Finally the next chapter. Thanks for sticking with it and thanks to my reviewers, followers and anyone who is reading. The plot moves on - very slowly.

The penetrating nature of Aaisha's screams meant that for the second time within a few minutes several spooks in the interests of preserving their hearing were temporarily removing their headphones. Notably it was Harry and Ros who remained tuned in, ignoring Danny's mutterings of, "Does Ali really want to live with that?" Adam now in recovery and replacing his headphones refrained from enlightening Danny that women screaming was part of the normal ongoing matrimonial experience. A potential statement that, if it were ever reported back to the usually controlled Fiona, would have resulted in her uttering a few caustic words along the lines of, "How would you know?"

Those with hardy souls and ever hardier ears were rewarded by the sound of Faizan snapping back, with the brutality that only a brother could conjure, "Shut it Aaisha. I doubt Ali was suggesting that literally." Before adding, not entirely tactfully "Not that I would blame him if he did."

Before Aaisha could transfer her anger to Faizan, Ruth, not wanting to be caught in the middle of a squabble – the eternal spats with Harry was exhausting enough she could do without a double dose of aggravation – managed to intervene,

"Ali, I'm sure Faizan is correct but could you explain?"

Ali, just slightly shaken, ignored Ruth in favour of appeasing Aaisha, "Of course I didn't mean that – you know I'd be lost without you" A statement that had Danny, listening in through his newly replaced headphones retching, Ros looking slightly sarcastic and Zoe wistful. Adam the married man and Harry the rejected swain were more inclined to sympathise with the situation Ali found himself in. Suggestion of anything other than slavish devotion equalling days of the cold shoulder and lonely bed.

From Ali's next statement it was divined that Ruth, seated in a position that lacked a clear visual, was looking a trifle exasperated when he finally managed to enlighten them regarding his gnomic utterance. "I simply meant that if my uncle believes that Aaisha is dead and I then agree in my grief to marry Zahra he'll have no reason to doubt that he has won and will therefore be off his guard, smug with success."

"Granted." An affirmative produced from Faizan's direction,

"Quite Faizan, but the big problem is…" Having acquired agreement Ali's next statement was forestalled by Ruth.

"How he plans to off her."

"Yes. Any ideas?"

Ruth sighed, "Not exactly, but we are assuming it would have look like an accident."

Aaisha was quick to pounce on that careless comment. "So who exactly is we?"

Ruth knowing that she might betrayed herself was equally quick to answer,"Myself and Harry."

Whereupon Ali was leapt in, "And…..Ruth we suspect that you and Harry have additional help so .."

In the silence that followed those who knew Ruth well could visual her ticking over the various possibilities before taking advantage of Harry's permission to divulge.

"Very well. Harry and I are attached Security Services in the main, although he also frequently undertakes diplomatic missions."

A quick glance at the occasional diplomat informed the flower of Section D that this was news to Harry as Ruth continued, "In this instance we have some other informants."

That she wasn't going to choke off further enquiry so easily became apparent when Faizan made it clear that this statement was somewhat lacking in essential details, "So let us guess, the Manager as she's always around and you couldn't run an operation – I believe that is what you call it – without her, I'd also finger that very good looking caretaker as well and obviously someone must be in charge of the IT so at a guess at least one more."

It was Aaisha, with her life on the line, who felt the need to press further utilising that well known interrogation technique, emotional blackmail, "Please Ruth – we know that you want us to marry and you in your turn know that we'll do anything we can to help Zahra so please…."

Ruth was silent for a few more very long seconds while she made her decision, "Very well Faizan is correct, but the operation was put in place as a precaution against the situation we now have. As regards Ali and Aaisha and their desire to marry the intention of HM Government was and remains benign."

Harry reckoned that this was the first time anyone would have had described Five and its machinations as benign but it seemed to satisfy Ruth's audience, happy in their ignorance of what usually happened when an operation having kicked off went awry. For himself his mind was already whirling as to how they'd manage to emerge unscathed.

