Disclaimer see previous
Past Hurts
Harry stared at Ros. Why the former Home Secretary had managed to make an enemy of a Hit Man was anyone's guess. Ros glared as Ruth ran a hand over her eyes. It was clear to see the Intel Analyst was exhausted.
"So, why is a hit man targeting Andrew Lawrence?" Harry asked as Lucas smirked.
"It wasn't me that hired him" Ros deadpanned as both men smirked. Ruth rolled her eyes. Harry knew Ros well enough to know that the thought would have crossed her mind when she had found out. It was no secret that Ros was no longer a favourite where the politician was concerned. It was also no secret to anyone in Section D that Andrew Lawrence had been smitten with the Section Chief. Lucas for one was glad that the feeling wasn't mutual. The way he had treated Ros after the explosion where she had saved his life was disgusting and Lucas really wanted to make sure he was aware of it. The episode where she had called him an overgrown school boy and practically ordered him from the Grid was still etched on their minds.
"What have we got?" Ruth asked quietly as Lucas shrugged.
"Not a great deal. We only started digging once you spoke to Zoe. We haven't really had a lot of time. The Andrew Lawrence connection only came to light this morning after he reported a break in at home. It sounded like yours so we investigated." Lucas leant against the wall as Ros nodded once.
"Briefing room in 5 minutes. I want to know everything that we have on Andrew Lawrence, Francesco Pappalodidos and who may have employed him" Harry walked in to his office as Ruth blinked back her tears. She had a feeling things were going to get a lot worse.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Zoe had wanted to speak to Ruth the moment she had arrived back from Yorkshire. She had been upset for her friend; she knew that Harry and Ruth rarely had time together outside of work. She also wanted to talk to her about the change in her own relationship with Zaf. She really did have feelings for Zaf but after what could only be$ described as a horrendous relationship with Will she was scared that she was falling too fast too quickly. Ruth was her oldest and best friend and she desperately wanted to know whether she was doing the right thing. The way he was with Emma made her think that she was but it was so soon after her divorce that she didn't trust her own instincts. What she really needed was Ruth to tell her that Zaf was a lovely bloke and that she'd be insane not to go on seeing him. As if Zaf knew what she was thinking he looked up from his desk and smiled. Zoe couldn't help but smile back. Yeah Reynolds she thought to herself you got it bad girl.
Adam walked across the Grid, now much more able to handle his crutches but still annoyed at the broken leg. He had been in the Registry looking up everything they had on the Hit Man Ros believed had died almost four years ago. He smiled as he saw his friends. He genuinely was pleased for them; it was nice to see Zaf happy after everything that had happened.
"Harry wants us all in the Briefing Room" Zoe looked up as Adam nodded.
"Ok, I think I've found something on our Cypriot friend and Ruth. I want to talk to her first though" He propped himself on the edge of Ruth's desk as the Intel Analyst returned from the kitchenette, with coffee in hand.
"Ruth" Adam smiled "Can I have a word?"
"Hi. Yes of course" Ruth knew she wasn't going to like this. Adam smiled kindly. He knew Ruth would never have got involved with George if she had known what his family were like, or if she had ever believed she would return to the UK. To Harry.
"How much do you know about George's brother, Frankie?" Adam had to know what Ruth knew.
"Not a great deal really Adam. Ah, Francesco is older than George. Never married, never had children. George thought he was an idiot, that he was a disgrace to his father. He did tell me he travelled abroad, that he had been in trouble with the police" Ruth sighed. She really didn't want to be reminded of anything to do with Cyprus. Although she loved Nico she knew that her relationship with George was not what the others had believed. In the beginning she liked him, he was funny, kind and she had thought she could fall for him. His rages had stopped that thought in seconds. The way he treated Nico as if he was a possession rather than a son, the way he was with her once he believed she would not leave him, made her see he wasn't the man the outside world thought he was. It was not a marriage made in Heaven. Ruth sighed. She was just pleased that she had never gone through with the wedding. Adam watched as she recounted what little she knew about Frankie.
"Did he ever mention what the trouble with the police involved? Did he ever tell you that he was involved with it too?" Adam saw Ruth's eyes darken. He knew her tendency to guard her privacy at all costs. He had to push it this time.
"No, I thought he was involved in something. Frankie and Maria were the closer to their parents than George. I only found out Frankie and George had been in trouble when his sister warned me not to marry him. She said that Cypriot men were not like British men. I didn't know what she meant and I really thought she was warning me off, Adam. She was his younger sister after all. It was then she told me about Frankie having killed people for money and that George had helped to cover it up. He had trained as a Doctor but he still had links to the people Frankie worked with. I found out that Nico's Godfather was in prison for paying Frankie to kill a woman he believed was cheating on him. She was gunned down in the street." Ruth sighed, she was angry with herself. Adam rested a hand on Ruth's arm.
