Many thanks for the reviews which were and are appreciated. A longer chapter than intended. I promise to write a short one before I eventually end this story.

Into the Field? Approx Midday

Having stepped out of the pods the group made their way through the rear corridors of the building down towards the basement car park. As they progressed Jane noticed that the walls they walked past becoming progressively plainer as sparkling clean colour gradually began to give way to subdued institutional shades. The spacious entrance hall she had crossed with Harry on their arrival and the broad, airy corridors they had walked along had been redolent with a grandeur that bespoke importance. The imposing atmosphere created by the rich decor throbbed with an air of leadership, implying that these hallowed precincts were traversed only by those in authority, complete with the intimation that the head spooks were trustworthy individuals, the upright possessors of impeccable moral principles. The backstairs route she was currently trudging along seemed to have been reserved for the spying equivalent of seedy men in wrapped in dubious mackintoshes. It was certainly less comfortable physically. Not only were these surroundings depressingly unadorned but as the four of them reached the narrow metal stairs, for what she trusted was the final descent, a warning stab from her ankle made her hope that the abused joint would hold firm until they reached their destination. Pride alone meant that she wasn't going to wimp out though pain if she could avoid it. At the stairwell head Jane noticed that Harry had peeled off and was moving swiftly along a narrow corridor branching off from the staircase entrance. She hesitated for a moment not sure as to whether she should follow him. The slight contact of Erin's hand with the small of her back made her turn around.

Erin simply said, "This way Jane, Harry's just gone to collect some equipment. He'll join us in the car park shortly."

"I presume you mean a gun?"

Looking at the amazed expressions on her companions' faces Jane felt mildly irritated. Okay so she and Harry hadn't been the most together of couples, they'd always been two very distinct and independently minded individuals, but she would have thought that the existence of their two children provided a living hint that they had occasionally met up under the same roof. And honestly, did Erin and Dimitri really think that she was dim enough to have survived nine years of marriage to Harry without becoming aware of some of the facts of spying life – minor matters, such as it was dangerous and spies often carried weapons.

Finally staggering into the car park her instant impression was that it resembled the set of a very bad clichéd thriller. She half expected a dark, mysterious vehicle to roar through the entrance, turn with a squeal of wheels while a thug wearing black shades sprayed bullets indiscriminately at a fleeing target. The immediate reality was less stimulating, cold, dank and concrete with square grey pillars covered by peeling paint and the odd bit of ill spelt graffiti all squalidly enhanced by the distinct sour whiff of broken drains. The most thrilling action of the moment was initiated by Dimitri leading them towards two small, nondescript motors. Jane was no car connoisseur, tending to regard them as moving tin cans equipped with five wheels and, if she was very lucky, an efficient braking system but even she could see that these undistinguished vehicles were the work horses of the system. A greater contrast to the limousines she'd recently journeyed in with Harry couldn't have been designed. She now understood exactly why he had insisted on changing in order to blend in. Travelling in one of the cars she was currently surveying while dressed in his formal clothes would have made him look as obvious as an astronaut in a nudist colony. Feeling the icy air seeping into her bones Jane seriously regretted her stupidity in failing to grab the jacket Harry had loaned her before leaving his office. The lightweight clothing she was wearing wasn't really adequate protection against the striking cold of the parking area. As she stood with Erin and Dimtri, neither of whom made any attempt to commandeer one of the cars, she assumed that they were waiting for Harry to rejoin them. Shivering slightly through a combination of freezing temperatures and aching injury Jane could only hope that he wouldn't loiter within the seductive warmth of the main building.

As if on cue no sooner had that accusatory thought rippled through her mind than she noticed him emerging from the entrance they'd walked through a few minutes previously. Watching him approach, dressed in dark blue casual gear, he reminded her vividly of the man she'd fallen in love with and married. In his current garb he also didn't look so very different from the man she'd finally lost patience with and flung out of their house on that summer's day so many years ago. The true stranger was the Harry who'd escorted her onto the Grid sporting the stuffed shirt and tie look, a requirement, she assumed, of his current lofty position. Nearing them he acknowledged her presence with a slight smile that inadvertently conjured from memory an uncomfortable fleeting recollection of happier times. Had loved him, had loathed him. How much more at ease she'd be if she could feel the real opposite of those emotions: total uncaring indifference. Maybe in the future she'd achieve that desirable state, but that future was distant. That future wasn't today.

