Apologies for the delay. I intended to post this last week but was sidetracked by computer problems. Once again I can only thank my readers for sticking with this story given the time gap between chapters.

The procession along the corridor was led by the Registrar carrying a briefcase of documents, followed by his two acolytes, the official witnesses and the Iman. A few paces behind uncle's minion was leading the imitation Zahra with what would appear to be a death grip, a suggestion that perhaps her father feared her absconding at the last minute – not Harry admitted an inaccurate assumption – as he marched beside Ruth, with Ros the final members of the party several paces behind forming the rear guard. While Harry was contemplating what was before them once they reached the wedding suite, Ruth's sense of historical awareness was struck by the resemblance of the solemn march to those costume dramas in which some unfortunate individual was lead to the scaffold with due and gruesome ceremony.

With a slight convulsion of her throat she found her fingers almost involuntarily tracing the outline of the stab pen in her bag – would she be able to remove it quickly enough in the event of its being required? Whatever Harry may have chosen to tell the other officials she was very aware that her real status was that of rookie, and of the massive fissure that existed between practice in controlled conditions and the reality of the field. As she stole a fleeting glance backwards to Ros she found some reassurance in the sight of the ice cool Ros wearing an inscrutable expression while one hand was resting inside her gun pocket. Clearly Ruth was not the only one feeling the need to be prepared. Harry, on the other hand, striding beside her was displaying no such sense of preparation, but Ruth supposed he was so accustomed to this type of emergency he'd know exactly when to time the need for action.

After what seemed to be simultaneously an endless walk that was over much too soon, Ruth was estimating that Faizan and Zahra had had about ten minutes clearance from the moment Jed was presumed to have stuffed Zahra into the laundry van. Harry had calculated about twenty as a minimum to clear the gates and make a speedy progress beyond the Travel Lodge, where lurked uncle's additional heavy mob, into London. If Harry had any nerves they weren't on show as they entered uncle's suite.

Their arrival was not exactly auspicious, while the two minions who had been involved in the plot to kill Aaisha were very obviously silent but brooding and looming, uncle seemed to be berating Ali, dressed in a smart but Western style suit, regarding his clothing. "You really should be wearing traditional dress, I insist'. Ali showed no sign of capitulating as he replied. "I am still mourning Aaisha and in theory this marriage should not be taking place – be content that I am willing to marry this lady now." Uncle seemed ready to continue the argument but was halted by the arrival of the officials. Taking this as a cue Ali turned his back on his alleged future father in law to greet the bride, 'Your father was worried you'd change your mind." Taking her hand he guided her towards the window, out of the immediate sightline of his uncle saying warmly, "Just a few more minutes to the civil ceremony and then we'll be married."

The words 'civil ceremony' produced a growl from uncle that indicated his displeasure, a mood not improved when the Registrar turning to Ros reminded her, "I need table for the documents." Leading uncle to suggest that perhaps the Iman could go first, only to be stymied by the Iman himself "I believe we have already had this conversation."

Not getting any change out of either of the officials uncle turned verbally chastise Ros, "Really this is frightfully inefficient…" Harry had been indulging in a similar thought, puzzled because it was unlike Ros to miss a trick. As Ros apologised, "Sorry I did ask the site staff to ensure a table was in place but…" when a knock on the door, followed by the entrance of Adam and Danny heaving a table into the room, gave way to Harry's realisation that the only person to have missed trick was himself. He'd misjudged Ros, what better way to ensure the inclusion of two extra spooks? Especially when Ros indicating a discreetly placed screen at the rear of the room ordered, "Please wait behind there– as we will require the table to be removed immediately after the ceremonies." What Harry wondered would be the excuse for the arrival of Zoe? He wasn't left to consider for long, a further knock and Zoe entered carrying a white and impeccably starched linen cloth.

With every appearance of nerves she turned to address Ros, "I'm so sorry not to have brought this earlier but I was held up." Noticing the Registrar's briefcase on the desk she asked, "Do you want me to …"

Ros interrupted this with an impatient, "Yes but I'm sure this gentlemen can lift his case for a moment."

Harry was inwardly smirking, this wasn't a delaying tactic he'd ordered but Ros had plainly given the matter of extending Zahra and Faizan's get away time considerable thought. It was the sort of plan his younger self would have put in place, and its effect was clear as uncle was now hopping from one leg to another with impatience while an unhurried Zoe spent a good few minutes draping the cloth, smoothing it, then standing back to admire the arrangement, followed by the Registrar with unruffled calm replacing his briefcase before removing his documents one by one and spreading them on the table, prior to an agonising long interval to scrutinize them. Just as he straightened up Harry's phone buzzed. Apologising, "Sorry but I need to take this", while uncle having given up on argument began to chivvy the bridal couple "Over here now", and when ignored ordered "Zahra you will obey your father." The casual shrug that this was greeted with brought joy to the eyes of the other women assembled, while, with all attempts at spurious civility forgotten, uncle barked "Now: I am still your father and Ali you plainly need to understand that the men have absolute authority over their women."

