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Chapter 56
Family Matters Most
1830 - Manchester, UK
"We are bringing you an update on the lethal chase which occurred earlier today in London…."
Grace quickly grabbed the remote and peaked the volume. Max tossed his newspaper down with a loud crinkle. "What are ya doin?!" he exclaimed.
"Shhhh! This is what I was tellin ya about! Oh I do hope they show the video again…" Grace said chewing on her thumb nail.
"Have ya talked to Georgie?" Max asked, leaning forward in his chair to get a better look at the television screen.
"No! My calls keep going to voice mail." Grace moaned.
"We have not been able to identify the young woman who was apparently taken hostage earlier today. The only details we were able to confirm are that she is pregnant and was taken to hospital following her rescue. The kidnapper was taken down at the scene by an armed man witnesses say was a crack shot. Authorities are not releasing any identities to the media."
"Look! Look at her!" Grace shouted as the video revealed a weak closeup of the woman. "Is that not our Georgie?!" she said squeezing her hands into anxious fists.
"Fuck sake it does look like her!" Max said. "And see that bloke walking around near her? That's Elvis!"
"Where?" Grace said practically gluing her face to the screen.
"It's him I tell ya! Can only see his back, but there's no mistaken that swagger." The Lanes looked at each other. "Did you try Elvis?" Max asked.
"No….not yet…." Grace jumped up to retrieve her mobile, scrolling through her contacts. "But what would they be doing in London do ya reckon?" she said as she rang Elvis.
Xxxxx
1845 – London, UK
Elvis walked around the room eying the walls and furnishings whilst a nurse helped Georgie settle in. "Will you be staying over Mr. Harte?" She asked. Elvis and Georgie looked at each other.
"Yes, he will." Georgie answered decisively.
"Very well then. There is a cot available which most find comfortable." the nurse said.
"I'm sure it's fine." Elvis said, checking his mobile. He had two incoming messages.
Georgie smiled at him and said, "Solves that problem."
He chuckled. "Which problem is 'at?"
"You'll be bunking with me. Well, not literally. You'll be on the cot.
He looked up at her from beneath a fringe of dark hair that had grown longer again. That look Georgie thought. That sensuous way his chocolate brown eyes took her in. London was special to them, they both felt it. Elvis had his flat here when they first became a couple and had spent many a blissful night together there. Now they were married and expecting their first child. Their love only seemed to grow as time rolled on. He smiled wryly and glanced down at his mobile.
"Who's messaging ya?" she asked.
"My sister."
"She obviously heard the reports…."
"Affirmative. She has just about every news app on her mobile." Elvis said texting a response.
"What are ya telling her?"
"'At we are fine and to keep it low profile. I'll call them later. Elena is a good buffer, otherwise my mum would be standin 'ere right now." Elvis said pointing his finger to the floor.
Georgie smiled, "You can hardly blame your mum."
"I don't blame her babe. Well aware she worries and I can appreciate 'at."
Georgie absently attempted to nibble her lower lip and stopped just short of biting down. "My mum hasn't tried to ring me….perhaps they didn't hear the reports." She glanced at her mobile on the side table then reached for it. "Shit! Huh…" she uttered.
"Battery depleted?" Elvis asked.
"No. Someone turned it off. Probably when they were checking me over." She pressed the power button and watched the screen light up, then squinted at the number of voice mails and texts awaiting her response. "Jeez! My mum was trying to reach me." She said scrolling through the text messages.
"Best call now Georgie." The words were no sooner out of Elvis' mouth and his mobile rang. "I'll be there….." he mumbled. Thinking it was Warner ringing him again. He looked up at Georgie when he saw the caller ID. "Hold." He said as he tapped the screen. Her eyes grew big.
"My mum?"
Elvis nodded. "Heyy Grace…."
"Elvis! Where are you? Where's Georgie? Are you two OK?" The words tumbled out of the phone like a tsunami.
Elvis scowled painfully. "Yes, we are OK."
"Oh thank God! I have been trying to ring Georgie for what seems like forever and she doesn't answer. There was a report on the telly…"
"I know Grace."
"What?! You know?!"
Max intervened and took the phone from his wife and placed it on speaker. "Bloody hell Elvis! What's going on?" Elvis placed his phone on speaker but dimmed the volume. "Her mum has been trying to ring her!"
