Something of filler chapter. Once again thanks to all my readers and especially those who reviewed

The Grid

Approx Midday

Having clicked the computer mouse and successfully dispatched the megabyte gobbling file of encrypted Intel into the electronic ether, Harry was contemplating a vanishing act of his own, in the general direction of the hospital. Upon arriving on the Grid he'd issued strict orders that he wasn't to be disturbed for anything other than a red flash. Seated at his desk he'd worked away steadily, checking and rechecking every piece of information passed to him by his team. Although he knew the case against the Americans was watertight, the evidence presented to those who might be inclined to demure had to be unequivocal, inarguable, as obvious as the noonday sun in the Sahara, if the charges levelled therein were to stick. Harry trusted his team without reservation, and the Intel they'd amassed for him was impressive in its condemnatory content but, as the DG had reminded him yesterday, the allegations were grave and inevitably the buck skidded to its precipitous halt at the foot of Harry's desk. His diligence was further informed by the knowledge that Langley's had not been the sole voice raised in hysterical protestation at the news of Harry's reinstatement after the multiple misjudgements that had culminated in the deaths of Jim Coaver, Ruth Evershed and Elena Gavrik, not, of course, that the CIA gave a stuff about the latter pair. Guilt ridden by his major contribution in bringing those disastrous events to pass, Harry was all too aware that any further error attributable to laxness, or omission, on his part would be immediately seized upon by those individuals within his own service who still insatiably sought any excuse to hurl him out of Thames House into an unceremonious, and wholly involuntary retirement. Fortunately, despite Harry's self confessed admission to Towers that he 'had not played nicely with the other children' he was, for once, luxuriating in the virtually unreserved support of the DG, a fact made manifest by the scrambler related telephone call he'd received mid morning.

From the DG's unusually frank comments Harry had rather sensed that his boss had seen a burst of red bathed Damascene light, as he'd attempted mission impossible - trying to get politicians to see sense. Having confirmed that a furious Towers, unequivocally siding with the Security Service, had brought pressure to bear on the PM, Cavendish had finished off with, "And that was despite Webster still waffling on about the special relationship. It almost made me wonder if the Yanks have anything on him."

Harry recalling that long ago episode involving Richard Maynard stated categorically "It wouldn't be the first time a member of the Cabinet was in thrall to the Americans. It might be worth checking. In the meantime when I've collated everything we have to date, you'll appreciate that some investigations are still ongoing, I'll send it over."

"Thank you Harry. I'm sorry I arrived unprepared yesterday. Towers had contacted me as promised, but I was at a conference, and my fool of a secretary didn't forward the message."

That Cavendish had opened up so completely to the resident thorn in his administrative flesh was in itself indicative of the unusually high level of exasperation being experienced by one who was normally a by word for diplomacy. Having duly detected this Harry ventured a casual enquiry, "One of Debra Langhams's staffing suggestions?" The silence at the other end implied he'd hit the bullseye. When the DG had last presided over a meeting of the Section Heads - usually a bum numbing afternoon characterised by endless waffle terminating with indecision and the thrilling promise of equally enthralling discussions in the near future - he'd referred in the vaguest of terms to the need to reorganise some sections of the service, perhaps now he'd start with the burgeoning empire that was HR. Leaving that comment to percolate Harry returned to more immediate matters, "I'll make sure I include enough gruesomes to put the PM off his fodder. The one of some poor bloke's genitals fried from electric shock treatment should do the trick." Harry could have sworn he felt the DG shudder down the phone before he replied, "Not a part attached to Marcus I presume."

"No, and although strictly speaking the task falls to Six, would you like me to set Malcolm Wynn-Jones to do some Intel searching? Quite apart from wanting Marcus back on humanitarian grounds his testimony could be vital if we're to silence the Foreign Secretary."

"All help gratefully received. Which reminds me Harry, how did our sister agencies know about the probable agreement in the first place."

Harry divined the hint of accusation as he replied, "Not guilty Nigel. I understand that a junior in the CIA sent an email in error to a member of the DSG, which was then recirculated around the EU security services. The Russians had received a simultaneous whiff when a member of the US embassy, having partaken unwisely in super strength vodka, boasted that it would kill the partnership."

"Well I'm relieved it wasn't you Harry, but with..." Trailing off before he said anything tactless Harry finished for him,

"Where the Yanks are concerned we'd be better off sharing intelligence with a sieve. Although on this occasion we should be thankful that they are so useless."

