19
Ros hated flying. She knew it was the fasted way to get back to Thames House but it didn't mean she had to like it. She glanced over at Zaf who looked equally uneasy with the situation. She turned her attention back to the Russian woman as she tried to work out what was going on in her head. Everything Catherine had found out about her suggested that the image of Russian socialite, a privately educated airhead was just that. She had a university degree, had more qualifications than half the Grid put together. Ros knew she had been peddling an image for a reason; she just had to work out what. Katya sat primly next to Zaf as Ros glared at her. To anyone who didn't know she looked like any other pretty girl that appeared in the glossy magazines.
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"They are on the way back." Tariq looked up as Ruth walked back onto the Grid. He knew she only ever really relaxed when she knew the field officers were back where they should be. Adam and Zaf were like brothers to her and the idea that they were in danger often made her feel physically sick.
"Beth called." Catherine smiled slightly. "Zaf and Ros have her in the helicopter."
"Good." Ruth sipped her tea, trying to ignore the migraine that was on the edge of her consciousness. "ETA?"
"The helicopter about ten minutes." Tariq watched the flight path on his computer. "The others are driving back." He explained as Ruth nodded once. Harry emerged from his office, still pulling his suit jacket on.
"Ruth, I am off to see She Who Thinks She is Obeyed." She smiled slightly as he stepped nearer to her. He knew the remaining members of the team were not paying them any attention. "Tell Ros I will be with her when she talks to that infernal woman."
"Is that wise?" Ruth frowned as Malcolm approached them.
"Shit!" Tariq's outburst caught their attention. Malcolm rushed to his desk as Tariq pressed a few keys on the computer in front of him. "This is not happening. This cannot be happening."
"Talk to me." Harry snapped. "And not in technobabble."
"Ros, Zaf on the helicopter with Katya."
"Yes."
"Heading back here."
"Again, yes." Harry frowned.
"Only somehow, for some reason the flight path has changed. Harry, I think the helicopter has been highjacked." He glanced over to Zoe who seemed to have become catatonic.
"What do you mean? Think! Is there any way we can make contact?" Harry snapped, his meeting with the Home Secretary long forgotten. Ruth bit her lip, worry almost crushing her heart as she looked over to where Zoe was staring into space. Catherine whispered something to her as Zoe seemed to come to her senses. Nodding once she returned to her work station as Malcolm tried and failed to make contact with Ros. He knew the helicopter only had a certain amount of fuel, they had to be headed somewhere relatively close by, unless Harry felt sick at the thought, unless they intended to let the aircraft simply fall out of the sky.
"I do not believe this." Ruth muttered as she began typing furiously on the computer in front of her. "We need to get hold of Adam. With Ros out of contact."
"He acts up to her role." Malcolm finished. "I do not like this at all. Who runs background checks on pilots? I thought it was a Military helicopter."
"It is." Harry snapped as he watched the little red icon on Tariq's screen bleep a few more times before vanishing. He punched the desk, causing Tariq's unopened bottle of Lucozade to bounce onto the fall. Zoe blinked back tears as she made herself focus on her job. Danny and Emma would get to see their Daddy again, she was determined to get him home.
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Adam swore as he put his mobile back in his pocket. Lucas had arranged a car for them after Beth had abandoned them to chase Katya and was now driving them back towards London. Adam knew he had to tell Lucas what had happened but he wasn't entirely sure how he was going to find the words.
"Mate."
"What happened?" Lucas overtook a lorry on the motorway as he spoke. He had a strange feeling Ros was in danger, despite not having the evidence. It was almost like he had a sixth sense when it came to his wife. "Adam."
"Tariq lost contact with the helicopter." Adam glanced at his friend. "They've gone off radar."
"Shit."
"Yeah, that's what I said."
"Ros and Zaf?"
"Currently classed as MIA." Adam stated, the anger in his voice barely concealed. He knew both Ros and Zaf were more than capable of taking care of themselves but a helicopter highjack in mid air was not something they trained for on a daily basis. He knew Ros would be trying to regain control of the situation, he just hoped they managed to get the suspect back to Thames House.
"This is Ros." Adam tried to reassure his friend. Lucas gripped the wheel a little tighter.
"Yeah, that's what worries me."