Hurt

Catherine frowned, shocked that a man had been murdered in the building where she worked. Harry squeezed her shoulder, knowing that this time the harsh reality of life within the Security Services had hit home. His oldest child shook her head slightly.

"I wanted to be wrong."

"I know." He kept his voice low. "And this time I would have been happy for you to be. Lee has absconded. Ruth and Alec are on the way here with Stan."

"Stan?" Beth raised an eyebrow. Harry nodded.

"He's a witness and maybe able to help. Go to Sarah & Malcolm's. Check on Henry and Sarah. We don't know Lee isn't on his way there." He looked up to see Malcolm looking aghast. "Malcom, go with her. Bring them back here."

Beth nodded before ushering Malcolm out of the Grid just as Alec arrived with Ruth and Stan.

"Harry. I." Alec began as Harry ignored his old friend, visually checking Ruth over for any sign of injury.

"Stan, give Zoe your account of what's happened. Alec, Ruth. My office." He turned giving them no option but to follow.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Erin pushed her foot to the accelerator before she had a chance to talk herself out of what she was about to do. She knew Juliet was still alive but would be less than happy to see her, or anyone else from Section D. She also knew Dimitri was having misgivings as he sat next to her in the car.

"She might be able to shed some light on all this." Erin explained. Dimitri nodded once.

"And Piranha Fish might be cuddly, if given the chance." He tapped the car door impatiently as Erin drove. The traffic begun to lessen as Erin focused on the route to the prison where Juliet was being held.

Xxxxx

"Harry." Ruth stepped into the inner office determined not to show upset she was as Alec closed the door behind them. Alec was full of barely contained fury.

"Sit down."

"Look, before you start." Alec sat next to Ruth. "Interviewing him was a legitimate strategy. You know that."

Harry nodded once, clearly aware that Alec was right. Ruth looked paler than he thought was healthy. He silently wished Alec would disappear so he could talk to Ruth properly as her husband not her boss.

"You found his body?"

"I did." Ruth looked at her hands as she spoke. The image of the dead man ingrained on her minds eye. She knew it was going to haunt her for some time to come. "Any news on Lucas?"

"Don't deflect this." Harry snapped. "A suspect in an ongoing investigation is dead. Murdered in the holding cells below us. You knew we had a possible traitor and you still went ahead."

"I'm an analyst. It's my job to analyse the information we get." Ruth glared at him in defiance. Alec began to feel even more uncomfortable. "Sometimes I have to see the body language. Watch the lie to see the truth."

Harry ran a hand over his face in exasperation. He knew she was right, she always was when it came to her work but she didn't see what her risk taking did to those who loved her. Alec broke the silence.

"Lee was upset. Agitated and clearly upset when we saw him."

"You think he killed the man?" Harry asked.

"Why else run?"

"No, I don't think he did." Ruth glanced from Harry to Alec. "But he was there when the murder took place. That I'm certain of. He witnessed it. He knows who the killer is and that is why he ran." Ruth stared off into space as some imaginary jigsaw seemed to fit together on her mind. "It's how the killer got information on you, Juliet and Henry. It's how they know so much. Lee fed them information. All we have to do is find out who and why."

Xxxxxxzz

Malcolm opened the front door to silence. Neither of the dogs ran out to greet him or barked. Sarah didn't answer when he called her name. Beth rested her hand on his arm.

"Check upstairs. I'll call it in." Malcolm nodded before walking away.

Cxxxxx