To her surprise Harry handed Jane the coat she'd left behind. "I realised that you'd forgotten this so I went back for it." While Jane, touched by his consideration, was nodding her thanks Harry turned to Erin and continued "Erin any idea why Laura was sat with her head in the complete works of Shakespeare?" Before anyone could voice an answer to this conundrum Harry handed Dimitri a fairly sizeable holdall. Although Dimitri stared at it slightly he made no comment beyond, "All equipment obtained Harry?" as he secured it in the boot of one of the cars. Checking that Dimitri had the baggage safely stowed Harry turned back to Jane.

"Actually Jane I brought you something else as well."

As he spoke he pulled two gaudy plastic items out of his pocket with a flourish and held them towards her. Jane, staring at these excrescences, finally identified the objects as a pair of earrings, either that or a pair of small wind chimes.

"Harry you shouldn't have."

"Here Jane put them on." As he pushed them towards her Jane repeated her words in a more strident tone.

"I meant it. You shouldn't have."

"What Jane is the problem?"

"You mean apart from the fact that I wasn't born in Essex!"

For a couple of brief seconds an exasperated Harry wished she was one of his staff from whom he could have demanded instant unquestioning obedience. Instead he had to waste time embarking on yet another learning conversation, "Jane they have a tracker in them just in case we get separated. I doubt that the human carbuncles we're dealing with read Vogue magazine. We are undercover and your outfit is fine for the 'I'm trying to get hip with the kids look'."

"The correct term Harry is cool. Use the word 'hip' and you're instantly labelling yourself as a boring old fart."

Erin and Dimtri were jointly seized with a desire to laugh. Biting their lips in tandem they wondered when exactly anyone had last dared make the insult direct to Harry's face, correction, when exactly had anyone done that and lived to tell the tale. In common with all the spooks in Section D they approached Harry with a slight sense of awe. Jane, not bound by such reverential inhibitions, had unconsciously injected a sliver of black humour into the otherwise dour proceedings of the Grid.

Very, very reluctantly Jane took hold of the earrings, casting upon them a look of such distaste that Harry's heart soared. 'Revenge for that last remark was oh so sweet' He continued to chortle inwardly as he watched her slot them slowly into her earlobes where they dangled like a couple of mini chandeliers. Jane however made no further protest beyond that of, "I hope the wind doesn't get up. Lashed to death by earring isn't the most dignified way to go."

"Call it a sacrifice for Queen and Country."

With that Harry moved towards the car claimed by Dimitri.

"Dimitri you drive. Erin."

"Yes Harry I know, stay behind for ten minutes and then follow."

"Extend that to twenty."

Having issued his orders Harry sprang into the passenger seat at a speed that rather belied his years and Dimitri roared off and out of the carpark at a breakneck speed.

Once safely out of the car park Harry supplemented his previous instructions. "When we get there Dimitri, don't go straight down the road. Pull up just beyond the entrance and then pop out and look down it. If you don't see anyone or anything suspicious drive around the block and repeat the procedure."

Dimitri didn't need Harry to explain his reasoning. Recent events suggested that the property was under some sort of surveillance and apart from any other considerations their team included a civilian. As they travelled through the crowded streets Harry turning his face towards Dimitri asked, "How did you know about Jane's involvement with the cultural Olympiad?"

"Ah," Dimitri explained, "after last night's bomb we ran the usual checks on witness and victim against the Olympic searches, we've been doing that on everything recently and Jane's name popped up. I was slightly surprised as I'd heard that she'd remarried."

"I understand that she's been publishing commentaries of some sort so probably she's stuck to her maiden name for work purposes. She always did complain when we were married about having to subsume her personal identity."

Having been privy to some outline details that he'd not had time to ascertain Dimitri suspected that Jane's reasons might extend beyond those of simple identity issues but without proof positive he wasn't keen to intrude further into what was manifestly a very spiky relationship. Besides which operating on a 'need to know basis' was not solely Harry's prerogative, Jane also had a right to privacy until or unless her secrets impacted on the operation. That thought did however spur Dimitri into enquiring, "Harry I don't know how to ask this but...," he halted, poised to ask what could be classified as a delicate question.

Harry thought he knew what was coming and said wearily, "Just ask."

Dimtri swallowed hard, lost his nerve and chickened out, falling back onto his B question.

"If Jane's going to be around for a few days could I borrow her?"

"Whatever for?" 'Please do, if I'm really lucky you'll forget to return her.'

"It's this cultural Olympiad – Harry every time I ask a question about security or suggest something that makes our life easier I come up against a barrage of arty speak. Now they want to do a presentation at the reception later this week, something called a promenade performance and the entrances and exits they want ... I could do with a translator, someone who knows the jargon and can suggest some sensible modifications that might just be listened to. But I don't want you to think..." Dimitri trailed off as he wondered how to finish his sentence diplomatically.

