Set mid Series 9
"Why me?'
"Because it has to be convincing."
"I'm sure you and … and … and …" Ruth was struggling to think of someone, of anyone, anyone at all.
Lucas patiently sat down beside her.
"Ruth … They're supposed to have been married for fifteen years, that's not something you can just pull off and make convincing."
"And how many legends have you had, Lucas, in the last 15 years?"
"More than you can imagine," he replied quietly.
"So, within that vast array of experience, are you telling me that you couldn't manage this?!"
"No, not in the same way as you and Harry."
She sighed with exasperation.
"You have that …" this time Lucas was the one struggling for words, "… that thing you do."
"What thing?" she demanded.
"That unspoken thing. That understanding of knowing someone intimately for years."
Ruth laughed.
"Intimate is so very far from the right word, Lucas."
He studied her for a moment.
"Ruth, I don't begin to understand all that has passed between the two of you, but I do know with upmost certainty that there is no one more suited to this operation."
She was shaking her head.
"Not now. Please don't ask me to do this now, Lucas," she said quietly.
"It won't wait, Ruth."
You have no idea, she thought, no idea at all.
"Why me?"
Lucas inwardly sighed but forged on, patience somewhat strained.
"Because there's no one as believable as you and Ruth would be."
"You have no idea," Harry muttered, heading towards the decanter and pouring a measure which went well beyond large.
"Now is not the best of times, Lucas."
"But now is the only time we have got. You know that."
And the worst of it was that Harry did. He did know that. He did recognise that there was no one else who best fit the description, no one else available who could fill the roles.
But dear god, did it have to be now!