Choice
Harry stared at the body in the bed in front of him. His son looked so well - no longer the emaciated alcoholic junkie he had been. Running a hand over his face he briefly wondered if Graham would remember anything when he woke. Brain damage, hypoxia and cerebral oedema had all been mentioned by the doctors. Sighing as he watched Terri take Graham's hand he prayed the younger man came through unscathed.
"Dad." He turned to see Catherine watching him.
"Stay here, look after Terri." Harry spoke calmly. Catherine nodded. "I told Ruth to go back to the Grid."
"Someone did this to Graham to hurt us? To distract you?"
"If it was meant to distract me, Catherine, it worked." He watched the monitor attached to his second oldest child. "Ruth is following a line of inquiry; the trade agreement is days away from being signed. Chinese, Russian delegates are all in London."
"So? They put the security for that out to private tender. Dad, you really think?"
"Honestly, I don't know. But my priority at this moment is maintaining the safety of my family and my section. This was apparently a warning but Graham took the hit. The one member of the Pearces that has nothing to do with security services? I don't believe that's a coincidence."
"Nick, Gracie-jo, Lily, Charlie. None of them have anything to do with our work either! You think they are a target?" Catherine kept her voice low.
"I hope to God not but that's just it. I don't know. Now Ruth thinks she may have a lead so until I know otherwise I'm going to follow her lead." Harry watched as Catherine nodded, feeling sick at the thought of a personal vendetta against her family she stepped back.
"I'll call Calum."
Xxxxx
"Ruth?" Zaf asked as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was acutely aware of all eyes on her. Taking a deep breath she walked across to her computer station.
"Adam, Zaf do you remember a journalist we put in a safe house a couple of years ago? Before I left?"
"Hicks." Zaf nodded. "Bit of a prat, knew you from school."
"Uni, I went to an all girls school." Ruth corrected him. Zaf raised an eyebrow as Ruth bit her lip. She sighed heavily. "But yes, he was an idiot. Believe it or not he was once a good journalist."
"We saved his life." Adam narrowed his eyes.
"Jo did. She saved us all that night, remember?" Zaf watched as Ruth nodded. Ros looked away.
"Why do you think he's the link?" Malcolm asked gently. He could see Ruth was torn. "After that debacle over the book?"
"He's been in contact. Wanting information on the players in the Gloucester Agreement. I told him to leave me alone - that I wasn't part of it. He clearly didn't believe me." Ruth closed her eyes. "He called me two days ago. Asked to meet, he seemed different, detached almost. I told him no, there was no way I was meeting him. He warned me that if I didn't there would be consequences."
"You think he attacked Graham?" Zaf asked gently. Ruth shook her head.
"No. I think he paid someone to do it." Zaf and Adam exchanged glances, both clearly worried about the woman they considered a sister.
"Ruth."
"Look, Harry received a text message warning him that unless we stop the trade conference then more violence will follow. It has to be Gary."
"Ok." Ros paused. "He's clearly involved. Alec, take Zaf and bring him in. Harry still at the hospital?"
"Yes."
"You should be there too."
"No, no I need to be here. I need to find out who did this and why Gary helped them." Ros nodded before issuing instructions to the rest of the team. It was going to be a long day. Ruth turned back to her computer, hoping that there would be good news from the hospital soon but unable to ignore the dread building in her gut.
Xxxxx
The curry house looked pathetically boring by day. The bookmakers next door was open and building up a steady trade as customers bet on the outcome of a race or television reality show. Will didn't know or care which. What he did care about was why Zoe wanted to question the owners of the 'Vindaloo Voodoo' when the police had already done it.
"Ros."
"Is busy. Will, 90% of this job is gut instinct. Graham Pearce is a regular here. Has been since he started coaching the under 16s rugby team. These people will recognise him."
"Yeah." Will had to agree. "But."
"Ros sent us to speak to the Chinese ambassador. I know. We did that."
"For all the good it did."
"Yeah." Will sighed. "So?"
"So now we show some initiative," Will closed his eyes in desperation. He was still the new boy, still finding his way but he knew the way Section D operated was far from routine. He just hoped they got some results.
Xxxxxx
"Oh good God!" Malcolm snapped as he watched the computer screen dissolve into a million pixels. Pulling the wifi connection he heard the groans of his fellow desk spooks.
"Malcolm?" Tariq stepped back from his computer as it died in front of him.
"Cyberattack."
"Great. Just bloody great." Ruth swore as her mobile phone rung. She tapped the speaker phone button as the Grid fell silent.
"Lady Pearce."
"Who is this?" Ruth asked as the disembodied voice filled the Grid.
"A friend of freedom. You and your friends won't stop the truth coming out."
"Who is this? Was it you? Did you hurt my stepson?" Ruth spat, dread turning to anger.
"The sons of men need to pay. Odin is unhappy and you refused to meet. All this is on you, my lady. Everything that happens from now is on your head."
"Gary Hicks." Ruth narrowed her eyes. "You came to me for help once. Why attack me now?"
"The sins of fathers will be revisited on the sons. Tenfold. The warning was ignored; the trade conference continues. Until it is stopped more will pay." Ruth pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Why do you want it cancelled? I have no power over that. You know that Gary."
"You have more power than you know. Odin remains displeased. Wrong answer Ruthie, meet me. The park, one hour. Alone."
"Ok." Ruth didn't see a choice. "I'll be there." The phone died as Ruth slammed it back on the desk. Ros stared at her. She didn't know what had happened to Ruth's idiotic friend but they had to find out who Odin was and stop him, fast.
Xxxxxxxx
A/n please review