."

She looked on the verge of tears as Kyle stared at her, and he felt a momentary pang of pity for her, but he knew he had to be firm, so he pressed on.

"You tell me the truth and the whole truth, and I'll see no harm comes to you. That's a one time offer, and that time is right now."

Kyle licked his lips, knowing he was taking a huge gamble here to try and find out if Edwin had sent her to get more blackmail information on him, but he had to find out what was going on.

"I.. "

"Out with it," He said firmly.

"I.. I can't."

"Why not?"

"Please. I can't." Sarah's eyes were beginning to fill with tears and rather than look panicked, she actually looked frightened. With a flash of insight, Kyle wondered if it was him she was afraid of or someone else.

"Because someone has something on you, and you're being pressured to do as you're told?" He guessed.

Sarah started crying, sobbing. Her hands came up to cover her face.

"Sarah!" He snapped, drawing her eyes back up to meet his. "Tell me."

"I.. can't. He'll..."

"Edwin?"

She looked at him and then nodded, crying all the harder now.

Kyle's mind raced. If Edwin was blackmailing Sarah, then he'd sent her to seduce him. The question was why? What was he trying to achieve? Was it a video-recording so he could threaten release of a sex tape? Was it something else? Either way, Edwin was trying to create leverage for something.

"So Edwin sent you to my room the other night," Kyle stated calmly. "And he threatened you with something if you didn't do it, correct?"

"Please, I can't talk about it."

"Sarah, I need you to listen to me," Kyle said, moving a little closer to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to be reassuring rather than menacing.

"Sarah, I know Edwin is up to something. You've just said he's blackmailing you or threatening you somehow, and I suspect he's trying to blackmail me and my sisters too." He took a deep breath, then continued. "It seems to me that we're in this together, so the more I know, the more I can help. But if you don't help me, your situation and mine are only going to get worse."

"Please, you can't kick me off the Island," She sobbed, grabbing his top. "Please!"

"I told you, it's a one time offer, but I have to know everything. I can help you, Sarah, and I can get rid of Edwin, but I have to know what he's up to." Kyle heart was thudding in his chest like the noisy rotor blades above his head.

She rubbed at her eyes, stressed and unsure as she tried to make a decision.

"Trust in me," He said, trying to nudge her choice.

At last she slumped, nodding as she pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"He sent me," She said a moment later.

"What did he say?"

"That I was to go and visit you quietly during the night, that I was to seduce you, and try and do it so you would think it was someone else," She said, unable to meet his eye. "If you tried to make me stay I was to run away."

"Did he tell you why?"

She shook her head. "No, but it's not hard to figure out."

"He's got a recording device in my room so he can blackmail me." Kyle said, nodding.

She shook her head again. "No, although he might be doing that too."

Kyle frowned. "Then what?"

"I need you to promise you won't kick me off the Island. I can't go home."

"Why? Is someone bothering you?"

She bit her lip, then her head came down to rest on her knees.

"Sarah, what the fuck is Edwin trying to do, and why can't you go home? Is this something to do with him blackmailing you?"

"Can you promise me?"

"Sarah, what's the problem? Is someone threatening to kill you or something? Is it family? The police, what?" She flinched at the last one. "The police?"

"I was in an accident," She said suddenly. "I had a few drinks and was driving home, and this guy drove into me, his car went off the road and crashed into a tree."

"And you ran?" Kyle guessed.

Sarah nodded. "I did. I didn't have a license, I'd been drinking and I thought the guy looked hurt, so I called an ambulance on my cell and got out of there. The next morning I flew out here to start work."

"So what happened?"

"I... I told Edwin when I got here. I felt so guilty and I wanted to know if the guy was okay. Edwin looked into it." Her eyes welled up with tears.

"The guy died?" Kyle asked, shocked.

She nodded, her face pale, her eyes emotional. "And the police want me for murder, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident. If I ever go back I'll be in prison for the rest of my life, all because I drove away from an accident."

"Fucking hell," Kyle said, shaking his head, unable to avoid feeling pity for her and the burden she'd been carrying. "And he's been threatening to send you back to the US?"

"If I don't do everyting he says."

Kyle felt sick, but had to ask. "Sarah, what else does he make you do?"

She frowned and hung her head before looking back up. "Once a week, I have to go and do... things."

"Sex?"

"Sort of. It feels just as gross," She explained. "He makes me dress up, strip and touch myself while he jerks off on me."

"Fucking hell."

"I tell myself it could be worse, and it could. At least I don't have to touch him and I get to do it under the shower." She shuddered, reliving the memory.

It was almost a question to fill the time before he asked something else. "What does he make you dress up as?"

Sarah made a sad face and caught Kyle's eye. "He makes me wear a business suit and a blonde wig."

"Why would... Mother-fucker," Kyle said as he realised exactly why she'd been sent to his room. The same night when he and Patricia had nearly got it together, and then he'd fucked someone else, thought it was her and she'd got upset about it the next morning. Edwin must have wanted to drive a wedge in between them.

"He did it to stop me and Patricia hooking up?"

Sarah nodded, a barely perceptable movement and gave him a sympathetic look. "I think he's obsessed with her. Stalkerville, know what I mean?"

Kyle nodded, his mind whirring.

"He wanted me to record you and me up here," She said carefully. "I'm sorry. That's why I wanted my bag."

Kyle shook his head. "Don't worry. I suspected that. That's why we changed helicopters at the last minute."

She looked a little relieved. "That's good, that you changed helicopters I mean."

"Sarah, how long has he been making you do this?" Kyle asked.

"About a year. It started a few weeks after I got here. At first he promised me the Police weren't looking for me, it was all good, and then he said they'd put a warrant out for my arrest after the guy died in hospital."

"What a bastard."

"That's putting it mildly," She nodded. "After that he started pressuring me to help him with odd jobs because he was protecting me. Then he just started to demand more and more."

"Sarah, can I just ask, and it might seem really stupid, but have you checked for yourself to see if the police are actually after you?" Kyle asked. "I mean, Edwin's not exactly proving himself to be a trustworthy guy."

"He showed me copies of the arrest warrant, the police photofit thing and a cutout of a newspaper showing details of the guys funeral," She replied.

"But you haven't checked for yourself?" Kyle asked, pulling his phone out his pocket.

"I couldn't face looking," She admitted.

"What was the guy's name?" He flipped the phone screen open and selected the browser.

"Lance Sherman. From Memphis, Tennessee. Poor guy. Are you searching the FBI Most Wanted or something?"

"Two seconds," Kyle said. "Do you remember what he looked like?"

While Sarah described him, Kyle did an internet search on the guys name and location, figuring if there was a warrant out for Sarah, there would be at least a few news articles about the guys death and the police investigation, appeals for witnesses, stuff like that.

Instead as Sarah desribed him as overweight, thirties, balding with a beard, Kyle clicked on the first link that came up. It had a photo and he selected it, dragging it to full screen.

"Is this him?" He asked, showing it to her. One look at her face confirmed it for him before she nodded.

"I thought so," Kyle replied, clicking back to the previous screen. He scrolled down, nodding. "Sarah?"

"Yeah?" He could hear the fear in her voice, dreading her worst fears being confirmed.

"Want to know what Lance was up to yesterday? When he was at the mall with his kids? In fact, why don't you look at his facebook page yourself," He said, handing her the phone.

She nearly dropped it. Her hands were shaking and she looked terrified. She couldn't even look down at the screen, her eyes fixed on Kyle, her eyes full of fear.

"Sarah, he's alive. He's not dead," Kyle said firmly. "You didn't kill anybody."

"What? But?" Her eyes flicked down to the screen and she stared at it, as if taking her eyes off it would make it some evil practical joke. "He's...."

"He's fine, Sarah," Kyle repeated. "Listen to me. You didn't kill anyone. Unless he's clicking that like button from inside his coffin."

"Are you sure? Maybe it's someone else posting on his account? Maybe its some kind of trick?" She asked.

"Well, it's a trick, then I'd love to know how he was photographed at the mall yesterday with his kids," Kyle said, shrugging. "Looks like you're off the hook."

"I.. "

"Look, when we land I'll get Mister Crowler to look into it discretely and he'll confirm things for us one way or another, okay?"

"What if it's a mistake?"

"I think it's more likely that Edwin's been manipulating you, Sarah," Kyle said. "Manipulating both of us."

"I know I should be angry, but all I can feel right now is relief, and fear that it's not real."

"Well, listen. We need to take this guy down, okay, so I still need your help, Sarah."

"With Edwin?"

"Yeah," Kyle nodded, speaking slowly. With a simple internet search he'd just got Sarah on side, and he knew that he had to capitalise on it. "Now, you said he sent you up to bust up me and Patricia before we got it together, right?"

"Pretty much," She nodded.

"Wait, that's confirmation he's been bugging my suite or has got hidden cameras or something in it," He said, thinking aloud. "Now, does he have any CCTV systems or anything like that in his suite? A private office that no-one else goes into? Anything like that?"

She shook her head. "No, I'd think if it was anything like that he'd keep it in his secret bunker."

Kyle's eyes widened. "What did you just say?"

"That he'd keep it in his secret bunker?" She asked. "Yeah, he's got some kind of cave or something that he disappears into a night. I think it's underneath the kitchens." She shrugged. "Is that important?"

Kyle coud have kissed her. Not only had she confirmed it's existance, but she'd told him where it was. "Tell me everything you know about it. This secret bunker of his."

"Oh, okay. He thinks it's a big secret, but he sneaks in there every night when he goes to the kitchen for his sandwich. Loads of the staff know about it, but no-one's ever been in it."

"Do you know exactly where the door is?"

She laughed. "That's easy. He prowls into the courtyard, where all the trash is kept, and then he punches a code into the kitchen door and a trapdoor opens in the floor. That's how he gets in and out. It's kinda funny how he thinks it's all secret."

"How do you know?"

"I've followed him before when he's had a few drinks, just to see what he's up to. When he's had a drink in him he thinks he's some kinda James Bond super-spy. Some of the other staff call him Danger Mouse."

"What the fuck is Danger Mouse?" Kyle asked.

"Some kids cartoon from England with a superhero mouse who lives in a secret underground lair."

"So people know where it is?"

"I take it this is where he's keeping the recordings then? You should totally get in there," She told him. "Sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I keep thinking about Lance Sherman. Are you sure he's alive?"

"Those posts we saw were made yesterday, Sarah. Fuck, I can't believe it's that simple. That's where the saferoom is accessed? In the courtyard at the kitchens? He punches in an access code, some trapdoor opens up and he goes underground?"

"Yeah. I just assumed you knew it was there."

"I asked him if the Island had a safe room or a secure room, but he said no. It didn't make sense to me, so that's when I started to do some digging. Listen, we can't let on that we're onto him, okay?"

"Why not? You can just fire him, as soon as we land, can't you?"

"No, not yet. I have to have access to that bunker first."

She shrugged. "Fire him and then drill through the locks."

"No, I want in there, because I think he's trying to blackmail me and my sisters, so I want to remove anything he's got on me, or anyone else too," Kyle explained. "Plus, you need to be patient until it's confirmed that this Lance Sherman guy is the right guy."

"How long's that going to take?" She said quickly. "I don't want to have to put up with Edwin any more. I can't handle it."

"At most, a day. As for Edwin, every time he comes near you tell him you've to get ready to come and see me and you'll see him later."

"But what if..."

"Sarah, if need be, just come up to my suite and wait for me, and we'll improvise something. You need to remember though that if he's got my suite bugged, then he could have your room bugged too, so you can't talk about this unless we're on the helicopter, or maybe a boat. Somewhere safe."

"So I should just come and see you, and suggest we go for a trip if I need to talk to you?" Sarah asked, frowning.

"Yeah. And don't say anything to anyone about what happened here."

She shook her head. "That won't work, Kyle. Edwin is going to ask me for details and I need to give them to him."

"Okay, let's sort out a cover story."

"Um... so we took off and you started kissing me, fast and horny, right?" She suggested. Kyle grinned and nodded.

"Go on."

"Then you pulled off your shorts and made me suck your cock?"

"Sounds good," Kyle laughed. This whole conversation had gone from surreal to frightening, followed by exciting and back to surreal again.

"Let's see," She said, moving onto her knees in front of Kyle.

"What you doing?"

"Working out the mechanics of it," She explained. "That way I know I've got it right in my head, and so do you."

"Oh."

"So I give you a blowjob like this, and then you pull my dress up off me and throw it... over there," She said, pointing to under the bench seat. "Which reminds me."

Kyle sat bolt upright as Sarah pulled her dress up over her hips, immediately showing him her lack of underwear, but more importantly the tattoo she had right above her pussy. Taken on it's own it would be horrific, but given the sheer volume of tattooes Sarah had it became part of the whole, and fit.

It was a piece of scroll work that read 'Give it to me, baby'.

"Nice ink," He chuckled.

"Make sure you comment on it if Edwin asks you about us," She suggested. "That way he knows you've seen me naked."

"Good idea," He said shaking his head. "You can cover yourself up now, if you want."

"Oh, okay."

"Do you always go commando?" Kyle asked, out of curiosity.

"Only when I think I'm going to get lucky." She shrugged. "I take it you don't want to..."

"No. And it's not because I don't think you're attractive. Just that I'm kinda seeing someone."

"Just thought I'd ask. You are kinda hot, and I'm feeling a bit hyper, now that I'm not a murderer, know what I mean?" She shrugged and lowered her dress. "Anyway, dress off. Over there. You grab me and..." She looked around. "Missionary? Right here on the floor?"

She lay down on the floor of the Chinook, showing Kyle exactly what she meant.

"That'll do," He nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"Oh, then you should roll me over and do me doggie, while we're looking out the back door," Sarah suggested, smiling. "Kinda sorry this isn't happening. Sounds like an epic fuck."

Kyle laughed and lowered his face in his hands. "Okay. So missionary, doggie facing that way, then what?"

"You cum in my mouth," She said firmly.

"Alright then. Do you turn or do I?"

"I turn, you're standing up, I'm on my knees, giving it all this," She said, miming the motions of giving him a blowjob.

"You should choreograph porn," Kyle said. "So what then? You get dressed?"

"Hell, no. By that point I'm just getting warmed up and so are you, right?"

"Okay."

"So after you've cum you go down on me, make me cum. Here on the floor?" She suggested assuming a different position.

"Fuck it, sounds good."

"Then when you're hard again, I roll you on your back here, suck you, ride you with lots of enthusiasm and bouncyness. Don't forget the bouncy."

He chuckled. "I won't."

"Then I orgasm and then you do too. Where though? Inside me, or in my mouth again?" She smiled up at him from the floor of the Chinook. "What would you prefer?"

"You're the one putting this together," He replied. "Go for it."

"Okay, in my mouth again, so there's no need for spillage from my pussy," She nodded.

"Great. And then you get dressed because we're on our way back in to land?"

"Yes. With just enough time to recover our breath and for you to warn me to keep this to myself and standby for another phone call or visit or whatever," She added. "Sounds good to me."

"Okay," Kyle said, frowning. "Take off, I kiss you, you get on your knees and blow me. Then I take off your dress, throw it down there, mish on the floor right there, then doggie with you looking out the back. Then you turn and I stand up, cumshot, swallow. End of part one."

Sarah giggled, but nodded. "And then?"

"We lie down, I go down on you, admire your tattoo and then you suck me, ride me like a trampoline and then I cum in your mouth again."

"Excellent. I like the trampoline bit."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Nice touch," She said, resuming her seat.

"Oh, yeah. You swallow again," He grinned. "This is so fucking bizarre."

"Hey, we could have just done it, if that would have been easier for you," She shrugged. "As it is I'm getting off this helicopter and going straight to my room for some private time."

Ordinarily Kyle would have burst out laughing at that, but he shook his head, his face serious.

"Sarah, I think when we land, Edwin will want to find out what happened," Kyle pointed out.

"Oh, fuck. And I have to lie to him and not get caught," She said, sighing.

"You can do it though, because you know that within two days at the most, this will be resolved one way or the other," Kyle pointed out.

"How's it going to end, Kyle?" Sarah asked. "Can you have him arrested?"

"I don't know, but I'll find out."

"And what if you can't?" She asked, her tone serious as she looked at him. "What if you can't?"

Kyle felt sick at the thought of what he might have to do to protect himself. It wasn't just himself though. It was his sisters, Patricia and Sarah too.

"So much for an easy week in paradise," He muttered.

Kyle walked back to the house, trying to appear physically tired but inside he was elated. The conversation on the Chinook with Sarah had yielded more, much more than he had hoped. He knew that Edwin was guilty of manipulating the poor girl, lying to her, sexual harassment, hell, probably sexual assault, blackmail and a load of other stuff thrown in too.

Now Kyle had an ally, had confirmation that Edwin was a manipulative fucker, and had the location of the entry point into the safe house. He just had to figure out a way to let Connor know where and ask him if he could stake it out somehow.

First though, he had to get to his suite, get into a bath or a shower or something and hopefully avoid an argument with Patricia too.

"I could just tell her everything that's going on," He thought to himself, but for some reason it didn't feel right. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but that he knew the fewer people who knew a secret the more likely it was to be kept quiet.

Plus, he was concerned about the possibility of there being cameras in the suite and her acting differently, or saying something and letting the cat out of the bag.

"Hi Shmi," Kyle said as he entered the suite. "How's it going?"

"Fine," She said neutrally. "I'll see you after dinner." At that she grabbed a laptop and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Kyle frowned, then realise she could be pissed that he was up in the Chinook with Sarah, taking it as a betrayal of her friend.

"Patricia?"

"Back here, Kyle."

Kyle wandered into his bathroom. "How's it going?"

"Fine. Sit down, because we need to talk, Kyle," She said simply. "I know you weren't talking to Julian, I know you were up in the helicopter, and I know who with."

"I was up in the helicopter with Sarah," Kyle nodded, then tried to remember the cover story for his cover story, shaking his head as he realised how complicated this was getting. "Right, yeah, Sarah. After I told you last night that I figured she was the one who sneaked in here the other night, I wanted to talk her somewhere she couldn't run away."

"So why not a meeting room?"

Kyle shrugged. "You can run out the door of a meeting room, so I thought a helicopter would make her a captive audience. Anyway, we spoke for a bit, she denied it, denied it some more and then eventually admitted it."

"And then?" Patricia asked pointedly.

"And then she tried to seduce me. Can you believe it?"

"Well, yeah. She's a slut, remember." Patricia looked at him. "So did it work? Her seducing you?"

"What? No." Kyle replied quickly, shaking his head as if she'd suggested he launch fireworks from his rectum. Kyle took the opportunity to place his hands on her hips. "No, she didn't seduce me. I'm not interested in Sarah. I am interested in you though."

"You realise that you're saying that right after you've been alone with a woman who fucked you only a few nights ago," She pointed out, then added, "And you were alone with her where no-one could possibly wak in on you."

Kyle sat on the edge of the bath and stirred his finger through the blue-green water for a second. "Do you remember yesterday when I figured out who the boogeylady was?"

"Of course."

"Did you trust me then?" Kyle asked.

"Yes," She replied, frowning.

"Then trust me now, Patricia," He told her. "Nothing's changed, nothing's different. I've been on my best behaviour."

"But you did lie to me," She pointed out. "You should have just told me where you were going instead of lying to me about Julian's extended workout planning."

"And I apologise for that, but you would have wanted to come along, and I didn't want to have to say no to you," Kyle improvised. "Now, I really need to get in the bath, and if you fancy doing that soapy-massage thing you do, then that would be like a little piece of heaven."

She frowned, and sat back on the unit opposite the bath while Kyle pulled off his top, kicked off his sneakers and socks and then dropped his shorts.

He tried not to smile as he saw her eyes flicker down to that spot between his legs, only for a second, but enough that he saw her lick her lips a few seconds later.

Kyle slid into the hot water, sighing in pleasure. He hated lying in general, and more specifically to Patricia after she'd spent the week looking after him, keeping him sane and especially after they became physical. It was one of those things that he knew people justified as 'doing it for the best', usually when they were trying to explain it after it blew up in their faces.

"Patricia," He said softly a moment later, rolling his head to make eye contact with her.

"Yes?"

"At some point tonight can you let Connor know I'd like to see him? Maybe go out on a speedboat for a bit?"

"You've got a busy day, Kyle, and your friends are here too, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. Even just ten minutes," He said.

"You're not going to be able to recruit him, you know?" She said, tilting her head.

"I'm trying though, plus I thought I'd invite him to come visit us in LA. Familiar face and all that." Kyle knew it sounded flimsy, but he couldn't just come right out and say that he needed to tell Connor the location of the entrance to the safehouse.

She frowned. "I'll call him now and set it up for after dinner."

