Thanks everyone. Here's the action filled chapter...
Sure enough, she had been scanned and they'd found the GPS she had on her which had earned her a quick slap around the face before it had been dumped. It didn't take long for her to be reunited with Harry, even though she had planned for it to be under happier circumstances.
"Let her go," Harry said forcefully. Ruth saw he was tied to the chair as she was led into the room. He didn't look too badly injured and she felt relief at that. Maybe they wouldn't hurt them too badly. "She has nothing to do with this, let her go."
"No, I think things have just started to get serious," Mani said with lightness as Ruth sat down. She however, was not tied to the chair.
"You're not dead then," Ruth said, feeling the relief even as she said it.
"So it seems," he said. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," she said with a smile.
"Why is she here?" Harry asked the man who Ruth recognised as Mani.
"You're not telling me what I want to know," Mani said. "She might be more amenable. Or on the other side, I could hurt her a bit and you might break first."
"Don't you dare hurt her," Harry said in a growl before he could stop himself. Mani smiled as if this was exactly what he wanted to hear.
"Ruth are you okay?" she heard in her ear from Jo. "Clear your throat if you're okay." She did and Harry looked at her curiously. She didn't know how to convey to him that someone was listening when Mani was watching.
"Miss Evershed, I'm looking for the uranium," Mani said pacing up and down in front of her. "The uranium that Harry has hidden from us. If he'd played ball, you'd be safe right about now, so this is really his fault."
"I can't tell you," Ruth said simply. "I can't tell you because I don't know where it is."
"Oh Ruth, I expected better from you," Mani said with disappointment. "The woman who reportedly can get into any institution globally. Yes, I've heard about you. No nations secrets are ever safe from you are they?"
"I'm good at my job," Ruth said. "I can't tell you what I don't know. It was in Greenwich but apparently Harry didn't trust me with the information and he moved it without telling me." Ruth looked at him, trying to convey without words that she didn't believe this. Harry looked hurt at her assumption, but she didn't have time to worry about that because she felt another slap around her face and she put her bound hands to her cheek which she knew was glowing red.
"So this is what you're resorting to is it Mani?" Harry said, absolutely furious. "Hitting women?"
"If you told me the truth Ruth would never have been in danger in the first place Harry," Mani said. He was about to say something else when his phone rang. He sighed and moved across to the other end of the room to speak.
Ruth whispered into her mike very quickly when his back was turned. "Jo, I'm in an abandoned warehouse, West London, on the third floor with Harry, we're both okay. Get Malcolm to intercept a call to Mani happening right now."
"We need that location Ruth," Ros said over the earpiece. "Get Harry to talk."
"Tell him," Ruth whispered to Harry. He looked at her half amused half astonished.
"They're listening?" he asked quietly. Ruth nodded. "You're brilliant," he said with a smile which she returned. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," she said with a smile. His eyes flickered to her stomach briefly. "Both fine," she added. "Have you been hurt?"
"I might have a couple of bruised ribs but I'm okay," he said. She nodded, unable to help the relief. Then he looked horrified as a thought struck him. "Ruth, I might have to let him hurt you a little. Otherwise he won't believe that I've turned so quickly."
"I know," she said. "I'll be fine. I was prepared for that."
"I'm sorry."
"Its okay," she said, smiling at him the way she always did as Mani came back.
"Time to get serious," Mani said. "I believe her, that she doesn't know where it is. But you do Harry." Ruth was dragged to her feet feeling Mani's hands on her shoulders . She felt terrified in spite of the fact this was semi planned. "So tell me where it is or I'll hurt her."
"What are you going to do to her?" Harry asked, and the fear was clear in his voice. Mani smiled an evil smile. "Wait, wait, wait," Harry said quickly. It was too late, Ruth groaned as she felt a punch land on her ribs.
"Norfolk," Harry said quickly.
"You're giving up very soon," Mani said. "Either this woman means so much to you, or you're lying to me."
"She's pregnant," Harry said. "You can't hurt her, please." Mani let Ruth go and she took her seat again, wincing at the slight movement. "Its in Norfolk, I'm telling the truth."
"Where in Norfolk?" Mani said.
"The coordinates are password protected on my phone," Harry said. "Bring it to me and I'll tell you."
"You better not be lying," Mani said as he backed out of the room.
"Oh God, are you okay?" Harry asked very concerned and annoyed that he was tied to a chair unable to move.
"Yes," she said through a whisper. "Ros, Norfolk. Harry, do you know the coordinates?"
"Yes," he said. He told her a list of numbers and she repeated it to Ros who was listening.
"Lucas and Jo are on their way," Ros said. "Malcolm has tracked you down from the phone call and I'm going to turn up with the cavalry in about five minutes, just hold on."
"Good," Ruth said. She turned and looked at the door but they were alone. "Ros is on her way," Ruth said.
"The uranium?"
"Lucas and Jo," Ruth said in a breathless whisper.
"No matter what you say, when we get out of this you're getting checked out at hospital," Harry said. Ruth nodded, knowing arguing was pointless. At that moment Mani came in and passed Harry his phone.
"You're delaying," Mani said after a few moments when Harry still hadn't got the coordinates up. "Maybe I didn't make it clear that I can be a violent man when I need to be." Ruth groaned as she was pulled to her feet again.
"Hang on," Harry said. And then he saw the glint of a knife as Mani moved to hold it to Ruth's throat. "I'm getting it." Harry found it and held the phone out to Mani. After a moment Ruth felt the nick of the knife in her neck and gasped as she was let go again. She put her hands to her neck but she wasn't bleeding much. Then all of a sudden several things happened at once. A loud banging noise as the door was broken down, then several loud ringing gunshots as she hit the floor. When the noise stopped Ruth stood up and couldn't move an inch as she saw deep scarlet blood spreading over the white of Harry's shirt.