Disclaimer - still not mine
Tension
Frankie looked out of the grainy window of the run down B&B he had found in East London. He spoke on his mobile as he stubbed out the cigarette he was smoking. He was angry, he did not fail, yet the two targets he had gone after were still walking around alive and well.
"It will be done" His heavy accent making it difficult for Hans Linnerman to understand.
Hans Linnerman was in a gentleman's club in the West End watching scantily clad women dance as he drank expensive vodka and listened to Frankie's excuses.
"You keep telling me this. You keep saying Andrew Lawrence will be dealt with, that you will be able to deal with your own private affairs. I have paid you a lot of money. I expect results" He ended the call abruptly as he lifted the vodka to his lips. He was angry. The problem of Andrew Lawrence should have been dealt with a long time ago. He was angry that he had aroused the interest of Section D. The last thing he needed was Harry Pearce and his friends chasing him, not when he had business to attend to that could only go ahead if the former Home Secretary was permanently out of the picture.
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Ros was not looking forward to her turn as baby sitter. The only consolation was that Malcolm would be with her. She had a couple of hours before she had to go to the safe house. Sat at her desk staring at the computer she was trying to work out why and how Hans Linnerman had transferred such a large sum of money in to Frankie's account. She could see a motive for Frankie wanting Ruth dead, but apart from financial gain she could see no reason he would go after Andrew. She glared at the screen as she concentrated on how and why Linnerman would want Andrew out of the picture. She sighed in frustration as all roads led back to Nightingale. Right at that moment she really wanted to talk to Ruth. See if she could analyse the information and see where they went next. She ran her hands through her hair as she wondered if Ruth really could remain objective when they all knew she was one of the targets too.
"Tariq?" Her eyes remained on the screen as the young techi turned in his.
"Yes boss?"
"You are the resident computer genius. How would someone make a transfer of funds that big without the bank it was being transferred from asking questions?" Ros tapped a few keys as she spoke.
"It's not as difficult as it sounds. People don't check every single transaction these days. It does seem that Frankie charges over the odds though" Tariq shrugged
"Really? So what is the going rate for a hit man?" Ros couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice. It seemed the boy had been watching too many crime thrillers. Tariq smiled and shook his head as Adam approached the team.
"How's the leg?" Adam smiled as Tariq asked.
"Sore, glad that plaster is off. I'll have to go to physio next week but it'll be ok. Should get to see Wes' next match as well" He smiled, he was really enjoying being able to go to watch Wesley play rugby. He knew Wes loved having him there too. Ros smiled slightly as she pushed her chair away from the screen.
"Right, now you are back you can go through these. I'm going to email Ruth and Harry" She stood as Adam smiled.
"When are you meeting Malcolm to go to the safe house?" Adam raised his eyebrows as he sat down. Ros glared at him, he knew she'd rather go ten rounds with Juliet than spend the night with Andrew. He didn't know why.
"I'll be there at 4" She held Adam's gaze daring him to say something else. His good natured teasing was not appreciated this time. Adam knew that look and returned to his computer. Ros smirked slightly before turning on her heel and heading back to the office to email Ruth in private.
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Ruth was developing cabin fever. They had been at the East End flat less than 24 hours. So far she had called Malcolm twice and emailed the Grid asking for secure file transfers three times. She wanted to be on the Grid, she didn't know why Harry and the others insisted they stay at the flat, she understood the reasoning in staying away from home at night but during working hours she knew she would be more use on the Grid.
"Ruth?" Harry looked up as she began typing a reply to Ros.
"Hans Linnerman transferred a ridiculous amount of money into Frankie's account. Much more than you would expect for a hit man to kill just one person" Ruth replied as she kept her eyes on the screen.
"What is the going rate for a hit man then?" Harry smirked as Ruth ignored him.
"I didn't ask on the one occasion that I met him" Ruth spat as Harry sighed "He must be here to kill more than one person" Ruth sighed as she waited for Ros to answer her.
"We guessed that Ruth. That's why we are here" Harry snapped as Ruth finally looked at him.
"I mean professionally. You didn't have to come here with me anyway. We have no Intel that suggests he knows we're together" Ruth was getting angry again. It was rare but Harry seemed to be on the receiving end of the anger for the majority of the time these days. He knew she was scared and stressed but he was beginning to get tired of being in the wrong for a lot of the time.
"Because, Ruth. If you are in danger then I am not leaving you on your own. Plus why wouldn't he know we are together? It's plausible he has found out. Ruth for the last time it is more than plausible that we are both targets. He is a professional hit man. He may not even want to kill you; he may be after Section D for something else." Harry was exasperated. He knew there was a risk that they could both be killed, he just couldn't see why Ruth was being so stubborn.
"I suppose" She sighed "But £4 million Harry? What else is Hans Linnerman paying him for? Its just too much money to be just for Andrew" Ruth rested her head in her hands.