"Can you do it later?" Kyle asked, watching her.

"I can do it now. It'll only take a minute."

"Yeah," Kyle smiled. "But that's a minute longer you're not in here with me."

She gave him a look, kind of 'I want to be angry with you but I can't get rid of this smile', and Kyle raised a hand free of the bathwater and crooked a finger.

"Come on."

She raised a finger in warning. "Okay, but only to massage your muscles. Don't think you're getting any fun-time. You're still in my bad books for lying to me."

Kyle knew from her expression that she didn't really mean a word of it, but he was happy to take her at her word, rather than have to worry about the thought of having sex while Edwin watched or listened.

He sat forward in the bath, making room behind him for her and he watched as she stepped out her heels, removed her charcoal business suit, jacket first and then skirt. She unbuttoned her white blouse and Kyle smiled at the sight of her in white lace underwear.

"You look hot," He murmured.

She winked. "I know."

Kyle chuckled, falling silent as she slipped off her bra and panties and then stepped behind him into the water. He leaned back slowly as her legs slid alongside his hips, and he felt her arms wrap around him as he rested his head against her shoulder.

"I should really make you shower before I get in here with you," She whispered in his ear. "Now my shoulder's all covered in sweat from your hair while I'm sitting in your dirty bath water."

"And I thought you liked my bodily fluids too," He grinned, earning a slap on his chest for his trouble.

"Have you got the soap?" She asked a moment later.

"Nope." Kyle was lying there with his eyes shut, loving the feeling of resting on her body in the hot water.

"No soap, no massage," She whispered in his ear.

"I don't want to move anyway," He replied. "Can we just stay here and order room service? Occasionally top up the water?"

He felt her wrap herself around him a little tighter. "Yeah, that would be nice for now, but in a couple of hours we'd be wrinkled like prunes, and no-one wants to see that."

"We'll turn the lights off. Then no-one has to see it."

"Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Nearly. Still working on a few of the technicalities though."

They lay there in silence for another few minutes and Kyle realised he was nearly asleep. The days events had been mentally draining and physically tiring too, so lying in the bath with Patricia cradling him against her proved to be more relaxing than he thought possible.

He sighed. "We better make a move, I suppose."

"Good call. Plus, if we have dinner, a few drinks and some fun with your friends, then we can get up to bed all the quicker." He felt her lips press against his cheek.

"You have all the best ideas."

It took a few minutes before Kyle finally gave in and got out the bath, stepping into the shower for a quick rinse off and to wash his hair. Patricia disappeared into his dressing room, sorted out an outfit and then went to her own room to get dressed.

By the time she returned Kyle had his jeans, sneakers and a sleeveless black v-necked top on, and was sitting looking at the hooded jersey on the bed.

Patricia was wearing a pair of washed out jeans, tight figure hugging numbers that showed her off very nicely, with a pair of retro sneakers. On top she wore a simple white t-shirt, her blonde hair up in a ponytail, and only a hint of makeup on.

"How do I look?" She asked, a worried expression on her face.

"You look great. Are you alright?" Kyle asked.

"I'm.. a bit nervous about meeting your friends," She admitted. "I've been up here all day and haven't had the chance yet, and I want them to like me."

Kyle laughed. "Wear a bikini. They'll be your best friends in ten seconds flat."

"It's not funny, Kyle," She said quickly. "I'm worried about this."

"Why?"

She rolled her eyes. "Because if they think I'm a bitch, or an airhead, or if they get it in their heads that I'm manipulating you, they'll tell you that and turn you against me."

Kyle shook his head. "They're not like that, Patricia."

"I don't mean they're bad people, but if your friends think someone is bad for you, they'd tell you, right?"

Kyle smiled. "You're totally reading too much into this. Just chill. Have dinner, have a chat with them. If Ed's being an asshole, make a joke and tell him he's being an asshole. Case will think you're awesome for doing it, and Ed will probably spend the rest of the night hitting on you and saying innapropriate shit."

"They know about me though, right?" She asked.

Kyle thought for a second then shook his head. "Haven't told them about you. Apart from you looking after me and stuff, but nothing about me and you."

She bit her lip. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Stop worrying about it," Kyle chuckled. "Anyway, why did you leave a hoody out for me?"

She winked. "Cunning plan. You wear the hoody down, take it off at the table when you sit down and then your friends can admire your new physique."

Kyle laughed. "It's not a gay porn movie."

"Hey, they'll notice. Trust me."

"Besides, I haven't exactly sprouted muscles," Kyle added.

"I love that you can't see the difference," Patricia said, moving forward. "You're leaner now, Kyle, but you're also stronger. Basically you've got definition where you didn't have it before, and that makes you look....."

"Makes me look what?"

She grinned. "Very fuckable."

He chuckled. "You know how to compliment a guy."

"I try," She smirked. "Now, do I look okay, or should I go change again?"

"You look great," Kyle said, getting to his feet. He kissed her once on the lips, then steered her out the door with him. "And stop with the stressing."

"I'm just worried."

"You don't need to. Just be you."

"Oh, you forgot the jersey," She said, but Kyle grabbed her hand and pulled her out onto the balcony. "Don't you want it?"

"I like the idea, Patricia, but it's too theatrical and the guys would see through it in two seconds flat," He smiled. Kyle paused to grab his cigarettes and smiled as he followed a reluctant Patricia down the stairs. It was kinda fun seeing her without her usual one hundred percent confidence.

Dinner was fantastic, with excellent food and good company. Ed and Casey had sat down either side of Kara, with Margarita sliding into the seat next to Casey, much to Kyle and Katie's amusement. Garius sat on the other side of Ed, and throughout the evening the two of them kept bantering back and forth, Ed claiming Garius was hitting on him, and Garius denying it as Ed wasn't hot enough for him.

The put-downs between the two were really funny, and between that, Margarita and Casey's obvious interest in each other, and Patricia's nerves, Kyle was having a blast.

At a little after eight he disappeared to see Connor, who met him at the end of the pier. They opted for a quick chat, where Kyle brought him rapidly up to speed with the location of the entrance and what Edwin had been up to with Sarah.

Connor gave him a firm look and pointed out to him that he had to consider how to deal with this once they'd figured out how to access the saferoom and hopefully got rid of anything that Edwin was using to set up Kyle and his sisters. The final problem with Edwin would have to be handled carefully, whatever Kyle chose to do.

He had nodded, feeling subdued, and Connor had left after saying he would do what he could to figure out how to get into the saferoom, and that he'd be back in touch in the morning.

Kyle returned to the house, still feeling deflated, unable to get his mind off the situation.

When he got there, Ed was sketching a portrait of Louisa, and despite her pleas to see it, he refused until he was finished. Kyle knew what was coming next and whispered to Patricia that she should watch Louisa's reaction. As expected, the table burst out laughing as Ed revealed his sketch, a drawing of Louisa's face on Garfields body, stuffing her face with Lasagna and wearing a bikini. Louisa thought it was brilliant and wanted to keep it, so Katie promised to have it framed for her.

A short while later, Kyle had pushed his chair back a few feet from the table to have a cigarette, and he was surprised as Patricia pushed hers back to join him. Her hand slipped into his, her fingers lacing between his, and she pulled his hand onto her lap. It was very casual, very comfortable and intimate, and Kyle looked at her, aware they were drawing several glances from those around the table.

"You feeling okay?" He asked, a questionning look on his face.

"I'm thinking if all of us already know, then what's the point of keeping it a secret?" She admitted quietly. "Besides, I'm feeling affectionate."

Kyle shrugged. "It's fine by me."

"Hey, monkeyboy," Ed said, looking sharply at Kyle. "You been slamming the fun parts with this fine piece of hotness and keeping it fucking quiet? From me?"

Garius leaned over a little towards Ed and said loud enough for everyone at the table to hear, "Shhh. It's like watching deer drinking from a stream, or two teenage homosexuals coming out the closet together. You have to be careful not to spook them or they'll run away."

"Fucks sake," Kyle laughed, used to Ed's unusual turn of phrase.

"As if you all didn't know," Patricia said, a shy smile on her face.

"She's so fucking far out your league it's like watching acne-boy humping the leg of Wonder Woman," Ed said, shaking his head. His gaze flicked to Patricia. "You're Wonder Woman, just in case you were wondering."

Kyle grinned. "Fuck off, Ed."

"Just for that, knobsock, I'm gonna have to fucking draw acne-boy humping the leg of Wonder Woman, with Patricia's gorgeous face and your fugly fucking features on it," Ed grinned.

"Don't," Kyle said, appearing unconcerned as he shook his head. "You'll only get them mixed up again, and end up drawing you getting boned by one of the X-Men."

"Get it right, ball-sucker!" Ed said, his finger in the air. "It was me getting anally fisted by Wolverine, in a dress."

"Wolverine had the dress on," Casey added, laughing.

"Wait," Garius said sharply, turning and smiling at Ed. "You drew yourself? Getting fisted by Hugh Jackman? Someone needs to come out of the closet of denial."

Kyle was sitting chuckling as Ed and Garius immediately launched into a lengthy discussion of Ed's heterosexual history and at end of every single story, Garius gave him a psychological translation proving that Ed 'loves the cock', as he put it. Everyone around the table was laughing and having a great time, and Kyle was sore from laughing as he saw Ed get tied in verbal knots, time and again.

"He can do this for hours," Patricia whispered. "It's really funny."

"It's fucking hysterical." Kyle could see Ed almost beginning to believe Garius that he actually was homosexual and hadn't come to terms with it. Eventually it came down to one point, and Patricia nudged Kyle to pay attention.

"So after all that, there's only one question remaining, Ed," Garius told him calmly. "Are you always so easy to mess with?" As Ed saw he'd been duped, Garius stuck his tongue out.

To his credit, Ed took it in his stride, going back to his original point that Garius just wanted him, despite his denials that Ed wasn't hot enough.

At around eleven Casey excused himself and a few minutes later Margarita did the same, provoking a lot of knowing looks around the table and more than a few chuckles.

Kyle took the opportunity to call it a night a few minutes later. Between his late night exercise with Patricia the night before and the draining day he was shattered. To his surprise, Katie and Kara got up and walked with him, following him upstairs until they were sat on the balcony. Kyle lit up and smiled as Kara stole her daily cigarette out his packet.

"This is my favourite part of the day," Kara admitted. "But today's been a lot of fun."

Kyle smiled. "Glad you're enjoying yourself."

"Margarita and Louisa think you're really cool," Katie said to Kara. "They really like you."

Kara made a surprised face, and smiled a little. "That's good, I guess."

"You guys should hang out when you're in New York," Kyle suggested.

Kara nodded. "Sounds good. Hey, how's your LA trip looking?"

"Exhausting," Kyle replied. "I've got a manic schedule from six or seven every morning until midnight for most of the trip. I get the feeling I'll come back from California whiter than I was when I got there."

"But you've got Patricia to keep you company," Katie grinned, adding a wink for good measure.

"Yeah, what was with her tonight, all touchy-feely?" Kara asked. "It was like seeing a whole new side to her."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, she usually comes across as a bit cold, all professional and efficient," Katie explained.

"Tonight she was all affectionate. Like a kitten," Kara smiled. "She seemed a lot more... human."

"Kara!" Kyle protested. "She's a nice girl."

"I can see that," His sister replied. "All I'm saying is that most of the time she's a bit intimidating and tonight she was really nice. I'm trying to say something nice," She added.

"I guess I don't see her how you guys do," Kyle said. "Although she did say when I first met her that women generally don't get on with her at first."

Katie and Kara exchanged glances.

"She told you that?" Katie asked.

Kyle nodded. "Yeah, we chat a lot."

"Anyway, how are you doing?" Kara asked. "You've been looking like you've got a lot on your mind today."

Kyle remembered the explanations he'd prepared. "Yeah, I've been getting George Crowler to make sure Katie's two friends from Myrtle Beach are not running their mouths off."

"I thought it was taken care of," Katie said, frowning.

"It is," He assured her. "I'll get him to give you the details tomorrow if you want, but if you don't know then you're better off."

"Kyle, it's nothing.... dodgy, is it?"

"Oh, fuck no," He assured them both. "No, it's all charitable foundations and career ladders and flash cars. Nothing bad."

"That's good," Katie replied. "I don't want any threats or blackmail or anything."

"Yeah, no-one likes a blackmailer," He muttered.

"So when we get to New York," Kara said. "I think every night we have to get on the phone with each other and have a chat, just like we do here."

"Conference call?" Kyle asked. "I like the idea. It seems weird considering we've only been here for six days, but I'm gonna miss you guys."

"We were saying the same thing earlier," Katie replied. "Kara didn't expect to bond with us at all."

"And now?"

Kara smiled. "Cautiously optimistic. Despite our... history, I'm not unhappy that you guys are my siblings. At least you're not arrogant assholes."

"Not yet anyway," Kyle said, stubbing out his cigarette. "Cautiously optimistic? I like that."

He bent and gave them both a kiss on the head as he had the previous night. "Night, girls."

"Night, Kyle," They replied in unison before bursting into a round of giggles.

Patricia was already in bed when he entered the bedroom, so he stripped off his top, had a wash and brushed his teeth in the bathroom and then finished disrobing before he slipped into bed.

"You took your time," She murmured, sliding on top of him, and to his surprise, reaching for his phone on the bedside table.

"Interesting time to make a call," He said, grinning at her.

"Shush," She murmured, flicking the screen open.

Patricia slid back off his lap and settled down beside him, his arm around her shoulders. As Kyle watched, she opened the browser, directed it to a porn site and then clicked on a video.

"We're watching porn?" He asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Slide down the bed a bit, Kyle," She ordered, and to his surprise, she pulled the sheet over their heads, placing the tablet-sized screen between them. Then she turned and looked at him and raised a finger to her lips.

Her hands went to the tablet and she minimised the browser, the sound of a couple engaged in horny chat still audible in the background, and she opened a word processing document and began to type rapidly.

What happened with Sarah? There's something going on you're not talking about. Can you talk here?"

Kyle looked at her, smiling as he was reminded how smart he was. She knew there was something going on, but had not asked him so she'd engineered this type of communication to find out.

He leaned over and kissed her. Patricia smiled, but pushed him back and said aloud, "Watch the movie first. I want to see what turns you on."

Kyle took the tablet and began to type his own message.

Long story. Don't react. This place could be bugged!!!! Hunch though. Edwin denied island has a safehouse. Crowler said there is. Sarah sent by Edwin. He's been blackmailing her for a year for sexual favours. Fucking creep. Also think he's setting me/Kara/Katie up for blackmail too. Don't freak out.

She gave him a very concerned look, but turned her attention back to the tablet a moment later.

WTF? Also, guy gives me the creeps, so not that surprised. What are you doing about it?"

He knew he couldn't tell her that Edwin was stalking her, not now. Before he could reply though, Patricia opened the porn window again, and typed 'BDSM', 'Anal' and 'Slut' into the search box.

"Really?" He asked aloud.

"A girl likes what a girl likes," She replied, sounding flirtly but looking unhappy. She clicked on the first video of a girl strapped to a frame with a butt plug in her ass, turned the sound up and minimised the window again.

Kyle took the tablet and typed.

Have located bunker/safehouse entrance. Connor checking it out. Will let me know tomorrow. Also, Sarah on our side now. Told her if E being a creep she should just come up here. Cover story is that I'm screwing her on the side and you don't know. Not actually touching her though, okay!!!! Too into you! x

Patricia read the message, and Kyle could see she was taking a minute to process it. "Nasty video, but hot," He said aloud, just to pass the time.

Patricia picked up the tablet and began to type once more.

You've been busy! Connor onside is good. Crowler helping is good too. What do you need me to do?

Kyle typed quickly on the screen. It was getting really hot under the sheet and the sooner they could lift it and admit some fresh air, the better.

Act normal. Act a bit pissed if you suspect there's something going on with me/Sarah if you want? Don't say anything. Also, be flexible if I need to meet with Connor/Crowler/Sarah. Can't think of anything else. Normal behaviour is good!!!

The video ended, so Patricia clicked on one of the suggested ones, this time of a woman tied up, getting spanked by another woman while a guy stuck his dick in her face. Then she typed out a response.

Okay. Normal I can do. What about the bugs? Audio? Video? What?

Kyle typed back quickly.

Don't know. Only a hunch. Can't confirm.

Patricia replied quicker.

Might not be any at all? Lot to think about. Will be awake for a while. What about sex?

Kyle gave her a quizzical look, drawing a shrug from her in reply, and another rapidly typed message.

Do you want to? We can keep the sheets over us. Plus it's normal and I've been horny all fucking night long. Understand if you're not in the mood. Btw, really like these videos!!!

Kyle grinned. If she was up for it, then he was too, and if keeping a sheet over them gave them enough of an illusion of privacy while knowing they might be recorded, then alll was good.

Couldn't keep my hands off you if I tried x

She fixed him with a wicked smile, then shut the word processing software, maximising the porn screen.

"Hey, it's really stuffy and hot under here, Patricia," Kyle said a moment later. "Can't we just lift the sheet up a bit?"

"I suppose," She replied, smiling.

While they sorted themselves out, Patricia moved Kyle's arm back around her shoulders and she snuggled into him, one hand holding the porn movie on the screen so they could both see it.

"You want to keep watching?" Kyle asked, flicking the bedroom light off.

"Is that okay?" Patricia replied. "I have to admit, I'm a bit of a porn junkie."

"Quite extreme in your tastes too." He chuckled.

"This isn't extreme," She said, flashing him a grin. "This is almost vanilla in comparison to some of the stuff I like."

"Sounds like you and Ed should share your collections. I bet you'd have a lot of doubles."

"You want to talk about your friends porn collection when you're in bed with me, butt naked?" She asked, teasing him.

"Point taken. So show me some of the stuff you're into," Kyle suggested. "I'm not easily shocked."

Patricia turned her head and looked at him, as if trying to decide if she should or not. "You might end up more shocked than you think."

"Try it and find out."

For the next hour, Patricia flicked through all manner of videos. Most of them involved some form of submissive behaviour on the womans part, and featured things like bondage, spanking, rough sex, choking, spitting, forced orgasms, throat fucking, double penetration, butt plugs, public humiliation, all performed on the woman by a Dominant figure, sometimes males, sometimes females and on a few occasions, both. All of them featured anal.

It was a bit of an eye opener for Kyle and not really something he was into himself, but the thought that it turned her on turned him on, and when Patricia couldn't stand waitng any more, she lay down on top of him, put her legs either side of his and took him inside her.

Kyle knew without a doubt that if she'd thrown the sheet back, she'd have been trying to take his cock up her ass, but she was as aware as he was that there might have been some kind of recording device, so she managed to restrain herself enough to stay lying down on him.

Patricia came just before he did. She took the time to lick him clean afterwards, and then drifted off to sleep within minutes.

Kyle lay there in the dark, trying to figure out what tomorrow was going to bring.

Kyle woke up and checked the time.

"Ten minutes until I'm due to get up," He murmured, clicking the light onto it's lowest setting. He turned and looked at the beautiful woman by his side, spread like a starfish across the bed, her hair half covering her face.

He smiled and adjusted the sheet, pulling it up a little. The temptation was there to just slide a hand in, touch her in certain places and be balls deep inside her within a minute, but he knew she'd had a restless night.

"No point in both of us getting up," He muttered and slid out of bed. A couple of minutes in the bathroom and then a quick trip into the dressing room, and Kyle was ready to go workout.

He jogged down slowly, warming his muscles up for what was to come, saying good morning to the members of staff that he saw out and about. As he turned the corner heading for the gym, he heard a low whistle and saw Connor sitting under a palm tree. He looked like he'd been drinking all night.

"Morning," Kyle said, his good mood evaporating. His nostrils flared at the scent of scotch at the same time as he saw the half-bottle in the Scotsmans hand.

Connor winked, then beckoned him over with a nod of his head.

"Alrighty, ya wee dobber," Connor slurred happily, yet Kyle could see in his eyes that he didn't look drunk. He held out a hand to Kyle as if asking for help to get up, and when Kyle reached out, Connor palmed him a small piece of paper. He tried not to grin.

"You're right sober, man. Ye need tae party harder."

Kyle crouched down facing Connor and glanced down at the note. Code 4162, Pastry Kitchen door. Leads to ladder down. At bottom another combination, plus scanner. Need to catch E tonight when he's on his way down. Will call you. Up for it?

Kyle looked up and nodded. "Yeah, but I can't party like you, Connor," He added.

Connor reached out and grabbed his hand, taking the paper back off him and stood up, swaying slightly.

"You're hammered," Kyle said, on the off-chance anyone was listening or watching. If Connor thought it important enough to act like he was drunk, then he should probably play along.

