"I love you Ruth Evershed."
The Grid was hectic. Mayhem. Phones ringing. Paper being moved. Footsteps. Faint hum of a familiar tune.
The pods swished open.
"Juliet, what are you doing here"
"Lovely to see you too Adam. Now Harry has seconded this wonderful young girl to help us with the mission." Harry wandered out of his office and over to Juliet.
"Afternoon Juliet"
"Good morning Harry" Harry realised it was only 11.15.
"Everyone this is Jade Everett. She is here because we need her"
"I expect you will"
"Harry?" Juliet questioned.
"Oh sorry. Yes I'm sure you will be able to get everyone on the ball"
"I'm sure I will" Her accent was a soft cockney accent. Not too obvious.
"Ill leave you in the hands with young"
"Zaf, pleased to meet you" Juliet smirked at Jade and left.
"Hello Adam" She winked as she went past.
"Hi I'm Jo. If you need anything I'm over here"
"Thank you Jo" Jade made an effort to sound grateful. She knew Jo was the type of person who looked as though she was useless in the field. Jade judged people on first vision.
'If they don't seem warm and cheerful inside don't trust them' She said when she was at MI6.
"Zaf where do I sit"
"Well there is a desk here if you want it"
"But that is Ruth's old desk"
"How did you know"
"Well I was friends with Ruth before she ……. Before what happened"
"Do you know where she has gone"
"No sorry I don't" Zaf felt really stupid. Why would she possibly know if they didn't. Jade looked at Zaf and laughed.
"Don't worry I do that all the time" Zaf knew what she ment.
Harry stood. The corridor. The Grid. With Jade here it seemed warm. Like Ruth did but not with the same energy. Ruth was the passion. Jade was the lust. To Harry there was a difference. A sharp pain was in his body. He screamed. The pain was like no pain he had experienced before. Heartbreak.
Adam walked over to Jade.
"How's Wes?" She asked really interested.
"Wes? Oh yes he's fine"
"Listen I heard about the whole Froze-On-The-Job thing"
"Yes well they"
"You don't need help Adam"
"What"
"Just listen to what I said" With that Jade got her coat and walked out of the Grid.
Harry watched. The Grid. The movements. He noticed everyone moved differently to when Ruth was there. Hurriedly. Rushing. Ruth made them calm. Relaxed. Even when it was Redflash.
Jade walked down Embankment and waited. She looked around. The sun. Fluorescent. Shone on the cool, smooth pavement. Underground trains bustled by. A young woman in the distance stopped to buy a paper.
Adam and Zaf started to talk about Ruth.
"Everything is different"
"Mayhem"
"Without her its world war three"
"Harry"
"I wouldn't mention Harry. Opens too many conversations"
"Ah yes the amazing 'that's not my favourite word' topic"
"We had fun with that one didn't we"
The pods quietly and softly opened. The newspaper was perfectly folded and had a cup of tea resting on top.
"Talk of the devil"