"Think what, that you're ganging up against me with my ex-wife. Dimitri, after the recent revelations about my hideous past I really don't think that Jane could diminish me any further in anyone's eyes. As for your request go ahead and ask her. If you need someone to cut through pretentious flapdoodle Jane's definitely your woman. Be warned though you'll need a dustpan and brush to sweep up the remains," as an afterthought Harry added, "and in answer to the question you really wanted to ask, no Jane doesn't know about my safety surveillance and she isn't going to either.

Privately Dimitri didn't think this was one of Harry's better decisions, Jane might just prefer the truth to further deceptions but he could appreciate that trying to explain the background pertaining to this particular situation, while simultaneously evading all mention of precisely the details that no man would want to voluntarily share with his ex, might tax even Harry's talent for obfuscation.

"She seems to be coping pretty well so far Harry."

"Seems may be the right word. She's never been inside my working world and I'd really prefer not to have her involved now. When we were married and certainly once Catherine was born I tried to keep her and the children out of the loop."

'And is that why you finally split?' Dimitri wondered, 'because your obsession with their safety meant that you began to lead separate lives'. Then he remembered the threat to Rosie a few months ago and Erin's near hysteria. Maybe Harry had been right, the corollary of some of his more clandestine operations might well have been increased risk to those three lives. Perhaps family dysfunction was the price he'd paid to ensure that they all continued to breathe, even if, irony of ironies, they used that breath to curse him.

Had Dimitri but known it Harry's current reflections were not totally dissimilar. He'd never regretted his attempts to keep his family safe, a viable threat made when Catherine was only few months old had been a defining moment for him. But distancing his wife and then later his children from harmful intrigue had also meant distancing them from himself. With frequent necessary absences from his wife, lonely while presented with excitement and opportunity he'd embarked first on one affair and then another and another until they'd become a habit. He'd told himself then that what Jane didn't know wouldn't hurt her, that it was only sex and entirely separate from his officially sanctioned life with her and their children, so no real harm done to anyone. Except of course Jane had found out, had been bitterly hurt and when inevitably his failure to reform had stretched her patience to beyond breaking point she'd thrown him out. What did they say about the road to Hell? – Well his original good intentions had thoroughly paved that particular road for all four of them.

Before Dimitri could extend the conversation Harry nodded his head indicating that they had reached their destination. Pulling up the car as requested Dimitri slipped out and peered cautiously around the corner. A short way down the road he could see a bus shelter strewn with fragments of the usual urban litter and housing three occupants. One, a man in his late twenties, appeared to be lost to the world gazing at a device that Dimitri speedily identified as a Kindle. The other two were equally engrossed with each other. In different circumstances Dimitri might have considered running a book on where the male in the partnership was going to place his hands next. In the current situation he had to cut short this voyeuristic observation in the interests of reporting back to Harry. Returning to the car he duly stated, "Three people in the bus shelter, two snogging and one sitting reading. Doesn't look suspicious, other than if Romeo and Juliet get much more heated we could end up inadvertently dogging. I'm surprised though that anyone can concentrate on reading with that amount of heavy breathing going on beside them!"

"You obviously weren't married to Jane, get her head stuck in a book and the house could be burning down without her noticing. As the essence of surveillance is to look natural let's drive to the other side of the road and wait to see if they take the bus when it arrives. We'll be nearer Catherine's flat there."

Dimitri made to start the engine but stayed his hand when a bus trundled towards them, threw itself around the corner and squealed to a halt. Receiving a quick nod of permission from Harry Dimitri dashed back to the corner in time to observe a middle aged woman emerge from the bus and make her way over the road to her own residence. The young couple had apparently boarded the bus to continue their cavorting under cover, leaving the Kindle man still seated and seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.

Returning to the car for the second time Dimitri looked to Harry for guidance although he did feel bound to suggest that, "more than one bus route might run here."

"Might but doesn't. When Catherine moved in I checked everything although she didn't – doesn't know that."

Dimitri noted the past tense and just prayed that wasn't going to become the reality. He really didn't think that Harry could cope with a second personal disaster within months. Despite the persistent rumours that Harry didn't give a toss about his estranged family Dimitri was increasingly disinclined to give them credence, certainly as far as Harry's children were concerned. Given the care he was also taking to ensure Jane's safety and comfort Dimitri rather suspected that Harry wasn't completely indifferent to her either, although whether that was owing to guilt, irritation or delayed chivalry wasn't something he felt qualified to judge.