Back in suite of romance Ali was asking the most important question, "So how do we manage to fake Aaisha's death well enough to deceive my uncle?"

This being the great unknown the assembled operatives were glad that they were not the ones put on the spot although Ruth was either unfazed, or giving a very good impression of that. "Two questions and the first is the how do we manage to pretend? The removal of Aaisha's presumed body will be simple. Harry will cover it up as a diplomatic incident and arrange a discreet cortege with Faizan, who of course, while escorting the body refuses to let Ali accompany him as he thinks Ali is to blame."

Aaisha had spotted the logical flaw, "Yes but how do I reappear if I'm off the premises?"

"Harry will sort that out."

A confident assertion that made Ros risk a quick quirk of a smile in Harry's direction "Over to you Harry."

The only obvious reaction from for the rest of the crew was to note that she had finally used Harry's first name to his face. They might still be wary but it was a welcome indication that Ros was becoming a little more collegiate in her approach to the team.

Harry chose to acknowledge this with a nod while continuing to listen intently to whatever other tasks Ruth was about to send winging in his direction – really he was beginning to wonder who was in charge, an unworthy thought given that he had pitchforked Ruth into this by virtue of the her previous history with Aaisha. While he was sure Ruth would relish the prospect of making life difficult for him on a personal level he was equally certain that she would do nothing to jeopardise her friend, the team or her country purely for revenge.

Back in the land of action rather than introspection Faizan was reminding everyone of the basic problem with the plan. "I'm sure Harry would sort out those minor details but we don't know how Ali's uncle plans to strike."

A silence descended until Ruth turned to Ali, "Ali we'd discussed myself, Zahra and Aaisha taking part in an all women's exercise class. Could you persuade your uncle to let her out for that?"

Ali pursed his lips "Not sure – it's all a bit too Western world – you know decadent American women in leotards."

It was perhaps fortunate that Ruth wasn't able to hear Danny muttering, "Can't see anything wrong with that." Earning him an icy glare from Ros and Zoe, missed by Harry who, in a moment of rare inattention, was speculating on the effect that watching Ruth in a skin tight costume might have the part of his anatomy that seemed to possess a mind of its own.

Ruth sighed – '"Well if you could try – perhaps suggest that she can wear loose trousers and top while implying that this could set an example to Aaisha since modernity is all very well but as you approach the wedding you are increasingly concerned about your intended being oblivious to tradition."

Ali mulling this over enquired, "It's a line worth spinning. Anything else I should mention?"

"Yes. Advise him that you will not allow Zahra to copy Aaisha in using the climbing bars on the walls or swinging on ropes, the ones that extend up to the gym roof."

Aaisha gulped, "Ruth you know what I'm like about heights."

"I do, but Ali's uncle doesn't and I'm prepared to bet that he'll see an opportunity there to arrange an accident."

"Er"

"Quite simple really – with luck he'll send a minion in to loosen the bolts on the wall so when Aaisha climbs up crash, and one dead fiancé."

Aaisha was protesting, "I refuse to climb up them."

Ruth, who was finding the whole situation increasingly difficult allowed a certain irritation to appear in her voice "Of course not – we'll pull them down, lie them them on top of you and yell for help. You will be removed to a medical area and then be declared dead. Faizan will blame you Ali, and refuse to let you or your uncle near her – Aaisha will be removed allegedly and then…."

"In my grief with my uncle nagging and Zahra being sympathetic I agree to marry Zahra."

Back in the Section D area considerations of the complications and the probability of error were being considered, alongside sheer admiration for Ruth's plan. It was Zoe who asked, "But does the hotel have a Doctor, Ros?"

"No but we do have someone who has the gravitas and maturity to pretend."

Since Harry was known to uncle that left one candidate only. As five pairs of eyes instantly honed in on Malcolm Harry remarked wryly ,"Well Malcolm you do have plenty of experience of dealing with terminal matters."

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Also I hope wherever you are in the world you are staying safe.