21

Harry walked into the Russian Embassy ignoring the looks from the overly made up woman on Reception. He knew exactly where he was headed. Alec fell into step behind him as a balding man, older than Harry approached them.

"Officer Pearce." The heavily accented voice caught Alec's attention.

"Viktor." Harry didn't shake his hand. "I believe we need to have a chat."

"I am a busy man."

"So am I." Harry countered. "And I would like to avoid a diplomatic incident if at all possible. I am guessing your President would want that. Isn't there enough bad press about your country at the moment. It would be remiss to court anymore."

Alec smirked slightly as the man he now knew was Viktor sighed heavily.

"I preferred you when you were a field officer." He turned. "My office. Who is this? I thought you had a blonde at your side nowadays."

"Not important." Harry shot Alec a look as his old friend frowned slightly. It seemed he didn't want his old adversary to know the names of people on his team. For a moment he wondered if that was realistic.

"And what is important?"

"Katya Dennisoff." He watched a flicker of recognition pass through the man's eyes. "And who is giving her orders? She currently has two of my officers at risk. I'd like them back in one piece."

"She is nothing to do with this organisation any more."

"You expect me to believe that?" Harry snapped. "Come on, Viktor. You know as well as I do, even apparently decommissioned officers are still on the books in some capacity. You aren't going to waste money on all that training just to let them walk away. Especially someone as cold blooded enough to murder her own father."

Viktor narrowed his eyes. "Yannis is dead?"

"I don't have time for games." Harry snapped as he thought of Ros and Zaf somewhere in the sky over London.

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Ros kept the pressure on Katya's arm as she held it against her back as Zaf picked up the discarded gun. Once she was sure the younger woman was no longer a threat she released her.

"One word. That's all." Ros glared at her. Katya rubbed her arm as she hissed at the Ros. For a second images of Connie flooded her mind. Ros smirked. "I've faced and beaten bigger and scarier than you."

"She has." Zaf nodded. He thought for a moment. "So have I, actually."

Ros smiled at him, suddenly aware that Zaf had just realised how good an officer he was. She guessed almost getting killed, again focused the mind. She kept her eyes on the Russian woman as Zaf tried to get hold of anyone back at the Grid. Sighing he shook his head. Suddenly the helicopter lurched to the side making Ros feel sick as the pilot fought to keep control.

"You ok in there?" Zaf called.

"We will be landing in three minutes. On water." He sighed. "On the Thames."

"On the water." Ros cursed under her breath.

"Only place we wont take out civilians."

"Do it." Ros ordered as the Russian woman visibly paled in front of her. "What? Can't swim? I wouldn't worry. Every chance we'll all die on impact." Ros smiled slightly, avoiding Zaf's eye. She didn't want him to see she wasn't joking.

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Lucas and Adam returned to the Grid a few minutes after the rest of the team that had been travelling by road. Lucas headed straight for Ruth's desk as she shook her head at him.

"No contact?"

"None." Ruth felt incredibly guilty. "Lucas, I."

Lucas nodded. He knew Ros took risks all the time. So did he, it was part of the job but it still felt wrong not to be in a position to back her up. He looked over to where Adam was talking with Zoe as Tariq yelled.

"What?" Malcolm turned to his young protégé. Calum smiled as he saw what his friend had done.

"You got the heli back on screen. Nice one."

"As if there was any doubt." Tariq shrugged as he looked back at the screen again. Ruth was at his side.

"Oh God."

"They aren't? Are they?" Zoe was the other side of Tariq looking equally shocked. "I mean, they can't! Can they? On the river. I know in America once but."

"They don't have enough fuel to get to the helipad upstairs." Adam frowned, he grabbed his jacket. "Dimitri, Lucas, Beth with me." He marched back to the Pods as Ruth squeezed Lucas' arm. Zoe shook her head.

"Not without me." She ran after them as Erin picked up her phone to talk to Air Traffic Control. She could barely believe what she was seeing on screen but as Calum and Tariq hacked the flight path while trying to contact the pilot she really didn't know what else to do. Catherine sighed.

"Ruth?"

"Um?"

"Are you ok? I mean. After Alec?"

"Fine." She sighed. "Thanks. Or I will be when we get them back on solid ground. I don't like this, Catherine. The River, too many variables." She looked over to see Erin pulling on her jacket. "Where are you going?"

"ATC. Cal, you coming?"

"Yeah." He grabbed a laptop before running after her. Malcolm sighed heavily before turning back to the computer. He just hoped Ros knew what she was doing.

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a/n is anyone reading? Please let me know if I should continue