Ros took her usual position in the Briefing Room. The rest of the team began to take their seats as Catherine wheeled herself into the room, taking her place between Calum and Tariq. The young techie smiled at her as she took a deep breath, her conversation with her father still fresh in her mind. She knew she had to contact Jamie, the face he had suddenly gone to ground seemed to be more of a concern than she had initially thought. Harry nodded to her as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Scott Peterson." Ruth began as she clicked on the computer screen. His photograph filled the screen behind Harry. She felt sick as she looked at the man who had been responsible for her abduction years earlier. "Former aid to the former Home Secretary, Andrew Lawrence."

"Known traitor." Zaf huffed. Harry nodded once, completely understanding the venom in the younger man's voice. He knew the man on the screen had not only hurt and terrified Ruth but had also been responsible for his oldest daughter being on a life support machine back in Israel. He would always be grateful to the young man who had found his number and contacted him but there was no way he would ever forgive the man who had planted the bomb on the bus Catherine and her friends had been travelling on. He ran a hand over his face as Ruth began to explain the reasons why the man was the prime suspect in the murder of three known terrorists. Catherine frowned as she listened quietly. As Ruth finished her explanation she knew it was her time to explain her past with Peterson. Calum narrowed his eyes as he listened intently, knowing that despite being in a wheelchair there was no way his wife was going to let the team go on with the investigation without her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"No sign of the woman since Peterson got out of prison." Will stated as he looked up at the block of council flats where the missing probation officer had lived. Beth nodded.

"People don't just vanish."

"She has." Will sighed. "No sign of her on any CCTV in the area. She hasn't used her Debit or Credit cards, her car hasn't been picked up anywhere."

Beth nodded. "She was at his probation hearing and saw him at least once after that. No other PO was assigned to him, so either he's dropped out of sight or she did sign him off."

"Either way." Will opened the car door. "We have to get into her flat." He looked over at the estate, wondering if they were about to find an empty flat or something much more sinister. Beth followed him, glad that she had her lock pick with her, hoping that she and Will wouldn't have to deal with any nosey neighbours who would stop them or call the police. It was a hassle she could do without. Before Will could say anything else Beth marched ahead, determined to get it over and done with before they could find anything else. Will jogged after her, hoping that the missing probation officer was anywhere but dead in the flat.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Leon died in a car accident in Iran two years ago." Catherine stated as she saw Ruth approach her with a mug of tea. "I got hold of his boyfriend when I was planning my wedding. David moved back to California when Leon died. Never heard from Jamie again."

"Ok." Ruth sat next to her, frowning slightly. "Do you think Peterson was targeting them too? Would he be capable of going after all three of you?"

"He did shoot three men in cold blood." Catherine sighed. "I have to work this case, Ruth. I have to."

"I want to say you are safest here on the Grid, but after."

"I know." Catherine smiled slightly as her stepmother looked away. "But I am alive. I survived. My brain is still functioning. I can do this. I have to."

"Have you told Harry?"

"That I'm coming back? Not in so many words." She frowned. "I have to do this. He knew about my kids. Ruth, he."

"Has a habit of going after the target's weak spot." Ruth sighed. "With you and me, that's our children. With Harry, that's us."

"He's also a mercenary scumbag. Someone was paying him to talk to us back then. Someone is paying him to do this now." Catherine paused. "I just wish I was able to be in that interview room." Ruth sighed, knowing that Ros and Adam would be heading down to the interview room as they spoke. Part of her almost felt sorry for the man in custody, knowing that Ros was not about to take any prisoners.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bloody Hell." The smell turned Will's stomach as Beth pushed the front door to the flat open. Beth swallowed hard as she thought about what was going to be in the room behind the front door. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering her training as she tried not to think about what the stench may mean. A moment later she was heading back out of the flat, leaning over the balcony as Will called for a clean up team.

"Harry?" She heard him talk quietly on the phone. "We found the probation officer. Probably. Or what's left of her anyway." He swallowed hard as Harry told them to come back to base. He had a feeling the case was going to get a lot darker before they found out exactly what Peterson was planning.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

a/n is anyone reading? Please review.