"Does Harry know? Does he know that George was violent?" Ruth's eyes widened. She had never said that George had touched her. Adam spoke quietly so that none of the team heard.
"Adam" Ruth almost whispered
"You didn't have to tell me. I've seen that look before. I was married to Fiona remember?" Adam smiled kindly as Ruth nodded. They all knew what a nightmare Fiona's ex husband had been.
"Why did you stay? For Nico?" Adam hadn't been there when she had returned. Everything he knew had come from talking to Harry and reading files.
"No, Nico is a lovely child but I knew George would never hurt him. I think I just didn't have anywhere else to go. I didn't think I could come home. I don't know Adam, after everything with Harry I think it was all I deserved" Tears sprung to her eyes as Adam squeezed her arm.
"Oh Ruth" She looked away slightly as Adam smiled. "Does Harry know?"
"If he read the letter I left him. I was going to go back to Cyprus the night after the break in. I wanted to talk to Anna. Just to see if I could get her to call Frankie off. Harry stopped me" Ruth sighed as Adam nodded.
"You would be walking back in to a trap. You know that" Adam couldn't believe she had been willing to go there, after everything she had just told him. Ruth shrugged as Harry emerged from his office.
"Briefing Room NOW!" Harry locked eyes with Ruth as he shouted across the Grid. He knew what as in the letter and he knew Adam was aware of it now. What he didn't know was why Andrew Lawrence had become a target and how Frankie had known they were in Yorkshire. He felt sick at the thought someone really did want to kill Ruth.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
The team assembled themselves around the table in the Briefing Room. Ruth sat playing with the edge of the papers she was holding. Adam glanced across at his friends as Harry sat at the head of the table.
"Right, Andrew Lawrence is the target of a known hitman that we believed to be dead. We have at least one member of staff that is a likely target for the same hitman. Please explain to me how that is possible" Harry waited as everyone remained silent for a moment.
"Frankie Papilopodus is not a nice man" Zoe began.
"Understatement of the century Zoe. I shot him dead. He was going to shoot me and Adam. I saw his body fall." Ros glared as Adam nodded. He remembered it well.
"2006 he was hired to shoot two members of the government. We believed it was a dissident group that thought they could bring publicity to themselves. Not as threatening as Nightingale but a nuisance none the less" Adam carried on the story, aware that Ruth, Lucas, Zoe and Tariq were not part of the team at the time.
"Why target Andrew Lawrence? Why now?" Harry sighed. He really didn't want to baby sit the former Home Secretary, but didn't see how they could avoid it.
"Because of who he is. We know he was at the meeting in Basel when Nightingale really took off. It could be something to do with that" Lucas thought out loud as Harry nodded.
"Possible" Harry had to concede Lucas had a point.
"Frankie works to a particular MO" Ruth spoke up for the first time "From what I've learnt all his previous targets had their homes broken in to before they were killed. Never by Frankie himself. Always by a young teenager with a record for theft and breaking and entering. I think he's paying these kids to find information on his targets." Ruth stared at the computer screen as pictures of Frankie and George appeared. She was determined not to look away.
"So we can assume it is someone from the meeting in Basel that wants Andrew Lawrence dead" Harry sighed as Ros nodded.
"Yes, the only question is why and who is paying the money." Ros glared.
"Oh I can follow the money" Tariq smiled as he clicked his pen.
"I'll speak to my contact at Whitehall. Ros we will go to speak to Andrew Lawrence later today" Ros tried not to roll her eyes at the thought. "Adam, Zoe find out everything you can on Andrew Lawrence and Basel. I want to know exactly what he has been up to since the General Election. I want Christine Dale watched too. Lucas, Zaf follow Frankie; see what who he reports to. Ruth go through everything we have on the Basel meeting, Tariq find out where the money for this is coming from. Malcolm any and all surveillance we can find on this man is going to be vital" Harry stood as the team knew they were dismissed. They all began leaving to set about their allotted tasks leaving Harry alone in the room. He sighed suddenly wondering if Frankie was just trying to scare Ruth or if she really was a target.
"Harry" Zoe re-entered the room as he looked up.
"Yes" Harry sighed
"Andrew Lawrence is here"
authors note. Thanks for the reviews. Let me know what you think. What does Andrew Lawrence want at the Grid? What will Frankie do if he does catch up with Ruth?
