2

Ros knelt next to the man with the overpowering body odour. She knew the men that had barged into the bank just as she had reached the counter meant business. The balaclavas and flack jackets hid their identities. Narrowing her eyes she glanced at the CCTV camera in the corner wondering if anyone knew what was going on. A moment later a heavy set man pointed a gun in her face.

"Name?" The man had a distinctly English accent. She knew he was intending to scare her.

"Rosalind North."

"Where's your phone?"

"I left it in the car." She lied, knowing that the phone emitted a GPS signal. It was her only real hope that the Grid could work out where she was. The man ordered her to stand. The hostage next to her whimpered as Ros did as she was told.

"You left your phone in your car?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Forgot to charge it. It's dead, so I left it. No point carrying a phone that isn't working." She kept her voice calm, looking him in the eyes. He thought for a moment, seemingly accepting her response.

"Take your coat off."

Ros narrowed her eyes before doing as she was told. She handed him the leather jacket before he threw it on the floor. He grabbed her, holding the gun to her forehead before ordering her to empty her pockets. Ros remained silent as she emptied the contents of her pockets.

"See? A tissue, my bank card, 48p in small change. Nothing resembling a phone." She felt the blow to the back of her neck as her legs buckled. A younger woman gasped as Ros fell.

Xxxxxxx

"Icarus." Ruth walked into the Briefing Room as the rest of the team sat at the table. The space normally occupied by Ros seemed to be conspicuous by her absence. "They were formed in London about three years ago."

"What else do we know?" Harry asked. Ruth handed papers around the table.

"The ringleader is still in prison. It seems this was a small group that sympathised with IS and AQ but don't have the fire power or influence those do." Ruth explained. Zaf looked up.

"Essentially wannabes?"

"Yeah." Catherine nodded. "Looks like."

"And they've attacked the bank?" Harry frowned. "Publicity? Notoriety?"

"It could be." Ruth frowned. "They've been on our radar for a while but seemed to dissipate the moment Cage was put in prison."

"So why now?" Beth tapped her pen. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Will, Beth go to the prison. Talk to Cage." Will closed his eyes, he hated prison visiting but knew as the newest member of the team he had to take the rubbish assignments. Baghdad had been a fluke assignment. Beth pushed her chair back. "Adam, you are acting Section Chief until we have Ros back."

Adam nodded, the pair had always deputised for the other. Now his leg was healed he was back to full duties. Ruth glanced at Lucas as he stared straight ahead. She knew what had to be going through his mind. Five and a half years earlier Ros had been held hostage; Jo had died. Death by misadventure the coroner had said. Death by cop the rest of them believed. Jo had committed suicide and Ros would forever blame herself. Now she was back in a similar situation and Ruth had no way of knowing how she would react.

"Catherine." Adam started. "Find out everything and anything you can on the bank. Staff, customers, floor plans. Anything."

"Ok." She got up, leaving the room as Adam continued issuing tasks. It was only when everyone had left that Harry realised Lucas had barely said a word. Watching him for a moment he didn't know what to say; knowing that if Ruth had been locked away in the bank he would be barely functioning.

"Lucas."

"This will kill her." Lucas spoke quietly. "If anyone gets hurt this time."

"No one will. Red Troop are on standby. Lucas, this is not like the Bendorff Group." Harry crossed the room to him. "You know that. Joanna chose to ignore protocol and go in without protection. She made Ros believe she had a vest on or Ros would never have fired that gun."

"She still blames herself. She has nightmares, flashbacks."

"I'm not surprised." Harry nodded, knowing his Section Chief was the strongest person he had ever known. He also knew the strongest people were still human. "The difference this time? She's got James and Amy waiting at home, as well as a new addition to collect next week."

Lucas smiled slightly, loving the fact Ros had given in to them getting a dog on the proviso the dog was an adult that needed a home. They were picking Roxy - a Battersea Dogs home resident the following Monday. The Rottweiler X Alsatian bitch was the final addition to the family.

"Monday." Lucas paused. "I can't sit here and don't tell me to go home. James is at nursery and Amy is in school until Carrie collects them later. I don't want them disrupted. It's not fair."

"None of this is." Harry pinched his nose. "Right, in that case come to the bank with me. I could do with an objective ear on this."

"Objective? My wife is being held hostage."

"As I am aware. But this is Ros. We will get her out. And the other hostages. Trust her, Lucas she knows what she is doing." Harry paused. "You weren't exactly objective the day the hotel blew but you did your job as did she. Now, shall we?" He headed back into the main Grid just as Ruth got to her feet.

"Harry?"

"Tell the Home Secretary I've more important things to do. Keep me informed of anything you find related to Icarus." Harry smiled slightly as Ruth nodded.

"You're going down there."

"I have to."

"I know." She touched his tie as his hand covered hers. "Be careful. I would like my husband and friends back in one piece." Harry nodded once, holding her gaze for a moment before heading toward the Pods with Lucas. He just hoped Ros was coping as he wasn't sure Lucas was.

Xxxxxxxx