20.40 on board flight 738
"The runway is in sight" the terrified pilot informs an anonymous hooded man behind him
"Keep it steady, don't be a hero" the hooded man replies
Steve Rapley has been flying for 36 years. Never has he had a sniff of trouble save for a few drunken passengers and now, on his penultimate flight, this happens! It wouldn't be so bad but his final flight is the return journey to Tel Aviv. There is going to be a big a party waiting for him at his favourite Israeli hotel, the Dan Tel Aviv. Sitting on the beautiful beachfront he imagines the preparations are in full swing, sighing he continues his descent onto the northern runway.
Looking to the fast approaching tarmac Hassan Mofassa frowns beneath his balaclava. Below him he sees the flashing blue lights of three police cars. Instinctively he increases the pressure on the gun still nuzzled into the base of the pilots head.
"No, don't" reacts Rapley, "look… down there!"
20.45
Ruth and Harry are stood on the runway with the rest of their team, Sussex police and a very agitated Mossad officer. Ruth is chewing her nails, Harry, torn between being Head of Section D and Ruth's Fiance settles for a gentle hand on the small of her back. The plane lands smoothly, the doors open and the stairs are driven into place. The first person to appear at the doorway is one of the pilots. He is closely followed by two hooded men, one of which is pointing a gun to the pilots head as the other one descends down the stairs.
"You bring him halfway and leave him" demands the man
Harry's hand leaves Ruth's back as he takes a step towards the Mossad officer.
"Harry, no… not you, please." begs Ruth
"It's OK Ruth, nothing's going to happen"
Harry walks forward with the handcuffed traitor and waits in the middle of the tarmac for further instruction
"Leave him! Walk away!" shouts the hooded man from the bottom of the stairs.
With no bargaining tool left Harry gives the man one of his dirtiest glares and turns to walk back to his team. Fixing his eyes on Ruth the whole time he is feeling more than a little nervous with his back to these terrorists. As he reaches her she takes his hand. They stand there watching the Mossad officer, their only hope of getting the American hostages free, being strong-armed into the plane.
The pilot, looking more than a little bewildered is also frog marched back into the plane leaving their welcoming committee stood looking at an empty set of stairs and a closed door.
Five minutes pass, or rather something more like a lifetime for Ruth, when the plane door opens and one by one, overlooked by the same gun wielding and hooded man, the passengers start to come down the stairs. And then Ruth sees her and starts running. Harry smiles as he watches Ruth throw her arms around his future mother in law. Walking back towards him Ruth and Elizabeth are smiling too.
"So, this is Harry?" enquires Ruth's mum
"Yes" replies Ruth bashfully, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks
"Pleased to finally meet you Mrs Bickley" Harry says, smiling and extending his hand
Elizabeth looks at his hand, frowns and pulls him into a huge embrace.
"Put him down" chides Ruth
"He's all yours" Elisabeth says pulling away from him
"I certainly am" growls Harry, pulling Ruth into his arms.
"Put me down" laughs Ruth
"Never!"
This brief moment of joy is disrupted by the sound of a jet engine starting up as the hooded men, the Mossad officer, Steve Rapley and his co-pilot make their way down the runway.
Harry says a silent prayer for the pilots and another one for the Mossad officer hiding a small tracking device under the skin behind his left ear.
22.56 Ruth's bed
"Ruth?"
"Yes Harry"
"This week I wished that you had said 'no' to me, about going back to Five"
"I know… I wished it too a few times but in the end there is no one else in the world I'd rather have sat behind that desk than you. You saved my Mum's life and the lives of a further 211 passengers."
"Numbers game eh?"
"You know my thoughts on that Harry, sometimes I think it is"
"Well it's in the CIA's hands now. I am sure, in time they will forgive our actions today"
"Absolutely" smiles Ruth ruefully as she snuggles into Harry's embrace, the stress of the past few days finally ebbing away
Harry's gentle breathing finally gives way to a gentle snore as the two of them, closer in so many ways than either had ever imagined drift off into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter 4 coming…..