Thanks to those who read, and even more to those who reviewed my last chapter. I hope everyone is well and safe wherever you are in the world. The story grinds on with the occasional update as it moves very slowly towards its conclusion at some point in the far distant future, rather like most aspects of the lockdown.

The group having heeded Ruth's warning footsteps took the few seconds before she joined them to arrange their faces. To the world at large they were presenting as a trio enjoying the view of autumn on a private estate, minus the presence of the great unwashed, but Ruth was not the world. In fact she was someone who aware of Aaisha's propensities, and made suspicious as a result, accosted them with a polite, "This is a surprise Aaisha, you never used to enjoy strolling without purpose." Her words while addressed to Aaisha were answered by Fazain,"She still doesn't, do you Aaisha?" Continuing, after his sister's confirmatory shake of her head, "Ali and I needed some air and we were worried that if we left Aaisha on her own Ali's uncle…." He didn't continue the theme, reckoning that if his guess about Ruth and Harry's true identities was correct they'd have prepared in advance by studying a several feet deep file on the proclivities of the misogynist bastard.

As an excuse it passed muster, although Ruth in replying also nodded to the opposite side of the lake, "Fair point, although as it happens he's out for a stroll as well". Absorbed in their earlier conversation the trio she was addressing hadn't noting the opposing triad strolling on the far side of the lake. Without binoculars it was impossible to identify uncle and companions, in fact Ali had to peer twice before agreeing that Ruth's identification was correct, thereby giving Ruth a few bad seconds. Having relied on Ros' Intel rather than her own eyes she was wondering, in view of the distance, whether she'd just made an elementary error. Fortunately the distinctive short squatness of the man clad in dazzling white topped off with his chequered head covering, the latter just discernible to those with hawk like eyesight, meant that no one queried the statement although it was productive of a frown across Ali's face. "He's about as keen on outdoors as Aaisha so I wonder what he's up to." With a direct question "Any ideas Ruth?"

Ruth trying to tread the delicate borders between what a spook would know versus the level of knowledge that would be entrusted to the humble PA of a Foreign Office person of import, temporised with, "Not sure, but I'll report it to Harry." And then wished she hadn't as Aaisha, seizing the opportunity to kickstart on her own spying mission grinned, "That sounds like a wild evening – can't the pair of you find something better talk about?"

Ruth was struggling to remain cool, thankful now that the last three trying months on the Grid had given her ample experience in denying that she had any relationship with Harry, aided equally by the near truth of which she now advised Aaisha, "He's my boss and our relationship is purely professional."

"Seems a waste!"

"Honestly Aaisha you've read too much Mills and Boon."

"Hmm, well they can be fairly steamy these days."

Faizan, keen not to push Ruth too far, leapt in to enquire with interest, "How would you know that Aasiha?" While preferring to ask Ruth directly, "Any news from your professional discussion with Harry?"

Ruth having glanced again across the lake, noting that uncle seemed to be heading towards the area where Jed might be able to get an audio fix turned back. "Yes but can I suggest that we go to that summer house. It'll seem less suspicious to Ali's uncle if we sit down to talk rather than stand around gossiping."

Without any actual assent to this proposition a group swivel to begin wandering in that the general direction, giving Ruth time to consider exactly what she would say, and to hope that Malcolm was able to listen in. If the others failed to act as requested at least what she had said, and just as importantly had not said, would be on record. Harry might have forced her to remain in Section D but if this operation went belly up she very definitely didn't want be drummed out in disgrace. If she – no when she left - it would be on her terms via a transfer. Although, as they wandered the would be casual way across the impossibly velvet lawn, for the first time ever she began to wonder which alternative section she would wish to be transferred into. Harry did at least possess the not inconsiderable virtue of defending his staff when they erred mistakenly, despising those who caved into political machinations. He might be a bastard on a personal level but only staff who were provably corrupt were thrown to the wolves of the Internal Investigations Unit. She strongly suspected that Jed had owed his survival to Harry's final conclusion that obnoxious Jed may have been, but arguably he'd been misled by Giles, and that was despite the salacious comments he'd made concerning Harry's conduct with female staff. Just possibly of course Harry might have decided that given his undercover seduction of Ruth Jed hadn't been entirely, if unknowingly, inaccurate. This was not a thought for now and as she settled into one of the basket weave seats surrounded by the other three placed along the well padded bench that ran around the two of the external walls she began to satisfy their curiosity, "Sorry to have taken so long but Harry and I had a great deal to talk through." Catching Aasiha's smirk 'honestly some friends' she hurriedly continued, "He thinks my idea is workable but will require some acting ability on your part and the timing has to be correct." With that preamble she launched into the outline of the plot.

For five minutes the only sound was Ruth's voice. Secreted in a room at the top of the hotel Malcolm listening, in while denied sight of three others listening avidly with emotions flitting from amused to horrified as she finally wound up, "As you can see the timing is vital," was nodding in agreement, while wondering whether he should advise Harry about the precipitate departure of the Asian trio earlier in the afternoon. A departure that might indicate that Harry and Ruth had been rumbled but equally could be attributed to Fazian's being concerned about the possibility that Ali's uncle was spying on them. A dilemma further complicated by the positive identification of a least two of uncle's entourage having been implicated in unsavoury actions, all in the name of Allah of course, back in their home province.