Connor pulled a cigarette from behind his ear and made a big deal of trying to light it, neatly setting fire to the paper in the process as he lit up.

"Aye, you and me should party one night when we're in LA," Connor slurred, leaning back against the tree as if he was falling over. The burnt piece of paper drifted to the ground, consumed.

"From what I hear I'll need a weekend to party and the rest of the week to recover," Kyle said, smiling. The fact that Connor had got the first part of the combination, and then got inside was great news. Real progress.

"Why fucking recover? Just keep partying," Connor smiled, clapping him on the shoulder as he stood on the consumed paper and casually twisted his foot. "And, and cut out this six in the morning workout shit. It's depressingly healthy."

"You could join me in the gym right now, Connor?" Kyle suggested, laughing as the Scotsman wandered off, the tap of his cane loud on the pavement.

"Aye, but I'd make you look like a wee bitch. Nae chick wants to blow you after seeing that, Kyle."

Kyle grinned and jogged off to see Julian.

His workout was far superior to yesterdays last one, and he broke seven of his personal records, worked his ass off, and wasn't in absolute agony when he was done. Julian put it down to the injections helping heal his injured muscles and his body reacting well to the diet and exercise.

Kyle promised to see him later and then took a brisk walk back to the house. Patricia had drawn him a bath, but had already showered and dressed herself and was hard at work with Lakshmi sorting through resumes.

"You two know it's only quarter to seven, right?" Kyle said as he headed for the bathroom.

"We know," Lakshmi nodded. "The early bird catches the early worm."

"I like to think of us as partially insane myself," Patricia chuckled.

He bathed, ran the clippers over his face to get the stubble back to the right length, and did all the other bits and pieces guys do to try and look good, and then got dressed.

He was sat on the balcony enjoying a cigarette and a cup of coffee before breakfast when Patricia and Lakshmi came out to join him.

"Right, let's hear todays schedule then," He said.

"Someone's firing on all cylinders today."

"He is, isn't he," Patricia replied, giving him a quizzical look.

"Good work out," Kyle explained. "So I'm treating myself to coffee and a cigarette, and no, the irony is not lost on me. So what's happening?"

"Easy day," Lakshmi said, pulling out a sheet of paper. "Breakfast at seven thirty with a briefing on dealing with the media until half nine."

"Easy day? You're gonna kill my good mood," Kyle grinned.

"After that," Lakshmi said, pressing on," You're seeing Doctor Kerr, then Shiro at the salon for a trim."

"Sounds good." His eyes caught Patricia and he could see her trying not to laugh.

"After that you've got half an hour with Margaret," Lakshmi said cautiously.

Kyle facepalmed himself. "I knew the gods were out to get me today."

"She's going to run through your wardrobe choices with you and has a shortlist of stylists for you to interview when you get to LA."

"I've to interview them?" Kyle asked.

"She doesn't trust us with it," Patricia said, grinning. "You'll just have to get on with it."

"Then you're doing it," Kyle said, nodding at her. "If I have to put up with her for half an hour, then you're doing the interviews, Patricia."

"I knew I shouldn't have laughed," She muttered but made a note.

"Next? And please tell me it's something fun."

Lakshmi made a reluctant face. "You've got me and Patricia going through the list of dates, with updates on your shortlist and a few new ones to add on too."

Kyle sighed. "And then I'm back at the gym, then lunch, right?"

She nodded. "Yes. But you do have the entire afternoon free."

"Really?" Kyle asked. That sounded weird. "You're sure?"

"It's right here." She held up the piece of paper. "All afternoon. Free time with friends."

"So a few hours of hell, then play time?"

"Jesus, Kyle," Patricia muttered. "You've got a half day. If you were at home you'd be working until five or six. Stop being a grump."

He grinned. "Yes, dear."

"Now then, recruitment," Patricia said, moving swiftly on while Lakshmi tried not to laugh. "We're canning the idea of seperate media relations for each of you right now. It's going to make more sense for one spokesperson for all three of you, and then there's no mixed messages or contradictory statements."

Kyle shrugged. "Okay."

"The shortlists are done for the rest of what we need right now, so we're getting them to meet us the day after tomorrow. Shmi and I will get the interviews done and that's going to tie us up a bit, but you're going to be busy with other things. We will need you to pop in during each interview though."

"Why?"

"To see how each of them react to you," She explained. "You come in and hit them with a couple of rapid questions then walk back out again. It allows us to see how they react under pressure, what they're like if they've screwed up."

"That's sneaky," Kyle said. "I like it."

"One of Mister Tripps habits," Lakshmi explained. "He turned me into a nervous wreck during my interview."

"Patricia?"

"Me?" She shook her head. "I nailed the answers, then turned the tables on him and quizzed him about a statement he'd made in an interview. He hired me on the spot."

"Fantastic," Kyle smiled. "Okay, I trust you guys with the recruitment, and I don't know shit about what I'm heading into at LA, so do what you have to do, hire or fire as you see fit, and just try to keep me from making too many fuckups, okay?"

Lakshmi nodded, and Patricia said, "Sure."

"Anything else, or should we go get breakfast?"

Breakfast was eaten and over depressingly quick, the high point of which was Casey and Margarita showing up a little late and getting a bit of a ribbing about making too much noise. Kyle knew the rooms were all nearly soundproof, but they didn't know that and he found it funny watching them squirm a bit.

All too soon though, their briefing on the media started and Casey, Margarita and Louisa excused themself to go for a walk round the Island. Kyle sat through the importance of controlling the flow of information to the media, be it the paparazzi and gossip columnists or the tech magazines and business press. Feeding the beast, they called it.

His visit to Doctor Kerr perked him up a little though as she gave him a full physical, complimenting him on how rapidly he'd got into shape, and then kicked him out with a clean bill of health. Shiro gave him a trim, showed him a couple of different ways to style his hair and then got Kyle to do it and gave him some pointers, and then he was being reluctantly dragged off to meet Margaret.

As he expected, she didn't react well to the news that Patricia would be selecting his stylist, so after huffing and grumbling for a few minutes, she eventually handed over two resumes with an announcement of, "I guess even you'll find it hard to screw this one up, but I won't hold my breath."

Margaret then began to go through colour charts for casual and formal wear, showing him what worked for him in what scenario, casually arranging his wardrobe as she explained it all. Kyle didn't react well to the way she spoke to him, as if she thought he was still in kindergarten and eventually he had enough.

He resorted to asking her to explain every point she made at least six times before he let her move on, and by the time he had done that on three different points, Patricia appeared and told him it was time for his next meeting.

Margaret bustled away, looking a little more pissed than normal, although Kyle had to admit to himself it was hard to tell.

"Nice tactic," Patricia muttered when Margaret was out of earshot.

"What? I don't understand, Margaret. Can you explain that bit again?" Kyle grinned.

"I had to go to the bathroom so you wouldn't hear me laughing. I thought she was going to have a stroke at one point."

"I'll try harder next time," Kyle said, laughing. "Right, what's next in this morning of hell?"

"Me and Lakshmi."

Kyle sighed. "Ordinarily that would fill me with joy, but it's the dates list, isn't it?"

"Sure is."

"Fuck."

"Which reminds me," Patricia said. "I need to talk to you after we're done with this."

"Sure. What about?" Kyle asked.

"Nothing major. We can do it after your workout."

"In the bath?" Kyle suggested.

"If you want," She nodded.

"Cool. Right, let's get this over with, shall we?"

Kyle opted for the balcony, so he could have a smoke while they chatted.

"Alright, Kyle," Lakshmi began. "This won't take too long. We've got a few new files for you to look over as possible additions to the list."

He rolled his eyes. "Shoot."

"First one is Charlize Theron," Lakshmi explained. "She should have been on the list anyway, because she's shown an interest."

Patricia rolled her eyes. "I still say she's too old for him."

"Whatever. Charlie's nice and at least I've met her, so she'd have a reason for knowing me," Kyle said. "Put her on the list."

"Next is an actress called Addison Timlin," Lakshmi said, handing him a photo.

"The girl from Californication who played the actress playing Mia?" Kyle said, then frowned. "Did I say that right? Was her character called Sasha?"

"That's her," Patricia nodded. "We think she's single, so what do you think? Could you see her out on a date with you?"

"No, I can't see it, but she'd look good," Kyle replied.

"So that's another yes," Lakshmi noted. "Right, next up is Ari Graynor, another actress."

"I recognise her," Kyle nodded, then shrugged. "Sure."

"Right," Lakshmi said, giving him a funny look.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. Just.. you seem to be quite chilled about this in comparison to the last time we talked about it," She said carefully.

"That's easy," He said, smiling. "This is never gonna happen, so I'm not worried about it now."

Patricia raised an eyebrow. "Wait and see, Kyle."

"Sure. Who else?"

"Elizabeth Olsen."

"Is she one of those annoying twins?" Kyle asked, looking unhappy.

"No, their younger sister. She's an up-and-comer this year, and she's different from her sisters. Made a huge splash at Sundance too."

"Don't know. Reserve list maybe? Some more information."

"Sure," Lakshmi said, nodding. "Hey, did you ever watch True Blood?"

"Love that show," Kyle nodded.

"Deborah Ann Woll?" Lakshmi asked. "Plays Jessica, the vampire."

"If she's single put her on the list," Kyle replied. "I've seen a couple of interviews she's done and she seems like she'd be a good laugh."

"Excellent."

"Is there more?"

"Last one, another actress. Jessica Stroup," Lakshmi said, flicking through the pages in her binder.

"Never heard of her," Kyle said. "In fairness, I'm not exactly a celebrity gossip fiend."

"Here." Lakshmi handed over a photo of a girl with dark hair and really piercing eyes.

Kyle frowned. "That's Jennifer Connelly. No, wait." He looked up. "That resemblance is freaky. Are they related?"

Lakshmi shrugged. "I don't think so, but that's Jessica Stroup. She's been in a lot of TV shows, but most recently the remake of 90210."

"Never seen it, but she's hot. That could be my Jennifer Connelly obsession thing kicking in though," He grinned.

"Obsession thing?" Patricia asked.

"Yeah, a few years back I got a huge man-crush on her and bought all her movies, put posters up in my dorm room, stuff like that.

"I think she's beautiful," Lakshmi nodded. "Those eyes. And she's really nice too."

"Oh, yes," Kyle nodded. "Pity she's not on the list."

"Want us to check her out?"

He shook his head. "She's married."

"She's too old for you anyway," Patricia added.

"I'd happily make an exception if she was single, and the universe turned on it's head enough that I'd stand a chance," Kyle said, smiling.

"Stop doing that," Patricia said sharply. "You keep putting yourself down, Kyle, and it's dumb. Sooner or later you're going to realise that you're a hot guy with a shitload of money, and a lot of women are going to throw themselves at you. You need to switch on to that fact."

"Well I just don't see it."

"Well you should, and you will," Patricia told him. "Can we press on with the meeting now please?"

"I thought that was it."

"No, there's a few updates on the four names you selected on the first pass. Shmi?"

"Okay, Eva Green is at home in France having a few months off, so there's nothing happening there."

"That's one down," Kyle said, looking pointedly at Patricia.

"Missy Peregrym is in Vancouver, but her sisters band have just been dropped by their record label and I asked our music guys to check them out," Lakshmi explained. "They think the lead singer has some potential so are checking out a few songwriters to work with her in the studio as a possibility."

"Her sisters band?" Kyle asked.

"Yes," Lakshmi nodded. "Her sister Amanda, is the lead singer of a band called Corrosive Productions, I think, although we're looking at a solo deal here with session musicians and our own songwriters."

"There's also another thing to consider, and that's our production company making a documentary about her recording her album. If we do that, then there's strong indications that Missy Peregrym will come down to LA for a day or two to support her sister and help promote the documentary."

"So that's the plan for me meeting her? Spend a fortune signing her sister to a record label, spend another fortune making a documentary, and all so I can walk into the studio to say hello?"

Lakshmi nodded. "Pretty much. Then you invite them both to your party, get her sister to play at it, then see where it goes from there."

"That's a ridiculous amount of money to spend just to set something like this up," Kyle stated.

"The record label wouldn't recommend her if they didn't think they could do something, and the documentary thing is a good idea anyway," Patricia added. "This will probably happen anyway regardless of your involvement."

"Wow, this is weird," Kyle said, realising that he might actually meet the girl he considered to be really frickin hot. Missy Peregrym. Weird.

"Weird or not, are you happy for us to take this forward?" Patricia asked.

"If the record label and production company think they can help her make good music then go for it," Kyle nodded.

"Cool," Lakshi said. "Next up, we're changing your schedule for an afternoon at the end of the first week. You've now got a photoshoot in the house. We checked out Charlotte Sullivan and she's quite an accomplished photographer, so our style magazine wants to run an editorial on you, and we've asked her to do the shots for it."

"Wait, what?"

"She hasn't accepted yet," Lakshmi continued, "But we expect to hear later today."

"Holy shit. So I've got a photoshoot with her now? It's only been a day or two and you've hooked up meetings with Missy Peregrym and Charlotte Sullivan already?"

"Told you we're good," Patricia winked.

"Although we haven't got anything sorted with Mila Kunis yet, but our production company is working on getting a meeting with her when you're in the building," Lakshmi added.

"Jesus," Kyle muttered.

"He only worked miracles," Patricia chuckled. "We're way better than that."

"I'm starting to see that," He replied.

"And we're done. Now go workout, and I'll see you when you get back," Patricia said.

"Lakshmi?"

"I've got a lot of calls to make to firm up travel arrangements so I'll be in the business suite downstairs."

"Okay."

Kyle popped inside and got some gym kit on, then walked down to meet Julian. While they worked out, this time hammering his arms and upper body, Julian explained how his workout schedule should change now. Half an hour of daily cardio, with alternating days on his arms, torso and legs. No more three workouts per day, only one in the morning, and that would keep him in great shape and continue to develop him for the time being.

Kyle thanked him and walked back to the main house, his arms hanging at his sides after what felt like a monster session, and he got into his suite to find Patricia already in the bath, waiting for him.

"Shower first," She said firmly, grinning at his disappointed expression.

Kyle washed the sweat off his body, rinsed and then slid into the bath, relaxing in Patricias arms.

"You really like this, don't you?" She whispered in his ear as he lay back on her.

"It's nice. Really relaxing and intimate," He admitted, his eyes closed.

"So I wanted to talk to you."

"You said that.".

"Last night I showed you all those videos," She began and Kyle smiled.

"That was a real eye opener. I had no idea you were into all that stuff."

"I know," She continued. "One of the reasons I showed you it was to see how you reacted, see what you would do when we had sex after that. It gave me a lot to think about."

"What?" Kyle asked. "You showed me then to see what I'd do?"

"Sort of," She said, stroking his chest with her fingertips. "Did they turn you on?"

"You turned me on," Kyle said immediately. "Knowing that you were into that was a bit of a turn on for me, but I found some of the videos a bit... rough."

"That's my point," She said gently.

"Hey, I think I could get into some of that stuff. Just takes a bit of getting used to the idea."

He felt her shake her head slowly. "It's okay that you're not into the same things I am, Kyle. That being said, I want that kind of sex life, and I can't see you choking me, or spitting on me. Likewise I know you can't put a collar on me and lead me into a fetish club like a dog on a chain."

"You're joking, right?" Kyle said, sitting up and half turning to face her. "You're dumping me?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No, that's not what I'm saying at all, Kyle."

"Then what are you getting at?"

"That you're into what you're into, and I'm into what I'm into, and that's okay. But there a lot of differences there."

"Okay. So what does that mean?"

"It means that us fucking is a lot of fun, but if your ultimate sexual fantasy is to make love and spiritually connect with someone, then mine is to get used and abused like a dirty slut." She paused and then frowned. "My point is, we're not going to be able to have a long-term relationship as a couple because our sexual tastes are too different."

"You don't know that," Kyle said, shaking his head. "Where the hell is all this coming from?"

"Lakshmi and I had a chat. Well, several chats," She admitted. "She was concerned what would happen if we kept seeing each other like we were dating, and then you dumped me, or if I wanted to dump you. She also pointed out that if you do date public figures then you have to be able to follow through."

"What?"

"We can't date. Not in public, and you know that. You'll never be able to have a threesome with me and another guy in case it gets out, or any of the other fantasies that I'd like to fulfill one day, and I don't want to fall in love."

"Jesus, Patricia," Kyle muttered. "So basically you're saying we can't see each other any more? Do you think being naked in the fucking bath with me was the best place to tell me that?"

He stood up to leave, but Patricia grabbed his hand.

"Wait. I'm not finished yet."

"There's more?" Kyle said, shaking his head. "And I thought I'd already had a shit morning." He sat down at the other end of the bath, facing her. "Go on then."

"As I was saying, we have a lot of differences, but there's also a lot of common ground too," She told him slowly. "I like fucking you, Kyle. I like sleeping with you, I like fooling around, I like the baths together and I don't want that to stop."

"What the fuck?" Kyle stared at her, confused and feeling hurt. "One second you're saying we can't date, we're too different sexually and I have to be able to fuck other people and you want to too. Is that right?"

She nodded.

"And now you're saying you want to keep doing what we've been doing, right after you said you want to stop?"

"That wasn't what I said," She protested.

"Then spell it out for me, because this is making no fucking sense at all."

"Alright, here's the bullet points," She said, taking a deep breath. "We can't date. We shouldn't become a couple. We can have fun though. We can hookup, say if neither of us is dating anyone and we fancy some fun. Like friends with benefits."

"Fuck buddies?"

"Yeah, basically," She nodded. "Continue doing what we've been doing, but with no expectations of a relationship and knowing that we're both open to date other people. When we're not, then we can... amuse each other."

Kyle sat there looking at her, feeling like his feet had been whisked out from under him and gravity hadn't decided if he should fall yet.

"I don't get it," He said a moment later. "You got all that from my reaction to your porn choices?"

"No, that just confirmed what I'd been considering, and Lakshmi was right to speak to me too. I needed to figure this out, so I did. This is a solution though, and it lets us continue to fool around. Plus, it makes things easier in the long run."

"How's that exactly?"

"Alright, let me give you a hypothetical. Say you go out on a date with... I don't know. Missy Peregrym, right? You two hit it off and she's into you, you're into her, and you can't stop yourself. It's magical and you want to keep seeing her. What happens then?"

"This is if me and you are still seeing each other?"

"Yeah. She turns out to be your soul-mate, so what happens then?"

"I guess we'd have to have a chat, work something out," Kyle shrugged. "I don't believe in soul mates though."

"So we have a chat, I get upset and my work goes to shit because I've been dumped. Do I quit? Should you fire me? Every time you look at me you're going to feel guilty and hate yourself." She paused and looked at him. "My point is, do you really want to go down that road? I don't."

"That's a ridiculous scenario, Patricia."

"What if you don't meet this person then, and a year goes by? We've been seeing each other all that time, I'm still working for you and you go off me? How do you dump me and still expect me to work for you? This way we avoid any of that happening." She paused and looked at him. "Don't you see, Kyle. This way we both get the best of both worlds."

"It doesn't feel like the best of anything," He replied.

"Granted, I could have explained it better, and maybe I should have just said let's be fuck buddies, but I wanted you to understand why." Patricia leaned forward. "I'm sorry if I've upset you, Kyle. I didn't mean to."

Kyle took a deep breath but couldn't quite figure out what he wanted to say. He tried to start several times, and Patricia waited for him to speak, but he couldn't put it together.

"You need some time to process?" She asked gently.

"I guess so. I feel angry or disappointed or something, but I can't explain why. Stupid, huh?"

"Not at all," Patricia replied. She stretched her arms out to him. "Want to come back and let me cuddle you while you mull it over?"

Kyle frowned. Normally he wouldn't have hesitated, but it just didn't feel right. "I'm gonna get out, go and have some lunch and hang out with the guys for a while. Just need a bit of time to think, I guess."

"Can I make a request?" Patricia asked gently as he stood up and got out the bath.

"Okay."

"Can you try to think of it in simple terms? The only thing I've told you I can't do is be your girlfriend. But I can be your assistant, your friend and your lover, and you get to date anyone you want, any time you want. Can you try and think of it like that, Kyle, please?"

He looked down at her, seeing her looking up, her eyes wide. She looked unhappy, much as he supposed he did. "I can't promise anything, but I'll try, okay?"

"I'll be around if you want to talk. Just call me or come get me." She gave his hand a squeeze and let him go.

Kyle got dried and slipped on a pair of jeans, boots and a t-shirt then wandered out to the balcony and lit up. He slumped down in his favourite seat and put his feet up on the railings.

"Why are you so upset, Kyle?" He muttered to himself, and the answer came back to him. Because you wanted her to be your girlfriend.