"One other matter Harry. Jefferies, on behalf of the CIA, is demanding that we hand over the soldier who contacted your daughter."

Intimate knowledge of the American thought processes, 'God bless America and God damn all who criticise her,' had ensured that Harry was prepared with a ready answer. "I'll point out to Towers that as he's not committed any crime according to English law he's been released from Thames House custody." As they weren't video conferencing there was no risk of the DG espying Harry's crossed fingers.

Even if the DG didn't believe Harry he feigned to do so. "I rather thought that might be the situation. Very well Harry, just make sure for all our sakes that your case is watertight."

With that the DG had rung off, leaving Harry to the peaceful task of selectively choosing Intel that would kill off the continual American demands for unquestioning MI5 co-operation in the foreseeable future, or at least, knowing the arrogance, silence them for the next fortnight or so. Having ensured that the PM would be viewing material sufficient to put him off both sausages and the American administration for life, Harry was about to pick up his coat and depart to the hospital when the desk phone rang again. The caller display told him that unusually it came directly from the Reception desk. Normal practice was to filter all visitor calls through an ascending relay of underlings before they reached him. Picking up the receiver he barked, "Harry Pearce."

"Sir we have a gentleman in Reception. Name of Tom Quinn. He says he needs to see you."

Tom – that could only mean one thing, that he'd some information about Robin. Thank heavens for that, recalling that Robin had already tried to track Jane down it was only a matter of time before he applied a Sherlock style dictum to the effect that if the police and CIA were involved, and with Catherine missing to boot, then Harry might just be making mischief. Fortunately knowledge of the beast also suggested that Robin would be so wrapped up in his own ego that he'd never once consider the possibility of Jane confessing to Harry that her second marriage was on the rocks, especially when he had no inkling that Jane was aware of Snuggle Bunny's cavortings with Smoochie Babe. Exiting from his glassy sanctuary Harry called across the Grid, "Malcolm with me," as he headed for the pods.

Downstairs an unusually nervous Tom Quinn, while he awaited the imminent arrival of Harry, was contemplating the irony of an ex-spook being summoned back into the fold to deal with issues pertaining to the ex-wife of his ex-boss. Mentally reviewing the extent of the Security Services dirty work he'd undertaken as a private contractor since his departure from these less than holy precincts, he began to wonder if he'd ever actually resigned. Perhaps instead his job description had simply suffered a covert conversion turning him into an officer operating permanently undercover. This consideration however was not the root cause of his nerves. Having left in disgrace Tom had half expected that his arrival at the heavy entrance doors would trigger alarm bells, quite literally. But since Harry had made it clear that 'Operation divorce' had a very tight time limit – nothing new there, working against the clock was a spook expectation – he'd decided to risk a personal visit to Thames House, relying on the magic of Harry's name to avoid the humiliation his of being bundled downstairs into the grim, echoing, grey of the interview cells. Once that danger had receded and he'd settled himself in the comfortable interview suite that branched off from the foyer Tom was finally able to admit privately - he'd never say so publicly to anyone, least of all his wife - that part of the impetus for his visit was sheer curiosity, a desire toc heck out the changes that had taken place since he'd last traversed the star patterned marble flooring. He had, in fact, perceived little in the way of obvious alteration. The security seemed to have been stepped up a trifle, but otherwise it could have been yesterday when he'd walked out, knowingly caught on camera giving his cheeky farewell to Harry as he exited. The illusion that he'd almost returned into formal Section D harness was reinforced when Harry strode through the door accompanied by Malcolm. Tom was startled to see the latter. On the most recent occasion in which he'd met up with Harry (when receiving the 'Eyes and Ears Only' Intel relating to the taking out of RussiaFirst) he'd enquired after the one remaining stalwart of the Grid, and had been amazed to discover the Malcolm had retired a couple of years previously.

His astonishment showed in his greeting, "Hello Malcolm, this is a surprise."

"As you now know Tom you never really leave."

As the pair of them took their seats Harry explained, "Malcolm's back with us temporarily, but he's agreed to help Jane get her divorce. With what I have in mind a technical expert is needed, but first as I explained we need to take out the Headmaster Robin's cosy with."

Tom grinned, "I think I've got enough here to torpedo him. Thanks to the information Malcolm obtained I did some further searching."

