Tariq felt sick. Gripping the sides of the sink in the small kitchenette he tried to focus on what was happening rather than how he felt about what was happening. He loved his job and his team had become like a second family. The idea that someone had shot mild mannered Malcolm ripped his heart out. The unfairness of it all seemed to hurt him more than anything. Malcolm was not a field officer. It just wasn't fair that on his day off he wasn't even safe to pop to the shops. Such a normal, everyday thing to do and he had to be the one to get in the line of fire. The fact it seemed to be a professional hit made it feel so much worse than if his friend had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Tariq?" Beth tilted her head as she leant in the doorway. "You ok?"

"No." He pulled back, filling the kettle but not looking at his friend. He sniffed quietly as Beth nodded. "You?"

"No." She sighed. "This is so wrong. This should not be happening. It should be anyone of us in that hospital not him. When was the last time Malcolm was actively in the field?"

"Before I started I think."

"So a long time then."

"Ruth told me he saved her life and Nick's when he was little. I didn't ask for details but she said he's the bravest man she knows."

Beth smiled. "He never told us."

"He wouldn't. Would he?" Tariq handed her a mug of coffee. "This is Malcolm we are on about. He told me once about the bloke who had my job before me. Colin. He was murdered on duty but it was made to look like suicide. It was Adam and Ros who got to the bottom of it. Got the answers." He sighed. "Hope we get the bastards this time too."

"We will." Beth squeezed his hand. "Ruth and Ros are looking at the footage now. Zaf and Dimitri are talking to an asset and Adam is liaising with the police who were at the scene. We will get them. And Malcolm will be back here, tutting at my singing and pretending to be exasperated by Ros and bickering with Calum." She smiled but it didn't hit her eyes.

"Yeah." Tariq stared into his mug. "Yeah, he will."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adam looked at the patch of concrete stained in blood before resting a hand on his chest. He had been shot in the street once, left to choke on his own blood. It was only Harry and Ruth's quick thinking that had saved him. Ruth ordering the kill shot to remove the gunwoman and Harry dragging him to safety. He had known he was a deliberate target, but there was no way Malcolm could have even considered he was in the firing line. The blood stained concrete made him feel sick. It wasn't right.

"Carter?"

"Yeah." He looked up to see a tall woman, dressed in the uniform of a senior police officer approach him. "You?"

"Frances Garland. I'm the DCI handing this. You know the vic?"

"Malcolm Wyn-Jones." Adam nodded. "Yes. You know the attacker?"

"No. Not yet. But we will. Looks like the shots were fired from up there." She pointed to the building opposite. "Forensics are there now. She's the witness. We kept her incase you wanted to talk to her. She's badly shaken up but its thanks to her your mate was alive when the ambulance got here."

Adam nodded before looking over to where the younger woman was sat with a blanket around her shoulders. "Shit."

"You know her?"

"Yeah."

"You going to assist in this investigation or lead it?" Garland snapped as Adam narrowed his eyes at her.

"It was a double tap."

"No, three bullets were fired. One missed his head."

"Fuck." Adam mumbled. "I need all your information. All the forensics are to be sent to Section D."

Garland nodded. "I thought you'd say that. Bullet from the third shot is already on its way to Ballistics. You can get official confirmation from them. But I can tell you its standard issue for armed police and security services. Either someone has been very careless with their weapon and ammunition or."

"Someone has been turned." He sighed as he thanked the police officer before walking towards the witness. "So, how's the coffee shop empire going?"

"Oh Bugger off Mad Dog." She looked up with tears in her eyes as Adam hugged her.

"Tasha."

"Is he ok? Is Malcolm going to be ok?" She asked as Adam shrugged.

"Dunno. But he has a chance. I'm told, thanks to you."

Natasha sighed. "Trouble, that's all I ever have when I run into you lot. But Malcolm is lovely. Why would anyone want to hurt him?"

"You think it was deliberate?"

"Either that or I'm bloody lucky not to be in a body bag." Natasha sniffed. "I'm coming back to the Grid aren't I? Told her lot everything. Said I had to wait for you."

"Yeah." Adam helped her to her feet. "Come on. If you were the target, which I doubt I'm not risking you getting killed."

Natasha sniffed. "Its not fair. Malcolm is one of the good guys, always nice to me. Always polite."

"He's a gentleman." Adam agreed as he led her away.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ros stared at the computer monitor, glad that Calum had been able to clean up the hazy CCTV footage. She barely flinched as Ruth put a mug of coffee next to her.

"Adam is on the way back. Lucas and Alec are with an asset."

"Ok,"

"Will is at the hospital. He doesn't want to leave Sarah. I had extra security put on the ward and at the Theatre/Recovery rooms."

"Any news?"

"Still in theatre."

"Its been hours."

"I know." Ruth snapped. She sighed. "Sorry. How many times have you run this footage?"

"Not enough. Something is not adding up. We are missing something. I am missing something." She narrowed her eyes as she watched the screen. Ruth sighed heavily, knowing like Harry, Ros was taking it as their sole responsibility to find the culprit.
"What I don't know."

"Ros." Ruth frowned as Harry walked out of his office.

"Briefing Room, in ten minutes and I want answers." He marched through the Grid as Ruth sent up a silent prayer they'd have some.