"So becoming a billionaire with a hot secretary that'll blow you while you bone your way through the FHM Top 100 transforms you into a crybaby man-bitch, does it?" Ed shouted over the noise of the speedboat as the three friends raced the girls around the Island. "Man, you need a punch in the balls to remind you they're there."

"Ignore him," Casey said, shaking his head. "I just think you're too close, buddy. You need a little distance from the problem is all."

"How do you mean?"

"Step back and think about what you want. Look at the big picture," Casey said, mentally reminding Kyle of the hundreds of discussions they'd had in the office. "Over the next year you're gonna be all over the world, bro. You're going to meet hundreds of hot babes, probably princesses. If you get the come-on from some of them, would you like to be able to indulge yourself?"

"Fucking right, bitches!" Ed bellowed loud enough to heard over half the Island.

"So she's telling you that you'll be able to play the field and have some fun, and if there's no action happening, it's cool with her to get some Patricia time?"

"It's not going to work like that though," Kyle frowned. He was really worried that emotions would start coming into play if he was bringing chicks back, or how he would react if he knew she was out on a date.

"Not if you're more emo than a sparkly fucking vampire-loving teenage girlie-boy," Ed told him.

"As rare as it happens, dude, the Ed does has a point," Casey said. "Take what she's offering bro, because if it was me, I'd be tapping that fine body every chance I got."

Kyle's mind conjured an image of Patricia, sprawled on the bed, half wrapped in sheets and naked. He felt like he could hear the sounds she made during sex, or feel her arms and legs wrapped around him in the bathtub.

"I want to keep seeing her," He admitted. "I just don't know about the other stuff."

"Then keep seeing her," Casey said firmly. "Just take the other stuff a day at a time, bro."

"And get me some Patricia fap material, or I swear, frozen turdage shall magically appear."

Kyle exchanged a look with Casey, both remembering Ed's phase of wrapping turds in plastic bags and freezing them. Then he would put them in the jacket pockets of people who had pissed him off, in the glovebox's of cars in dealerships, in the hoods of assholes on the bus. As far as Ed was concerned, anyone being a dick was fair game, and he always took the bag away. By the time the deposit defrosted he was long gone and it sometimes took a while for people to notice the smell.

"Ed, if you start that shit, I swear to you, I'll have you thrown off a helicopter out at sea," Kyle said, grinning. "And no, you can't have any naked Patricia pics either."

"Yeah, man. Don't start all that again," Casey added, a distasteful look on his face.

"Anyway, I thought you were all in love with Caroline?"

"I am, but can't a man roll the fleshy blunt without some spank material any more?" Ed moaned. "Fucking pair of frigid bitches."

"Fuck off, Ed," Kyle grinned. Despite the obscenties, disgusting topics and constant insults, Kyle actually felt a bit better about the situation having talked it over with his friends.

"Hey, the girls are overtaking us, Ed," Casey said sharply. "I thought you knew how to drive this thing."

"Shut up, bitch, and go back to being ballast," Ed said, leaning in to the controls. "No fucking way they're beating us."

"He's a fucking imbecile," Casey laughed.

"Yeah, but he's our imbecile," Kyle added, laughing too. "Hey, wait. Is that a good thing, or did we get screwed in that deal?"

Kyle entered his suite an hour later. The girls had beat the guys and Ed had insisted on another race, and then another before he finally beat them. As soon as they docked Kyle had gone ahead to the main house.

"Patricia?" You in here?" He called.

"Back here," She replied. Kyle found her in his dressing room, packing most of his clothes up into cases and trunks. "How was the race?"

"Hopeless. Ed sucks at driving speedboats, but he blamed it on the ballast."

"The ballast?"

"Me and Casey."

Patricia smiled as she snapped a suitcase closed and then stood up straight. "So..."

"So I chatted it over with Casey and Ed and they called me a bunch of names, mostly Ed did actually, but Casey asked me to consider what I'd want in an ideal world, so I did. I want to keep seeing you, Patricia. I like this... us. If it's going to be a casual arrangement then that's how it's going to have to be, because I'd rather have you in my life than not."

Patricia stepped around the cases and into his arms, holding him tight. Kyle knew he was smiling, and he ran his fingers down her back.

"Damn packing," Patricia murmured.

"Leave it for now," He replied, feeling her pressing against him. He kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Can't. The staff are coming to take most of it away any time now," She said, sighing. "Otherwise you'd be getting thrown on that bed, Mister."

"Later then?"

"Repeatedly," She promised, a wicked glint in her eye.

"And just so you know," Kyle added. "Some of that stuff you showed me was kinda hot."

"Now's a good time for specifics," She grinned.

"Well, I quite like the idea of you with a butt plug in while we're chatting with people or in a meeting or something, and using a toy and my cock to DP yourself. That's kinda hot too."

"It's a start," Patricia said, a thoughtful look in her eye. "I get the feeling you're not into being rough with me, and that's okay."

"It's the thought of hurting you, or lifting my hands to a woman," Kyle said quickly. "Just doesn't feel right to me, even though I know you're into it." He shrugged.

"I get it. I do. It's all good, Kyle, okay? Just do whatever you're comfortable with and I'll do the same and we'll have a lot of excellent orgasms together. Doesn't that sound good?"

"Sounds awesome," He told her, grinning as he impulsively tugged on her ponytail and kissed her. He could tell immediately that she'd enjoyed that. "You're awesome."

"You can do that again any time you like, Kyle." She fixed him with a smouldering look, and he could see the desire on her face.

"What? Pull your hair?"

"Oh, yes," She nodded. "Taking a grip of me so I have to do as I'm told? That's hot."

"Turned on a little are you?"

She grabbed Kyle's hand and pushed it inside the waistbelt of her trousers, pushing it down towards her pussy. "You tell me."

He probed with his fingers, searching for her pussy, and he found it waiting for him, ready and hungry.

"You're really fucking wet," He muttered, slipping a finger inside her.

"Oh, that's nice." She rolled her pelvis, grinding her clit against his hand.

Kyle watched her, seeing how her eyes seemed far away, her breathing was deeper and her hand clutched onto his arm. "You know, if there wasn't people coming in here any second, you could be doing that on my cock."

"Don't tempt me."

She seemed to shake herself a few moments later, and then swiftly removed his hand from inside her pants.

"So, yeah. I'm a little turned on, you could say," She added, winking at him. To his surprise, she pulled his hand up between them and began to suck his fingers clean. "Can't have you stinking of pussy, can we?"

"I'm happy if I'm stinking of your pussy."

"I bet you are. Later though, okay?"

"Sure," He nodded, releasing her. She began to pack another case and Kyle moved to help her, but she swatted him on the arm.

"What was that for?"

"For trying to do my job for me," She said, rolling her eyes. "Go have a coffee or a cocktail, sit on the balcony or something. You're distracting me."

"Distracting because you keep having wicked and impure thoughts?" He asked, grinning at her.

"Out!"

Perhaps because he'd sorted things out with Patricia he felt a lot better and was able to relax and chill out by the pool with his friends and the girls. The afternoon sun was hot and he had slipped into the pool, relaxing on the steps in the water water while his brain drifted.

The situation with Edwin still hung over him, but he felt comforted by having Connor on his side and Sarah secretly working with him too. He had been able for most of the day to put it to the side, distracted with other things, but now the situation kept intruding on him..

He was aware that Edwin was playing things carefully. He had to be. Kyle knew that he'd had conversations with his sisters and with Patricia that could have been recorded. He knew he'd had sex with Sarah, and done plenty with Patricia too, so if there was video recordings then Edwin had a huge amount of data that he could use.

Edwin's obsession with Patricia was a worry though. Would he just let Kyle whisk her off the Island tomrrow for a few months, effectively letting her go. Not really something a nutcase stalker would do, he thought, but the truth was he didn't know what the hell Edwin would do.

He knew that getting information on someone was only one part of blackmail or extortion or whatever. He remembered a historical fiction book he'd read about ancient Rome, and how some politician or other had said that there are three parts to any blackmail. Getting the leverage, deciding when to use it, and making sure you got what you wanted. So far, Kyle knew Edwin had the leverage. The when and what he wanted were the two things he didn't know.

"You've gone all quiet," Patricia said as she slid into the pool beside him.

"I didn't hear you come down," Kyle said, giving her a brief smile. She looked good, in a bikini the colour of brushed steel, a pair of shades covering her eyes. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

He shrugged and gave her a pointed look. "Just stuff."

"I'm sure whatever it is, it'll sort itself out," She murmured as she lifted his arm around her and draped her legs between his.

"Nice to see you relaxing," He said softly, and smiled as she gave him a soft kiss.

"Yeah, the workaholic in me is protesting bitterly." Her head rested on his shoulder. "This is nice."

"It is."

They lay there in silence, basking in the sunlight, enjoying the warm water and the touch of each other, surrounded by friends and making the most of their last full day on the Island.

"What's happening later?"

"Dinner at eight, all of us, Mister Crowler and Edwin too. We invited Connor but he begged off," Patricia explained. "I suspect he's got a few dates lined up."

Kyle's expression soured at the thought of dinner with Edwin. Having to make pleasant small-talk while the old man plotted against him and his sisters. The same man who had blackmailed Sarah and jerked off on her for a year while she dressed as Patricia.

"The food should be really good. The chef's setting up a grill and will cook whatever meat or fish you order right there in front of you. Every time he's done it in the past it smells amazing," She continued. "So there's no need to look so miserable," She added in a whisper.

Kyle forced a smile. "It does sound good. You know what I've been craving all week?"

"Apart from me and steak? And lobster?"

"Funny," He muttered, tickling her behind the knee and making her squirm.

"Stop that!"

Kyle grinned and rested his hand on her leg. "Okay, yes, I've been craving you, but what I'd really love is a really great burger, with cheese and crispy bacon. Maybe a few mushrooms too."

"I'll let the chef know," She said, smiling. "I like to keep you satisfied."

"You do more than that," He replied, tilting his head to look at her. She gave him a soft kiss and a smile.

"There you go being all sweet again, Kyle Watson. Maybe I should sneak you upstairs for a while."

"Now there's a thought," Kyle replied, but her hand kept him in the pool.

"You've had hardly any time to hang out with your friends, Kyle. Take the time, make the most of it. You've got a busy couple of weeks coming up and that's only the start of it."

Kyle looked at her, seeing her smiling at him.

"Later, I promise," She whispered.

Kyle nodded. "Come on then, let's get everyone and go do something fun."

"Lead on."

At Heidi's suggestion they all trooped down to the beach for a few hours of instructed water activities. Qualified instructors were summoned from the Islands staff and while Ed, Kara, Patricia and Margarita went parasailing out on a speedboat, Kyle, Katie, Louisa, Heidi and Casey learned how to scuba dive with oxygen tanks.

Kyle loved being under the water, not having to worry about resurfacing to breathe and as they worked their way around the Island, flapping their flippers, it opened up a whole new world for him. Seeing the local fish darting around ahead of them, or beneath them was like ghosting through someone elses house, a momentary intrusion that drew a few odd looks but then they were gone and everything returned to normal.

After that they lay on the beach for a while sharing their experiences and sipping on cocktails, then trooped back up to the main house. Casey, Ed, Margarita and Louisa stopped off at the tennis court for a game of mixed doubles, which really made Kyle laugh. Ed was all power, but Casey was going to lose some serious dude points playing tennis. It didn't matter what kind of bat, stick or racquet he held, Casey just couldn't hit his targets. It was like his hand-eye co-ordination was fine apart from when he was swinging at something. Then he turned into a clumsy two year old.

He followed the others back to the main house where everyone agreed to get changed and meet up before dinner for a few drinks. Kyle followed Patricia into his suite, shut the doors and found her in his bathroom, naked and in the shower, the door open waiting for him.

His lips met hers with a hunger that exploded through him, a hunger that was reciprocated. He felt himself growing rapidly as her hands snaked around his neck, and he slid his hands down over her breasts, down her sides, slipping under her ass.

Kyle lifted, feeling her pulling on his shoulders as she spread her legs and wrapped them around him, getting herself ready to accept him inside her.

"Oh, fucking good idea, Kyle," She said, panting for breath as they broke their kiss. He didn't say anything, knowing the intensity on his face said everything that was needed to say.

Kyle pinned her to the wall then slipped first one arm, then the other under her legs, her arms still around his neck, and then he lifted her again, jerking her upwards once and again, testing his hold to make sure he could fuck her like this, something he'd only ever seen in a porno but never attempted in person.

He saw her expression change, a broad smile on her face. Patricia adjusted her grip and slid her hand down betwen them, her fingers grasping his hard cock and positioning it just right, and as Kyle lowered her, impaled her in mid-air, she groaned.

"Oh fuck, yes."

He growled, feeling powerful and aroused, longing to fuck this beautfiul blonde woman who turned him on, and he acted on that desire.

Kyle's hips began to pump, swift, sure and smooth in their movements, plunging into her pussy time and again.

Patricia moaned, tried to kiss him but couldn't reach and moaned again as she was penetrated deep, over and over. Her eyes widened a little as she saw Kyle's eyes narrow.

He lifted her free from the wall and began to jerk her up and down with his arms, lifting her up and letting her fall on his shaft.

"Oh my fucking God," Patricia blurted as gravity dropped her onto his erection hard and fast.

For some reason the tune 'Born Slippy' by Underworld popped into Kyle's head in that instance, a hard, pounding, strong and intensive tune he'd first heard years ago on a movie, but it matched his mood. Hard, fast, aggressive, and unconsciously he matched the tempo of the music only he could hear, fucking her. Hard.

Patricia's mouth was wide open as she gasped, hammered intensely by this man holding her in mid-air, relentless in his movements.

"Kyle," She gasped, and he stared at her, every muscle in his body taught. He knew this was something new for her, as it was for him, and the knowledge spurred him on. He could feel the muscles in his legs, his stomach and back, in his arms. He could feel them reacting to the weight and responding, flooding him with adrenalin and strength, the result of a week of intensive workouts culminating in this moment, being inside this woman.

He knew there was nothing she could do but hang on for the ride.

He pounded her with the beat only he could hear, relentless and rythmic, not stopping when she quivered and shook in orgasm, not stopping or even tiring minutes later when her arms began to tremble, nor when her second orgasm struck and she nearly turned to jelly in his arms.

It was as if he was in a trance, he knew, and it was almost annoying as he felt his own balls tighten, heralding the end of the experience. He remembered that part of the tune where the drums and bass suddenly stopped and all that continued was the echoing notes of the keyboard and he echoed that moment.

He became more aware of Patricia's panting, of her moans and gasps of breath and he thrust into her and stopped as he came, holding it there for a few beats as her eyes widened, his erection twitching inside her. He eased out a few beats later then thrust back in again, holding it there as he flooded her inside, then once more, and one final time.

The music was gone, and he was there in that shower, this beautiful, exhausted and trembling woman held up in his arms.

"Kyle," She panted, staring at him in wonder. "Fuck. Wow."

He was breathing hard, still in a semi-orgasmic daze, still buried inside her, but he managed a smile.

Patricia wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck as she took her own body weight on his shoulders, allowing him to lift her one last time. He slid out of her with regret, then lowered her legs down.

"Whoa," She muttered as her legs wobbled, and it took her a moment to be able to support her own weight again. "Holy shit, Kyle."

"You okay?" He muttered a moment later, her arms still around his neck.

"That was.... just, wow. Intense."

"Just caught in the moment." He eased himself back from her, putting a hand out to the wall to steady himself.

Patricia kissed him, a long deep kiss that felt like a thankyou for something special and he smiled gently.

"I'm gonna have to come up with something spectacular to thank you for that," She said a moment later, a wicked smile on her face.

"Just be you."

"You always say the sweetest things."

Kyle and Patricia joined the rest of the group downstairs around seven thirty and they chatted away, having a laugh and passing the time until dinner.

Shortly before eight the chef appeared along with several of the waiting and kitchen staff and they began to lay out a buffet while the chef worked the grill. Kyle had ordered a burger with some prawns on the side, while the rest of them ordered a mixture of steaks, chicken or fish.

Patricia was correct when she said how fantastic the aroma was of all the marinaded meat and fish cooking, as well as the various salads and side dishes the staff laid out next to the grill.

When each of their dishes was ready they were walked up, given their plates by the chef then helped themselves to the hot and cold buffet. Kyle ended up with a fantastic bacon cheeseburger made from bison on a bun, with fries, salad and some grilled prawns in a garlic and chilli sauce.

Sitting eating and drinking with Edwin was an unnatural feeling for Kyle. He had to force himself to smile as whenever he looked at the old man, he felt sick to his stomach. Acting on impulse though, he decided to try and get everyone at the table pretty hammered, thinking that if Edwin was drunk later then Connor would be able to surprise him that much easier. Hopefully with Kyle there too.

As soon as he finished his food he got up from the table for a smoke. One of the waiting staff asked him if he'd like a coffee but Kyle shook his head and asked that for the rest of the night, could he just be served Pepsi, even if he ordered Rum and Cola because he wanted to have a clear head in the morning.

The waiter nodded discretely and winked. "No problem, sir."

After that, Kyle did everything he could to create a real party atmosphere, suggesting drinking games, continuously ordering up drinks and making sure everyones glasses were topped up, including his own Rum and Cola, minus the rum.

At one point, Edwin got up from the table and Kyle, thinking quickly, did so too, following him to the bathroom. They stood side by side at the urinals, when Kyle spoke, taking care to act a little drunk.

"So I was thinking, right," He began, adding a slight wobble for effect. "When we're away you should do some more designing stuff. Architecting." He thought that was a nice touch.

"For what, Master Kyle?" Edwin said, turning to look at him. Kyle noted how dilated the old mans pupils were, and he stifled a smile.

"To make one of them saferoom thingy's that we don't have," He added. "It'd be right handy if I want somewhere discrete. For.... you know. With Sarah or something." Kyle added an exaggerated wink, wondering if he'd overdone it.

"Ahh, Sarah," Edwin nodded. "I'll look right into it right now, Mister Kyle."

"Pffft. No." Kyle blurted. "Do it tomorrow or next week or something."

"I shurely sall," Edwin replied, then frowned. "Shurely sall. No. Surely shall. Yes."

"Fucking cool," Kyle said, grinning. "And put a bed in it."

"Of course. No problem, Mister Kyle. Master Kyle. Yes."

Kyle washed his hands and followed Edwin, who didn't, back to the table. Once there he was quite shocked at how drunk everyone seemed to be. Patricia had stolen his seat when he got up, and insisted on him sitting back down so she could sit on his knee, her arm around his neck. Kyle kept a close eye on Edwin and caught him glancing at Patricia every so often, his eyes narrowing each time, then quickly darting away again.

At around midnight, everyone began to drift off to bed, with Casey once again charming Margarita to spend the night in his room, while Ed tried to get bets that he could jump from Kyle's balcony into the pool. Thankfully no-one was stupid enough to take the bet, or Ed would have tried it, and probably broken his legs.

Kyle carried Patricia up to bed after everyone had left. She wasn't as drunk as a few nights ago, but she'd insisted that he carry her, just because he could, and Kyle smiled and obliged her. Despite her extensive playful kisses on his neck, unfortunately all he could think about was Connor's call.

From the second Edwin had staggered out the door, Kyle had been glancing at his phone, anxiously awaiting the call, and then as the minutes dragged by he'd began to worry that he'd got Edwin that drunk that he would go home and fall asleep and they wouldn't get into the safehouse at all.

He shook his head, knowing there was nothing he could do about it anyway. It would just have to play out and he would have to wait.

Kyle closed the doors to their suite and placed Patricia gently on the bed. When he tried to get up, she kept a hold of him and pouted, causing him to laugh.

"I'm just going to the bathroom to brush my teeth."

"Oh, Okay."

He stood in front of the sink, brushing away and looked at himself in the mirror, seeing the changes a week of hard exercise and some intensive diet control had done for him. It wasn't the physical changes that were the most apparent though, but the mental.

He knew if someone told him he would be standing where he was now a week ago, he'd have laughed in their face. Now here he was, in a suite on the Island he co-owned with sisters he never knew he had. His gorgeous assistant was waiting for him in bed, and all he could think about was an old Englishman who was trying to blackmail him and abusing one of the staff, as well as being obsessed with Patricia. Now Kyle was relying on an injured Scottish bodyguard who was drunk half the time and nailing chicks the rest of it.

"Fuck my crazy-ass life," Kyle told his reflection.

He turned to the bedroom, seeing Patricia still lying on top of the sheet, this time with Kyle's phone opened in front of her.

"What you doing?" He asked, smiling at her.

"Checking your emails. They're fairly stacking up."

"What's the count now?"