"Indeed." Seeing that the maestro of the geeks was looking slightly offended at the suggestion that he might have missed something Tom added hastily, "Nothing that was initially recorded in the digital world, but it's amazing what was secreted in the filing cabinets, nearly as amazing as the lack of security at that school."

Now he'd transfixed his audience Tom went on, "Malcolm will want to run further checks to confirm my suspicions. I'll talk you through it, and then we can decide on what to do." Pulling out a sheaf of papers from his briefcase plus a memory stick he proceeded. It was good to be back, even on these limited terms.

"Firstly all reference to Jane's assault on that pupil has vanished. Furthermore the little tow rag is currently doing time for mugging and a serious assault, so if the accusation does resurface with no proof, and his history I'd say she's in the clear."

Harry was still a little concerned, "Jane has mentioned that even an accusation could damn her. With Robin being a governor an old pals cover up could be suspected."

"Jane's file now reads that she left for a post that allowed her space to develop her other educational interests, with a number of letters from parents praising her efforts in enthusing their offspring. With what I've discovered on Rogerson, Robin won't want to be associated with him. If Robin does carry out his threat of exposure there is no viable evidence to back him up. If Rogerson makes the accusation it'll look like malice because Robin refuses to support him in his hour of need. After all if she was unfit to practice why wasn't she disciplined when she left, it would have provided a straight answer to those complaining about her departure." Tom drew breath before continuing "We can't prevent the issue from arising but documentary back up evidence does not exist. The lack of CCTV means no visuals, and by the time we've finished with Rogerson and Robin anything verbal from that direction will carry no credence."

Noticing that Harry was still frowning Tom threw in an additional suggestion, "If either of them try to carry this to extremes Malcolm could always fiddle with a few bank accounts, make it look as if Rogerson paid the thug to discredit Jane because she wasn't regime compliant. Malcolm!"

"Easily done and..." Malcolm having missed some evidence was keen to re-establish his credentials as hacker in chief, "when I examined the local authority correspondence I found several letters expressing disquiet about Rogerson's innovations."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief at that news, "Thanks both of you. Whatever happens at least Jane can still work – for some peculiar reason she loves dealing with grotty hormone ridden adolescents. And the rest?"

"Using the Intel Malcolm had unearthed I had a trawl through a number of paper records only. Malcolm was correct about these companies being linked to members of Rogerson's family, but the number of computers and equipments ordered seemed excessive in number and over priced to me. Cleverly a number of these items are billed as replacements, but I don't know of any school that needs to replace all the hard drives and whiteboards every year. I made a point of photographing the serial numbers of every computer and digital item I could find. I suspect when Malcolm checks them we'll discover that they relate to older items and that the allegedly new items were never received."

Malcolm's forehead was wrinkling as he protested, "But surely someone not involved in the ordering process marks the goods as received, it's a standard low level anti fraud practice."

It was comforting to know that Malcolm remained as sharp as ever. "A practice the school does indeed carry out for audit purposes, but in this instance the person who receives them is Rogerson's secretary. When I saw her surname I did a further check. Rogerson has two tame governors who sign the cheques from the special account. One is Robin and the other is the Head of Governors, who just happens to be the husband of Rogerson's secretary."

Harry was restraining himself from cartwheeling around the room with joy, prevented only by the recollection of a long ago warning from his banker father, "Son if it sounds too good to be true it probably is." Admittedly his father had been referring to personal finance but Harry still felt the need to clarify. "So you are suggesting that the Head of Governors and his wife are conspiring with Rogerson to defraud the school?"

"Not necessarily. From a note in her desk it seems that Rogerson is having an affair with his Secretary, so it's possible that her husband is a patsy." This discovery had given rise to a theory for which Tom was seeking additional evidence. "Harry, when exactly was Robin head hunted for the governing body?"

It was Harry's turn to wrinkle his brow, "I'm not entirely sure – certainly more than three years ago, he was on the body before Jane had the run in with that pupil but how long before...I could ask her, but why?"

Tom nodded as if his suspicions had been confirmed. "Because I'm wondering if Robin was recruited from the outside, that he's been used as a form of clean skin to make it look as if everything was in order."

This was definitely the best news Harry could have wished for, Robin had been taken for a fool, but was not implicated in any direct accusation of corruption. Concentrating on the salacious aspect he enquired, "So we need to find out if the Head of Governors is involved, or alternatively ascertain that Rogerson's been shafting both him and his wife, albeit by different methods?"

