"Where's Harry?"
A shrug was all Callum could manage in reply.
Ruth turned away towards her desk.
"Ruth… I think he intends to …" he hesitated, not quite knowing how to continue.
"Do something … rash?" Suggested Ruth, with a half smile that in truth belayed her worry.
"He's asked me to track Jim Coaver and I think there's more to it than finding out his intentions for lunch."
Ruth nodded thoughtfully, mind spinning, as it had so frequently in recent days, trying to stay one step ahead.
"Not sure how pleased the cousins are going to be if the boss man goes inexplicably missing. Can't you say something to him?"
"I can say it Callum … whether he listens…"
For the rest of the afternoon Ruth remained head buried in her computer screen, in fact not just one screen but two, harnessing as many megabites as possible.
When the pod doors opened she was immediately on her feet and following the errant Harry into his office.
The tilt of her head asked the unspoken question of where he may have been. He shiftily made the point of not answering.
"You can't keep doing this, Harry, we're all on the same side and whether you believe it or not we are all trying to help."
He shrugged off his coat.
"I needed to see Elena. She believes her security may be compromised."
"Well, someone shot at her yesterday, so that's hardly a revelation."
He sat down, ignoring the barb.
"Have you something constructive to say, Ruth?"
She sat.
"Whatever you're planning that concerns Jim Coaver, I think you need to hold off."
"As I said… if you've something constructive to say?"
"Harry, there's nothing: nothing at all that I can find that ties him to the Gavriks; nothing that links to the missing intel; nothing whatsoever to suggest he knows anymore than you do. And believe me, I've looked."
"Ruth, there's more to –"
"You trust me. You said that you trust me."
"I do."
"Then, I'm asking you. Trust me on this, please. Hold off on what you're planning, give me another couple of days. If there's something to find, I will, Harry. Please."
"Is this why you said 'no' to Towers?"
"I suppose someone's got to keep an eye on you," she smiled gently.
"And you're it?"
She nodded and watched the warmth wash across his eyes for a mere moment.
"Be quick, Ruth. I don't have much time."
Her eyes lingered on his strained face for a long moment before she got up and silently slid the door closed behind her.