28

Ros marched along the corridor to the Interview Room at the far end. Beth knew the Section Chief was mentally psyching herself up for the interview but had no idea what would go down. She nodded towards Stan who was heading towards them.

"Ello Ladies." He smiled warmly as Beth paused. She liked the Jamaican security guard and knew nearly everyone on the Grid had a soft spot for him. "Your lady is in there. Has been briefed of her rights, like you said to."

"Thanks." Beth smiled as Ros nodded once, her hand on the door handle she pushed the grey door open.

"SHIT!" She bolted into the room as Beth burst in after her. The woman they were intent on interviewing was laying prone across the desk as she foamed at the mouth. Beth called for paramedics as Stan joined them.

"HOLY MOTHER MARY!" He yelled as he radioed for help. "She was just sat there. No problem."

"Where was her guard?" Beth asked as Ros checked for a pulse. The blueness around her lips told her it was unlikely that there would be one.

"Claire was here. I always try to leave a female officer with the women interviewees. Standard practice."

"Ok, but where is she?"

Stan shook his head, sitting on the chair where Ros should have been he had a sudden urge to cry. Ros looked up.

"No pulse."

"Suicide pill?"

"My guess." Ros nodded. She started CPR, determined to revive the former politician. She intended to get answers however futile her attempts may be.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Zaf stood next to Lucas on the roof where hours earlier Antonov had been shot dead. He hated guns with a passion and deep down he was relieved that he hadn't needed to be the one to take the shot. The idea of a fourth gunman was still disturbing.

"So, Erin was there." Lucas nodded to the corner of the roof where Erin had set up. "I was here and you were on the left over there."

"Yeah."

"None of us saw another person up here."

"No." Zaf frowned. "What are you thinking?"

"Igor Antonov made more enemies than us. Killing him and making it look like a Security Service job? Doesn't feel right."

"You think Ruth was the intended target?" Zaf felt sick even thinking it.

Lucas shrugged. "No, not really. If the bullet had hit her then she would have been collateral damage for them. I think Nightingale are cleaning up. We got too close to whatever they were planning so they are covering their tracks. Killing Morgan and Antonov."

"Ok." Zaf shoved his hands in his parker jacket pocket. "But where did he take the shot from?"

"He?" Erin joined them. "Sexist or what?"

Lucas smirked as Zaf mumbled a sorry.

"Women can be just as good marksmen and just as evil." She folded her arms. "The shot was taken from over there. Top story of the building Ruth and Antov came out of. I found a shell left there. Looks Russian."

"Didn't Nightingale have a thing for Russian weapons?"

"Yeah." Lucas frowned. "Ironic if he was killed by one of his own guns." He looked out over the cityscape wondering exactly how they would go about finding the needle in the haystack this time.

xxxxxxxxx

Harry parked the 4x4 below Thames House as Ruth raised her head. He still had reservations about returning to the Grid so soon but Ruth had been adamant. She was not going to hide away from the rest of the world when she had a case to work on. She felt sick at the idea Lydia Morgan had got hold of Alec's gun and even more so at the thought she could have shot Catherine. Frowning slightly she looked over the car park to see a London Ambulance parked with its door open and two paramedics loading a stretcher inside. The contents of the stretcher looked suspiciously like an occupied body bag was secured to the stretcher. Harry jumped out of the car, heading straight towards the ambulance as Mike appeared.

"Harry."

"What the Hell."

Mike sighed heavily. "Cyanide, by the looks of things. Ros and Beth tried to resuscitate her but." He paused. "Nothing could be done. It takes a millisecond to kill someone. I'm sorry."

"Lydia Morgan?" Ruth asked as she reached them, her voice still hoarse from the garrotte that had been around her neck earlier in the day. One hand self consciously went to the dressings on her neck. Mike nodded. Ruth closed her eyes, hating the relief that flooded through her. She had been terrified it was her step daughter or one of her team being loaded into the ambulance.

"Anyone else hurt?"

"No." Mike smiled slightly, understanding her concern. "Stan is going to see the in house counsellor. He's in shock I think. But physically no one else is injured. Beth and Ros are still in there."

"Right." Harry marched into the building as Ruth thanked Mike. She knew they were missing something. Nightingale were still one step ahead, but there was nothing they seemed to be doing that would get them to slip up. She winced as Mike squeezed her shoulder, remembering she had a bruise there as he did so. Sadly she turned to head back to the Grid, determined to check of her team.

xxxxxxx

"Cyanide?" Beth folded her arms as she looked at the floor of the Interview Room. "How? I mean, how did she get it in here?"

"Seems to be a current favourite of Nightingale operatives." Catherine stated as she stood in the doorway. "I did some digging. She isn't the first Nightingale asset to meet her end in this way."

"Towers." Malcolm looked around the room. "He used it. Kept it in a ring on his hand. Did she wear jewellery? I don't recall."

"A ring." Ros paused. "Looked like a normal wedding ring." Anger laced her voice. "Should have checked."

"Why?" Beth looked over to her. "We thought SHE was the one we were protecting. Not investigating. We thought she was the threatened one. Not the culprit."

Ros glared, she knew the junior officer was trying to make her feel better but it didn't work. Lydia Morgan had committed suicide in custody. That meant there was a lot of trouble headed their way - she was the officer in charge with Harry off the Grid. That meant she was the one with the ultimate responsibility. Narrowing her eyes she looked over at the clean up team.

"Sort this mess out." She turned, leaving the room as Harry made his way up the corridor.

"Ros."

"Harry."

"We need to talk." His voice softened as he saw the subtle change in demeanour. He could see how upset she really was. "My office."

Ros nodded, wondering what fresh Hell was coming her way this time.