CHAPTER 2

"Sweetheart." Ruth's endearment brought him out of his reverie. He smiled down at her.

"I'm okay. It's okay."

"I thought we didn't lie to each other." Ruth reprimanded. Harry smiled again.

"Why don't you head home and get supper started. I think I'll stop back by the Grid and have a look at the message, all right?" Harry offered casually. He started to rise. Ruth clapped her hand on his arm and pulled him back down beside her. She carried a grim look as she said,

"You didn't really think that was going to work, did you?" Glaring at him, she held his gaze. He sighed and bent forward to kiss her.

"You don't really think that's going to work, do you?" She placed her hand on his chest to maintain his distance. Harry chuckled.

"You are the air that I breathe and I love you." A smile slowly grew on Ruth's face.

"Now that will work." She reached over and kissed him then she poked him in the ribs and said, "Tell me."

"You know my legends." Ruth paused, giving him a quizzical look.

"Giles Farmer?" She tried. Harry nodded.

"Who had a legend as an Archer?" Harry asked.

"Matthew Archer – Tom Quinn."

"Why would Tom want to get in touch with me?" asked Ruth.

"Did the message come directly to you?" inquired Harry.

"No, it came through the general voicemail and was redirected to me as a coded message. I picked it up because I was the last one on the Grid." Ruth responded.

"I really want to have a look at it tonight but I promise to come straight home afterwards. You take the car and I'll have Ryan drive me."

"Why don't we just go together?" She posed.

"Because, if we both enter the Grid again at this time of night, we'll be there until morning and I, for one, would prefer to sleep in bed with my wife tonight." He kissed her on the cheek, grinning.

"Oh, very well. You have forty-five minutes. If you're not home by then, Scarlett gets your supper and I'm sleeping with the cats." His grin broadened as he agreed.

"And Ruth, please engage the new security measures, just to be safe." Ruth's eyes clouded a little at those words. This definitely has Harry worried.