"I don't know Ruth. Look, Ros and Malcolm are going to be baby sitting Andrew Lawrence later today. If anyone can find something out its those two" He rested his hands on Ruth's shoulders. He could feel the tension in her shoulders as she rested a hand on his.
"Lucas is there now. Tariq should be with him but Ros kept him back on the Grid. If I was there they could have let Tariq go. Lucas wouldn't be on his own." Ruth had to admit Harry massaging her shoulders felt amazing even if she was trying to be annoyed with him she couldn't.
"Lucas will be fine. Tariq is not a field officer anyway. He shouldn't really leave the Grid." Harry smiled as Ruth nodded. He was finally getting back in to her good graces, even if he wasn't quite sure why he was out of them to start with.
"I know. But I should be there" Ruth sounded defeated. Harry's hands stopped moving as he heard her words. He was determined not to loose his temper. It was almost as if Ruth had a death wish. He didn't know how to handle what was happening. Instead he walked back in to the bedroom and pulled out his mobile phone, deciding he had to find out what was happening. He called Adam.
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Lucas stood in the kitchen of the Fenchurch East Safe house with Ros. He was pleased to see her but knew he only had a few minutes to hand over what he had learnt through the day. Malcolm had already gone in to the living room with Andrew. Ros smiled slightly as Lucas leant against the kitchen sink.
"So Tariq thinks we have another target?" He covered Ros' hand with his own as she nodded slightly.
"Seems plausible. The only question is who?" Ros sighed as Lucas looked out towards the window.
"Yeah, he's said nothing. Not even tried to make small talk. All I know is he is scared. He did mention Christine is in America visiting her parents" Ros held his gaze. When he was stood this close to her he made it difficult to concentrate and he knew it.
"Fine" Ros smiled slightly "Zoe and Zaf are investigating a link between Hans Linnerman and the local branch of Nightingale. We only ever had suspisions before. Ruth has been looking at a possible link between Hans Linnerman and the financial district. He must have got the money from somewhere." Lucas smiled as he realised Ros was still staring at him.
"How are Ruth and Harry? She really didn't want to go in to the safe house" Lucas knew he was delaying things but he really wanted to spend time with Ros.
"She has emailed me three times today. Harry is coping better but I think Ruth is a little stressed. It'll do them good in the long run" She folded her arms defensively as Lucas smiled.
"You'll be ok here tonight?" He knew she hated to be around Andrew Lawrence for any length of time. Ros nodded. She had been dreading it all day but knew that none of the others knew why she found it so difficult. Even Malcolm was unaware of the panic attacks and flash backs that still occasionally reared their heads.
"I'm fine. I'm always fine" Ros straightened up. "Look, get some rest Lucas. I need the team at full strength by the morning debrief." Lucas knew the Ice Queen was back. Ros turned and walked to the kitchen door.
"Ah Lucas?" He looked up as he saw her in the doorway.
"Yeah?" He caught the half smile, he knew she was nervous about spending the night there.
"Make sure Zoe and Adam are here on time in the morning. I'm not spending any longer here than I have to" She didn't see Andrew behind her as she spoke. Lucas nodded once and raised his eyebrows as she suddenly realised and rolled her eyes.
"Hello Ros" Andrew spoke.
"Andrew" She glared at him. Right at that moment Lucas wasn't sure whether he was worrying about the right person.
Ruth was sat at the lap top in the living room feeling incredibly guilty. She knew Harry was as worried as she was. Harry walked back in to the small living room as she pushed her chair away from the computer. He looked deflated. Another pang of guilt hit Ruth as she stepped towards him.
"I'm sorry" Ruth bit her bottom lip "For being such a, well for being such a cow. Its not your fault" Harry smiled slightly as he stepped towards her. He was about to reply when both mobile phones started bleeping and an insistant knock started on the front door.
"What the?" Harry picked up his phone as Ruth picked up her lap top and began moving towards the back of the flat, she knew there was a fire escape there. Harry went to the front door as Ruth hissed his name. He pulled the door open and dragged Zaf inside.
"Zafar!" Harry hissed as he released the young man. "What are you playing at?"
"You have to get out of here. Ruth, this is bigger than we all thought." He had been running and was slightly out of breath.
"Zaf, what's going on?" Ruth chewed on her lip as Harry looked at the younger man.
"The Fenchurch Safe House has been breached. Ros and Andrew are missing, Malcolm is hurt. Tariq found a link between the money and the intended targets. Harry we definately have a mole. Tariq says all our data bases have been breached. Frankie has all our home addresses, safe house details and email passwords." Zaf looked towards the window as a single red dot appeared on the wall beside Harry.
"We move now!" Harry groweled as Zaf practically dragged Ruth to the fire escape. Gun fire and broken glass exploded around them as they ran.
authors note - please let me know what you think? WHo is frankie really looking for? Is Malcolm ok? WHere are Andrew and Ros? Reviews make the updates faster!