"Six thousand or so." She gave him a grin. "Me and Shmi will start blasting through them tomorrow if you want?"

"Six thousand?" Kyle asked. "I don't know six thousand people."

"Yeah, well there's a lot more than that know you. Not like I do, of course, unless you've been keeping some really big secrets from me," She said, winking.

"Hardly."

"So are you..." Patricia's sentence was cut off by the sound of a knock on the glass doors, then a second later Katie called.

"Hello, Kyle? You still up?"

"Yeah, I'm back here."

"You coming to join me and Kara on the balcony? Last night on the Island."

Kyle glanced at Patricia and shrugged. She just rolled her eyes.

"I'll be here when you're done."

Kyle gave her a kiss then went outside to join his sisters.

"Thought you were gonna ditch us tonight, Kyle," Kara said, grinning at him. "Here. Have a cigarette."

"You're offering me my own cigarettes now?" He laughed, but took one anyway.

"I like to be helpful," She smirked.

Kyle sat down, lit up and looked at Kara and Katie. "Had a good day?"

"It's been great," Katie smiled. "A really good way to finish off our stay."

"I'm not looking forward to returning to reality," Kara said, exhaling a long plume of smoke. "That's gonna suck."

"You know it's not going to be reality, right?" Kyle pointed out. "I mean, you're going to New York, Katie's going to see her folks, but for both of you it's going to be very different."

"You too," Katie agreed.

"Fuck, I know," He said, rolling his eyes. "I've got a day and a half at home in San Antonio then I'm in Los Angeles for two weeks. I've got a schedule from hell and Patricia and Lakshmi are trying to jam dating opportunities in there, left, right and centre."

"Yeah, I was hearing you've to date other people," Kara said, a grin appearing slowly on her face.

"How the hell did you hear about it?" Kyle asked.

"Casey told Margarita. Margarita told Katie. I heard it from her." She shrugged.

"What a pair of gossips."

"We're just looking out for you, like good sisters would," Katie said, sticking her tongue out when he laughed.

"Kyle. Phone call." He heard Patricia call from inside the suite.

"Gotta take this," He said, quickly darting inside. Patricia handed him his phone with a quizzical look on her face.

"It's Kyle." He said quickly, the cellphone pressed to his ear.

"Know where the main kitchens are?" Connor said quickly.

"Yeah."

"There's a courtyard for storing the trash. Meet me there. Fast as you can. I've got our friend."

Kyle ended the call and looked at Patricia. "I've got to go. I'll be back in a bit."

"What's happening? You're white as a sheet." He could see the concern clearly on her face, but he didn't have time to chat about it.

"Can't talk now, but everything's fine. Wait here." He darted outside.

"Kyle?" He heard Kara call, but he was already on his way down the stairs two at a time, and running out the front door of the main house moments later.

He knew the kitchens were located off to the right on the other side of the trees, and there had to be a path, so he checked at the side of the house and found it, tucked behind a bush. He ran down it, turning left, then right, left again, following the edge of the building, and then he spotted the courtyard.

He ran round the corner seconds later and froze.

Edwin was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his hands behind his head, while Connor had a pistol trained on him. They were surrounded by big trash cans on wheels, and in the corner it looked like a flagstone had been prised up.

"That was quick," Connor said, winking. "I should put you on my team if you react that fast."

"You've got him." Kyle said, his eyes darting from Connor with his pistol held in an unshaking hand to Edwin, sat on the floor looking surprisingly calm. The old man met his gaze.

"Master Kyle, this lunatic is pointing a gun at me for no reason."

Kyle didn't have to be nice to him anymore, he realised in that instant. Now was the time for confrontation, not play-acted innocence.

"Shut the fuck up," He snapped, then turned back to Connor. "What happened?"

The Scotsman kept his eyes on Edwin. "He opened the hatch, and I stepped out on him, detained him until you arrived."

"What's down there?"

"A ladder, leading to another door. We need him to open it for us."

"It's a storage area," Edwin protested. "Really, this is quite ridiculous."

Kyle ignored the old man for the moment. "So we go down there with him?"

"Aye. You first, then him, then me," Connor said firmly. His hand slid behind his back and he pulled out another pistol, this time a snub-nosed revolver. "Careful with this one. When it's cocked it's like a hair-trigger."

Kyle stared at it and frowned. Time to shit or get off the pot, Kyle. "Yeah, I remember how to use this." He reached out and took the pistol, opened it to make sure it had ammo in it and then closed it again. His eyes swung up to meet Edwin's, and he felt this surge of anger at the old man. He raised the revolver.

"You're going to open that door for us, Edwin, because I know exactly what you've been up to," Kyle stated, the anger in his tone evident.

Edwin cast a look at him which was half disbelief, half amusement and then to Kyle's surprise, he snorted. His expression changed to reveal an arrogance, a contempt for the two men holding him at gunpoint.. "Kyle Watson, I daresay there are many things in this world you think you know, but don't."

"I know you're trying to blackmail me. I know you've been sexually abusing Sarah for the past year. I know you're obsessed with Patricia. I know you're a fucking deviant, and a pervert and a fucking scumbag piece of shit, so let's get all the cards on the table, shall we?"

Edwin's gaze flicked back and forth between Kyle and Connor, then back again. "I don't think so. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to put those guns away, you're going to let me go, or the world will be hearing a new tale of the billionaire triplets and their incestuous history. They'll hear of a cover-up, of bribery and blackmail, of extortion. And the best bit?"

The old man paused for breath, smirking. "They'll be able to watch it themselves on video, out of your own mouths, admitting to it and discussing how to cover it up." He lowered his arms and placed his hands in his lap.

"You've got me on video?" Kyle said, doubting him.

"Every structure on the Island has cameras hidden in it," The old man said, his voice thick with contempt and amusement at Kyle's naivety. "I've got everything."

"Want me to just shoot him now?" Connor asked. "It's no bother."

Kyle couldn't answer, his gaze fixed on Edwin. He felt more fury in that moment than he had in his entire life.

"If you do, then copies of the video files will be emailed to all the major news outlets," Edwin added. He shrugged. "Your choice."

Kyle wondered if the old man was bluffing or if he truly had a covert CCTV system with complete coverage of the Island. He knew it technologically possible, and Danny Tripps definitely had the funds, but to have something of that scale and keep it secret would be an extraordinary achievement. On top of that, even if Edwin did have an insurance policy in the event something happened to him, who could he possibly trust with the knowledge? He frowned, watching the Englishman to try and figure out if he was lying or not.

"So what do you want?" Kyle said eventually. "I mean you haven't done this for no reason, so what are you hoping to get out of it?"

"I'll discuss that when I'm good and ready, I think," The old man sniffed. "For the time being, you can leave my Patricia alone. No more taking her in your bed, or in the shower. No more bathing together either." His face turned grim. "You leave her here when you leave tomorrow."

"I don't think so," Kyle said firmly, trying to stifle the shock that Edwin knew about them showering together. The certainty that there was a camera in his own bathroom made him feel violated.

"I don't think so," He repeated, "Because there's no way I'm leaving anyone with a piece of shit like you."

"Really, Kyle?" Edwin said, shaking his head slowly, as if disappointed. "You're calling me names? I had given you a little more credit than that."

Connor stepped forward. "Kyle, I reckon we could probably drill those locks downstairs, or get someone in to cut through the door. That Captain that's in charge of the Betsy? He's an ex-SEAL, right? He'll know how to use explosives so I'm sure he'd open it up for us."

Kyle was grateful to the Bodyguard, taking over the conversation and putting a little more pressure on Edwin while giving Kyle the time to think, to ease his doubts about what to do.

"As for him, I can shoot him in the head, we'll put your gun in his hand and fire it into the wall, and it'll look like he was trying to kill you," Connor continued. "From what you're saying too, we could wheel this Sarah out and get her to tell her story and everyone would know what a sad perverted wanker he is. No fucker mourns a rapist."

"What about the videos he's got ready to send?" Kyle asked, frowning.

Connor tilted his head and looked at Edwin. "I reckon he's talking shite about that. Besides, if he's got them they'll be down in the bunker. We'll have that door off in a few hours at most, and then we'll have his evidence in hand too. Piece of piss."

"If you think you can get through that door in a few hours you're sadly mistaken," Edwin said quickly. Kyle noted he wasn't smirking any more though.

"Oh, we don't need to get the door off," Connor grinned. "All we need is to get through the keypad to access the scanner inside. It is a scanner for your handprint, right? Located at just the right height up the wall, inside a box large enough to house it. Not a box deep enough or high enough to be a retinal scanner, too wide to house a keypad, not wide enough to hold a keyboard. Just perfect for a handprint scanner though, and if you're dead.... Well, you won't be worried about us cutting your hand off and taking it down there, will you?"

Kyle could see the old man pale as Connor's guess struck true.

"How could you..."

Connor took a step forward again, towering over the seated Edwin with menace. "I got the combination for the kitchen keypad last night. I was watching you go in. I watched you come out. I've been down that ladder twice since then. Still think you're the smartest kid in the class?" Connor looked down on the seated Englishman. "You're going down that hole if I have to throw you down."

Kyle could see Edwin was at a loss for words.

"Me, then him, then you?" Kyle asked.

"Any time you're ready," Connor nodded.

"Okay. Let's do it."

Kyle put the revolver in his back pocket and headed over to the hole in the ground. He peered down, seeing the ladder going down to a concrete floor some distance below. There were low lights from the other side of the shaft, illuminating the inside enough that barely any light spilled out.

He sat down and put his feet on the rungs, then went down the first couple. "See you down there."

"If he gives you any trouble when he gets down there," Connor said, giving Kyle a firm look. "Shoot him. You can kill him if you need to, but a shot in the gut fucks you right up, and it's really fucking painful too. Trust me, I know."

Kyle took a deep breath and nodded. As he lowered himself down the ladder he felt sick at the thought that he might actually have to shoot someone. He knew he hated Edwin, but did he have the commitment there to shoot an unarmed man in cold blood? He sighed as he neared the bottom of the shaft, hoping that Edwin wouldn't realise the fears he held and seek to use them against him.

The bottom of the ladder opened into a small chamber and directly opposite the ladder was a shiny steel door. There were no locks or handles visible on it at all, just a big steel plate fitting snugly into a smaller steel frame. To its right, a metal box sat on the wall about the same size as a shoebox, with a small keypad on top of it.

"You down?" Connor's voice sounded strange, kindy of eerie and echoey at the bottom of the shaft.

"Yeah," Kyle called back up, looking up. He saw Connor manhandle Edwin roughly into the shaft, gesturing with his pistol as the old man hesitated.

Edwin began to descend, moving smoothly, one foot descending at the same time as the opposite hand, then reversing, bringing him down to Kyle rapidly. At the last second, Kyle remembered he should have his gun pointed on him, and grabbed it out his pocket.

"Slow down," He said, trying to sound firm as Edwin reached the last few rungs.

The old man got to the bottom and turned around, sneering as he saw Kyle had the gun pointed at him. "Out my way, boy."

"Just.... wait there."

"Do you want the door open or not?" Edwin asked. "I can't open it if you're in the way, can I?"

Kyle heard a muffled clang from up the shaft and guessed it must be Connor closing the hatch. Figuring the Scotsman would be down the ladder any second, he moved to the corner to allow Edwin access to the door.

The old man lifted his left hand up to the side of the keypad and his right hovered over it, ready to type the code in.

"Wait!" Kyle said sharply. "Put your left hand in your pocket. I want to see what number you put in."

Edwin sighed and shook his head, and as he touched each button Kyle said the number aloud, committing it to memory.

"Nine. Six. One. Two. One. Seven."

The box under the keypad clicked and swung open, and Edwin pressed his right hand immediately against it. Kyle saw a red light illuminate the old man briefly and then there was a series of low thunks and the door began to swing out.

Kyle realised immediately that it was hinged in the corner he was leaning against and if he didn't move fast, the door was going to swing out and crush him against the wall. He quickly darted towards the base of the ladder, losing Edwin from sight as the old man dived inside.

"Fuck!" He blurted as he rounded the door and got a momentary glimpse of a large room, with a concrete floor covered in rugs, white painted walls and a large white sofa. He just had time to raise the revolver to point through the doorway before everything suddenly turned into complete darkness.

He knew Edwin must have hit some master control, a kill-switch for the lighting, and had robbed them of any light at all.

"Kyle?" He heard Connor call from up the shaft as the small lights winked out, the light at the bottom of the shaft went off and the interior lights in the saferoom disappeared. He knew that Connor must be gripping tightly to the ladder, unable to even see the rungs before him.

"Down here," Kyle said, stepping forward. "Edwin's inside, but I've got the door blocked."

He realised he shouldn't have said that as soon as the words were out his mouth.

He didn't even have time to curse before he heard the click or felt the pinpricks in his chest, and then every muscle in his body went tight. His stomach went taught, like he'd just done a thousand sit-ups, his legs stiffened, and his torso tightened up. The 50,000 volts from the tazer shot through his system, stiffening him and tightening every muscle.

The gunshot boomed in the close confines of the small chamber at the bottom of the shaft as Kyle's finger involuntarily pressured the trigger of the revolver.

Kyle hadn't felt anything like it in his life. The complete inability to make his body react to anything, the horrible helplessness as he heard the gun in his hand go off a split-second before he toppled to the ground.

He hit the concrete floor hard.

He could feel someone dragging him. Or maybe the floor was moving. Everything felt weird, and his head felt like it was going to explode. Someone was pulling on his arm, locking his wrist in a grip like a vice. He could tell there was light, but didn't dare open his eyes for the starbursts exploding in front of him every time he moved.

The arm tugged at him again and he groaned. He raised his free hand to push it away.

"Kyle? You awake?" He heard a voice asking. He could sense urgency in the tone, concern. It sounded loud.

He tried to say something, but there was a horrible bitter smell in the air, and a foul taste in his mouth. He screwed his face up in disgust, then grimaced at the movement as more bursts of light went off and the pain in his head intensified.

The sudden recognition of nausea made him want to curl up, and as the hand released his arm, he did just that, lying on his side on the floor like a foetus.

"Come on, Kyle. It's Connor," The voice said softly. "Let's get you up on the bed so you can lie down. Let me have a look at that head of yours."

Kyle licked his lips. "What?" He tried to say, but it came out more like, "Wug?"

"Kyle, get up," The voice said again. "Come on, one wee move and you can lie down kiddo."

He felt a hand gripping his arm, pulling him into a sitting position and his head spun. Then an arm gripped his waistbelt and he felt himself being pulled up and twisted to the side. His stomach lurched, the lights went berserk and he felt like gravity was shifting all over the place.

Something soft and warm pressed against the side of his face, right down his body and he realised that he was lying on his side now. Hands lifted his legs up and he was able to curl up again. His back felt sticky.

"Kyle, you've been knocked out, so you'll feel a bit groggy, probably have a cracker of a headache too, but just take it easy," The voice told him. "You're safe, everything's under control here."

"Wug?"

He lay there for a minute, his head spinning, his stomach churning and he felt really confused, but slowly his thoughts began to make sense. He was Kyle. The guy's voice was Connor. He's Scottish. He gets laid. A lot.

He felt something damp being pressed to his head and he groaned. It felt like he was being squashed with a hammer and he pushed a hand up to swat it away.

"Easy, Kyle. You've banged your head. This'll make it feel better," Connors voice told him. "Right, I want you to lie here the now, and nae moving, okay?"

Kyle had no intention of moving. Everything was spinning, his head was trying to explode and he didn't want to open his eyes.

"I'll be back in a minute, okay? You're safe here. Just stay lying right there."

Kyle held up a thumb, and he heard a few limping footsteps. A door closed. His hand groped for something to try and dim the light, and he found a pillow.

He pulled it over his head and groaned as the world spun.

Time drifted past, and he heard voices. Some of them sounded serious, concerned and some of them sounded high-pitched and scared. The door opened and closed a few times, and once he thought he felt someone stroking his leg, but it was all just a confused jumble of noises as he drifted in and out of sleep.

He became aware of a voice.

"Kyle."

This was a different voice. Higher pitched than the coarse Scottish accent he heard before. Someone American. Someone familiar.

He licked his lips. "Patricia?"

"It's me, Kyle," She repeated, and he felt her fingers gently stroke his face. "Are you okay?"

"Head. Sore," He managed. "Thirsty."

"Okay, I'll bring you some water. Just stay there." Her hand left his face and he heard footsteps going away.

Kyle tried to open his eyes, but everything was incredibly bright. He screwed up his face as he squinted through his eyelids, feeling a little relieved that the explosions of stars had stopped at least.

Everything was blurry, but he could make out a white wall, covered in black picture frames. It looked like black and white photographs in them, but he couldn't make out any of the details. A couple of dark brown leather armchairs sat beneath them, and he realised he was lying on a bed.

Patricia re-appeared in his field of view, and he jerked his head up to look at her. A sharp stab of pain shot through his brain and he closed his eyes for a moment until it eased.

"Can you sit up, Kyle?" She asked gently, her hand touching his face once more.

"Not... sure." He managed to mumble.

"I brought a straw," She said softly, and he felt it press between his lips a moment later. As he sucked he felt a tiny trickle of water in his mouth and then the straw withdrew.

He squinted at her and saw her dipping the straw into a bottle of water, press her thumb over the end then bring it back to him. Kyle opened his mouth and felt the straw on his tongue, followed by another trickle of water. Anothe couple of repititions had his mouth feeling a lot less dry.

"Do you know where you are, Kyle?"

"The Island," He mumbled. His head hurt, but he tried to concentrate and figure it out. Nothing seemed right here. "I banged my head."

"Do you remember how?" She asked slowly.

Kyle frowned as he tried to concentrate. A confusing flicker of memories came back to him. Chatting with Kara and Katie. He was running down the stairs from his suite. The trees flickered past him as he ran. A ladder going down underground. He jolted, stiffened and groaned all at the same time as the physical sensation of being tazered came back to him, mingled with the sound of the gunshot.

"Kyle?"

His hand moved up to touch his head and he saw it was red, covered in what had to be his blood. "I... I got shot?"

"No, Kyle, you didn't get shot," Patricia said quickly. "Do you know where you are?"

"Down the ladder." He mumbled, replaying the images. Why was he running? What was he running from? Or to?

A new memory flickered, of Edwin on his knees, with Kyle pointing a gun at him. Kyle could remember how angry he was, but not the words he snarled at the old man.

Then it all came back.

Descending the shaft, Edwin opening the door, the darkness, the pain and the gun going off in his hand.

"Edwin!" He said sharply, trying to get up. The room swam, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself into a sitting position.

"Kyle. Kyle, stop. Kyle, listen to me," Patricia kept repeating. Slowly her face swam back into focus and she looked scared.

"He's bad, Patricia," Kyle blurted, trying to get his legs off the bed. His eyes darted around the strange room, and he knew he was inside the bunker. "Edwin. No, you shouldn't be here!"

He felt panic sieze him at the thought of Patricia being Edwin's prisoner down here. "How did he?"

"Kyle, stop. Edwin's not a problem any more, just stop," She said firmly, holding onto his shoulders.

The door opened behind her and he saw a pale-faced Katie enter, followed by a grim looking Kara.

Dismay hit him as he realised his sisters must be prisoners too. "Fuck," He muttered. "Not you two too?"

"Kyle," Connor said, coming in behind him. "Hey, how you feeling, buddy?"

Kyle's eyes darted from face to face. His sisters, Patricia, Connor. They were all down here. Where was Edwin? How were they here? What the fuck was going on?"

"I got your sisters and Patricia," Connor said slowly. "Edwin turned the lights off and gave you fifty thousand volts with the tazer. Do you remember that?"

Kyle nodded and grimaced as the pain shot through his head again. He blinked a few times then replied. "Yes. I think so."

"Do you remember your gun going off?" Connor asked, watching him.

"A big bang. Really loud," Kyle replied, concentrating. He didn't know if it was his gun or not.

"When he hit you with the tazer your finger must have depressed the trigger, and it fired off a round from your revolver. Edwin was standing right in the doorway when the gun went off."

"I hit him?" Kyle said, frowning. That didn't make any sense.

"Ricocheted off the door frame and into his neck," Connor said, nodding. "By the time I got the lights on, checked you and then him, he was already dead."

"He's... dead?" Kyle mouthed, barely audible but he knew everyone in the room heard him. He saw Katie crouch down in front of him, and he felt her take his right hand. He barely noticed that she began to clean it with a damp cloth. "I killed him?"

"Kyle," Katie said slowly, drawing his eyes to her. "Listen to me. You didn't kill him. The actions that caused his death were all his, not yours. You didn't even choose to pull the trigger."

