24
Ros walked back onto the Grid in full Ice Queen mode. She knew there was still things they didn't know - they had been lied to since the start. Part of her wondered if there was a traitor in the RPS that had wanted the Prince killed, wanted Section D discredited. She ignored the concerned looks from Adam and Lucas as she headed into the office.
"Harry."
He looked up from his computer watching her for a moment.
"Zaf has two broken fingers and bruised ribs." Harry stated as Ros frowned slightly. "I can assume you have been checked over by the Doc?"
"I'm fine."
"Not what I asked." Harry raised an eyebrow. "Ros."
"Burn, well scald really to be left shoulder dressed and some bruises on my knees. I'll live. I always do." She watched as he nodded once. "Who shot her?"
"Honestly." Harry paused. "That is still unknown. What we do know is it wasn't one of this Section."
"Harry." Ros sat down. "You know we have been played from the start. Havensworth is a nightmare. Always has been."
"Its just a hotel."
"Would Ruth say that?" Ros countered. "Harry, everything from the Climate Change conference through to this. Yannis being murdered. Two terrorists in custody. Now Katya murdered while we were detaining her. She was kept from telling us the truth."
"You really think she could talk?"
"Yes." Ros looked him in the eye. "I would have got her to. She was proud of what she was doing, I would have got her to slip up on the line." She paused. "I need to talk to the Prince again." She turned sharply as the door behind her opened. Ruth nodded to her as she stepped in.
"Ruth."
"You have to see this. Tariq has CCTV footage of the explosion and the shooting." She turned on her heel as Ros and Harry got to their feet to follow her. Harry folded his arms as he watched the computer screen over Tariq's shoulder.
"Professional." He frowned as they saw the bullet connect with the young woman's skull. Ros nodded once.
"Looks that way." Alec frowned. "Either an amazing marksman who knew exactly what he was doing taking Katya out and leaving Ros and Zaf untouched."
"Or." Catherine folded. "A totally useless one who was actually trying to hit one of them and got Katya. He or she could have been trying to get the girl away. We know she was working with others."
"Great, so I'm alive because someone is a crap shot." Zaf sighed. "This is getting worse." He slumped down in his chair as Malcolm handed him a mug of tea.
"Drink that."
"Sweet tea." Zaf smiled at the older desk officer. "Fixes everything."
"Yes." Malcolm nodded. "It does." He turned back to the computer. "I traced the trajectory of the bullet back to the building over there." He pointed to the screen.
"The bank?" Zoe asked as Malcolm nodded.
"Had to have come from the fifth floor to get the angle." Erin paused. "I could take that shot. Decent rifle, good sight and time to concentrate."
"You are a trained marksman." Lucas agreed. "You could do it, I'd have a good chance at it. I don't think it was a lucky shot for us and bad luck for her. Someone wanted to take her out and were professional enough to have it done cleanly. Must have been following her. We didn't even realise the helicopter would land where it did."
Harry nodded before looking to the left as the Pod doors whooshed open. "Will."
"Hiya. Miss me?" He smiled as Ruth and Malcolm smirked. Catherine hugged him tightly as he laughed. "Mind the ribs, still sore."
"Will, my office." Harry turned as Catherine released him. He had no idea what his godfather would say but he had a feeling it was not going to be the warm welcome he had wanted. Ros turned her attention back to the screen determined to find out who had taken out their prime suspect and why.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Night had fallen over the city as Beth poured hot water into her mug. She was glad to be home, exhausted from the car chase and then trying to help the team get to safety after the helicopter crash. Everything ached and she had no idea if they were any closer to getting the answers. She sighed as Dimitri walked into the kitchen.
"You ok?"
"Kettle's boiled."
"Beth?" He watched as she sat on the stool by the breakfast bar, curling one leg underneath her. She knew he worried about her but then in the time they had been dating and living together she had found herself worrying about him more and more.
"Was thinking about Lucas and Zoe."
"Why?" He started making his own drink. "They're fine."
"Yeah." She sighed. "I was just thinking how I would have reacted if you had been on the helicopter." She looked in the dark liquid in her mug as Dimitri forgot his coffee and turned to her. "I knew how I felt when you were in hospital. When you lost the leg." He nodded. He knew what she meant, he had been in Lucas' shoes when Beth had sustained her brain injury. He stepped towards her, taking her mug from her hands he set it on the breakfast bar before pulling her into his arms. He kissed her hair as she wrapped her arms around him. "Just don't put me in that position, Sailor Boy."
"I'll try not to." He smiled slightly as she squeezed him a little tighter. He brushed her blonde hair away from her face. "Beth, listen to me."
"Go on."
"It could have been either of us. It could be any day of the week in this job. You know that. What got to you today?" He waited as she shook her head, biting her lip as she thought about how to answer him.
"Just hit me." She paused. "I know the job. I know what we do. Today, well." She ran her thumb over his five o clock shadow as he held her gaze. "Think I'd miss you if you weren't around."
"Bed." He paused as she yawned. "Come on." He took her hand, leading her out of the kitchen as she felt herself lean into him. She was truly exhausted and knew he was too.
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Ruth stared at the computer screen working on the report of the day's events. She glanced up to see Harry walking towards her.
"Erin was right. It is professional. It has to be." She watched as he sat in Zaf's abandoned chair.
"Ok, so we know Katya was a former FSB officer. We also know that there is a fair chance she was expendable."
"Once she was detained she became a liability." Ruth frowned. "She was shot when you and Alec were at the Russian Embassy."
"Yes."
"And now I can't contact any of Prince Bertram's team. His security detail were scaled back last year when the Civil List was slimmed down but he does have a RPS officer with him."
"Jason."
"Who happens to be an amazing marksman." Ruth paused. Harry swore slightly. He took her hand.
"Its late. Ros, Zaf and Beth are ok. They are all back in one piece and it seems Will is back with us. Passed the medical but no field work for a month."
Ruth got to her feet. "He will go mad stuck here with us."
"Good." Harry frowned. "Teach him to take better care of himself." He ushered her out of the Grid hoping that they would find out who had murdered Katya but he had a sinking feeling it was going to remain a mystery.
A/N Possibly 2 chapters left. Please review.