Unfounded?

Harry stepped from the car, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he prepared to meet with the woman who had become a criminal madwoman. To the outside world he looked calm and completely together but Tessa would see the through the facade. He knew Tessa was intelligent, highly motivated but also bitter and jealous. He knew she had hated him for kicking her out of the service years earlier and resented Zoe for going to him when she had discovered the fraud. Since then everything had become about money, financial gain had been her one motive. Harry sighed, remembering the woman she had been when Henry Parks was in charge of the team. She had been the last person he would have thought was a traitor. His mobile signalled a call but he ignored it. Stepping out of the 4x4 he headed towards the safe house knowing that he was very likely walking to his death.

Xxxxxx

"Ruth?" Dimitri looked in the rear view mirror as she remained silent. He wasn't used to the analyst going along with what he said. He glanced at Lucas as both men realised the woman in the back of the car wasn't responding.

"Ruth?"

"Um?"

"Are you ok?"

She blinked, looking out of the car window. "The viral bombs aren't real. This was her. All her! Why didn't I see it?"

"Ok, Ruth. English please."

"Tessa."

"Yeah." Lucas frowned.

"Get Ros." Ruth straightened up, holding her ribs as she did. "Lucas, get hold of Ros. I don't have any comms. Please."

Lucas pulled his mobile out of his pocket, handing it to her. Ruth pressed their call button. It went straight to answer phone. Ruth swore.

"What?" Dimitri pushed his foot to the accelerator.

"No answer. Ros isn't answering." Ruth gasped. "Where is Harry meeting Tessa? Lucas?"

"I don't know." Lucas answered. "I."

"I know Harry will have told you that I'm not to be told but. She will kill him, Lucas. She will shoot." The panic in her voice shook Dimitri. He knew she was right. "Please. With them this goes so much deeper than just Bethsheba."

"Ruth."

"Stop the car! Dimitri! Stop the car!" Ruth gasped as Dimitri did as he was asked. Lucas jumped out the passenger seat and was opening Ruth's door before she could.

"Ruth, you need to see a doctor."

Ruth nodded. She knew her ribs were broken. "He told you. He told you he was going alone."

"Not entirely alone. The team is split, most searching the landmarks the viral bombs are and the rest looking for you and watching Harry. He knows what he is doing." Lucas rested his hand on her arm as she glared at him.

"Yes, commuting suicide. They'll be the death of each other. You know that."

"Alec and Calum are shadowing him." Lucas explained. Ruth frowned slightly.

"Please." She bit her lip as the pain shot through her. "Just, I don't need both of you to take me to the hospital. I." Her eyes closed for a moment before Lucas gently shook her. "Need to find Harry. Do that and I'll gladly see a doctor."

Lucas nodded, knowing he would be saying the same thing if he knew Ros was walking into an attack. Ruth was one of his closest friends, his children's godmother. The last thing he wanted to do was put her in further danger but he knew there was no way she was going to calm down.

"Ok, Ok."

"Lucas." Dimitri frowned. "You know what our orders were."

Lucas nodded.

"Yeah, well we are making a detour. Harry putting his head on the chopping block isn't going to help anyone." Lucas kept his voice low. "We are going to the safe house. Ruth, you stay in the car. That's the condition. You stay in the car."

Ruth nodded. "Ok."

Dimitri frowned, knowing that disagreeing with the two more senior officers was not going to work. Lucas shot him a look as he got into the passenger seat of the car. Dimitri narrowed his eyes before driving off, hoping they could get Harry to safety without getting anyone killed.

Xxxxxxxxx

Erin leant on the bonnet of the car breathing heavily, relieved that the device her and Beth had found was now safe. She knew she should contact Zaf and Adam but for a moment she just needed to catch her breath.

"You ok?"

"Yeah." Erin smiled. "Will and Catherine just called. Tower Bridge diffused and it's seems Ros is calling us back to the Grid."

"So, Adam and Zaf must be ok." Beth opened the car door as Erin ran a hand over her face, the fear that had been building began to abate slightly.

"Yeah."

"Erin, you ok? Really?"

"I." Erin pulled her leather jacket closer. "I don't know. Think I'm going to call Mum and Rosie. I." She shrugged. Beth nodded.

"Dimitri was right about you. Not quite the ice maiden."

"Don't push it." Erin got in the driver's seat, still unable to shake the feeling that they had missed something. Beth rolled her eyes, pulling her seatbelt on as Erin drove away.

Xxxxxx

Harry kept his gun close to him as he stepped towards the woman in the doorway of the safe house.

"Almost forgot about this place."

"Not used for a while." Harry agreed. "You know why I'm here."

Tessa nodded, a slight smirk on her perfectly made up face. She looked Harry up and down, appraising him. "No wire, no back up?"

"Don't play games. You never were much good at them. A desk spook."

"Like your once beautiful wife." Tessa smirked. "I've met her more than once. I understand why you are attracted but she's what? Twenty years your junior? What's the attraction for her?" Tessa scoffed. Harry knew she was right. He had no idea but he wasn't going to let her hit on his insecurities. "She was a consummate spook. You should be proud. Very good spy craft on her part."

Harry glared. "Why? What is all this about?"

"Rooting out a few traitors. Spencer was begging for me to take him on. To get into my bed. Seriously, he wasn't going to give up." She smirked. "Money and sex. It all comes down to that for men."

"I remember saying the same thing for you. You pursued Zoe, knowing she's straight. Moral high ground isn't exactly somewhere you can stand."

"Darling, pathetic little Zoe."

"Tessa."

"Where is the money?"

"Where is Ruth?"

"Alive." Tessa smiled. "For now."

Harry raised his gun at the same time she did.

"Don't do this Tessa."

She clicked the safety catch, pointing the gun directly at Harry's head. He glared at her, somehow calmer than he had been in a long time. Eyes on each other neither was ready to lose their nerve. A single shot rang out as a woman screamed.

Xxxxx

Xxxxxxxx