'Any luck?'

'Only if you think as I do, that as long as we get there by Sunday evening, we can go where we like and do what we want to. In fact, I'm sure some of the other delegates are heading home between now and then.'

'Which suggests what?'

'That this second weeks talks have a completely different agenda. Probably along the lines of what I told you yesterday. Otherwise, why would they choose to hold them in what is still an unknown location when it comes to holding top secret meetings?'

'But we knew that before we left.'

'We did and you're probably right that it's just me seeing problems where there aren't any.'

'And in the meantime?' Was as subtle as if Ruth had actually asked him where they we going to spend the night.

As was Harry's response of, 'well first and foremost we need to buy you some warmer clothes. After that – well given that we're on holiday and have time on our hands, I'd like to suggest that we make the most of it.'

That Ruth left it at that, apart from nodding, meant that this reinvented them didn't see either of them completely relaxing until they'd stowed their luggage and were skirting the eastern side of the lake. The city having been replaced by tiny hamlets of houses that children might have drawn. Picket fences around gardens, with paths that led to front doors. Fields where cattle were feeding from metal byres. Pristine to a fault and as the guidebooks suggested, couldn't be anywhere other than in Switzerland. What lay beyond, was in the sense of the possibilities that they'd been gifted to them, still a mystery to Ruth. Ones that for the first time since she'd met Harry, she was prepared to leave for him to determine. The kisses that they'd shared, promising what up until now she'd turned her back on for fear of gossip, entirely in hands that less than twelve hours ago had been in her hair. Now equally deftly negotiating the winding road in front of them. A road which according to his commentary, led to a land where time stood still. Where the scenery as she was about to find out was determined by waterways cutting through forests and hillsides. Providing both a means to earn a living and for those who were lucky enough to live there, somewhere to relax in a simple and uncomplicated way.

In complete contrast to what they'd left behind them in Geneva. Where what once had been home to the League of Nations, had become one of four cities around the world to hold meetings such as the one that they'd just attended. Geneva which housed The Office for Co ordinating Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Commission for Europe. New York, Vienna and Nairobi being the other three. Cities where money talked and was hidden without question. Other than the one that Harry had posed and despite not wanting to, Ruth couldn't ignore.

'Given what you said Harry, surely there's no harm in putting in a call to the grid, to see if there's been any chatter?' She suggested when he was parking up in a deserted village square.

Malcolm being the obvious choice because he wouldn't ask any awkward questions, such as where were they or what were they doing? That and if he did, given that he'd made them both see sense it wouldn't matter.

'Nothing at all,' he told Harry, shutting the door to the technical suite. Pleased as well as surprised to have received the call. Before asking, 'do you want me to tell Adam that you've asked the question?'

'Yes Malcolm, and get him to bring in Ros as well. But don't let it interfere with whatever else you're doing. Because it might just be me imagining something that doesn't exist. It's just that what was supposed to be a five-day conference ended on the fourth day and that's left me with an uncomfortable feeling.'

'What does Ruth think, I'm assuming that she's with you?'

'Yes, Malcolm she is, would you like a word?'

'Only if she's not busy.'

'Malcolm we're sitting a café halfway up a mountain and I'm just about to go to the bar and order some hot drinks. We've got two whole days to ourselves before we have to think about work. Added to which we've hired a car rather than going by train with the others. So apart from ensuring that I don't end up driving us into a ditch, Ruth's not busy. Besides I'm sure she'd like to speak to you.'

'Malcolm how are you?'

'Keeping my head down. But more importantly how are you?'

'Grateful that you talked some sense into me. Happier than I've been in months.'

'And his Lordship?'

'Possibly seeing problems where there aren't any, but if you wouldn't mind checking.'

'That goes without saying, but I wasn't referring to work Ruth.'

'Then yes, he's happy as well.'

'Promise me that you'll try and keep it that way. Because I don't think of got the strength to go through it again.'

.

They didn't intend to take a wrong turn so that they ended up in a small town where skiing dominated its entire existence, but then they didn't really have a plan at all. Not that it was a problem because what it did offer, once they'd been into one of the numerous shops to buy Ruth and as it turned out Harry as well some warmer clothes, was the ability to blend in. An ability that by the time they'd booked into a hotel for the night, saw them without the nervousness that had been living in both their heads at the thought of actually sharing a bed. Which in Ruth's case, had been obliterated in a shop that was so crowded that unless you were prepared to change between the rails of clothes, you'd never get to buy anything, which as she'd been trying on trousers, had allowed him to see pretty much all of her legs for the first time. Evened up when they'd got back to the hotel and Harry who had forgotten to take his trousers in with him, had emerged from the bathroom with little more than a towel wrapped around his waist and a well now you know what you're letting yourself in for smile on his face.

A mood which by now they were not so subtly orchestrating to continue when they were walking out into the cool evening air in search of something to eat. Where this is becoming habitual thought Ruth, who was determined that whatever happened between now and when they had to go back to work, she was going to adapt Adam's philosophy of letting things just crinkle out. Whilst Harry was wondering if he really wanted to go back to work at all? That and as it had started to snow, he could as least until they arrived at their destination, count himself to be the luckiest man alive. Thoughts which continued in the Bistro where they decided to eat. Where despite it not having the intimacy of the previous two evenings, there was anonymity and the chance once their food arrived, for them to talk quite openly. Helped by a bottle of wine and a lot of smouldering looks and finger holding. Plus of course, unlike the previous few days, there was only on bed to go back to and no reason that they had to be present at breakfast.

.

Harry's Office earlier the same evening.

'What are we looking for Malcolm?'

'That's the problem Adam, Harry doesn't know. It's just a gut feeling that something's not as it should be.'

'Have you looked through the list of attendees?'

'Twice and there's nothing to suggest that any of them poses a threat.'

'To what? The talks or to Harry?'

'Both I assume, plus we mustn't overlook the fact that he's got Ruth with him this time?'

'This time?'

'Yes, Harry was there years ago before he joined the Security Services. He was in Military Intelligence on some sort of exercise.'

'And Harry's suggesting what? That it might be personal?'

'I don't know and neither does he. But we're talking about six of Europe's most prominent political figures under one roof. Including our Foreign Secretary and additional extras.'

'Then I need you to dig deeper Malcolm. Look into backgrounds, however intrusive and by whatever means. I'm going to ask Ros to have a word with her lot over at six.'

'Adam we can't let anything happen to them.'

'No Malcolm we can't and it won't if I have anything to do with it.'