Glancing at the older man he kept his worries to himself. The furrowed lines that had become a permanent feature of Harry's face over the past few months seemed more pronounced than ever as he sat scowling in deep thought. Dimitri wasn't going to interrupt this apparent reverie, Harry's field skills were legendary so he had little doubt that a plan was being formulated.

"Dimitri we need to get a photograph of that ebook worm but I don't want to break cover. If whoever is behind this isn't aware that I'm Catherine's father we have an advantage and if Erin's theory is correct I don't fancy giving myself up to the Cousins gift wrapped for Thanksgiving."

"So what do we do?"

"I have an idea and came prepared but first we need to drive a little further."

Putting the car into gear and following the directions given to him Dimitri drove to a street a short distance away and quietly waited for Harry to disgorge whatever scheme he had in mind.

"We need to get a picture without being noticed, so Dimitri I'll ring the police on duty at the flat pretending to be their superior while you change. You'll find the outfit in the bag I brought."

Dimitri walked to the back of the car, opened up the boot and unzipped the bag Harry had handed to him earlier. The contents when unwrapped revealed themselves as a policeman's uniform complete with concealing helmet. Harry caught Dimitri's quick glance at the CCTV prominently displayed on the nearby lamppost and hastily reassured him.

"You won't be doing a striptease for the benefit of ladies in the control room, much as that might irradiate their day. I checked and these cameras are off today. Now Dimitri the police guarding the flat, if guarding you can call it, will be expecting you so we'll drive back to our first stop. Then you can wander down the street and take a quick snap of our friend as you go. If he's moved take a picture of any possible replacement."

"And then?"

"Have a few words with the police at the flat, as if you've come with a query. You can let them know exactly what we need in the way of access. I'm not risking a leak by using my own name. I also want to know when they plan to remove the body. I really don't want Jane seeing that. Make it look genuine and then return here. We'll send the picture to Calum for an emergency recognition check."

After the two men set off Erin and Jane had strapped themselves into their car and prepared for the long wait. As the twenty silent minutes wore on Jane's expression became increasingly apprehensive. Glancing briefly at her enforced companion Erin wasn't entirely sure what to make of her. That she was intelligent was obvious but Erin, having worked with Ruth and knowing the tales circulating about Harry's previous affairs with a variety of high profile women, not to mention Elena, 'definitely not to mention Elena', couldn't envisage Harry ever bedding down for a long term relationship with a bimbo. Erin was well aware that Harry the husband might have been a bit different to Harry the self confessed workaholic boss. Even so, and especially now that she'd met Jane, Erin still had to wonder how the hell he'd manage to mess up his marriage so badly. It didn't take a genius to see that the pair had enough unresolved baggage to restock a warehouse. That however was the past, and despite her slight twinge of jealousy when Calum and Dimtri had expressed their approbation of Jane, in what Erin could only characterise as typically masculine terms, she thought she owed it to Harry and the team to at least attempt to smooth the prickly present on a woman to woman basis. Erin had to admit though that this endeavour was going to be somewhat hampered by circumstances. Jane might be a signatory to the Act but Erin had gloomily concluded that Harry's recent problems came under the heading of 'For No Eyes Only Forever.'

Switching on the engine preparatory to setting off Erin decided to initiate a conversation based on the reasons for Jane's appearance on the Grid. As she steered the car into the main road she articulated what she hoped was a suitable opening gambit.

"I know how worried you must be Jane but you have one huge advantage in this."

"What's that?"

"Harry."

The sole reply was a sceptical snort followed by a silence that made hostile sound friendly. Regardless Erin gritted her teeth and tried to choose her words carefully as she continued. "Jane I don't have to know what went wrong with you and Harry, actually I don't want to know, it isn't my business after all."

"No it isn't."

"But what you need to realise is that Harry was possibly the most outstanding field officer of his generation. He's the reason so many people fight to get into Section D. Everyone knows that he doesn't ask his staff to do anything he hasn't done himself, most section heads are desk spooks with no idea of what actually goes on in the field, of the difficult choices we have to make, of the gut wrenching fear when the only thing that stands between you and disaster is your ability to think on your feet. If an operation goes badly wrong Harry doesn't shuffle the blame onto his staff, he takes the rap himself. That's rare. And he argues with politicians so much so I'm amazed they ever recommended him for a knighthood. 'I'm even more amazed he's kept it.'

