15th April 1997
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"What's the plan?" Ben asks.
"You'll find out when you need to," Roland replies in a harsh voice.
"Hey, listen, Mate," Ben answers back. "I'd like to know what I'm going to risk my life for, all right? At least tell us what the target is."
Tom punches him in the stomach and hisses, "That's for being a smart ass. You heard the man. He'll tell us when we need to know."
Ben grunts in pain, and back at Thames House, Zoe and Malcolm wince despite the fact that it's all part of the show Tom and Ben are putting on for Roland. Their plan has been for Ben to be a little standoffish with Roland and for Tom to try to gain his trust. So far it's been working like a charm. Only Joshua Rivers is trusted more than Tom. His intense dedication to the cause has earned him many brownie points with Miller.
Roland nods with approval and says, "I want to make it perfectly clear that I will not tolerate any insubordination. You'll all be told the details of this operation when it's necessary and not a moment before. You all stay here tonight and no one leaves the house for any reason. Turn off your mobiles and give them to me."
The four men, including Ben and Tom, step forward and put their phones on the table.
"What about Josh?" Martin, a well built young man, asks suddenly.
"He's taking care of something else," Roland smirks.
"Another attack?" Tom grins and looks at him with admiration.
"Yes," Roland laughs with arrogant pride. "Two double attacks at the same time. That'll get their attention. We'll show them that we won't take this lying down any more. We don't want those pigs here, and they can all go back where they came from, or we'll take them out one by one if necessary."
A resounding cheer erupts from the group.
Back at Thames House, Ruth, Malcolm, Zoe, and Harry listen in on the audio feed from Ben and Tom.
"Malcolm, we need to locate Rivers," Harry says.
"Already on it," Malcolm replies as he trawls though CCTV footage from the area.
"I'll help," Zoe offers.
"Danny," Harry speaks into the microphone. "We'll need you to lead a CO-19 team to capture the second cell when we've located Rivers. Sally, you stay with the van and lead the CO-19 team we send to capture Roland's cell. Make sure they know that Ben and Tom are in there when the time comes."
"Okay," Sally replies.
"If it's a double attack," Ruth says thoughtfully, "it probably means they're using bombs set to go off several minutes after each other."
Harry meets her eyes with a look of admiration and nods his assent, "I agree, and it looks like it's happening tomorrow since they've been isolated."
Ruth nods and holds his gaze. Heat rises up between them, but Harry shuts it off quickly, looking away and saying in a strangled voice, "We must find Rivers."
"We will," she replies confidently and turns to the computer to help trawl through CCTV footage.
Harry looks at her for a moment and then returns to his office. He walks over to his decanter, and knowing that he has to stay sharp for this operation, he pours himself a small measure of single malt. Taking it back to his desk, he sits down and takes a sip, closing his eyes momentarily and savouring the flavour and the fire that coats his tongue and slides down his throat. He puts the glass down on the table, and staring at it intently, twists it around with his fingers. This operation is costing him a lot in self-control. His torture at the hands of the RBB is something that he always knew he'll never really get over, but he didn't expect it to affect his ability to perform his job to such an extent in this instance. He thought he'd put it behind him, shut it away. Since the beginning of this operation, however, he's been finding it difficult to control his anger, and he's very nearly lost it several times with his officers. Especially with Ruth. Her worry and concern for him, clearly visible in her expressive eyes, have made it even harder for him to stay in control. His mood has oscillated between wanting to yell at them all until he's hoarse and wishing to take a gun and shoot Miller and all the rest single handedly, to feeling like breaking down in tears or taking Ruth in his arms and kissing her senseless. As the day wears on and he gets more tired, he's really worried that he'll do some or all of these things.
The phone rings, and swearing loudly, he picks up the receiver. "This had better be good," he grumbles.
"Anything yet?" Harry asks as he walks through the pods.
"No," Ruth shakes her head. "How was the Home Secretary?"
"His usual cheerful self," Harry replies sarcastically. "Always pleased to see me."
Ruth smiles but it's short lived. They're running out of time to find Josh Rivers and they're all worried.
"Let me know if you find him," Harry murmurs and turns back toward his office.
Ruth watches him go sadly. She can't figure him out. One moment he looks like he wants to throttle her and everyone else on the team, and the next she's convinced that he's going to grab her, pin her against the wall somewhere, and damn the consequences. But deep in his eyes, she can see the pain that lurks there. She knows that he received minimal counselling after his ordeal, and she can imagine what was the extent of it. A few trips to the resident MI-5 psychologist. Honestly, she cannot see the point of having such a person. Who would want to be open and honest with someone who has the power to get you fired? Briefly she wonders how many more experiences like this he's had in his years working for Five and Six. The thought scares her a little. The man she's in love with is damaged in many ways, she knows. Is it even possible to have a relationship with such a man? Will he ever let her in, past all his barriers? And yet this love she feels for him is based not only on a very strong physical attraction, but on a healthy respect and admiration for who he is. Despite all his flaws, or maybe because of them, he's fundamentally a good man who will make the right decision under intolerable pressure and in impossible situations without any personal agenda. It's very gratifying to work for such a man and to be able to help him in a small way to reach those decisions. But to be his lover, his partner? To take on that role, she'll have to accept his limitations, accept him shutting her out of his thoughts and emotions, accept not knowing his past, and accept the secretive life he'll always lead. She sighs heavily and goes back to her station.
Ruth bursts into Harry's office and smiling triumphantly she says, "We've got him."
Harry looks up and smiles. "Show me," he invites, and getting up, follows her to the forgery suite.
"We got the info from Tom," Malcolm explains. "He's really got Miller's trust. They're in a warehouse in Birmingham. Danny's on his way with CO-19. It appears to be Rivers and three other blokes."