"Oh fuck." Kyle slowly brought his free hand up to rub his forehead, a gesture that did nothing to ease the pain in his head. "You're sure he's...."

"Definitely," Connor nodded. "If it's any consolation, it would have been really quick for him."

"Fuck," Kyle murmured, not sure what to think. It was all so confusing, his head was throbbing, his eyesight wasn't right. "We're not prisoners?"

"No, Kyle," Katie said gently. "You're safe, Edwin's gone. You're in the bunker."

"After I found the light switch, I checked Edwin and found him dead," Connor said slowly. "So then I moved you in here and went and got your sisters. Patricia came along too."

"So..." Kyle looked around at the faces, knowing he had to explain what he was doing, why he was pointing a gun at Edwin. "He was trying to blackmail us."

"We know," Kara said flatly, her expression full of disgust. "Connor told us, and Patricia told us too. Fucking perverted sneaky cunt."

"Did he really... Was he really obsessed with me?" Patricia asked quietly.

Kyle nodded then grimaced at the shooting pain. "Got to stop doing that," He muttered, then slowly looked at Patricia. "Yeah. He was crazy. Not right in the head. He made Sarah dress up as you sometimes. Told me I had to leave you here when we go."

He saw her shudder, and he reached out with his left hand, taking hers. He gave it a squeeze.

"He's really dead?" Kyle said a moment later, still not believing it. It hadn't sunk in yet, and he was feeling a little numb. He knew he should be feeling guilty for having killed a man, or concerned about possible murder charges, or even anger, but he wasn't feeling anything.

"Yep," Connor replied.

"If he wasn't, I'd have shot him myself," Kara added, folding her arms.

Kyle looked up at Connor. "He said he had videos."

"Aye, there's a security room full of monitors next door. Every bloody structure on this island is riddled with cameras, and there must be some in the trees too," The Scotsman explained. "Seems like there's barely a foot of the place without a camera covering it."

"They're in our rooms, Kyle," Katie said. "Bedrooms, bathrooms, everywhere."

"Fucking awesome install job, hiding them like that," Connor added, shrugging as he got several angry looks. "If this place ever gets attacked like Necker Island was, then you'll be able to sit down here, call in the cavalry and tell them exactly where all the bad guys are. It's a hell of an asset from a security point of view."

"From a creepy perverts point of view too," Kara added sourly.

"That was how Edwin used it," Connor replied. "And yes, he abused it. But don't consider for one minute getting rid of it. There may come a day when you'll need it and it'll save your lives and dozens of others on this island. Trust me," He finished, tapping his walking stick against his leg, reminding them bluntly of the injury he carried from just such an event.

Kyle hadn't even thought that far ahead, but he didn't like the idea of anyone being able to spy on him.

"Besides," Connor continued, "You three can keep each other honest, and Patricia knows about it too. Just agree to only use it in the event of an emergency, or a serious crime, and make sure the others don't abuse it. There's a more pressing concern anyway, and that's what the hell we're going to do about Edwin."

"I told you," Kara said quickly. "Get him in a speedboat, take him out for a couple of miles and tie an anchor around his legs. Heave him overboard and problem solved."

"That won't work," Katie said quietly. "People will look for him tomorrow, and they'll know he can't have just vanished. We have to either be honest or come up with a cover story that includes his.. corpse."

"Can we ask George Crowler?" Kyle said, thinking aloud. "He knows there's a safehouse here. He did some financial digging for me, and he knows Edwin's up to something."

"That's involving more people," Kara protested immediately.

"Sometimes it's important to involve the right people," Connor said quickly. "If he's already in the know, and he's your lawyer, then there's a good chance he'll help you figure this out."

"Katie?" Kyle asked.

She shrugged. "We could do with the help, I think."

"I'm voting we get him. Patricia, can you go and wake him up and bring him down here please?" Kyle asked. "It'll save Connor climbing that ladder again."

"Sure."

"We didn't come down the ladder," Kara said. "There's a staircase that leads up to a hidden door in the floor of the bar, next to the pool. We came down there."

"Really?" Kyle asked. "How did....?"

"I found it when I had a quick look around. It looks like there's three entrances and exits from this place. The ladder up to the courtyard, the stairs leading to the bar, and a long tunnel that leads off towards either the clinic or the helipad. Not quite sure exactly, but you can check that another time."

"Holy shit," Kyle murmured. "So this place isn't just a panic room then?"

"Feel up to a tour?" The Scotsman asked, smirking. "It's very impressive."

Kyle moved forward to stand up, but got a momentary surge of nausea.

"I might need a hand," He said, blinking and taking a deep breath.

Katie immediately stood up and moved to his left, while Connor opened the door. Kyle's eyes fell to Kara who frowned, but came over to his right.

"Come on then, Kyle," Kara muttered, putting a hand under his arm and taking his hand in hers. Katie matched her on his left.

"Three, two, one. Up," Kara said, and Kyle pushed up with his legs, noting that gravity was trying it's best to confuse him, but he felt Kara and Katie slip under his arms and he was able to lean on their shoulders for some stability. He needed it.

"What a fucking invalid," He murmured, drawing a chuckle from Kara.

"You've got a concussion, Kyle," Katie reminded him. "We should really get the Doctor down here too."

"No," Kyle said, swallowing another surge of nausea as he wobbled on unsteady legs. "The less people down here, the better."

"Says the guy who invited the lawyer," Kara grumbled.

"Whatever," Katie replied. "Want to try and walk forward to the door?"

Kyle nodded and took a tentative step. His knees felt weak, and he got this image in his head of him walking like a Thunderbirds puppet, but he managed a couple of steps, heavily supported by his sisters.

As Katie slid in front of him to go through the doorway first, Kara pulled the door wide and Kyle got a brief glimpse of the doorway opposite. A dark grey woolen blanket lay over Edwin to one side of the doorway, and a massive pool of blood covered the floor, with a big streak of it heading across the room towards him.

Kyle froze. "Fuck."

Katie interposed herself between him and the room. "Look at me, Kyle."

He tried to see around her, but she repeated herself another twice and he settled his gaze on her.

"Kyle, you have to remember, he's the one that pulled the trigger. It's not your fault, okay?"

He took a deep breath, knowing he'd have to see 'it' sooner or later. He was about to move forward when a realisation struck him. The long bloodstreak on the floor must have been from when Connor dragged him in. The sticky sensation on his back was Edwin's blood.

"I have to get this top off," He said urgently. "Now."

Kyle released his hold on Katie and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, but he felt himself immediately begin to topple backwards.

Kara tried to hold onto him and Katie grabbed him, steadying him for a moment, and the two sisters exchanged a look, then lowered him to the bed.

"I've got his blood on me," Kyle said, desperate to get his top off.

"Easy, Kyle," Katie said. "We'll help you, okay?"

Kara stood at his side and began to tug the top up, and with Katie helping hold up his arms, they pulled the top over his head. Kara threw it into the corner, and Kyle grimaced when he looked at it, all covered in blood.

Katie crouched down at his feet and began to work at the laces of his sneakers.

"What?" Kyle began, but Kara cut him off.

"Kyle, you're plastered in the stuff. Right from the back of your neck to your heels. I'm gonna get a clean cloth and some water."

Kyle knew he looked as disgusted as he felt. "Is there a shower?"

"You won't manage it on your own, and besides, Mister Crowler's coming back down," Katie pointed out. She unlaced and removed his left shoe, then went to work on his right.

Kyle began to shiver, perhaps with the cool air on his sticky skin, and Katie noticed.

"We'll get you a blanket or something once you're clean, Kyle."

He nodded and lifted his foot as Katie pulled his other shoe off, then both his socks. She gave him an apologetic look and began to unfasten his belt. "You're gonna have to stand up again, Kyle."

He nodded, and put his hands on her shoulders, felt her hands gripping his waist and he pushed up.

Katie managed to steady him, and working with one hand holding him up she began to unbutton his trousers. Kara appeared just as she was finishing, and Katie turned her head.

"Can you give me a hand? He's covered in the stuff."

Kara didn't look too happy, but nodded, lowered the bucket she carried and came around to the side of him, then unceremoniously tugged hard, pulling his trousers right down to his ankles.

"Going commando, huh?" She muttered, getting a chuckle from Katie.

Kyle felt no embarassment at being naked in front of either of them. The only thing he could think about was getting Edwin's blood off his skin. That and how cold he felt.

"Cloth?" He asked, reaching a hand towards the bucket.

Kara rolled her eyes. "Like you'll be able to do it." She wrung out a blue flannel and then knelt on the bed behind him.

Kyle felt her washing his neck, and to his surprise, she was very gentle and tender with him, moving the cloth in slow swipes, pausing every so often to rinse it and wring it out. It left him standing there facing Katie, who was trying not to laugh.

"It's not funny, Katie," He said, shivering.

"No, just thinking how different this is from the last time I saw you naked," She said, trying not to smile. "Long time ago."

"Seems like a lifetime," He murmured.

"You two aren't going to keep reminiscing, are you?" Kara asked. "Only, I sent Connor upstairs to get you some clean clothes and he'll be back in a minute."

"Thanks," Kyle replied. "The sooner he gets here, the better. This is surreal enough, but I'm really fucking cold."

"I'll hurry up."

Kara's motions became a lot more forceful, working in broader strokes, and in moments she'd cleaned his back, his waist and buttocks and his legs. Kyle was shivering hard now, perhaps a mixture of reaction setting in or the after-effects of the concussion, and the dampness on his bare skin.

"Can I get a blanket or something?" He asked, trying not to let his teeth chitter.

"Jesus, Kyle. You're freezing," Kara said, placing a hand on his back. She got off the bed and opened one of the closets that lined the right hand wall. It was empty, so she opened the second one and found a large white duvet. Grabbing it in one hand, she pulled it out and with her free hand she yanked the blood-stained duvet off the bed.

It took her only a few seconds to shake the clean one out, and then she pulled it back and joined Katie to help him in.

Kyle lay down on his side in the middle of the bed, shaking and shivering as his sisters tucked the soft white quilt around him, hoping to help him heat up, but it didn't seem to be helping. He knew if he just hung in there he would heat up eventually, but the shivering seemed to be getting worse.

"Oh for fucks sake," Kara muttered and pulled the duvet back. She slid in behind him, then pulled the quilt over them both, and as she snuggled in behind Kyle she gave Katie a pointed look. "He'll heat up really quickly this way, and we're both dressed. Get in."

Kyle could feel Kara behind him, her legs nudging into his, and then Katie was sliding in, her back to him and the white duvet was over the three of them. He was sandwiched between his sisters, and he slid his arm around Katie's waist.

It seemed so familiar, the minute adjustments that seemed so natural, instinctive, yet made it so comfortable and intimate and perfect. He could feel Katie adjusting her hips slightly, her hand covering his and pulling it under her ribs, just like she had three years ago. His upper leg slid between hers, and he felt Kara's leg resting on his inner thigh, right behind his, mirroring the bend of his knee. Her upper arm slid in between his stomach and Katie's back, and he felt her fingers slide under him, just as his did under Katie.

Kyle still shivered, but he was held in the warm embrace of both his sisters, and their body heat was already making a difference.

"Kara?" Katie said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"How's that feel?" Kyle could almost hear the note of self-satisfaction in her voice.

Kara sighed behind him. "Yeah, I'll give you that one. I should have done this sooner."

"It is amazing, right?" Katie continued. "It's not just me thinking that?"

"No. Not just you."

"It's just so..."

"Katie?"

"Yes?"

"Sometimes it's better not to talk," Kara said quietly, and despite himself, Kyle smiled.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes, and to Kyle, it felt incredibly comforting. It was a comfort to know his sisters were there, it was comforting to feel their touch, and just to know they cared about him despite what had just happened.

"Hello?" They heard Connor call, and by some unspoken signal, both Katie and Kara rolled out the bed, leaving Kyle under the covers. Katie sat down on the bed and Kara walked towards the door.

"In here," She said.

Connor appeared in the doorway with a bundle of clothes in his arms and handed them to Kara.

"Give us a minute. We've just cleaned him up, and we'll get him dressed."

The Scotsman nodded and turned away, closing the door behind him.

"Right, you," Katie said firmly, hauling back the covers. Kara tossed a pair of dark blue jeans to Katie and dropped a hooded jersey and sneakers on the foot of the bed. She came around to the other side of it.

"Sorry about this," Kyle said softly, now feeling a little embarassed at his nudity.

"Shut up, Kyle," Kara said briskly as she helped Katie maneuvre the trousers round his feet. Kyle had to roll onto his back to get the jeans pulled up, and he felt more than a little self-conscious as he lifted his hips and his cock flopped to the side as his sisters pulled the trousers on.

"You can tuck yourself in, I think," Kara said, grinning at his obvious discomfort.

"Kara," Katie said, admonishing her.

"What? It's not like either of us haven't had close contact with his cock before, is it?"

"Long time ago," Katie said quickly. "Different circumstances too. This is different."

Kara rolled her eyes while Kyle said nothing, focussing on doing up the zipper and buttons.

"Probably easier if I sit up to get the top on, right?" He asked, hoping to move the conversation on.

"Sure," Katie replied, reaching for his hands to help.

Kyle suffered another burst of nausea as he swung himself upright, but he was a little relieved to note that it seemed to be getting less intense, and didn't seem to last as long. With luck he'd be able to get back on his feet soon.

Kara came round with the top and the two of them helped him pull it on, then took a foot each and laced up his sneakers.

"Better?" Katie asked.

"Much," Kyle agreed. "Can't wait to get a shower though. And thanks for this, you two. You didn't have to and I really appreciate it."

"I don't know," Kara said, sounding weary. "We get into bed with him when he's naked and he thanks us for putting his shoes on? He's definitely a weirdo."

Katie chuckled, while Kyle managed a smile. "And thanks for everything else too," Kyle added.

Connor knocked on the door and opened it. "That's Patricia here with Mister Crowler."

"Okay," Kyle replied. "We'll be right out."

It took a few minutes, but with Katie and Kara's help, Kyle managed to get on his feet and out the bedroom door. The living space was small but well furnished, with a couple of sofas and armchairs facing a large TV, a dining table and an open plan kitchen off to the right, and four doors leading to other rooms.

Kyle could see another heavy door, similar to the one where Edwin's body lay. It was at the far right end of the room, and Patricia stood waiting there with a very serious George Crowler.

"Thanks for coming, George," Kyle said as his sisters helped him to a seat at the table.

"I take it that's Edwin under the blanket?" The lawyer asked, a stern expression on his face.

"Yeah. Connor wrapped him up," Kyle said, not turning to look. He didn't want to see it.

"I'll ask everyone to go into a different room, and I'll interview you each one at a time," The old man said briskly. "Kyle, you're first. Just stay where you are. The rest of you I'll ask not to discuss this until I've spoken to each of you."

Kyle turned to see his sisters, Patricia and Connor all standing there.

"Off you go please," George said firmly.

As they drifted off, the lawyer sat down opposite Kyle and looked at him. "Start from the beginning, Kyle."

It took nearly two hours before George Crowler finished his questionning of each of them, finally satisfied that there wasn't already a cover-up in place. While Kyle sat drinking a bottle of water and silently thanking whatever chemist had invented paracetomol, the old man sat them down at the table and spoke to them.

"Firstly, I wish you all to understand that I needed to know there wasn't already a cover-up in place, and that what you were telling me was the truth. I am satisfied for now that this is the case. Second, from a legal point of view, we're in mixed territory, as it were."

"How?" Kyle asked.

"The law states simply that if you're being blackmailed you should contact the police, not take matters into your own hands. Nor should you hold someone at gunpoint. As for the killing, you fired the weapon due to the attack from your assailant, and you didn't pull the trigger of your own volition. The fact that there was a ricochet would suggest the most you would be charged with would be something along the lines of manslaughter. The fact that you were investigating a potential blackmail and allegations of sexual assault stands in your stead, particularly as you were effectively the manager of the person in question. Further, the already proven deception of denying knowledge of the safehouse, the attempted manipulation and seduction, and his attempt to blackmail you into leaving Patricia here on the Island suggest that he admitted guilt and you were correct in your attempt to detain him."

"Right," Kyle said, frowning as he tried to figure out if he was legally guilty of something or not.

"Further complicating the legalities is the unique situation we find ourselves in concerning jurisdiction, specifically that the Island is technically a sovereignty in it's own right and doesn't fall under the laws of the United States or the local laws of Guadeloupe, which is technically part of France and is subject to EU law, despite us having requested the assistance of the local police or customs in the past."

"This Island is it's own country?" Katie asked.

"Technically yes, although we enjoy a partnership of sorts with Guadeloupe, yet we retain our own rights as and when it suited Mister Tripps to exercise them."

"So we're like the sovereigns of the Island then?" Katie said slowly.

"In effect, yes," Mister Crowler stated. "In addition there are technically no laws written down for the Island, nor is there a police force, a court system, or a method of legal representation."

"So what happened if someone was stealing or some shit like that?" Kara asked, looking very confused.

"Mister Tripps or Edwin fired them. Investigations were usually conducted with the Head of Security for the Island, and a decision was reached by the ranking person on the Island. There's never been anything as serious as a death to deal with before."

"So as one of the three ranking people on the Island, I could just decide that the matters been investigated and declare Kyle not guilty of any crimes?" Katie asked, watching the old man.

A slight smile twitched at his lips. "In essence, yes, Miss Katie, you could declare your brother exempt from prosecution, and issue a pardon to Mister Grant too, however it would be most irregular."

"Nothing about this week has been regular," Kyle muttered. "What do we do now, George."

"Nothing," Katie said quickly. "I'm declaring you not guilty. Kara?"

"Fuck it, yeah. I'm with Katie on this. Not fucking guilty."

"That's a majority, George," Katie said simply.

The smile vanished from the lawyers face. "I beg you not to consider going down that route."

"So what route are you suggesting?"

"That we brief Brian Kane as Head of Security, explain to him that Sarah approached Kyle and made allegations against Edwin of sexual assault and blackmail. During the course of your investigation you began to suspect that Edwin was also keeping back the location of a safehouse faciility from you and your sisters."

"Okay," Kyle said, nodding slowly.

"During the course of your investigation you asked me to find any evidence that such a facility might exist and you asked Connor Grant to assist you with protection, surveillance and investigation. Your investigation confirmed that Edwin visited a safehouse facility late each night, that the allegations of sexual assault were verified and you decided to detain Edwin with Connors assistance."

"That's pretty much what happened anyway," Kyle said.

"The difference being is that Sarah initiated the whole thing, understand?" The lawyer said firmly. "You didn't know who you could trust, or if you were under surveillance yourself, so you kept it close and didn't involve anyone you didn't know."

"As in Brian Kane, the Head of Security for the Island who worked directly for Edwin?" Kyle said, catching on.

"Exactly," The old man nodded. "So, you and Mister Grant detained Edwin as he was entering the safehouse, and he admitted the sexual assault, threatened to blackmail you and your sisters and you refused him. You then ordered him to open the safehouse, during which he manipulated you into splitting up, nearly trapping you behind the door. Then he turned all the lights off, at which point you pulled a pistol. Edwin hit you with the tazer forcing your finger to fire your weapon while you toppled to the ground and got concussed. The rest is simply as it happened. Mister Grant joined you, found the light switch, attempted medical treatment on Edwin but found him dead, provided you with medical treatment then sought assistance."

"So pretty much as it happened except that Sarah initiated it, and I only pulled a gun when he tried to escape into the safehouse?" Kyle asked.

"Yes, and put that way, Brian Kane will be able to find no fault in your actions."

"So what do we about him?" Connor asked softly. "We can't leave him there."

"I would suggest we speak to Brian and ask him for suggestions on how to explain the situation," George said. "If it's okay with each of you, I'll go and see him now and explain the situation to him."

"Fine by me," Kyle said, yawning despite feeling wide awake. "What time is it?"

"Three thirty," Patricia replied.

"Jesus," Kyle muttered, surprised it was still the middle of the night. "So what do we do now?"

"Connor, have you had a look at the entry system?"

"Aye, I've had a look. I take it you want me to add these three as users?"

"Yes, please. We will require access again in the future, and I would suggest that no-one is permitted access unless either Katie, Kara or Kyle is present," The lawyer replied. "Further, it would be wise to remove any other users from the system."

"I can do that. Danny Tripps was smart enough to leave an instruction manual next to the computer controlling it," Connor replied, smirking.

"After that I would suggest you all return to your rooms and await a visit from myself and Mister Kane. Connor, can I suggest you perhaps stay around the main house for the time being too?"

"Sure," He nodded.

"So does that mean I can get a shower now?" Kyle asked, knowing Kara had washed him clean but still convinved he had the old mans blood on him.

"As soon as you've sorted out the access protocols," George nodded.

