Disclaimer not mine

Old Friends?

"We knew they would be back." Lucas glared at the computer screen. "Sooner or later."

"Bad pennies do have a tendency." Malcolm sighed as he shook his head. "I worked with Tessa. So did Zoe. She was very good at what she did. She just got incredibly greedy."

"She is a vile, self serving, money grabbing, egotistical.." Ruth spoke quietly as Ros raised an eyebrow.

"You don't like her?" Erin smirked as Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Well, I don't send her Christmas cards." Ruth replied. "Why now? Why would she be involved in this?"

"Where's the money?" Tariq asked. "You said it yourself, Ruth. She's a money grabber. There has to be a financial angle that we haven't considered yet."

"Brewer is fairly well off." Calum folded his arms. "We know his money from the tax fraud was never found."

"True." Ros looked over at the newest member of the team. "Calum, find out if there is a link between Brewer and Tessa Philips. She may be the finance behind his scheme. Jools had links to Nightingale."

"Them again." Beth closed her eyes. "Haven't they got the message yet?"

"Apparently not." Lucas frowned. "So?"

"I'll follow the money." Tariq rubbed his hands together before turning back to his computer. Malcolm got to his feet as he noticed Natasha leave the office. He needed to talk to the young woman but he had no idea if she would want to hear what he had to say.

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Adam walked into the psychologist's office and glared. The room was different to how he had expected it to be. Zoe looked up and smiled warmly.

"Alan?"

"Yeah."

"You know why you were sent to see me?" She asked as he crossed the room to her. He nodded as she glanced at the recording device she had found ten minutes earlier. Adam nodded once more, understanding what she as trying to say.

"Yeah." He answered.

"How are you coping with life inside?"

"How?" He shook his head. "I got a year."

"Alan?" He pushed himself back from the desk and began to rant and rave, keeping totally in character. Zoe frowned for a moment before getting to her feet. "Sit down." She spoke calmly, knowing Adam would ignore her. For a completely sane man, one she classed as a close friend he could act almost as if he was psychotic at times. He threw the books and tape recorder off her desk as she approached him, muscles tense he looked to the rest of the world as if he could kill her in a second. She planted her hands on the desk and glared at him.

"Sit down."

Adam planted his hands on the wood in front of her. "No." Seconds later three prison guards rushed in and dragged him out the room, still kicking and shouting. Zoe shook her head as she picked up the paper he had dropped. Smiling slightly she slipped it into the waistband of her dress and left the room.

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Harry glared across the excercise yard as the early Spring sunshine hit his eyes. He watched Brewer talk to a man about the same build as Adam and knew he was being spoken about. Taking a steady breath he tried not to think of Ruth and the children, or the fact his oldest child was due to have her second baby at any time. He had missed too much of Catherine and Graham's childhood. He didn't want to repeat those mistakes with Nick and Gracie-Jo or any of his grandchildren.

"Jimmy."

"What?" He snapped as the man that had been talking to Brewer glared at him.

"You spoken to Big Dom yet?"

"Big Dom." Harry pulled a face. "Makes him sound like a bleach advert. Yes, I have. What's it to do with you?"

"He ain't happy with your response."

"Then he can talk to me himself. He's a big boy." Harry glared at the man. Moments later Dom appeared at his side.

"That I can. Slim? Piss off." He narrowed his eyes as the younger man skulked away.

"I told you. I am in here to do the time I was given and get out." Harry glared at the wide-set man. "You deaf?"

"No I heard you." Brewer laughed. "But you also said you did what needed to be done. I like that in a man. So I did a little digging."

"And?" Harry knew the legend Malcolm had put together would stand up. He just wanted to know who was leaking personal details to the self proclaimed King of the cells.

"And I have something which needs to be done."

"Such as?" Harry asked. "I am not doing anyone's dirty work."

"Really? And is the guy that got your daughter pregnant then beat her up gonna be walking around any time soon?"