"I'm alright dad…mum. I'm sorry. My phone was turned off." Georgie loudly pleaded.
"Was that you on the news?" Grace asked.
"Yes." Georgie answered rubbing her forehead with two fingers, looking up at Elvis.
"Georgie!" Grace cried out.
"Mum! I'm fine."
"What happened? What are you two doing in London?" Both Lanes said talking over each other. The Hartes looked at each other.
"Elvis was summoned and we thought it would be a nice little holiday…"
"Who was that man!?... What happened?
Elvis raked his hair back earnestly. "Can't tell ya. Sorry. Literally we cannot."
"You have got to be joking!" Max bellowed.
"I am not. Max, the situation is classified."
"What!? What the fuck does that mean?"
"It means we cannot tell you. Not now." Georgie said. "I'm sorry. We never meant for this to happen, or for you to have to worry like this. Just know that I am fine, the baby is fine and Elvis is fine. I am spending the night in hospital and hopefully we will be back home in a day or two."
"Can ya tell us then Georgie?" Grace asked.
"I don't know. The main thing is that we will be home soon and back to pottering on."
"Elvis you stopped that bloke." Max said. "They should give ya some special commendation lad." Georgie gave her husband a heartfelt smile. If her parents only knew that was why they were in London.
"The reporter said they do not know who you two are." Grace said.
"It has to stay 'at way." Elvis said.
"But why?" Grace continued.
"It has to for Elvis." Georgie said. "We need for you to help us with this."
"Alright. We will." Max said nodding an agreement with his wife.
"Yes, we will, but Georgie luv, whatever did ya get involved in?" Grace said.
"Nothing mum. It's over now."
Xxxxx
1900 –
Elvis was sat at the long mahogany table along with Dave Warner, Jason Speers, and the now Major General Baxter. "This was quite the endeavor Captain Harte." Baxter said. Elvis regarded him impassively. "The civil authorities are in agreement that your actions were justified. Pettigrew acted with intent to inflict harm upon you and your spouse. The case will be sealed and your identity has not and will not be disclosed."
"Understood sir." Elvis responded.
"The remainder of the propane was discovered in the building Pettigrew used as a staging site following the abduction of Georgie." Speer reported. Elvis' eyes were riveted on him. "He had rigged a detonating device to his personal mobile which we assume he intended to activate if you or your team had attempted to breach the building." Speers said, returning Elvis' steely gaze. "The explosives boys are still working on ameliorating the potential threat."
"That leaves further interrogation of Oliver Knots." Warner said. Elvis' jaw clenched at the sound of that name. What he would not give to have a go at that prick.
"Lawyered up 'as he?" Elvis asked dryly.
"Oh indeed." Warner answered.
"It is my understanding that Major Knots has opted to cooperate." Baxter said.
"Affirmative. His counselor informed me that he has evidence linking Adam Jones to the heroin theft. That would keep the once Lance Corporal Jones behind bars permanently." Warner said.
"Sounds apt." Elvis muttered. Warner glanced at him. "He's the one that sent Pettigrew after Evans. I am certain of it." Elvis said.
"I'll make you right there." Speers said.
"Alright gentlemen. We three owe congratulations here to Elvis. It is not often I have found myself in the presence of a recipient of the VC. Well done Captain." Baxter said, standing and extending an arm. Elvis instantly stood as did Warner and Speers.
"Thank you sir." Elvis said returning a firm grip of his hand. Following the exchange Major General Baxter left the room.
"You impress me Harte. We could use your expertise at MI5." Speers said.
"Is 'at right?" Elvis said warily. His eyes slid to Dave Warner, then he added, "MI5."
"Would you be interested?" Speers inquired hopefully.
A myriad of considerations flew through Elvis' mind. Was he actually taking this long to answer? Two sets of eyes were on him. "It's not something I've ever thought about." he finally said.
"You will think about it then?" Speers encouraged.
"Perhaps at some point. Now is not the time." Elvis answered negatively wagging his head slowly.
Speers did not try to disguise his disappointment and said, "Take your time. My line is always open."
Warner gave Elvis a prodding brow lift. "I 'ave a bit of a full plate at the moment chaps." Elvis said. "I want to focus on my family."