"He always gave himself to the job. 'Regnum Defende', but we needed him as well and he was never there, or hardly ever. He was away so much I sometimes think it's amazing that we managed to produce our two children."

The undertow of bitterness in Jane's words was unmistakeable. Erin knew a brick wall when she smashed into it and decided to change tack slightly. Thinking about it, would Erin herself relish being in Jane's situation, suddenly plunged back into an alliance with an ex-husband with whom she shared an angst ridden history? Erin could only assume that Harry's habit of damming up his emotions had played a leading part in the thorny road to divorce. She had seen this at its utter extreme in the immediate aftermath of Ruth's death. Even now she, a relatively hardened spy, shuddered at the thought of how fresh from kissing Ruth's body and with tears still streaming down his cheeks he'd managed to pull himself together sufficiently to do what Harry always did; put his own grief aside while with gritted teeth he forced himself into doing what he believed was necessary for the good of the state. Considering his subsequent actions if Erin hadn't seen the extremity of his distress for herself she'd have assumed that his veins were filled with ice water. Scrambling for a way to make Jane view Harry in a slightly more favourable light Erin settled for a more personal example.

"Shortly after I started in Section D I had to make a decision that let someone down badly. It really hurt, knowing that I'd used another person in that way. Harry called me into his office and offered me a whisky."

"Typical Harry behaviour – drink the pain away."

"With some of the decisions he has to make he probably needs anaesthesia at times. He reminded me that this job does involve making tough calls. I saw his face when he admitted to making decisions that had ruined the lives of people he cared for. He wasn't just talking about his team. 'At least I hope he meant you and his kids and not the Eastern European Ice Queen complete with evil eye.' Don't ever think that he doesn't feel guilt for the hurts he's handed out.'

"Perhaps he should have been saying that to me, or more importantly our children." As Jane uttered these words she wondered if Harry and Graham would manage to speak to each other ever again. Judging by what Harry had said about Graham's unrepeatable last message it seemed unlikely. In many ways Harry and Graham were too alike, with one significant difference, whereas Harry was driven by a sense of purpose, as indeed was Catherine, that particular gene seemed to have bypassed Graham with disastrous results. Then again that gene of purpose may now be the reason that Catherine was in danger. Catherine missing; Graham not talking; Harry and herself straining to be civil to one another. Any family therapist presented with the Pearce/Townsend quartet would be rejoicing at having obtained a job for life, either that or, faced by customer intransigence they'd quit within the hour and find an easier task, like converting Al-Qaeda to feminism.

"All I'm trying to say Jane is don't assume that because he presents to the world as a callous bastard that's what he actually is. It's a protective shell he uses but I suspect he probably feels much more than he shows and I'm sure he punishes himself every day of his life." 'Actually I know that he does, but since anyone who blows the gaff about Ruth and Elena will have their lives measured in nanoseconds I daren't go into detail.'

"And if it was your child that had been damaged by his decisions would you be so forgiving?"

"It very nearly was. Last year a terrorist group kidnapped my daughter, she's nearly six, and threatened to kill her unless Harry let a suicide bomber self destruct in Trafalgar Square. Harry had no option, he had to put public safety first... Ru...Calum told me later that he ran a huge risk in leaving the kill order to the very last second to enable Dimitri to find Rosie." As Erin finished speaking she hoped Jane hadn't noticed her hasty substitution of names.

Jane had noted her stumble but filed it away for future consideration. She'd also registered the sudden increase in warmth in Erin's voice when she mentioned Dimitri, 'so sits the wind in that quarter, definitely not the mystery lady then.' Her more immediate reaction was one of horrific incredulity at Erin's final revelation.

"And you still work for him! I'll never understand the spook mindset."

"Then don't try. Just trust Harry. And Jane, be thankful you're not in the shoes of whoever has Catherine."

Jane's reply died on her lips as Erin's mobile began to buzz. Occupied behind the wheel Erin nodded her permission to Jane to pick it up.

Speaking apprehensively into the handset Jane asked with dubious inflection. "Yes. Harry, is everything alright?"

She could tell by the short pause followed by Harry's authoritative bark that everything was even less alright than she'd hoped.

"Jane, tell Erin to drive on and around the corner. She needs to park up three streets away, I'm sending directions to her now. I'm ordering her to wait for one of us to contact her."

"But why?"

Harry's reply was terse but to the point.

"Tell her confirmed eyeball of a rogue asset. Do not proceed until the asset is dealt with."

Obviously to be continued. Please review if you have time. If I've not replied to any reviews received please do accept my abject apologies for my failure to do so.