Episode 3 continues…..
Friday 2pm. The Grid.
The tension on The Grid is palpable. Three days and no one is any clearer than they were on Tuesday. Ruth is now in a state of near hysteria and despite Harry's best attempts to get her off The Grid and home to sleep she refuses to leave her computer terminal. Harry and Dmitri have spent the best part of two full days interrogating the Mossad officer to no avail. Unwilling to hand over a British Passport to someone aiding and abetting an Israeli vigilante group Harry has his hands tied.
Facing so many conflicts and coming to the right decision, the one where, for the most part, fewer lives are at danger usually comes quite easy but this, this is totally different. With little or no information on what threat Mahslaha are posing Harry needs any information the Mossad officer can give up and yet there is no way he can offer British Citizenship to someone holding information on and turning a blind eye to the kidnap of American citizens.
Sitting at his desk, head in hands Harry looks up and see's Ruth. The anguish in her eyes visible between his office blinds. His heart reaches out to her as he begins to wonder why he chose to sit back behind this desk. If Ruth had shook her head and said "no" last week he would have happily walked hand in hand with her, out of his office and left the DG flabbergasted in his chair. But with Ruth's blessing and that ever present sense of duty he suffers with Harry sat back down and assumed the responsibilities that only he could assume.
Friday 4pm
Ruth has spoken to her Mum. They spoke about the trip, the weather and Harry. Inside Ruth is screaming out "don't get on the plane Mum!" But she can't put voice to her fear. Without knowing if there is a threat she can't cause such a disruption. Panic would ensue. It might be nothing or it might be something that could put the lives of those American hostages at risk. She can do nothing.
The phone rings, tearing his heart away from Ruth for a second he picks it up. His face visibly turns to horror as he leaps out of chair. Swinging his office door back he shouts "Meeting room, everyone, RIGHT NOW!"
Ruth doesn't know if this is good news or bad news but she suspects the latter as everyone rushes to the meeting room. Harry is already there and is reaching for the TV remote. Switching it on, Harry starts pacing the room, waiting for the broadcast in question to appear on the screen.
The screen flickers momentarily and then the image appears. Two men, faces covered, some Islamic flag on a wall and behind them five bound and gagged men and women.
"We are Mahslaha. The five people you see behind us are American citizens. As Americans they are guilty of greed, corruption, false power and bullying on an international scale. We will only give them back on our terms. You are holding a Mossad officer who holds information we cannot let you have. We have taken hostage of a passenger plane which will land at London Gatwick at 20.45 GMT. We will peacefully release all passengers to you when you hand over the Mossad officer to us. If you fail to comply with our demands the consequences will be severe. You will receive further instructions in two hours time."
The TV flickers once again and goes to back to black.
Happy ending?