16

Ruth stood in the doorway as all eyes fell on her. She glared at Peterson, knowing that there was no way he was going to be able to touch her again. Dimitri and Alec would kill him in under a second if he tried. That knowledge didn't stop her heart racing as she stood there.

"Lady Pearce."

"I've been listening. We know you have a brain tumour. We know its terminal." She stepped into the room, aware of a noise behind her. "And I am guessing you are keen to take anyone you can with you."

"You always had the brains."

"Not a compliment from you." Ruth glared. "Why Catherine? Me and Ros I get. We were responsible for you going to prison for almost a decade. What did she do to you?"

Peterson laughed. He shook his head as if trying to make sense of her words. Dimitri took a step towards him as Ruth froze. The former SBS man clenched his fist, ready to step in if his friend needed him. He could sense Alec positioning himself between her and Peterson as Ruth tensed.

"You really don't know? You should be dead. A long time ago."

"And yet, I'm not." Ruth smiled slightly. She had no idea how much the man in front of her knew about her life. What she did know was that he wasn't going to learn anything else about her. "Catherine. Why her?"

"Why not?"

"Kanga Films." Harry announced as he arrived. Ruth held her breath for a second, knowing Harry was not going to be impressed she had deliberately ignored a direct order. She glanced at him for a moment.

"Its not that you personally wanted to hurt her. It was Jamie. You and him are helping each other but we thought you were the one in charge. That it was all about your revenge." Harry snapped, his tone monotoned and clipped. "You had nothing personal against Catherine Pearce, but Jamie does. So, was he behind the murder of the three terrorists."

"Doing your job for you." Peterson snapped. "Just clearing up the mess."

"Clearing up? There were kids living on that estate! Kids!" She snapped as Harry glared at her. She was not about to move. "Where is he?"

"That's your questioning technique? That is supposed to put the fear of God into me?" Peterson laughed. Ruth shook her head slowly, raising a hand to stop Harry from grabbing him. Alec swore before grabbing the other man and throwing him against the wall.

"I'm sick of this shit."

"Pub opening soon?"

"Boss, just turn the camera off for five minutes." Alec snapped as he tightened his hold on the man he had hold of. Harry paused for a moment as if considering the request. "Five minutes."

"Won't be admissible in court."

"He won't live to see this get to court." Alec paused, "One way or the other."

"Harry." Ruth felt tears spring to the back of her eyes. She knew how the game went. He was playing the hard man; she was more concerned that he would do something that would once again add to his nightmares. He swallowed hard.

"Drop him."

Alec did as he was told. Peterson grabbed his neck, gasping for breath as Harry stepped towards him.

"The only reason I didn't let him crush your larynx there and there is the fact that it would damage him more than you. Unfortunately for you, it wouldn't do that to me. You so much as look at my wife and daughter again. So much as let them enter your sick little mind and I will happily go to prison for your murder." His voice was low, so low that only Peterson could make out what was being said to him. "You thought Mace had some dubious traits; you've not met me before." Harry stepped away as Ruth stepped out of the room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ros folded her arms as Lucas brough Imran back into the corner shop. The teenage girl she now knew to be his sister looked more angry than she was.

"What you bringing trouble 'ere for? You know Dad will have a 'eart attack."

"He won't. Not if you don't tell him." Imran huffed as Lucas let go of his jacket. Imran shot Lucas a look that Ros had patented before he had been born. Lucas smirked.

"Imran!"

"I ain't done nuffin."

"No?" Ros smirked. "Innocent people always run."

Imran glared at her. She knew the teenager was trying to act like a tough guy. There was no way he wasn't going to tell her what was going on. She knew he was the last person to have called the mysterious Jamie. She just needed him to tell her where he was.

"What do you want? You can't do anything without our parents here." He snapped.

"We aren't the police." Lucas stated firmly. "And you are over 18. Now, are you going to answer our questions here or?"

"Or?"

"I take you to a police station and then we call your parents, and your college gets informed and." Ros watched as the colour drained from his face.

"What do you want to know?"

"Jamie"

"Such a loser." The young woman huffed. "He is, Im. Such a sad act."

"Just tell us where to find him. We know you shared a cell with Scott Peterson. We know you have been the go between. We just want to talk to him."

"Who are you?"

"You don't want to know." Lucas stated. "Peterson is clearing up. People who have upset him are getting hurt."

"Explains your face."

"Oh you should see him." Ros rolled her eyes.

"You want your sister to end up looking like that?" Lucas asked. "He's out of prison and he is still dangerous. You were in prison for basically nothing compared to what he has done. I suggest you talk."

Imran looked at Ros for a long moment before pulling his mobile phone out of his pocket.

"He stays away from my parents and Gina ok? Keep them out of it."

Ros nodded before taking the phone from him. "Fine."

"I mean it. He threatens them and I tell him the Spooks are after him. You are Spooks. He warned me you'd come looking. Thought it was a load of crap but."

"Here we are." Ros snapped as she pressed her phone to his, transferring the infomation it contained. "This ends today." Ros snapped as she stepped out of the shop with Lucas following.