Before he could receive a reply his mobile sprang into life. Eyes indicating apology he pressed the answer button, "Yes Jane... give her my love then and I'll be there as soon as possible." Ringing off he told his two companions, "Catherine's woken up properly. I'll have to leave as soon as we finish here."

Malcolm, with unusual firmness interjected, "Just go Harry, Tom and I can sort out what needs to be done. We'll work on the assumption that you want damaging publicity for Rogerson, provided that it makes Robin look foolish rather than venal."

Thus abjured an unusually obedient Harry departed, leaving Tom and Malcolm staring at one another. It was Tom who spoke first, "Well Malcolm that's a turn up, Harry actually on speaking terms with his family."

"Shortly after you left Tom," Malcolm was veering tactfully around the word 'decommissioned' or the even more loaded phrase 'broke down.' "Catherine became involved in a case, then a couple of years later she was badly injured in the Lebanon. Harry just dropped everything and went. After that they managed to get onto more equable terms." Seeing the next question on Tom's lips he finished with, "But if you're asking about Jane I really don't know. She's not quite what I'd anticipated."

Tom, having been dragged for a second time in months into Harry's personal affairs, wasn't even attempting to hid his interest in this new turnabout. Intrigued by Malcolm's last statement he queried, "In what way?"

"I'd expected a harridan, and while she does have a tongue on her she's not been making waves for Harry and I'm quite sure she could do so. I mean Harry would do his best for Catherine anyway, and she must know that. When Harry first mentioned this divorce I thought she was using him but now..." Malcolm, articulating emotional waves with difficulty could only say, "Well, I'm beginning to understand why he married her, as for their current relationship ... it seems complicated."

Tom, still on occasions haunted by memories of a past splattered with a miserable succession of damaged and shattered personal relationships, considered for a moment. Now happily married to Christine what would he do if either Ellie or Maisie suddenly reappeared with problems he could help with? His love affair with Ellie might have ended in acrimony, but after what they'd shared would he really walk away? Deep down he thought not, and Harry's marriage to Jane had endured for nearly a decade, not a matter of months. Hoping that this would remain a purely theoretical speculation as far as his own life was confirmed, Tom preferred to focus on what he regarded as solid observable fact.

"The last time I saw him it was just after Ruth was killed, and he seemed to be an automation. When he spoke to me the other day I thought he sounded more like his old irascible self. Judging by the mischief in his eyes today he seems to have come alive."

Malcolm felt obliged to agree with that assessment, "I came back because I was concerned. He'd become a dead man walking, trapped in a loop of misery. When Calum – my fellow technical officer - first told me that Catherine was involved I was really worried. Previously when she's been in danger he's gone into meltdown, but this time he's been far more controlled, which I can only attribute to Jane's presence. Exactly why that should be so I can't even guess at." Taking a breath he added, "Having been privy to the evidence of her treatment by Tindall I understand why he wants to help her, although whether that is entirely for her sake alone or because he wants revenge on Tindall I couldn't say."

Tom thought for a moment, this was a long speech from the usually diffident Malcolm, but aware that his ex colleague was an excellent judge of character he merely commented, "Interesting but we'd better crack on with our planning. I've copied everything I thought relevant onto this memory stick so you can see if you agree with my conclusions."

"Assuming I do, and after we've dealt with Rogerson, we need to proceed to the next stage. I've studied Harry's outline plan." Malcolm paused for a moment, Tom was no longer an MI5 employee but he was not infrequently commissioned by Harry, and due to the very secret nature of the reprisals inflicted on RussiaFirst he'd acquired a form of quasi semi status. "I will need some confirmatory information that can only be supplied by a physical check. If I give you a legend could you..."

Tom leant back laughing, "With pleasure. Harry ran the basic plan past me. When Shakespeare wrote 'Hell hath no fury' etc he'd not had the privilege of watching Harry on the rampage. One condition though."

Apprehensively Malcolm asked, "And..."

"I want to be in at the kill." Seeing Malcolm startled expression he added, "Figuratively speaking."

Malcolm, with a relieved smile conceded, "Agreed."

His ticket booked for a ringside seat in Harry's wickedly, bloodless revenge Tom pulled out a couple of floor plans and some printouts,

"Now Malcolm if you are in agreement I'd suggest we proceed this way..."

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