Chapter 2

"Right; everyone there?" Harry asked the team. He heard a chorus of yes' in reply.

"Good. Adam, report:"

"A bomb threat was made this morning at 9AM threatening to cause maximum causalities and structural damage to the Houses of Parliament (H.P.). The caller had a thick French accent and sounded like he was struggling to speak out the message; like he'd only just started to learn English." Adam paused while a recording of the bomb threat was played, then continued saying

"We've had a quick look through recent Intel and there's nothing mentioning any French connections."

"Is there any time frame suspected on the bomb threat?" Harry asked.

"Nothing at this time; I suspect we'll receive another call later to give us an indication of this," Adam replied. Harry took charge.

"O.k. Adam, check all personnel and the H.P. with any French connections. I want to know everything. Ros and Zaf go to the H.P. and ask around for anything out of the ordinary; particularly check out the cleaners and waste collection. Malcolm, can you check all CCTV surrounding the H.P. for re-occurring incidents – cars, pedestrians, sight-seers taking too many pictures of one thing, etc. Start with direct streets and pathways and move out to a radius of 5miles. Colin, can you help Malcolm with the computer side of things; Jo, check out any incidents that Malcolm and Colin discover. Ruth, check all Intel from latest reports of H.P. security and Interpol. Okay, any questions, comments?"

"Harry, what shall we do about the idiot at S.B.?" Zaf replied.

"Yeah, he did sell us out" Jo piped in.

"O.k. Ros and Zaf, when your task is done, have a chat to this idiot and get him talking. I want to know who knows about Ruth and me." Harry commanded.

"Malcolm?" Ruth asked.

"Yes Ruth."

"Now that I'm in I think you should close the 'back door' and give it a new combination."

"Of course, consider it done. I'd also like you two to know that Colin and I, well mostly Colin, has set the satellites to sweep over your position every 2 minutes and a thermal scan every ten minutes surrounding the house. It's clever really, the algorithm he's written allows the satellite to record and notify us with a beep if there are any re-occurring incidents; including if there's a car across the sports field doing nothing. It even..."

"Yes, Malcolm, I get the picture." Harry said stopping Malcolm's next rant that probably no-one would understand; and continued saying

"Thank you, I shall feel much more secure that way and it will alleviate the fear of Ruth's mother. Okay, get to work. I'll call the Home Secretary and let him know what's going on. We'll ring back in one hour. Good luck." Harry put his mobile back in his pocket and began pacing the room. Ruth watched him for a moment, following his every movement with her eyes.

"Harry, what's up?" Harry smiled at her and sighed at the same time.

"I just hate putting other people's lives at risk. Your family didn't choose this life; we did...but we've brought it to their doorstep, hell, to their whole families, neighbours, and friends." Ruth got up and stood close to Harry, wrapping her arms around him.

"I know, but we can protect them. Good old Malcolm's watching over us." Harry chuckled and replied

"Yes, Malcolm and his equally brilliant side-kick are watching over us. I better tell your mother." Harry made a move towards the door, but Ruth pulled him back.

"Harry, you need to call the Home Sec. first."

"Yes, Ruth, you're right. You, um..." He indicated to the laptop she was working on and Ruth got the point. She smiled to herself as she heard Harry calling the Home Sec. She loved Harry in work-mode, just as much as a lover and friend. She was proud of the moral man he was at work; she stood by him every time.

Meanwhile, downstairs Gillian was becoming more and more difficult, insisting she should know what's going on. Elizabeth was trying to reason with her, coming to the end of her tether.

"Gillian, go home. I don't want you here anymore." Gillian stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut as she went. Everyone else sat in silence. Aunt Helen was the first to speak,

"Well, I think we'd all better make a move. Thank you for lunch Elizabeth. I'll call you later." The family started to prepare to leave, taking their glasses through to the kitchen. Amy and David stood too, standing near the front door talking to everyone as they left. Stewart appeared beside Amy and asked

"Have you seen Gillian?"

"Shit. Come with me. You need to get her and take her home before she causes any more trouble. And don't let her talk to anyone about today." Amy led Stewart upstairs, walking as far as she could. They reached Elizabeth's room just in time to prevent Gillian barging into the room. Stewart tackled her into the adjacent room,

"You disappoint me, Gillian. You should be with me rather than chasing after Ruth's man. Come home with me now." With that, he started to push Gillian towards the stairs.

"Harry, should we..?" Ruth asked, pointing to the door.

"No. Let them handle it. Sounds like Stewart might have actually grown some balls. I still need to brief the Home Sec." Ruth nodded and continued on with her work; although keeping her ears attentive to what was happening in the hallway.

Stewart managed to get Gillian out of the house and into the car before she started balking again. He kept the windows shut and took off before she could tell the whole neighbourhood. Amy and David stood at the front door and sighed with relief. Finally the house was quiet. They went inside and locked the front door, returning to the kitchen to find Elizabeth.

"I'm glad they've gone... What a day!" said Elizabeth with a sigh.

"The front door is locked now, so no need to guard it anymore. I'd better go up and check on the others; let them know the others have finally left." Amy said. Elizabeth stopped her before she left the room, saying

"You've had quite a day and I expect you're tired. Check on the others and then use the spare room to have a nap; you too, David. I'll be fine down here. It'll be nice to have the place to myself again."

"Thank you, I am tired; exhausted really." Amy replied. As they mounted the stairs again, David told Amy he'd get the spare room ready for her, and left Amy to see Ruth.

Amy gently knocked on Elizabeth's bedroom door. She heard a faint yes from Ruth and pushed the door open.

"Home Sec. the chopper wasn't for us... Yes, I know it'd be better to be at Thames House, but we'll have to stay here... Ruth's the most resourceful woman I know, we'll be fine working here... Yes, Malcolm's set up satellite surveillance; he's got us covered. I'll speak to when we've got more." Harry closed his mobile and looked up to see Amy staring wide-eyed at them.

"It's ok Amy." Ruth assured her,

"What's happening downstairs?"

"Everyone's left. The front doors locked and Aunt Elizabeth is tiding up. David is getting the spare bed ready for me. All this excitement has made me tired."

"Yes, that's good; you look like you could do with a rest." Ruth replied. Harry spoke up then,

"I'll go down and give Elizabeth an update. I'll give her a hand as well."

"Thank you," both women replied. Harry squeezed Ruth's shoulder and walked out of the room. Amy turned to Ruth and exclaimed

"'Most resourceful woman!'" Ruth smiled,

"Well...I once told Harry no institution was safe from me. I'm good at my job and I enjoy it."

"Better let you get on with it then." Amy said with a smile as she left to get some rest. Ruth returned to her work eager to find some information to help the others.