They arriving to Ruth's neighborhood.
"Just up ahead here on the right," says Ruth.
Harry looks for parking and pulls the car into a spot two houses from Ruth's place.
Ruth unlocks her seatbelt and starts to open the door. Harry reaches out his arm and stops her.
"Let me," he says. Harry exits the car and walks around to open the car door for Ruth. Why is he being such a gentleman? She wonders. Is he always like this? She's been in a car with him before, but not enough to know whether or not this is his usual behavior. She likes it.
Harry follows close behind Ruth as she walks up the pathway to her front door. Ruth is fishing for her keys in her purse. Harry is trying to check out their surroundings the best he can without alerting Ruth to his concerns. Ruth places the key in the lock and starts to turn. Harry steps in front of her and places his hand on hers.
"Allow me to do it Ruth," he says. Harry then turns the key and slowly opens the door. He walks into her house first. He is greeted by two cats that meow and wind their way through his legs. Ruth follows closely behind and shuts the door.
"Harry, is all this really necessary?" she asks.
"Yes, for my piece of mind, it is necessary," says Harry. "I'm going to check the back door. You should take a look around and see if anything looks out of place. Where is your alarm?"
"I don't have an alarm, I just moved in. I haven't had time to arrange that yet," says Ruth.
Harry lets out and exasperated sigh. "For Christ sake Ruth, call security tomorrow and have them come right out here. This is an emergency. All employees of MI-5 have to have an approved alarm system in their personal residence it is part of the code of conduct for all…" he continues as Ruth cuts him off.
"Yes, yes, yes I bloody know the code book Harry. I just haven't had the time," she protests.
Ruth throws her purse on the hallway table and turns on the lamp. Harry approaches her and quickly turns off the lamp.
"Let me check things out first before you turn on any lights," he says.
"Yes of course," she complies. Harry walks through her kitchen and toward the back door. "Bloody spook," she whispers.
Harry returns to her in the hallway.
"And upstairs? What's up there?" he asks.
"My bedroom and the bathroom, there are no doors up there!" she protests.
Harry is walking up the stairs. "There are windows? Are there windows Ruth? Criminals can get into places through windows Ruth!" Harry exclaims.
Ruth removes her coat and hangs it on the coat rack near the front door. Harry comes back down the stairs.
"Ok, I think it all looks good Ruth," says Harry. He is standing very close in front of her. It is still dark in the house. He tilts his head and lets out a half smile. She returns the smile.
"Thank you Harry for your concern, and thank you for the ride," she says shyly, "I hope Malcolm settles down soon, it was upsetting to see him like that tonight."
"Ruth," says Harry looking down and he pauses. "Tonight, at Adam's place, when you grabbed my arm, I want you to know…well I think you should know…well about me and Malcolm, that I wasn't going to hit him, you've got to know that Ruth, that I wasn't going to hit him."
"No of course not, I know that Harry," she says as she reaches out and grabs his wrist, "I just thought it would be best if Adam handled it, that's all."
"Yes, it was best for Adam to handle it," says Harry still facing down.
He turns his wrist and places his hand into Ruth's and slowly lifts his head to face her. She smiles. They are so close. It is dark. Ruth is enchanted by the grip that Harry has on her hand, she entwines her fingers through his. He smiles and with his other hand he reaches out to touch her hair. Ruth reaches up with her free hand to touch his hair. It was fair game. What were they doing? Where did this all come from? She savors the moment.
They stand like this and Harry is unable to pull away or stop from touching Ruth's hair. They were both on an emotional rollercoaster all day and it was nice to just be here together alone and close. There is comfort in the connection that they have just holding hands. Their breathing is getting deeper. Harry lets go of Ruth's hand and slides it around her back to pull her closer. As he does this, he sees shadow movement through the front living room window. Someone is crouched low and looking into the front window.
"Ruth," says Harry in a whisper to her, "we're not alone."
"The cats Harry, the cats are fine," she sighs as she continues to stroke the back of Harry's head.
"No Ruth," he continues to whisper, "I'm serious. Someone is in the front hedges looking at us through the window. Don't move, let's continue to do this, make it look like we're lovers."
Ruth immediately tenses up. "Harry what are we going to do?" she asks.
Harry continues his hold on her and moves her with him as he shuffles to the front door. He sees an antique fire pit poker near Ruth's coat rack. "I'm going out there to have a look," he whispers to her.
"No, it's dangerous" she responds and she puts both hands onto his waist to hold him.
"Ruth, please" he whispers. He reluctantly pulls her hands from him. He picks up the iron poker and quickly opens the door. Ruth looks toward the window and can see the figure of a person run as soon as the front door is opened.
"He's running away!" she shouts out to Harry.
She sees Harry run past the window and out into the street. Harry stops when he gets to his Lexus. He looks at the car and all four tires are flat.