Unable to obtain visuals from the summer house Malcolm was forced to gauge reaction from words and intonation. A challenging task when Ruth's exposition had produced a total silence. A fair man Malcolm couldn't really blame the listeners, he'd have been aghast himself at the potential complications, if it weren't for a long experience of Harry and his madcap plans, although in this instance it would seem that the originator was Ruth. Clearly either she and Harry were birds of a feather or she'd absorbed the characteristic during the operation to snag Giles. A thought that in turn drew his mind back to the endless antagonism between the boss and the anaylst. Malcolm didn't encourage gossip but the recent speculation between Zoe and Danny regarding the warring pair was making him wish there was a way to throw them together in a room, prior to removing the key, with the advice that release was conditional upon them sorting out their relationship. If it worked it would at least be conducive to a pleasanter work environment all around, but on balance Malcolm judged that as an endeavour it was too risky, given the probable wrath of Harry. Knocking their heads together also had its attractions, Danny had in fact suggested that solution a few weeks ago following a particularly spiky session in the Briefing Room, but backtracked at speed upon Malcolm's reminder that a Section Head who had survived death in East Germany, Northern Ireland and Mother Russia was not exactly an ideal subject for physical attack.

Shelving these considerations Malcolm tuned back into the conversation to hear Ali asking, "And if we do get Zahra away, what happens next? My uncle won't take kindly to being tricked." It was, Malcolm thought, a reasonable objection as Ruth temporised, "Zahra will be offered accommodation in a safe house with knowledge of her whereabouts being deniable. Harry is working on what to do about your uncle."

Malcolm knowing Harry's usual methods wasn't surprised that his boss hadn't elucidated further with Ruth. If Ali found this answer unsatisfactory he didn't say so. Instead it was Faizan who asked what might just be a killer question. "Ruth, I thought it was only spies who had access to safe houses?" Malcolm was holding his breath as he waited for Ruth to wriggle out of this one.

Ruth, having managed to avoid any expression of dismay at this question, came back with, "Well yes of course, but Harry will contact the relevant departments as it is not unknown for women in Zahra's position to need to disappear." Elsewhere Malcolm has shaking his head, for a desk spook Ruth had excellent field skills, he just hoped that she'd circumvented this attempt at discovery. Faizan having dropped the subject was superseded by Aaisha raising a more immediate query, "And how do we communicate this to Zahra, who is either wrapped up or locked down?"

A quick rustle came through the headphones as Ruth shifted her position to look across the lake. From her words Malcolm became aware that she'd been staring at uncle, "I think with Ali's uncle out, now might be a good time for either you or Ali to visit his suite and speak to Zahra."

Malcolm was indeed correct in that supposition. Ali having gauged the distance and likely time it would take his uncle to return made his decision, "Very well we'll try it and I'd better go now to see Zahra. They won't let Faizan in as he's not a relative, and I suspect that Aaisha would be denied in case she infects Zahra with advanced ideas."

Aaisha shot him a look, "What ideas would they be then?"

Ali despite the seriousness of the situation had a glint of amusement in his voice as he replied "A woman's right to choose, the right to an education and the right to ignore men."

Aaisha almost gurgled back, "Depends on the man you're ignoring – it's impossible to do so with some, like you my love – and having met Harry I'd say he was impossible to ignore as well. Wouldn't you agree Ruth?"

While Ruth didn't reply to this outright provocation Malcolm was almost choking – regardless as to whether Harry and Ruth had been fingered as spies it was quite clear that the group had discerned something about their relationship. In different circumstances Malcolm would have been tempted to roundup Zoe and Danny and approach the trio with the suggestion that they collaborate. But, since the operation came first, this was necessarily going to be an opportunity lost.

From the summerhouse came the voice of Ruth, "Ali I think your uncle is preparing to wander back so…" with Aaisha endorsing that statement, "You hurry Ali, and I think if Ruth and I take a walk in his direction we'll try to waylay him."

Rustling noises indicated that the group were preparing to scatter as Ali instructed Faizan, "Please Faizan go with them, I really don't trust my uncle but with a male witness…."

His voice trailed off as Aaisha was heard to intruct him, "Which is exactly why you have to get Zahra away, so go."

Just as Malcolm was resting back in his chair to ponder precisely what he should tell Harry regarding the two conversations he'd taped, a light on his console began to flash, an indication that Jed was ringing in his report.

Flicking the appropriate switch Malcolm waited for the call sign, "Babe in the Wood to Ghostman."

"Ghostman here. What do you have to report."

"Sending sound file now regarding the three amigos." A piece of Jed frivolity that made Malcolm sigh as the words "Over and out," came through.

Having arranged to run the recording through a translation programme, Malcolm donned his headphones yet again and settled down to listen. The first couple of minutes were therapeutic, commencing with bird song, marred by the occasional snapping twig. Not a state of mind that was to last, having checked the content and after taking the precaution of a second run through of the file to ensure that he was not mistaken. Malcolm was now contacting Ros, his departure from his normal courteous manner replaced with a sharpness that took her by surprise, as he insisted "I need Harry here now. Code red."

Thanks for reading. Do review if you have a moment and thanks to all those who are following this story. It makes me feel the effort is worthwhile.