Harry clenched his fists, knowing legends had to have a degree of truth in them. Ryan Harris was Charlie's biological father but he was scum as far as he was concerned. Brewer smiled.

"See? A reaction. You aren't Mr Cool after all."

"You leave my kid out of this."

"I will." Brewer agreed. "But only if you do something for me."

"Blackmail." Harry squared up to him. "Are you sure you want to go down that line?"

"I have kids. A daughter, my Tracey. Actually my son-in-law is in the cell next to yours. A bit of a handful."

"Family reunion. How touching."

"He ain't the brightest star in the sky."

"The kid with the face tatoo. I guessed he wouldn't be bothering MENSA." Harry stated calmly. "He's the thug that started that fight. Beat up an Asian lad yesterday." Harry knew Zaf had been on the receiving end but had given as good as he had got. It seemed that although Zaf hated violence he was more than capable in taking care of himself. Brewer laughed as he nodded.

"Yeah, thing is." He looked around. "I don't like that sort"

"What sort?" Harry already felt sick with disgust.

"The sort that aren't English."

"He might be."

"Oh I get his parents may be born 'ere but you know wha I mean. I've got financial backing. The ear of a few like minded officials. I can make a difference and I think you can too."

"A difference?" Harry knew Brewer had no idea who he was. "How?"

"Tomorrow night."

"What about it?"

"I'll have more details then but my money is coming through. I need to know you are the sort of man that can get things done. When necessary."

"You know I am."

"I want this nick burned down. I want to walk out the door and return to my business unheeded. Now I have the means to do it. Be ready to walk tomorrow night."

"What are you talking about? A riot?"

"Yeah well, means to an ends. If a few of these sodding guards and that pretty little shrink get in the way then that's their problem."

Harry nodded, suddenly concerned for Zoe's safety, knowing the psychologist met with the prison doctor and govoner the next day. Brewer clapped him on the back. "She is very pretty. Enjoy your session." He walked away leaving Harry to glare after him.

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Zoe walked back onto the Grid amid what would look like generalised chaos to everyone else. Sitting down at her desk she opened the paper Adam had given her an hour before. "Ruth?"

"Yeah?"

"I need you to see this." She handed the paper to her. "Adam gave it to me."

"Did you see Harry?" Ruth asked as Zoe shook her head.

"No, my sessions were cancelled after Adam turned the desk over and pretended to pin me in the corner." She shrugged as Erin's eyes grew wider.

"Adam." Ruth smiled as she read the slip of paper. "Only you."

"What? What is it?"

"I think it's a map reference or a date." She frowned at the jumble of letters. "Whatever it is he has put it in code, knowing anyone but us would think it was lottery numbers or some nonsense."

"But?"

"Give me an hour. I'll let you know what he said." Ruth smiled, glad to have some communication from her friends. She missed Harry until it was almost painful but knew the op couldn't go on forever. Tapping the numbers into the codebreaker system Calum and Malcolm had devised she sat and waited.

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"Natasha." Malcolm caught up with the younger woman. "I am sorry you had to hear about Colin like that."

"He was a lovely man." Natasha sighed. The rain bouncing on the pavement around them. "And he did save my life. Along with Mad Dog and the rest of you."

"Can I ask you something?" Malcolm asked. "If I am prying."

"Tough, because it's what you do." Natasha smiled at him. "It's your job."

"Well, yes." He smiled back. "But why is it that you came to us? I know you saw Adam at the prison but why did you think to come straight to us? Why get yourself involved in this world again? I know Adam wanted to recruit you."

"But I said no." She shook her head. "This isn't my world. I have a child now. I have to keep him safe. Ryan is my number one priority. Nothing else. My idiot little brother worships Brewer, God only knows why but he does. And he is stupid enough to do whatever that man tells him to do."

"I see."

"He has to be stopped." Natasha looked away for a moment. "Before he does something there is no going back from."

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A/N please let me know what you think. I am guessing this story isn't going down too well. It's still at the delete and restart point so let me know.