Spooks: Unknown Element
Written By LockBox22
Obligatory Disclaimer: I don't own Spooks or anything that you recognize. I only own my original storyline, plot, and any original characters. Any mistakes are my own.
Author's Note: This is an old story that I dusted off, polished up and decided to post. Hope you enjoy my little tale. :)
o0o
The phone rang and Harry snatched the receiver up without looking at the caller ID. "Yes?" He asked briskly, eyes still scanning the document in his other hand.
"Short and to the point as ever. I've always liked that in you." A woman's voice come through the receiver; her voice was sultry, coy, teasing. "How have you been, Harry?"
Harry froze and slowly lowered the paper in his hand to the desktop. He knew that voice, but it couldn't be her. The last time they had crossed paths, he had won. He had won and she'd lost; which mean that she was supposed to have left London. This had to be some sort of a joke.
"To whom am I speaking with?" Harry asked briskly as he leaned back in his chair. His voice had gone flat with suspicion, cold with anger. He heard it and resolved that was the last time his tone would reflect that particular emotion.
"Aw. I'm hurt, Harry. You don't remember me?" The female voice continued. Nope, no joke it was her. She did sound hurt but Harry knew that she was acting. Julia Green - professional burglar and assassin – did not get hurt easily.
And how could he ever forget her? Every meeting was carefully documented and stored in the archives. Every job she had ever pulled, every job she could pull, her skills, her professional likes and dislikes. Everything conceivable was carefully recorded in a thick file that Harry had copied and kept hidden in his personal safe.
"Julia. What a surprise." He replied dryly. "To what do I own the pleasure?" He looked up through the glass into the empty office: everyone had gone home for the day. Too bad. He would've had someone trace the call. By tomorrow she would be gone.
"You sound happy to hear from me, Harry. That's good. I thought you would've bore a grudge after our last meeting."
"I still do." Harry replied. "You handed me the intelligence and then ran, leaving me to get shot at. I may never be the same again."
She laughed. It was the first thing that sounded real in the entire conversation. "I've always enjoyed your sense of humour, Harry."
"What do you want, Julia?" Harry asked. "You can't be calling just to catch up for old time's sake."
"I heard you lost something and need some help getting it back." Julia replied. "A disk? With all sorts of top secret government files? Ringing any bells?"
"What of it?" Harry asked casually.
"I just thought I'd just pop by and tell you it's location. That is if you still want it back." Julia said offhandedly. "There's a lot of useful information on here. Information that you wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands."
Harry leaned forward in his seat. She had gotten his full attention now. Bloody hell; she had the disk! Where was Tariq when you needed him?
"Back?" He managed to ask evenly, ignoring Julia's last statement. "Does that mean you stole it in the first place?"
Julia laughed. It was light, almost carefree. "If I had, would it make a difference?" She asked.
"Of course it would." Harry replied. "When you come to collect the reward, we'll put you in jail for stealing from the British government."
"Do you always have to put a damper on things, Harry? She asked in an annoyed tone. "I don't steal from the government, you know that."
"How noble of you." Harry replied sarcastically.
"Don't get your knickers in a bunch. I acquired it while I was on a job. When shall we meet? Tomorrow if it's convenient?" Julia asked.
"Does this mean you're ready for jail time?" Harry replied. "If it does, I have some people that would love to talk to you about some of your previous jobs."
"Now you sound almost like your old self." Her tone was happy again. "You know that there'll be no jail time until you're sure of what I know. Usual place; tomorrow, say tenish?"
"How do I know you really have the disk?" Harry asked.
"Blue case, red lettering. Operation Handshake. Any of this sounding familiar?"
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ten tomorrow?" He asked in resignation.
"I'll be waiting. I don't think I need to tell you to come alone; and unarmed." There was a click.
Harry held onto the receiver for a second and listened to the buzz. Then he reached out and gently put the receiver back into the cradle. Ten o'clock. Hours away, but somehow he knew that he wouldn't be sleeping tonight. She always seemed to know just how to mess up his schedule.
o0o
Harry was in first thing that morning before any of the team. He sat in his office with Julia's file in front of him and watched as the Grid came to life before his eyes. The tech people were the first to come in; the other analysts and then Tariq, flying through the pods like a monster was after him. Though possibly that monster was him as Tariq was running a little behind on his maintenance reports.
