Chasing Tails
Adam walked through the backstreets of Peckham knowing that the asset he was going to meet was probably either not going to turn up or was going to be a complete waste of time. Eddie was not the most reliable of women but she did, on occasion have some solid information. He just hoped Tariq and Calum were having more luck tracking Juliet.
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"Thing is, she is old school. Like Harry." Calum slumped back in his chair as he stared at the computer screen. Tariq shrugged.
"Trained the same time."
"Yeah." Calum frowned. "Why pick on Tash, Ruth and Malcolm? I can get why anyone would go after Ros and the others. Field officers are more likely to attract attention. Who outside this building even knows the desk spooks exist? I mean, really?"
"The bullet is being put through ballistics now." Catherine wheeled her way towards them. "I'm really worried about Dad. If anything happens to Ruth. I mean." She sighed. "She is the love of his life. If anything happens to her."
"It wont." Dimitri stated firmly as he joined them. "We will make sure of that."
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Ruth walked through the corridors of Thames House deep in thought. She knew that Juliet was too clever to simply let herself be arrested. It didn't matter that there was a 'seek and detain' order out on her; the woman was a born spook. Ruth sighed heavily as she rounded the corner to the Records Library So am I. So am I. Ruth thought to herself as she passed Karyn the curator of the records. The older woman nodded to her before turning back to her own computer. Ruth headed straight to the rear of the attic room knowing that she had the place to herself. She just hoped there was something in Juliet's past that would give her an idea where the older woman was now.
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"Andy!" The skinny woman with the too dark hair looked over at Adam as he walked towards her. He couldn't help but wonder how the woman was able to stay vertical. She watched him as he headed closer to her, head tilted on one side as she took a drag on her cigarette.
"Jackie."
"You ok? Look like you lost a fiver and found a penny."
Adam smirked. Jackie was a nightmare but she had a good heart on her. He had to admit he could see why she was the way she was. Took too many risks and too many drugs but she always seemed to be able to care about others.
"I'm fine." He smiled slightly, one eye on the couple at the end of the alley way. He knew Beth was in the car just around the corner but couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. Jackie shrugged.
"Good." She watched him. "Here." She handed him a cigarette packet. "Look inside when I'm off. My pimp is watching, thinks you're a customer."
"You weren't going to do that anymore." Adam couldn't help but worry about the skinny woman. He could see a time when she was beautiful but Crystal Meth had destroyed her slowly. Jackie sighed.
"Just walk with me to the end of the alley, then piss off."
Adam nodded as she linked her arm through his as he walked. "You know, the bloke who was shot outside the bank? He wasn't shot because of who he is. Poor sod. It was meant for him but he shouldn't have survived."
"And?" Adam had already worked out that the desk officers were being targeted. He had no idea why but it seemed that the threats to Ruth, the attack on Malcolm and Tasha being forced back into the limelight was linked. He listened intently as Jackie carried on explaining how her pimp had told her that his mate had bought the bullets that had shot the old guy outside the bank. He turned to her.
"Jackie, this is nonsense. We know the gunman was a pro. That shot was taken by a sniper. We know."
Jackie sighed. "Yeah well. His mate is one of you lot. Or was. Fucking 'ell Andy. I don't like seeing people be hurt. I don't. You should know that me telling you this is to stop him going after the rest of your mates. Its not fair, he thinks he's a big shot. He's a dick."
"Names. I need names."
"Check the cig packet. For fucks sake, he is going to kill me next at this rate." She shook her head, walking away as Beth pulled the car up to where Adam was stood.
"Get in."
Adam did as he was told just as she floored the accelerator. Adam tapped his fingers against the car door as she wove in and out of traffic. Beth narrowed her eyes as she pushed the small pool car to the limits.
"Talk to me."
"Will called."
"And?"
"Malcolm is being moved from ITU to HDU."
"That's progress."
"Harry wants more security. Ros called us all back. Something is happening on the Grid." She took a sharp turn as Adam looked in the side mirror.
"We're being followed."
"Shit."
"Yeah."
"Right, hold on." Beth swung the car in a tight U turn causing all the cars behind to slam on their breaks. Adam glanced at her, checked his gun and tried to memorise the number plate of the car following him. Beth tapped the coms button on the dashboard. A second later the call connected.
"Tariq, need a safe route back."
"On it." Tariq answered as suddenly all the speed cameras between Peckham and the Grid failed. The lights all seemed to miraculously turn in Beth's favour as she floored the small car. A second later a gun shot ran out, bursting the tyre as she struggled to control the car. Adam swore as he tried to return fire. Before Beth could get control of the car it flipped, rolling down the Embankment as the metal screeched along the tarmac before coming to a sickening halt.