Thanks for the reviews. One more chapter to come after this.

Disclaimer: I do not own City Homicide or its characters.

11.

Jen was nervous, her stomach doing somersaults with the anxiety. Nick pulled up in front of the suburban home. There were already a few cars there.

Hartono had called a gathering at his house. Said that he wanted to talk about business, needed everyone involved to be present. Given his recent suspicion that someone had been double crossing him, Nick and Jen were understandably tense.

Jen reached over and grabbed Nick's hand, her fingers lacing with his. He looked over at her, feeling worried, but wanting to reassure her that everything would be okay. He knew how frightened she was. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

She nodded slowly. "I just want this to be over."

"We can do this, Trish."

"I know."

Nick started to get out of the car, but Jen's hand on his arm pulled him back. He stopped and looked at her.

In her eyes, he saw a mixture of fear, concern and affection. She gave him a slight smile, trying her best to convince him that she was okay. He reached over and ran his fingers down her cheek, feeling incredible warmth for this woman before him, this woman that he had known as his wife, for the past 12 months.

He wished that there was some other way, that he could go in there alone, not have to take Jen in there with him; but he knew that Hartono would be suspicious if Wesley turned up to a business meeting without Trish.

No, there was no way out of this, she had to be there with him.

His heart sank at the prospect of Jen being placed in any sort of danger, and he knew, in that brief moment, that he would do anything to protect her, that he would give his life for her.

Hartono let them into his home, and he was looking decidedly cheerful. Nick didn't think that boded well; Hartono was usually a sombre and sullen man, not known for his good humour and cheerful disposition. No, Nick suspected that all was not well, and despite an overwhelming desire to grab Jen and run, he held her hand tightly and they walked into the living room, where they were met by a group of six others.

Abdul Supomo was there – Abdul was their handler, and he was also paid by the SIS. Jen was relieved to see him, his kind face and eyes providing her with some comfort.

Jamie, another SIS operative was also present, and Nick felt that there was some safety in numbers.

The other four people in the room were people they knew, who had been engaged in the business of running guns for Hartono.

Hartono stood in the middle of the room, scanning the scene. Again, he smiled, and the uneasy feeling that Nick had felt earlier, returned once again.

Hartono began to speak. "I have spoken to each of you over the last week, and made it known that I am aware that someone is not being truthful. Someone has been providing information to people that they should not have spoken to. My operation has been compromised, and I need to be clear that this will not happen again."

Jen eyed the room nervously. She caught Abdul's eye momentarily, before he looked hurriedly away. She hoped that Abdul had not become scared, and sold them out to Hartono. She didn't want to believe that he could have, but she knew that he had a wife, a young family, that he needed to protect.

Hartono put his hands in the pockets of his jacket, and continued. "I have discovered who I believe has been the one talking, and now I need to make it clear to all of you that if you are not honest with me, if you cross me at all and jeopardise my business and my plans, there will be consequences."

With that, Hartono pulled a small pistol out of his pocket, and fired at Jamie, at point blank range. The pistol, fitted with a silencer, made minimal noise – a slight popping sound, but there was no mistaking the fatal consequences of Hartono's act. Jamie was hit in the forehead, and dropped to the ground, immediately dead.

Jen felt a scream rising in her throat, but Nick had grabbed hold of her and pulled her close into a tight embrace, his hand covering her mouth. He did not want to draw further attention to her. He felt her trembling against him.

Hartono calmly placed the pistol back into his pocket. "Let this be a warning. I am not a fool. I will not be crossed. I will contact you all again when I have need. Please leave now."

Nick, almost disbelieving at what had just transpired before them, led Jen out to the car. The others followed, heading towards their own vehicles. No-one spoke.

Nick put Jen into the car and then he drove. He drove a good few blocks before he pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. He stared at Jen. She was obviously in shock at what had happened. He leaned over and pulled her into his arms. He was disturbed by her silence, by her lack of tears, and was worried that she was definitely in shock and may need medical attention.

He used his mobile phone and called the contact person that they had been assigned in SIS. Quietly, he let them know what had occurred, and then, in a hushed voice, questioned the continuing safety of himself and Jennifer as undercover operatives. Nick was told that they were not deemed to be at risk at this time, and to return to their rental property, someone from SIS would come around shortly.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Nick turned to Jen and pulled her to him. She finally dissolved into quiet sobs, her body heaving against his chest. "I don't want to do this anymore. I want to go back to my life!"

"I know" Nick soothed softly, stroking her hair. "I know."

She looked up at him in the dark. "Are we going to get out of this alive?"

"Of course we are." He squeezed her tightly, trying to exude an air of confidence; but even he was not convinced that they would escape this assignment with their lives.