Lucas was the next to step through the pods and Harry watched as he was ambushed by several people wanting his signature on their forms. Beth would be slightly late as it was Monday. Just another normal day in Section D.
Harry got up from his chair as the pods opened to reveal Ruth. He quickly walked into the main room and gently touched her elbow to stop her before she walked further into the bullpen. "Ruth. Can I see you in my office for a moment?"
Ruth frowned but followed Harry after quickly leaving her coat on her desk.
"Shut the door." Harry said once Ruth had entered his office.
Ruth drew the wood door closed behind her. "What's going on, Harry?" She asked coming to stand in front of the desk with Harry.
"Julia Green." Harry said the thorn in his side's name slowly and carefully.
Those two words gave Ruth pause. "I assume this means she's crawled back out of the woodwork." She commented after a moment. Even after being out of the intelligence community for a while, Ruth still knew about Julia Green as the assassin had popped up while Adam was still team leader.
"Yes." Harry replied somewhat sourly. "She's back."
"And what did she offer you this time?" Ruth asked. "Please don't tell me it's money again."
Harry shook his head as he walked behind his desk. "No. Something much more serious I'm afraid. She has the disk." He stated before taking his seat.
"Well, this complicates things." Ruth remarked into the silence. "I assume you don't want to bring the team onto this."
"Certainly not." Harry replied. "They have enough of their plates without having to worry about the fate of our operations lying in the hands of a manipulative, money hungry... oh god! How did we ever get into this mess?" Harry rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. He could feel another headache coming on.
Ruth slide into the chair in front of the desk. "We got into this mess when the JIC decided it would be a good idea to send classified files through a carrier on a disk." She replied. "Paper is much harder to steal."
"Well at least I know someone else agrees with me." Harry replied, raising his head from his hand. "I tried to tell the JIC that something like this would happen but they were, shall we say, persuaded by one of the younger generation."
"There could be another reason why you got yourself into this mes." Ruth said, quietly. She slide forward on her chair. "Julia Green is the latest of your achilles heels, Harry. I don't think I need to remind you what happened at your last meeting. You've let her play you one too many times and now it's just coming back to bite you in the arse."
"No need to get vulgar on my account." Harry remarked with a raised eyebrow at her reprimand.
"Well, where Julia Green is concerned you need a good lecture." Ruth replied ducking her head slightly as she did when she knew that she was stepping out of bounds. "When are you meeting her?" She asked.
"Ten." Harry replied. "Our usual spot."
"You want back-up?" Ruth asked.
"No; I'm supposed to go in alone; and unarmed." Harry replied. "I'd appreciate your discretion in this matter, Ruth."
Ruth nodded as she stood up from her chair. "Just don't let her get inside your head, Harry. She knows how to play you."
Harry wanted to tell Ruth that she was dead wrong, but something made him pause. Ruth knew him better then anyone else on the Grid and was such a valued member of the team that everyone always listened to her insights.
Was Julia playing him? Happy just to have a old spook on her rope to jerk around? But the disc; she had described the disc accurately and he needed to know what she knew.
Ruth's warnings still ringing in his ears, Harry sat back in his chair and glanced down at the file on his desk. This was going to be an interesting morning.
o0o
The fall day was cool with just enough bite into the air to warn travellers of the coming snow. Harry rubbed his gloved hands together as he stepped out of his car. The usual place that Julia had mentioned was the park downtown where a large crowd would be gathered at this time of day.
University students, families, and couples were enjoying the weather before it got too cold to be outside. Harry picked a bench that was far enough away from the people so their conversation wouldn't be overheard but close enough that they would be in the public eye if Julia decided to initiate something.
He sat down and watched the people for a few minutes. He checked his watch. It was just after ten. Harry lowered his wrist and then turned as he caught a dark shape out of the corner of his eye.
Julia Green, dressed in a thigh-length black coat slide gracefully onto the bench next to him. Her long hair was pulled back and fell over her right shoulder gracefully as she turned to face him. "Harry." She greeted him.
"Julia." He replied dryly. "Do you have the disk?" He asked quickly getting down to business.
"What? No witty banter? No sarcastic remarks?" She asked with a quick grin. "I was hoping for a little bit of fun before we got down to business."
"I never mix business with pleasure." Harry replied glancing around at the park.
Julia shrugged. "Pity." There was a short pause as they listened to the children playing football in the background. "I don't have the disk." She replied after a moment.