"What about him?" Connor asked, jerking his thumb at the corpse on the far side of the room.

"We'll deal with that after we've spoken to Mister Kane." At that the old man nodded and stood up. "And no alcohol for the time being please."

"Okay," Kyle said. "Connor?"

The Scotsman nodded and led them to the Control room. Kyle was still a little unsteady on his feet, but with Patricia holding his hand, he was able to cross the room with little difficulty.

The control room was astonishing to each of them, as they saw the images on the array of monitors, with one of the large screens showing a picture of Kyle's room from above his bed, another showing footage from a camera in the corner of his bathroom above the shower. The other screens showed a variety of areas around the Island, some of the garden areas, some of the main house, a couple of Edwin's apartment and the courtyard outside the kitchens.

Connor directed their attention to a small desk at the side of the room, where he asked each of them to press their hands on a scanner, and then asked them to come up with a password. They settled on a six digit number, and Kara was sent out to test it. She got back in with no difficulty, and when Katie did the same, the five of them left the bunker.

Kyle hadn't been up this way yet, and he followed the stairs that went up from the bunker's kitchen area, then right, then left and into a small landing with a carpeted metal staircase topped by a flat door that he could see lifted on counterweights.

Connor pushed a button on the wall and there was a barely audible click. The ceilng swung upwards, revealing the interior of the bar area, next to the pool. The five of them climbed the stairs and Kyle looked around, surprised to see them behind the bar counter. Connor pushed a button recessed into the section of the floor that was currently up in the air, and it swung down and merged seamlessly with the bar floor, hiding the access point to the safehouse.

"How do we get it open again?" Kyle asked, seeing four blank faces looking back at him.

"I guess you go back down the ladder," Connor said, shrugging. "There'll be an instruction manual downstairs to open this one, I'm guessing."

"i hope so," Kyle muttered.

He followed his sisters and Patricia upstairs and Katie and Kara sat down on his balcony, taking their usual late-night spots. Connor took the fourth chair and Patricia sat on the arm of Kyle's seat, draping her arm around his neck.

Kyle picked up his cigarettes from where he'd left them hours ago and lit up. Kara took one, as did Connor, and to his surprise, so did Patricia.

"I thought you only smoked when you'd been drinking."

"I wish I was drinking right now," Patricia muttered. "That's good enough for me."

"I take it we're not leaving at lunchtime anymore?" Katie said a moment later.

"Can't see it," Kara replied.

"I'll take care of it," Patricia said without moving. "We can delay the departure until tonight, but we don't want to put it off much further than that."

They sat there in silence consumed by their own thoughts until Katie stood up and came over to give Kyle a hug. "I'm going for a shower. Glad you're not dead, Kyle."

"Me too," He said immediately.

"Me three," Kara added, clasping Katie's hand and giving it a squeeze as she wandered off to her suite.

"I could do with a shower myself and some clean clothes, if that's a possibility Kyle?" Connor asked.

Kyle nodded and Patricia got up. "You can use my room. I'll get you some of Kyle's clothes."

"Help yourself to whatever you need, Connor. And thanks for getting my back, man."

"Nae bother," The Scotsman winked. "I know you haven't dealt with anything like this before, but I have. Guys like that. They're like dogshit and sooner or later someone has to deal with them. Better he's dealt with and dead by his own actions, than he gets his hands on your sisters, or Patricia here. It's never a pleasure, but sometimes it's good to see karma in action, know what I mean?"

Kyle frowned but nodded.

"I'll get showered and then I'll be back out here, smoking your cigarettes." Connor headed inside with Patricia, leaving Kyle and Kara out on the balcony.

"So how you doing, Kara?"

"I wish you'd told me everything that was going on," She said bluntly. "I can see how you didn't know if it was safe, but from now on, you don't keep any secrets from me, right?"

"I only did what I thought safe to do, Kara," Kyle said after a moment. "I'm sorry if you feel cut out the loop, but I didn't want you in danger."

"I can take care of myself, Kyle."

"I don't doubt it," He said quickly. "But I thought I could take care of myself too, I had Connor protecting me and I had a gun, but as Katie pointed out, I nearly died. If that ricochet had gone another way, or if he'd pulled a gun instead of a tazer it might have been game over for me."

"Well I don't want that to happen to you," She said quickly. "That's why I want you to talk to me in future and don't keep anything back. You might have noticed but I'm not good at trusting people. I've lived most of my life feeling alone and taking a step forward to try and trust you and Katie isn't easy for me, Kyle. When you keep secrets it feels like you're betraying me."

Kyle rubbed at his head and took a last drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out.

"I get that it's not easy for you, Kara. I understand that. You've had a life I can barely comprehend, but I'm here for you, anytime you want to talk. I didn't involve you because I thought we were all being watched and if I told you, I was worried you'd become a target. That's why I kept it secret. It won't happen in the future though, okay? I'm sorry you feel betrayed, but I didn't keep it from you as a betrayal, but to keep you from harm. Don't ask me not to keep you from harm though, because that's not gonna happen."

"Just don't ever lie to me, okay?" Kara stated.

"I won't. That has to be quid pro quo though."

"What?"

"Quid pro quo?"

"Yeah. What's that mean?"

"Oh, it's like..." Kyle shrugged. "If I do it, you do it. We both exchange the same, fair trade kinda thing."

"Why didn't you say that?"

"I did." Kyle said, smiling slightly. "I won't keep any secrets from you, so you don't keep any secrets from me. Fair enough?"

Kara nodded. "Cool. Which reminds me, I'll have something to tell you about, but not just now. It can wait for a day or two."

Kyle nodded. "If it's not life-threatening right now, then I'm happy remaining in the dark."

She smiled briefly. "Yeah, it's definitely not life-threatening. Go get showered, Kyle. I'm going downstairs to get some coffee."

"See you in a bit."

Kyle headed inside and through to his bedroom, spotting Patricia coming out his bathroom.

"Is Connor in your bathroom?" He asked.

"Yes. Come on in here," She replied. "I've drawn you a bath. Thought it might help you relax a little."

Kyle nodded slowly. "That sounds great. I hope you're getting in too."

She rolled her eyes as if he was dumb. "Of course I am."

"I'm showering first though, just in case." Kyle was all too aware that he'd been covered in Edwin's blood and wanted to make sure it was cleaned off.

He followed her into the bathroom, and he could see the tub with it's usual blue-green coloured water from the concoction of bath salts. Patricia stopped him and helped him off with his top, then efficiently removed her own clothes while Kyle kicked off his sneakers and trousers.

She headed into the shower first, getting the water running and when Kyle joined her, she washed his back from head to heels while he did his front. As soon as he rinsed off, she turned off the water and led him out to the bath.

"Want a hand getting in?" She asked carefully.

Kyle shook his head. "I can manage."

He did wobble once, but soon he was sat in the blissfully hot water and moments later Patricia slid in behind him, her legs sliding around his hips, his body resting on hers.

"Close your eyes, Kyle," She said softly in his ear, and he did.

Patricia began to slowly soap him up, working his muscles one at a time to try and ease some of the tension from his frame. Kyle had no idea how much time had passed, but he felt good in her arms and the familiarity of her touch soothed him.

She bade him to sit forward and her hands began their work on his back, working the kinks out his muscles and trying to ease the tension in his frame.

"How you feeling?" She asked eventually.

"Better. More relaxed," He added, slowly opening his eyes. "My head's still sore, but much better. Thankyou."

"My pleasure," She murmured, lowering him back down into her arms. "I'm glad he's not watching us any more, Kyle. I'm glad he's gone."

"I didn't want him dead," Kyle admitted. "But it feels somehow... inevitable. Like I can't think of how else it could have ended well for us without him being dead."

"It was an impossible situation," She said quietly. "Did he really want you to leave me here?"

Kyle sighed. "He did. I didn't tell you before, Patricia, because I needed you to react normally, but I think Edwin's been spying on you for some time. Like a stalker."

"How did you know that?" He felt her arms wrapping a little tighter around him, seeking her own security and comfort, he guessed.

"Sarah told me," He replied slowly, knowing he didn't want to tell her the next bit, but knowing he really had to. "He used to make her dress in a business suit and a blonde wig, then make her strip and touch herself in the shower while he jerked off on her."

There was silence for quite a while as Patricia processed it. He knew she must be feeling violated, disturbed, and probably a whole lot of other stuff too, but he resisted the urge to talk, wanting to let her deal with it in her own way.

"I take it back," She said a few moments later, her tone low and grim. "I wish I'd shot that bastard myself, right in the balls. Urgh! What a...."

"Fucking creep?"

"And then some," She replied. "Urgh. I guess my days of fingering myself in the shower are over."

"If you ever feel the need and you're not already in it, you can do it in my bed any time you like."

"I know. It's just..." She sighed. "He really did all that?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Then I'm glad he's gone. We just need to figure out what to do now. I don't want you getting arrested or anything, Kyle."

"That makes two of us," He replied.

"Kyle?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we swap around? I kinda need a hug."

Kyle didn't bother replying. He simply stood up slowly, let her slide down the bath and sat down behind her. Patricia leaned back between his legs and half-turned so she was lying on her side, her face resting on his chest.

He gently brushed his fingers down her arm, an intimate touch, and she took his hand in hers.

"You okay?" He asked a moment later, wrapping his other arm around her.

"Might need a few more of these in the next few days," She admitted.

"Any time you like, Patricia."

They lay there for another ten minutes until Kara called through to let them know Mister Crowler had returned with Brian Kane in tow, along with a yawning Captain Wales. Kyle and Patricia quickly dried and dressed, then went out to meet them in the lounge of Kyle's suite, with the doors securely closed. +6 To their surprise, Brian greeted them with warm handshakes, admitting a moment later that he suspected for a long time that there was something off about Edwin, and that when Mister Crowler told him what had happened, he wasn't really that surprised.

Mister Crowler then briefed them on Brian's suggestion on how to deal with the situation. It seemed very simple, so much so that Kyle kept looking for holes in it.

Over the next couple of hours, Edwin's body was to be wrapped in the bloodstained rugs, taped up and secured in trash bags and brought to the top of the hidden staircase. At seven o'clock in the morning, Brian and his team would gather every person on the Island in the Clubhouse for a meeting. As soon as everyone was there, Kyle and Connor would carry the body through the deserted Island to the pier where Captain Wales would be waiting onboard the Betsy. Connor and Captain Wales would then take Edwin's corpse out to sea, weight it and sink it, while Kyle joined his sisters in the Clubhouse. Brian and Mister Crowler would then tell the staff that Edwin had been dismissed with immediate effect for allegations of sexual assault on a member of staff, and assault on Kyle when confronted about it.

The story would be presented that while the staff were in the Clubhouse, Connor and Captain Wales were transporting Edwin to a waiting aircraft at Guadeloupe, where he would be flown back to England. His personal items would follow in due course. In the meantime, Mister Crowler would be taking over as interim Manager until someone else could be appointed.

"As simple as that?" Kyle asked. "You honestly think they'll accept it?"

"You can't tell the staff what actually happened," Brian Kane stated. "You can't keep a secret if a hundred people know about it. So it's a lot simpler if you don't have a corpse. You have a live person who's been dismissed. If you dismissed him, then you would want to gather everyone together and let them know, and you would whisk him off the Island pronto. In effect, that's what we're telling them."

"It has to be believable though."

"He wasn't liked, Kyle," Brian replied, shrugging. "People will believe bad things about people they don't like. It is absolutely important though, that when you move the body there are no drips of blood or evidence of anything untoward."

Kyle and Connor both nodded.

"I'll help you downstairs," Katie said a moment later.

"No," Kyle said immediately, shaking his head. "I have to do this, and if Connor wants to help, then that's fine, but you or Kara aren't helping me. I have to do this. My actions, my consequences, even if it was all his fault."

"I don't want to help," Kara said immediately, frowning. She shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, but I don't."

"Well I don't either, but I'll do it," Katie said, frowning at her sister.

"Well, I'll do it myself," Kyle said. "Besides we'll need both of you down at the clubhouse to lend weight to the seriousness of the meeting."

"Work it out among yourselves," Mister Crowler said, cutting them off. "Are you content that this is how we'll deal with the present situation?"

Katie and Kara nodded, Connor shrugged and Patricia didn't say anything, but Kyle looked at Captain Wales. "What about you, Captain? You're being asked to be a part of this, and it's not a nice thing being asked of you."

"Son, I was a US Navy SEAL for nearly twenty years," The sailor replied. "I've served all over the world, done missions that will remain classified until long after I'm dead, and I've done things in service to my country that I can't ever talk about. As for this?" He shrugged. "This is nothing. It's disposing of the trash in a way that keeps it clean for everyone involved. Don't be worrying about me, Kyle."

Kyle thought for a second, aware that everyone was watching him closely. "Okay. Let's do it. Brian, how will we know when it's safe to bring Edwin outside?"

"I've got a radio for you. I'll call you on it and just ask you to make your way to the Clubhouse. That'll do for a code to say 'move the body'. Just radio me back once the Betsy is on it's way."

"What will I say then?"

He shrugged. "Something simple. 'Be there in a minute' will do, I expect."

Kyle looked to Connor. "Want to get started?"

"Aye, might as well," The Scotsman replied. "Now that I'm all showered. Hey, what about the clothes with blood on them?"

"Give them to me," Patricia said. "I'll wash them in the bathtub."

"Okay," Kyle replied, looking at each person in the room. "And thanks, all of you. Your help and understanding won't be forgotten."

Captain Wales grinned as he stood up. "Just remember that when it comes to payrise negotiations, son."

It took Kyle and Connor forty minutes to wrap Edwin's body in the rugs, then tape it all tight. Another layer of trashbags was secured tight around that, then every joint was sealed with tape, with another layer over the top of it all.

They were both plastered in the sticky blood and the smell of it was in Kyle's nostrils, making him feel nauseous on more than one occasion. Strangely the close proximity of the body didn't make him feel uncomfortable, scared or upset, perhaps because it seemed to him that it was really just a body. It seemed uninhabited to him, perhaps disassociating it from Edwin, the personality, making his job of wrapping it a little easier.

They brought it up to the staircase under the bar, then returned and began to scrub the floor clean, sorting the place out in anothet twenty minutes. Kyle suggested they stop for a cigarette before heading back upstairs and they took the opportunity to have a look around the underground safehouse.

The main room was broken up into sections in an open-plan style, with a lounge area at one end, a small dining table half way up and a kitchen area at the other end. Two doors led from the kitchen, one to a food storeroom, the other up to the bar. Opposite the dining table was two doors, one leading to the kitchen courtyard above, the other to the room with all the CCTV cameras and security controls. Other doors led to a bedroom and a small bathroom with a shower cubicle.

Overall the place was spartan and simple, but it had several home comforts, ranging from a unit with several hundred DVD's in it, a couple of laptop computers and a bookcase full of classics. In the security room there was a couple of cabinets, and Connor found the keys in a drawer. The first contained a selection of pistols, shotguns and rifles, along with ammo, body armour, torches, batteries and a pair of night-vision goggles. The other cabinet contained cases and cases of DVD's, each marked with a serial number.

Kyle wanted to have a look and see if he could find an index of what was on each DVD, but Connor reminded him they had to get cleaned up again before the staff started appearing to begin their morning work. On the plus side though, he'd found the schematics for a hidden button in the bar that would allow the hatch to be opened.

They returned to Kyle's suite, got cleaned up and changed, and then sat on the balcony waiting for the call from Brian, chain-smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. Time dragged on and on, but at quarter to seven some of the Islands security staff appeared and asked everyone to come immediately to the clubhouse. Ed grumbled like one of the grouches on the Muppet show at being ushered out his room, Casey looked a little sheepish as he and Margarita appeared in the same clothes as the night before, and while it took ten minutes, eventually Kara and Katie departed with them.

Patricia came over to Kyle and bent down next to him. "See you down there, Kyle. Be careful and make sure you compose yourself before you come in, okay?"

"I will," He nodded.

She gave him a peck on the cheek then left.

Without a word, Connor and Kyle headed down to the bar and opened the hatch.

The wait was frustrating and Kyle tapped his foot impatiently on the steps. He also realised that the covert activity was a little frightening, but a little exciting too.

"Is it weird that is a bit... exciting?"

Connor laughed. "In my line of work when it gets exciting that usually means somethings gone wrong. What you're experiencing is adrenalin and anxiety, probably frustration, impatience, fear and probably a whole load of other emotional shit too. It's only natural given the circumstances, but just try and chill. Be patient. It'll happen when it happens, and then it'll be over and done with, and you're on to the next part of the job."

"Fucking weirdest night ever," Kyle muttered.

"You're doing okay, Kyle," Connor said a moment later.

"What? With a concussion after I killed a man?"

The Scotsman shrugged. "It's a lot to process. I've seen people lose the plot, panic, go numb. Some folk chunder."

"Chunder?"

"Aye, vomit."

Kyle chuckled. "Good word."

"We Scots have invented a few here and there. Some of them are even understandable."

"Aye," Kyle tried to say in his best Scottish impersonation, drawing a grin from Connor. Just at that the radio crackled, and Brian gave them the all clear.

"Let's do it," Connor said. "I'll take the feet, you take the upper body and I'll go in front. Take your time, alright."

Kyle nodded and moved to the corpse, wrapped into a neat cylinder with the rugs and trash bags. On Connors signal they lifted the body and Kyle grunted as they carried it up the steps and into the bar.

It felt really bizarre to be carrying a wrapped up body in broad daylight through a place he'd come to love, but with short steps, Connor and Kyle made their way through the main house, took the right onto the path past the kitchens, and then a few minutes later onto the beach.

Captain Wales was waiting for them with the gangplank ready and engines running, his crew sent to the clubhouse like everyone else.

They carried Edwins body along the pier, feeling exposed in the open, but Connor kept feeding Kyle advice to keep him calm and all too soon they were placing the body out of sight in the lounge of the catamaran.

"We'll take it from here, Kyle," Captain Wales said as Connor slumped into a seat. "And don't worry, no-ones going to cross paths with this perverted fucker again. Not even Nemo the clown-fish."

"Thanks, Captain," Kyle said, shaking his hand. "Connor, see you when you get back. And thanks again."

"Nae worries, Kyle."

He helped them cast off and then radioed Brian to let him know he'd be there in a couple of minutes. A smoke on the way there did nothing to reduce his nerves, but he kept taking deep breaths and felt a little calmer by the time he got to the clubhouse doors.

The inside was packed out, with nearly a hundred people there. He made his way to where Kara, Katie, George Crowler and Brian Kane waited on the stage and as he joined his sisters, the Security Chief called the room to silence.

"Thankyou for gathering here, and our apologies about the lack of notice, but we're dealing with some unusual circumstances here," He began, speaking loudly to the room. Kyle noticed the amount of frowns that looked back at them and he set his face in a neutral expression.

"Now, approximately ninety minutes ago, Master Kyle went to see Edwin in his apartment. With him was Connor Grant, a guest on the Island, and as many of you know, a Security specialist. Master Kyle was approached by a member of staff who will remain anonymous with allegations of sexual assault committed by Edwin on her on a number of occasions. After investigating the matter with the assistance of Mister Grant, Master Kyle approached Edwin and notified him he was under investigation."

A murmur ran around the room, and Kyle knew that every set of eyes on the room had looked at him.

"During the course of questionning him, and presenting evidence, Edwin attempted to assault Master Kyle, admitting his guilt during the attack. Thankfully Mister Grant was on hand and rendered assistance."

Another ripple of whispered conversation rushed around the room, gradually ceasing when Brian held up a hand for silence.

"At this point, lacking evidence for a criminal case, but knowing him to be guilty, Master Kyle dismissed Edwin from his position of Island Manager with immediate effect. Arrangements were made to fly him back to his home country of England, and Master Kyle has just returned from escorting him personally to Captain Wales' catamaran. Mister Grant is rendering his assistance to ensure that he is put on the aircraft waiting for him and they are on their way to do that right now."

Kyle could see many of the expressions had turned to smiles, some hidden, but many of the staff seemed pleased by the news. The rest looked either uninterested or weren't showing what they thought.

"Now obviously this leaves us with a post to be filled and Mister George Crowler has been asked to fill it on a temporary basis until the vacancy can be filled. In the meantime I'd like you all to render him every possible assistance in ensuring a smooth transition."

Kyle took a deep breath, knowing there was a couple of things that needed said and took a step forward, bringing a rushed whisper from the staff that quietened as he waited to speak.

"I'd like to add a few words," Kyle said loudly, looking around the room. "This situation with Edwin has come as a surprise to us all, but it's been dealt with. If there are problems on the Island then we want to know about them. You can trust me, and the same goes for Kara or Katie, and we all have the utmost faith in Mister Crowler too, so again, if there's problems, we want to know about them."

