Ruth felt sick as she watched the exchange through the two way mirror. It was clear Alec hated the man he was interviewing as much as she did. Folding her arms across herself she tried to focus not only on what she was hearing but how it was being said. Her stomach churned as he laughed at the idea he wouldn't be able to complete whatever it was he was up to without help, and that they all knew Jamie was his accomplice.
"Thing is." Alec glared at him. "Whatever happens next. We catch Jamie or you do something. Whatever it is, you are not going to be able to see the outcome."
"True." Dimitri agreed. "As you're going to be dead."
"And the Alky and the cripple will still be here."
"You sound confident at that." Peterson glanced towards the mirror once more. Ruth felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. Nausea washed over her as she fought the anger. This man had been responsible for handing her to Mace years earlier, threatening her stepdaughter, assaulting her friend. She swore under her breath before tapping her earpiece. Dimitri glared as both he and Alec heard her through their own earpieces.
"He only attacks those he sees as weaker." Ruth paused. "And as his health deteriorates he's not going after those he sees as wronged him. He's going after the women he believes did. Me, Catherine and Ros. He won't react to you. It's not visceral enough."
Dimitri sighed heavily.
"Ok, so tell me this. What is it with women? You get off on hurting them specifically or is it just anyone you think you can hurt?"
Peterson swore before pushing his chair away from the table. Alec was on his feet immediately grabbing him a second before he could hurl the chair at the mirror. The table scrapped against the floor as the door opened.
"Ok, you wanted my attention." Ruth looked him in the eye as Dimitri yelled her name. "Talk."
Xxxxxxxxxx
Ros ignored the throbbing pain in her cheek as she marched along the pavement. Lucas fell into step beside her as she reached what looked to him like an old fashioned grocery shop. Stepping inside Ros marched to the counter.
"Hi, can I help?" A young Asian girl stared at her. Ros nodded once.
"Imran."
"Not here."
"Where is he?" Ros asked the disinterested teenager as nicely as could.
"What's it to you? Fuck, don't tell me he's got you or your kid knocked up."
"My daughter is 9. You think he'd still be breathing if he'd touched her. Where is he?"
The teenager shrugged. "Who's asking!"
"Me." Ros stated as Lucas looked through to the back room. A scuffle could be heard in the background before Lucas jumped over the counter before running after the younger man. "We know Imran just got out of prison and we know who he worked for before he went in. I suggest you stop helping him hide and start helping to prevent his old cell mate having him killed."
The younger woman swallowed hard, all bravado slipping away. She nodded once before ushering Ros through to the back room.
Xxcxxxx
Lucas sprinted after the younger man, suddenly feeling every day of his forty nine years. He rugby tackled Imran to the floor as the younger man screamed and swore. Lucas pulled him to feet.
"Stop acting the big man." Lucas stated. "Got some questions for you."
"Fuck off old man. You're older than my dad!"
"Probably. Still caught up with you." He marched him back to the shop, his grip on his arm a little tighter than was absolutely necessary.
Xxxxxxxx
"She's what?" Harry felt sick as he heard Tariq explain how Ruth had marched out of the viewer room. "I couldn't stop her. I."
"Not your fault." Harry stated firmly before marching towards the pods. The idea of Ruth being anywhere near the man who had almost ripped her from his world made his stomach churn. He headed towards the lift hoping Dimitri had got her away from him.
"Harry."
"Miss Bailey. With me." He stated as the lift door opened to reveal the blonde woman.
"Sir?"
"Don't ask." Beth nodded as she pressed the button that would take them to the lower ground floor.
Xxxxxxxxx