Harry turned to look at her; she ignored his gaze and continued to watch the scenery. Harry turned back to the park, silently counting to ten. He didn't like games, and disliked them even more when Julia Green had a hand in them.
"I can see why you like this place so much." He said conversationally after a moment. He looked along the low lying buildings. "Not many places for a sniper, plenty of innocents in case someone decides to get messy, nice view too." He turned to face her. "What if I told you that I had managed to place a sharpshooter in the area?"
Harry saw a flash of concern in Julia's eyes, but only for a moment. She raised her chin. "Then I'd say that you were bluffing." She replied evenly. "Those weren't the terms of our agreement and I don't have it on me if that's what you're thinking, Harry."
"Why should I believe anything you say?" Harry replied. "You are, after all, an assassin for hire to the highest bidder."
Julia shrugged and spread her arms. "Then we can do a strip search right here if you want." A twinkle came into her eye. "Though we might get a visit from some friendly coppers and I don't think you want to bring in the local police into this one."
"Why go to all the trouble of a strip search?" Harry asked. "People are easy to search when they're dead."
"Yes, but only if they are stupid enough to carry the item that the other party wants on their person." Julia replied. She smiled. "I -unfortunately for you- are not. So if you kill me, then you are still down one computer disc with government secrets on it."
"Where is the disk?" Harry asked.
"It's somewhere safe." Julia assured him calmly.
"Please don't tell me you left it with one of your 'associates.'" Harry looked appalled. The associates list on her CV was long enough to fill several pages and all of those names belonged to people who had even less moral standards then Julia did.
"Oh, Harry." Julia replied, her tone turning to annoyance. "Don't get yourself in a snit. It's not becoming."
"No more games, Julia." Harry told her firmly. "Where is the disk? And what do you want for it?"
She sighed. "Must you always assume I do things only for money?"
"What can I say? It's the economy." Harry replied dryly.
"Well in that case a million ought to do it." Julia replied. She grinned at the look that Harry gave her. "Kidding." She told him.
Harry stood, fully intending on walking away.
Julia sighed. "Alright!"
Harry sat back down and turned to face her.
"I want assurances that once I give you the disc you allow me to leave. No questions, no 'visits' to Themes House." Julia told him. "Just a simple hand-off."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
"That and ten thousand." Julia was quick to reply. "I'm thinking about updating my wardrobe."
"Black, black and more black?" Harry asked dryly.
Julia cocked her head. "Do we have a deal or not? As much as I like you I don't have time to sit here all day and toss insults back and forth. I'm a busy woman; deals to make, people to kill, secrets to find out."
"When and where?" Harry asked. Ten thousand was small pennies compared to what others had asked of him. It was a small amount compared to the actual worth of the disk that held most of the classified missions that MI-5 was currently undertaking. He should have never let the JIC talk him into releasing that information in the first place.
"Tomorrow. 11:55; Whitehall Park." Julia replied. She stood, placing her hands into her coat pockets. "Nice doing business with you, Harry. Don't be late."
o0o
The security doors hissed closed behind Harry as he entered the offices. He took a quick glance around the room. The usual busy workspace was quieter then usual as at the moment they were only dealing with the usual pranks and low-level security risks.
Ruth looked up from her desk as Harry came in and got up as Harry walked towards his office. She slipped in behind him and closed the door.
"How'd it go?" She asked as Harry took off his coat.
"The usual." Harry replied placing his coat on the couch. "I can never tell if she's a hindrance or a help."
"The Home Secretary has been calling for you." Ruth told him. "He'll be pleased to hear that you've recovered the disk."
"Well don't go calling him back just yet." Harry replied. "I haven't got the disk yet."
Ruth gave him a questioning look.
"One more hoop to jump through." Harry commented. "Valued at ten thousand."
"The disk is worth much more then that." Ruth replied incredulously.
"I know." Harry replied. "Which makes me wonder what the catch is here. I'll send Lucas to make the exchange. Where is he?"
"Checking out one of our prank callers." Ruth replied. "He should be back any minute now."
"Good." Harry said, looking down at his desk and shuffling papers. "Send him in here when he gets back please."
Ruth didn't leave at the implied dismissal so Harry looked up. "That'll be all. Thank you, Ruth."
Ruth gave him a funny look and then walked out of the office, closing the door behind her. Harry sat down in his chair and ran a hand over his face. He sat in silence for a moment before reaching over and picking up the phone.