Harry was replacing his phone with a brief imperceptible nod to Ros and Ruth, indicating that Malcolm had now cut all the comms so they were flying, if not exactly solo, most definitely as a form of closed defence group. Zoe drifting towards the window where Aisha and Ali, in defiance of uncle still lingered, noted that a couple of Jed's group were moving across the lawn. Like Adam earlier they were shouldering sacks that apparently sprouted unwanted vegetation but presumably concealed their guns and other relevant hardware. That reinforcements were standing by ready to crash into the room at the first sound of shots was both reassuring but also nerve racking.

Back in the room the Registrar was producing a further delay as he called across to the bridal couple. "I need to confirm that you both understand more than basic English." As Ali responded, "Yes we both have degrees, mine from an English university called Oxford and Zahra although she studied in Pakistan was taught in English."

Uncle infuriated almost snarled, "And what difference does that make?"

The Registrar with the experience of one who'd presided over numerous bizarre ceremonies enlightened him, "Due to the influx of migrants marrying in this country we have been forced to produce a simplified and shorter service." He was about to continue when uncle announced, "Good we'll have that one and then they can be properly married." While the Iman shot a look suggesting that while Islam proclaimed itself to be a religion of peace he was nonetheless contemplating the concept of justifiable homicide, the Registrar was responding to this exhibition of bad manners with considerable restraint, "I regret to inform you that this short version is authorized only for use under the circumstances I mentioned."

Having made his case he then announced, "I am ready to begin so if the couple could please come forward." Ali and Aaisha for a couple keen to marry made a slow progress across the room, a short pause ensuing when Ali realised his left shoelace needed to be tied, the prospect of marriage with his beloved making him fumble fingered. Even so it only took a couple of minutes before they were standing ready, with a few extra precious seconds gained by Aaisha fussing with the floor length bin bag she was incarcerated in. During this brief time Harry noted that the two alleged witness had moved slightly to ensure that they were in direct line ready to shoot uncle's minions if necessary, while Ros had stationed herself against the entrance door ready to delay any incomers.

Calmly the Registrar announced, "Under the laws of this country I must now ask the bride to unveil as I need to ascertain her identity." Very slowly Zahra or rather Aaisha removed the veiled headdress. With her back turned to him it took about half a minute before uncle registered that his daughter was not in fact present.

Face contorted with fury he yelled, "This is not going to happen – remove her at once", to his supporters. Turning to Aaisha he spat in her face, raising his hand with every intention of striking her. Before he could land his blow Ali with a very swift movement had pushed her out of the way before swinging a firm punch at his uncle. Although his fist connected with a satisfactory squelch Uncle managed to remain on his feet, his beauty not enhanced by the blood pouring from his nose as he continued to scream his orders, "Kill her." The noise having disguised the click of other guns, it was only when he looked around that he realised his own two men had guns trained on them from the witnesses, and had in fact been disarmed by Adam and Danny appearing from behind the screen. Rendered impotent in action but not in tongue uncle turned to Harry shouting in only just coherent frustration, "You can't do this to me I am…"

"On the orders of HM Government being held on suspicion of planning a murder, and in view of what we've just witnessed threatening behaviour."

"This is ridiculous I have diplomatic immunity."

"I should also inform you that the Pakistan Embassy has been informed and they refute that claim. Therefore Mohammed Abdul Rashid on behalf of the authority vested in me by HM Government I am required to order your detention on those charges plus the appropriate sections of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. You will be removed to a secure unit for interrogation initially on these the offences and any others that may be related. You will be allowed access to a lawyer and advice from your Embassy should you or they request it. Further details of your rights and charges will given to you on your arrival at the detention unit." Nodding to Adam and Danny "Please accompany him and his men to the destination that has been arranged. Jed has organised the transport which should be standing ready at the hotel entrance by now."

Adam, Danny and the two other witnesses shepherded out a now stunned uncle, holding his nose in doomed effort to stanch the blood that was dying his snowy white robes a deep crimson, while Zoe and Ros had disarmed the other two men who trudged behind their now captured leader, encouraged by Ros' commenting, "I have a twitchy trigger finger and Zoe is cursed with a blind eye."

With this little local difficulty dealt with Harry asked the Registrar, "I assume that you are still willing to conduct the ceremony."

"Of course – but er witnesses."

"Myself and Miss Evershed – who happens to be an friend of the bride." Harry smiled warmly at the couple, "I'm sorry that this is not the wedding you planned but …"

Ali smiled back, "As long as we are married that is all that matters. Although I must apologise to the Iman." He swung around to explain, "I have discussed this with Aaisha and we both feel that it might be best to have the Muslim ceremony in my home province. We have to report events here to my father and I really do need to find out the exact state of his health…"

The Iman nodded back, "That is as it should be…I wish you well."

The Registrar stepped forward "And now if we are ready"..

Taking Aaisha's hand Ali beamed, "More than, please proceed."

Thanks for reading - in you have a moment a review would be appreciated. Nearly at the end now - not sure how many more chapters though as I usually end up splitting up my planned idea.