Sitting in the cab on the way to the hotel, Camille reflected on the last few moments. Coming face to face with Richard for the first time since seeing him "dead" had been a shock, and as the taxi driver was winding his way through the Paris streets, with Richard clenching his hands against the door handle, her mind was in turmoil.

She had just a moment in which to make up her mind; to slap him (hard) and walk away for ever, or to give an indication that she was willing to bind herself to him once more, to work alongside him everyday, but this time on her turf.

She allowed herself a small glace. He looked fitter, he was wearing blue contacts which made him look a little less noticeable, and his hair was now pleasingly cropped in a slightly more modern style than how it had been when he was in Saint Marie.

He was muttering to himself about French drivers – ok well some things hadn't changed then!

As they pulled up to the hotel, and Richard grumpily paid him, she noticed her bags from the safe house were waiting on a cart to be taken up to her new room. She still didn't trust herself to say anything. She wanted to scream at him, but she also wanted to just spend the rest of the evening just talking to him, assuring herself this was not some kind of dream.

They travelled up in the lift without speaking, and were greeted by the Commissaire Serge Paire.

"Bonjour Camille – I am relieved to see you made your decision. We had bargained on the partnership between you and Poole for the success of the operation."

Camille shook his hand and offered no explanation, waiting for him to continue, as they walked the length of a corridor, and stopped at the door at the end. Paire opened the door to a luxurious looking suite. She raised her eyebrow questioningly at Richard as her luggage was taken off the cart and the attendant left.

She sat where the Commissaire indicated, as Richard sat opposite her.

"I'll get right to the point. I know you have history – I don't need explanations," he said as Richard opened his mouth to interrupt. "We have a month set aside for the paid of you to be completely au fait with your new identities. This entire floor is taken up with the co-operative teams from the Met, Interpol and the Police Nationale. Your suites are adjoining. The suite next to yours," he said nodding at Richard, "is vacant. You can scream and shout, throw things at each other, throw yourselves at each other for all I care, but I give you a week to settle your history before you met today. From next week you will be in your new identities completely."

Camille took a deep breath. This was certainly down to business. She did not know Paire herself, and would have to reach out to old friends in this week of grace to see what she could find out, although she had to stop a small smirk at the prospect of being given permission to throw herself at Richard.

"It is imperative you can carry out this assignment in your new identities. We have gone with your middle names so that it is not completely unnatural for you. We have medical teams, tech teams, backups – everything. You know already there is a team, at least one team from the smuggling ring watching you I assume?"

Richard nodded.

"OK, we don't want you heading out until the end of this week. We have booked a table at a small club at the end of the week for you. We have staff placed there, and here so you will be able to communicate if you are still under surveillance.

"OK I know it's been a long journey for you Bordey. I have taken the liberty of asking room service to deliver a meal up for the two of you. I know you must have a lot to discuss. I will leave now. We will take breakfast at Suite 125 tomorrow, 9am."

With that the Commissaire nodded curtly and left them both sitting at the table.

"Well – he makes you back in Saint Marie look positively friendly," said Camille, trying to gauge how Richard would feel. He shrugged and didn't seem to want to meet her eye.

She eventually had to break the silence between them. "Richard, what happened to you, why? I need to understand why you did that to us, to me?

"Richard – please LOOK at me… I have to know."

He switched his gaze, realising that she wasn't going to yell at him. Well not just yet anyway.

He took a deep breath, and began.