He paused for a moment, formulated his next point in his head, then continued.

"Next, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know how impressed we've been over the last week. This place is a paradise, a piece of tropical heaven with the highest levels of service and standards that take a lot of hard work to achieve. We want to let you know that we're very grateful for all your work, and that we appreciate the commitment to excellence that you display in your professionalism and approach every single day."

He forced a smile onto his face. "It's important that we don't let the shadow of events last night fall over us, and that we continue to achieve exactly what we strive for. We're delaying our departure until tonight because we want to be here to deal with any unresolved issues, and because we'd like the opportunity for just a few more hours here. Let's forget what happened this morning, and make it a great day, okay?"

Kyle nodded and stepped back between his sisters. To his surprise a small round of applause broke out, and for want of a better response, he nodded again.

"Where did that come from?" Katie muttered.

"Just thought they needed reminding that they're the guys who actually make this place what it is," Kyle said quietly. "A pep talk of sorts."

"Commitment to excellence?" Kara murmured, leaning into him. "That was from one of the briefing papers, right?"

"Exactly," He said, winking. "It's a good line."

"They seemed to like it."

"Okay, people," Brian Kane said, calling the room to order again. "I'm going to hand you over now to Mister Crowler. Thanks for your patience and thanks for listening."

At that he stepped back and Mister Crowler stepped forward, Kyle could see all eyes in the room were on the old lawyer. "All team leaders. Please put your teams to work and come and see me in the next two hours. I'll be in Edwin's office in his apartment. Thankyou. Dismissed."

As the staff were all wandering out the door, chatting over the revelations they'd just been hit with, Kyle looked at Mister Crowler. "You kept that brief."

"I'm a big fan of letting people do the work they're employed to do," The old man smiled. "You nearly gave me a heart-attack when you stepped forward there. Nicely done."

Kyle shrugged. "No biggie. So can we head back to the house now?"

"The boat got away?"

Kyle nodded. "No problems."

"Good. I'll see you at lunch," George replied, turning to leave. "Brian, let's go."

"Work calls," The Security chief said, nodding at Kyle on his way past.

"Brian," Kyle said, grabbing his hand. "Thanks for this. All of it."

"No problem, sir, and if you don't mind me saying, Edwin was a bastard. I'm glad he's... off the Island."

It was two hours and forty minutes later when Connor finally appeared. A nervous Kyle greeted him and took him into the bar, glad to escape from the incessant mocking from Ed, who had decided that Kyle got beat up by an old man and was reeling out every relevant joke in his repertoire.

"How did it go?"

"Fine," Connor said, nodding his head. "Captain Wales turned off his GPS and headed mostly West for an hour or so. Nothing but water for ages, and then eventually he stopped, we chained an anchor round the corpse, added a charge, put a hole in the trash bags to let the air out, and put him over the side."

"Wait. What do you mean by a charge?" Kyle asked, frowning.

"Captain Wales idea," Connor said firmly. "Last thing you want is a body washing up on the beach or being discovered by scuba divers or something, so you make sure there's no body to find."

"So you exploded it?"

Kyle could mentally picture it and the thought of disposing of a body at sea where no-one would ever find it made him feel sick. Worse was the knowledge that they were going to explode it into pieces on the bottom of the ocean. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, reminding himself that Edwin was a piece of shit and had killed himself by his own actions.

Connor fixed him with a steady gaze and continued his report.

"He sank like a stone after we put him over the side, and we hung around for a few minutes, but the corpse didn't come back up, so we turned East again for a hundred metres or so and triggered the charge and waited. All clear, so we continued back to the East. About an hour later, Captain Wales turned the GPS back on and used it to navigate back here. He doesn't know the precise spot, I don't have a clue, and there's no way he's washing up on a beach," Connor concluded. "It's done, Kyle."

Kyle nodded, feeling a little relieved that it was done, but sick and disgusted all the same. "Thanks, Connor. For everything."

"Aye, you keep saying that, Kyle," The Scotsman replied, smiling a little. "I think I told you before a few days back. I like the chase, the imminent threat, and as my experience goes, this wasn't a big drama. There wasn't a kidnapping, or a pitched battle, no car chases or anything crazy, but it was good to do some work again. It's been a while."

"You sure I can't recruit you to head up my security detail?"

He shook his head. "I get bored with babysitting people when there's no specific threat and me and bored don't mix well. If you ever get one though, just give me a call and I'll be right there."

"Anything you need," Kyle said, "If it's in my power to help, you'll get it. Any time you want to see me, my door's open, and you know you're welcome to come here any time, right? Same goes for the rest of our accommodation too."

Connor nodded. "Aye. Cheers for that. It's all good though, Kyle. Just doing my thing."

"I thought there had to be chicks involved for that," Kyle grinned.

"Talking of which, I'm off to pick up where I left off with those two chambermaids the other day," He replied, "And then I'm gonna sleep."

"Come up for dinner later if you want," Kyle suggested. "It'll be good to see you before we go."

"Aye, I will." Connor thrust out a hand and Kyle shook it.

"Thanks, Connor."

"Nae worries, Kyle."

Kyle wandered back to join his friends who were sitting around the pool, chilling out and chatting, and he took a seat at one of the tables and lit a cigarette. Patricia came over to join him and sat down next to him.

"How did it go?" She asked quietly.

"Fine. No problems." He decided not to tell anyone about the explosives part of the story. He was having enough trouble with it himself and really wanted to think about something else.

"That's a relief."

"I know," He nodded. "So what's the plans for today then?"

She shrugged. "Kick back and relax. Finish packing. Dinner and then we're off to the boat."

"I need to go and have a look at some stuff downstairs at some point," Kyle said, remembering the cabinet full of DVD's. He wanted to have a look at the system too, to see what it could do and what it had been recording.

"Some sleep might not be a bad idea either," Patricia said, reminding him they'd been up since early yesterday morning.

"Is that you hinting you want to get me in bed?"

"Normally yes, but I'm not really in the mood right now," She replied, a sad little smile on her face. " All I can think about is getting some sleep."

"Some actual sleep would be good. Let's go," He said firmly. They got to the bedroom, undressed and slipped under the sheets, and despite the brightness of the room, Patricia was asleep in minutes.

Kyle lay there, yawning and trying to drift off, but he couldn't seem to sleep, so after half an hour he slipped out of bed, threw on some clothes and headed downstairs. Seeing no-one about he stepped into the bar, flicked the trigger and slipped downstairs, closing the staircase behind him.

It was eerie walking down the stairs completely on his own, and he felt a little trepidation as he punched in the code and held his hand against the palm-scanner. He stepped back as the door opened and entered the silent bunker, his eyes automatically going to the spot where Edwin had lay.

He took a deep breath and headed for the control room, sliding into a seat before the console, seeing Patricia sleeping on one of the large screens in front of him. He smiled, seeing how natural and relaxed she seemed while asleep.

Kyle turned to look at the wall to his left, a large map of the Island about eight feet across with numbered pins stuck in it showing the location of each camera. It took him a minute, but he counted one hundred and thirty eight.

"Holy fuck that's a lot of cameras."

It took him another ten minutes to find the guide on how to use the system, and his eyes widened more than once at how it was set up. Each camera fed back to a server which sharpened the image and adjusted the distortion and brightness, cleaned up the sound and then fed it to another series of servers which recorded the feed from every camera. If there was no motion or sound then the cameras didn't record anything. It was remarkably detailed and efficient, and if it was set up as a security measure in the event of a threat, then anyone inside the bunker would know more about what was going on outside than the people outside would.

He began to scroll through the cameras one at a time, seeing lots of the staff at work, empty rooms and guest suites, the hive of activity that was the kitchens, George Crowler holding a meeting with seven members of staff, and of course, his friends and sisters hanging out at the beach.

He adjusted the feed to scroll back on a couple of the cameras, and satisfied he'd got the basics of it, he turned off the monitors and turned to the cabinet behind him full of DVD's.

It took a few minutes or raking around, but he eventually found a leather bound notebook behind the cabinet, listing the contents of each DVD. His eyes nearly popped out his sockets as he flicked through the pages.

"It's a fucking index to a private voyeur porn stash," He muttered. "Danny Tripps private fucking spank bank."

He dropped the book and quickly nipped into the lounge to grab a laptop, powering it up on his way back. It booted in seconds, and Kyle traced a finger down the notebook. He stopped and grabbed the corresponding DVD from the cabinet and put it in, opened the video software and selected the DVD.

An image flicked onto the screen of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany entering the suite currently occupied by Katie.

"Holy fuck," Kyle murmured as he began to skip through the video. The couple got undressed and slipped into bed together, touches turned into kisses and quickly they were fucking. He skipped ahead several times, seeing them in different positions as they coupled. When he skipped ahead again the video changed, this time of Jennifer Connelly in the bathtub, masturbating.

Kyle turned away and looked at the booklets full of DVD's in the cabinet, recalling the hundreds of names in the notebook, dozens of them famous actors, musicians, models, writers, athletes, household names.

"Jesus fucking Christ."

He knew instantly that there was no way he could ever tell anyone about this apart from Kara and Katie. This was just too explosive, too dangerous to ever come out in public. A private porn stash on hidden cameras of more people than he could count. The mother-lode of celebrity sex-tapes.

He looked back at the screen and flicked it forward, seeing the brunette actress, one of his personal favourites, face down on the bed with her ass up in the air, getting butt-fucked by the man who was now her husband.

"Fucking hell."

It wasn't that it was a major turn-on, although in any other circumstances it would be instant boner material. The events of the last eight hours had put paid to that and weighed too heavily on him at present. He shook his head and ejected the DVD, putting it back in it's place and he picked up the notebook, wanting to know if every one of these was a porn compilation.

He traced a finger down the list. Brad and Angelina. Charlize Theron. Salma Hayek, with three different DVD's. Jennifer Connelly, and a second one with Paul Bettany. Sheryl Crow. Pink. Seal and Heidi Klum. This list went on, with dozens and dozens of different names.

Each page of the notebook was for a different letter of the alphabet, organised by surname, with a date and a serial number of the DVD, and Kyle began to look for the most recent ones. He quickly cottoned on that anything within the last few weeks had different handwriting, as Edwin began to add his own discs to the collection.

He spotted one simply labelled Kara, and frowned, trying to decide if he should watch it or not. Instead he changed the page to W, and found the disc labelled Kyle Watson. He grabbed the corresponding DVD and put it in the drive.

The footage that flicked on the screen showed him in the shower. He skipped forward, seeing Patricia soaping his back for the first time. A slight smile appeared on his face as he recalled what that had eventually led to, but he frowned at the thought that their most intimate moments hadn't just been between the two of them.

"Fucking Edwin," He grunted.

Kyle flicked ahead again, finding the section where Sarah came to visit him during the night. He jumped too far and caught a head full of black hair bobbing up and down on his cock, so he took it back, and watched from when he was asleep.

A figure paused in the doorway to remove a bedrobe. It was hard to see details due to the position of the camera and the green-white glow of the night vision in the dark, but the figure gently placed the robe on the floor in the doorway, then began to cautiously creep forward, her head lowered.

Kyle's eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right here, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It just felt... odd.

Sarah paused at the edge of the bed, her face hidden by her hair, but her slim, taught frame visible on the screen. Kyle felt his heartbeat quicken slightly in anticipation of what he knew was to come, and he watched as the dark-haired girl slowly lifted his sheet back and began to tease a finger slowly up his cock, wakening it, making it grow.

She moved, positioning herself bent at the waist above him on the bed, and her long black hair began to touch his face. He watched as he woke up and she lay half on him, her hand reaching down to stroke his erection, then how she held back from him as he tried to kiss her.

The hair covered her face, but Kyle couldn't help admire her body as she sat up on him and took his cock inside her. He watched as his hand reached up to touch her breast, and that niggling feeling came at him again.

Sarah began to grind him hard, and he watched as she grabbed his wrists and pushed them down on the bed, holding him down, and then it clicked, the niggling thing that had been annoying him.

The complete absence of any tattoos on her skin.

"That's not Sarah," He muttered with a sinking feeling, and just as his brain reached the conclusion, the woman on the screen flicked her head back, revealing her face for the first time.

"Kara."

Kyle sat with his mouth wide open, frozen as a dozen different emotions rushed through him, everything from shock to denial, arousal to disgust.

"Jesus, Kara," He murmured moments later as she slid off his lap and began to suck his cock. This was too much and he couldn't comprehend what the hell she was thinking, knowing he was her brother.

"I mean, me and Katie hooked up but we didn't know," He said aloud, talking to the screen. "You knew, Kara. What the fuck?"

He watched as he stiffened and then came in her mouth. He could see her cheeks sucking hard on his cock and he remembered the exquisite feeling of it. Kyle's cock began to stiffen and he shifted uncomfortably, feeling disgusted with himself at his arousal.

"You knew," He muttered.

He watched as Kara swallowed his cum down and smiled in the darkness, then watched her hop backwards off the bed, stumble a little, then reach down and grab her dressing gown and dart out the door before he could turn the lights on.

"Holy fuck."

The picture on the screen changed to Kyle back in the bath, asking Patricia if it was her last night and he ejected the DVD, put it away and shut the laptop down. Kyle closed the cabinet and headed back upstairs, not even checking to make sure there was no-one around when he exited the stairs behind the bar. He felt like he was on autopilot as he entered his suite, stripped and got into bed.

His mind was whirling with thoughts. What the hell was she thinking? And how come when he'd confronted Sarah about it she'd admitted it was her when it wasn't? Was it just sheer blind luck that Sarah had hopped off the bed the same way that Kara had, and that had led to everything that had happened with Edwin?

"Fuck my life," Kyle murmured.

"What?" Patricia muttered.

"Nothing. Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you," He said softly, slipping in behind her.

She pulled his arm around her, nestling her body into him. "It's okay. Can't you sleep?"

"No, went down to the bunker."

Patricia rolled onto her back, propping her legs over his and turned to look at him, all sleepy and cute. "What did you find?"

"You don't want to know," Kyle said unhappily.

She watched him carefully for a moment, then said softly, "Was it footage of me?"

Kyle shook his head. "No, not exactly, just, em.... there was footage stored of me and you. All week long."

She looked away and took a deep breath. "Did you delete it?"

"Not yet, but I will later."

"You have to. Promise me, Kyle, please?" She said, her expression intense.

"I will. I promise. There's just something I have to do first."

"What?"

"Remember the visitor I had that night?" Kyle said carefully.

"Sarah?"

"Yeah, that's the problem," Kyle said, watching her expression change. "It wasn't Sarah."

Despite Patricia's repeated questions and eventual pleading he refused to tell her who it was that was in his room. He replied with no to every name she suggested too, and when she finally announced she was getting up, he realised he wouldn't be able to sleep either, so got dressed again.

Lakshmi arrived while Kyle was out having a cigarette. He realised they hadn't had a chance to chat at all since yesterday, and she was full of questions.

He ran through the version of events that they'd settled on telling everyone, and she was wide-eyed at the revelations of what Edwin had been up to, although like many of the staff on the Island, she wasn't that surprised.

She went inside to help Patricia finish packing up his clothes and anything they'd need for the trip to San Antonio, then on to LA while Kyle went downstairs to grab Ed and Casey and go for a walk round the Island.

They were full of questions, but after a couple of minutes he asked them if they could talk about something else, so Ed immediately began to speculate about Casey's sex life with Margarita in the graphic way only Ed could. It was good to be distracted by the normality of his friends conversations, Kyle realised, and the half hour they spent walking around was like a side-step from all the shit he'd dealt with in the last twelve hours and the conversation he knew he'd have to have before the day was out.

Kyle, Katie and Kara had a private lunch with George Crowler and it was a subdued affair, with George bringing them up to speed on the reports from the various Managers among the Islands staff. Despite their initial reluctance, they began to open up to George about some of the issues they'd had with Edwin, such as his reluctance to change some of the more inefficient procedures, his insistence on using specific suppliers from which they were convinced he got a percentage, and from several of the staff who had complained about his innapropriate stares or occasionally bizarre behaviour. There was also several reports about staff who had left the Island in the past due to sexual harassment claims, but because Edwin always had Danny Tripps' full support, no-one could do anything about them.

It left the three of them with mixed feelings. On the plus side, they were glad that Edwin was no longer in charge, as were most of the staff apparently, but Kyle felt a little guilty that it was his actions that had ultimately led to Edwins death. Feeling happy about it made him feel guilty, and on more than one occasion he had to push those thoughts aside and concentrate on what was happening in the present and future.

George explained that he had asked each of the Islands managers to produce a list of proposals by ten o'clock the next morning for improvements in their respective areas, and he was hopeful that things would be improved both in terms of morale and efficiency, but also in financial terms.

After lunch there was a half-hour gap before they were all to head down to the beach for another session of paragliding, snorkelling and for the first time, jetskiing, so Kyle suggested that he bring Katie and Kara down to the bunker.

Mister Crowler distracted their friends enough with questions about service on the Island that they were able to slip away into the bunker, and once they were down there, Kyle explained to them about Danny Tripps' secret porn stash.

They were both apalled and intrigued at the same time, and Katie insisted on checking out one of the videos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, just so she could see what the footage looked like. Kara jokes that she was fooling no-one, but Katie merely grinned and went into the lounge to put the DVD in a laptop.

Kyle took the opportunity to close the door, and pulled out the DVD with his name on it.

"I watched this earlier. I think you've got one too," He began.

"Mine will be getting destroyed then," She said simply.

"No secrets between us, Kara?" Kyle asked. "Wasn't that what you said?"

Her eyes jerked up to meet his and she held his gaze for a few seconds.

"I saw it," Kyle said eventually. "Your late night visit."

"Oh." Kara looked like she was going to say something, then decided against it and shrugged. "Yeah, it was me."

"You sneaked into my room, fucked me, blew me and ran away."

She nodded solemnly. "I did."

"Why?"

She sat down in one of the two chairs and turned to face him. "It's... kinda hard to explain."

"Well you're gonna."

"You sound pissed."

"Explain it please," Kyle said firmly, his arms folded.

She sighed. "So as I mentioned before, there's very few customers I remember, and even fewer that get me turned on when I was dancing, right? And I told you I remembered you, that you'd got to me a little that night and I deliberately made you cum."

"I remember."

"Good. Well I remembered too. Sometimes at night when I couldn't sleep I'd do what most people do, right?" Kyle nodded, so she continued. "Well, sometimes I'd remember you. Do you need me to spell it out, Kyle?"

"Masturbation inspiration."

"Exactly. And I can't believe I'm even telling you that." She paused for a second. "So here I am on this fucking Island, I'm lonely, I don't know who to trust, and... well, you look fucking hot, right?"

"But you know I'm your brother at this point," Kyle stated.

She nodded. "So this night we'd been chatting about you and Patricia, and you were saying how she wasn't going for it, and I was trying to convince you to seduce her."

"Yeah."

"Well, the conversation turned me on a bit, and I couldn't sleep, so I got up and went out on the balcony for a smoke. I must have been sitting there thinking for half an hour when I hear these footsteps on the stairs, and Sarah, the maseusse appears, right?"

"Okay."

"So she didn't see me. She walked up to the door of your suite and goes to open it, so I ask her what she's doing. I mean, it was pretty obvious. She was wearing this skimpy little black silk kimono, stockings and heels."

"So what did she say?"

"She got a fright, so I told her to sit down and we talked for a bit. Then she told me that she'd made a bet with some friends that she would have sex with you, and she had to follow through with it. Well, I didn' t know if you'd hooked up with Patricia, so I tell her that she can't and that she should just tell her friends that she did."

"So Sarah turned up and you stopped her coming in?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah. Bear in mind that at this point, you're the only person I've ever met before, I know you're my brother, but I'm all horny and attracted to you, right? I'm tired and I'm not exactly thinking straight, plus this slut has just shown up and I'm feeling jealous. Pretty much an emotional mess, right?"

"Okay. So what happened with Sarah?"

"She wouldn't leave, even tried to get back into the suite, so I gave her two choices. She could be fired if she kept trying to get inside, or she could leave and I'd tell anyone who asked that she was in there for ten minutes, then left again clutching her kimono," Kara explained.

"So she accepted that and left then?" Kyle asked, frowning.

"Yeah," Kara replied, nodding. "And I was glad she left."

"So how did you come to be in my room then?"

"Curiosity more than anything else," Kara said, sighing again. "I began to wonder if you were in there with Patricia, so I sneaked in to see if I could see her in her room. I found her fast asleep, so that's when the idea struck me. If someone could come into your room, fuck you anonymously and get out again before they were discovered, then why couldn't it be me?"