Tremendous thanks to my loyal reviewers. Your reviews keep me motivated and updating just as fast as the story will allow. Please, please keep letting me know your thoughts and opinions: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's the only way I know what you like and can get better. I do not own any of the established characters only Haydence and my plot (as always).

Passing through the security of Thames House, Hayd was given a visitor tag to wear around her neck. She moved unsteadily along, and Lucas thought more than once that she might fall. He hovered behind her just in case but didn't touch her. Hayd had made it all too clear in the car that she didn't want to be touched.

Harry met them as they crossed the interior doors. He had a difficult time meeting their eyes. "Thank you for coming in, Haydence. I'm afraid we'll have to debrief you separately from Lucas. I need to update him on what's going on."

"Separately? Good. I mean that's fine." Her nervousness shone through. "Where do you want me to go?"

"Ruth will take you into the conference room and get you anything you need. I'll be with you in a minute to start the debrief."

Lucas's eyes followed Hayd as Ruth led her out of the room.

Harry turned to Lucas. "Trouble in paradise? Do you need a moment?"

"No. She's not ready to talk about it yet – at least not to me. What's going on?"

"The substance you brought in from the Russians – only a small part of that was actual bio-weapon. The rest was an inert filler substance."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Unless they've found another buyer."

"And Durning was in the way."

"They had no intension of letting Durning leave that lot alive. Probably wouldn't have let him live that long if Haydence hadn't been of interest to them."

"Have you gone over the flash drive again? Maybe there was something we missed the first time?"

"Well, I thought that could be your job while I debrief Haydence."

"I'm on it. And Harry?"

"Yes, Lucas?"

Lucas moved in to where he could keep his voice low. "Hayd seems really shaken up after what happened."

"I thought you said she was fine after her imprisonment by Durning?"

"She was. Now Hayd's kicking herself over her actions with the Russians. She thinks she acted rashly."

"That you could have died."

"And she's holding onto all of it – as if it would have been her fault."

"I'll see what I can do. Although, after seeing those pictures, I don't think you'll have a hard time getting back into her favour."

"You don't know Hayd. She's stubborn. Once she's got an idea in her head, she won't let it go."

"Sounds like someone do I know." Harry grinned and walked towards the conference room.

Lucas halfway smiled.

Taking her into the conference room, Ruth could tell that Haydence's hands were shaking.

"Can I get you anything? Cup of tea? Coffee?"

"Tea would be lovely. Thank you." Hayd brushed the hair out of her eye, noticed how her hand shook, and quickly brought it down again embarrassed.

"How do you take it?"

"Milk, please. No sugar."

"I'll be right back."

Left alone, Hayd's thoughts returned to her mistakes back at the site. How could she have been so stupid? Lucas could easily be on a slab in the morgue right now instead of talking to Harry. Try as she might, those morbid images wouldn't leave her head.

Ruth came back with the tea steam coming off it. Holding a warm cup of tea steadied Hayd's hands; the hot liquid sliding down her throat calmed the rest of her nerves.

Ruth sat down with her. "I know I'm not debriefing you, but if you need to talk."

Hayd nodded. "How long have you been in this business? Don't worry, I've already signed the Secrecy Act."

"I know."

Hayd looked up from her tea.

"I don't know why you did, but I know you signed it." Ruth paused thinking, "I've been doing this off and on – five years."

"Does it ever get any easier?"

"What? Handling the pressure? Well, I'm not a field agent."

"Not just that but there's a weight that's holding down my stomach. It's like I can't move."

"You're worried about Lucas."

"How do you know?"

Ruth hesitated. "I'm afraid I've seen the pictures."

Haydence slid halfway down into the chair and wrapped her arms over her head.

"Has everyone in this office seen those bloody pictures?"

"No. Just Harry and myself."

She sat back upright. "I'm sorry. And, I hope you won't think me very rude and very American for asking this. I'm usually not this bold. But, have you ever been involved with a field agent?"

Ruth squirmed a little in her seat and simply smiled.

Hayd took her silence as answer enough. "How do you cope?"

"I do my best at my job. Doing that helps keep everyone safe."

"If I had come up with a better plan, Lucas wouldn't have been in danger."

"Maybe. But, you were left with very little time and very few options. You did your best in a bad situation. Besides, you thought well on your feet and kept Lucas from being hit by the sniper. You killed the Russian who could have shot Lucas while he was fighting. You could have done a lot worse."

Hayd almost smiled, "Thank you."

Harry came in and Ruth excused herself. Hayd noticed a slight look exchanged between the two. Hayd smiled inwardly. Sometimes a look said more than a mountain of words.

Harry smiled and started the debrief. Haydence seemed more relaxed and at ease. Maybe talking to Ruth had helped. He started his questions, and Hayd answered him calmly. She gave answers in good detail. Harry was surprised when that combined with better than average insight.

Suddenly, Lucas came halfway into the room.

"Harry, you need to see this."

"Bring it in here, Lucas."

Shutting the door, Lucas placed a file opened to a picture of a man in front of Harry.

"I've found that the same Russian contact who was talking to Durning also had dealings with an Iranian – Farid Amir."

Hayd sat straighter in her chair. Both Harry and Lucas noticed. Harry took the lead, "Haydence, do you know that man?"

"Yes. He's a regular where I work."

"Have you ever sewed for him yourself?"

"No. He won't let a woman sew for him. In fact, I usually stay clear of him when I know he's coming in. But I was in the back one time while he was being fitted. He was very loud and ranted about the degeneration of today's youth – British, American, Iranian, all of them. He thought they were nothing more than drug taking delinquents. Why? What's going on?"

Harry nodded to Lucas who took over.

"The substance we took from the Russians had only a small part of bio-weapon in it. We think the Russians found a better price for it."

Harry spoke up again. "Do you know when Amir is scheduled to be back for a fitting?"

Hayd looked up. "Let me think. What day is it? Ha, I don't even know what day it is."

"Wednesday."

"Jesus, already? I'm supposed to have a first fitting at nine. Amir comes in at noon for a final fitting."

Lucas crossed his arms. He didn't like the direction Harry was taking with this. "How can you remember that?"

"I always make a point not to be there when he comes into the shop."

Harry leaned over the table towards her. "Would it look strange if you stayed after your fitting is over?"

"It would. They know I don't like the man."

"If you had a reason to stay, would you be able to get close enough to Amir's clothes to plant a traditional tracking device?"

Hayd thought for a moment and swallowed. "I could do that. Yes."

"We have to give you a reason to stay over then." Harry looked up, "Lucas, I think you need a new suit."