A friend
Zaf took the analgesic Dave put in his hand. Glad to have some relief from the stabbing pain in his ribs he swallowed the clear sticky liquid in one mouthful.
"What was that?"
"Oromorph. Oral morphine."
"Oh."
"If I'm going to clean and suture the wound on your back then you need it." The soldier smiled at his patient. "You need to be stable enough to fly. You return to the UK at 0600 hours tomorrow."
"Not without my team. Adam."
"You follow orders. Harry Pearce wants you back in the UK. State of you, there's no way you'd be any help to Adam." Dave injected the wound above Zaf's left eye with local anaesthetic as the world around him swum.
"He didn't walk out on me." Zaf winced as the needle touched his skin knowing that protesting was going to do little to persuade the men and women of Red Troop that he could help.
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Ros straightened up to her full height as she mentally psyched herself up. Crowther had given her the go ages to chase down one of the most respected senior anti terror officers that had ever worked for 5. She knew the woman was highly intelligent, cunning and ruthless. It was going to take a lot to break her. Alec remained silent next to her as they reached the lift.
"She's not going to give up easily." Alec stated. Ros raised an eyebrow. "When I was in IA I wanted to go after her. We had evidence she was being turned - probably by the Chinese although she was working closely with the Russian office in 6. Harry worked with her at the end of the Cold War. Reported his suspicions then."
"But they weren't acted on." Ros knew the woman had influence in the upper echelons and it made her feel sick. Alec nodded.
"We were blocked. Someone higher." He glared at the metal wall of the lift. "What if we were wrong? Back then. What if it wasn't the Chinese or Russians? What if it were the Redbacks all along?"
"Doesn't matter now. She's going to pay." Ros stated as she marched out of the lift towards the interview rooms.
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The burning hot sand of the Iraqi desert burned beneath his feet as he headed to the innocuous looking car he had acquired on the first day in Baghdad. Pushing the now unfamiliar sense of fear to the back of his mind he focused on following Guy Boscard. He knew Lucas and Will were following a lead in the possible location where Adam had been taken but he was Section Head it was his responsibility.
"Good God." Harry paused as he watched the bald headed man cross the road to meet a thinner, unshaven man. Harry narrowed his eyes. The man turned so his back faced him but there was something about his stance, the way he held himself that rang alarm bells. It seemed impossible. The man was dead. Had died years earlier, Harry had to be mistaken. He had to be.
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Ruth sat next to Tariq in the quiet room next to the interview room. Earphones in she listened patiently as Alec spoke to Helena. The woman being interviewed seemed distant, aloof and clearly had no regard for Alec or Ros. Tariq checked the recording devices as Ruth closed her eyes focusing totally on what she was hearing. Something had to lead them to Adam. She hated to admit it but she knew they were running out of options.
Ros stood, paving the room as Helena watched her. Alec kept his face neutral. The woman in front of him was about to experience the full wrath of the Ice Queen but there was no way he could force himself to empathise.
"You had your diplomatic immunity revoked." Ros stared at her. "You can't walk away from this. You sold names and locations of MI 5 and MI 6 officers in the field. Two men are missing from my section. We know you sold them out."
"Do you?"
Ros snapped, grabbing the woman by the collar of her blouse she dragged her from the chair slamming her into the wall. Both Ruth and Tariq jumped as the wall shuddered.
"Who did you sell them to? How much is a life worth? A brother? Father? Uncle? How much is a life worth?" Ros spat the words in her ear as Helena glared. "How much?"
"My boss isn't happy. I suggest you answer her." Alec raised his eyes as he remained sat at the table. "It's over. We know you've been selling state secrets and we know you've willingly committed treason. Games up luv."
"Wind this pit bull with lipstick in!"
"Excuse me?!" Ros tried not to smirk. She'd been called worse. "Talk. Your friends in the Redbacks won't help you now. You've just become worthless as far as they are concerned."
"Dead. Both are dead and your boss isn't far behind." Ros narrowed her eyes as she tightened her hold on the larger woman. She couldn't see how she knew Harry wasn't in the UK. Gut churning as she pressed home her advantage she glared into the woman's eyes.
"Talk."
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"Talk." The water hit Adam in the face as he blinked his way back to alertness. He remained silent, blinking the water away from his eyes. "Talk." Adam tried and failed to place the accent. It was male, definitely not English but after that he was lost.
"Up."
Adam stayed where he was, there was no way he was going to make things easier for his interrogator. They didn't seem to realise Adam had written the book on 'strong interview' techniques and how to survive them. He remained impassive on the floor hoping that his interrogators would get the hint. Two pairs of hands grabbed him, yanking him to his feet he let them take his entire weight. Head sagging forward he knew this was it. He was about to either be killed or sold on. He'd stopped caring which. A single gunshot rang out as Adam fell forward as one captor fell fatally wounded. He slumped forward as further shots ran out.
"Adam." He opened his eyes as he heard his name. "Adam, look at me."
"Harry?" Adam wasn't sure whether or not he was hallucinating. Harry smiled as sirens split the air.
"Yeah. Lets go." He helped Will take his weight as Lucas checked the exit point of the cell.
"Zaf."
"Is alive and safe." Harry watched the relief flood his friend's face. "Time to go home."
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A/N is it that straight forward? Can Harry get them home? Will Ros uncover more traitors and is anyone reading this? Still tempted to delete. Please let me know.
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