15
Ros headed back to the car knowing that Harry was right. She had to make sure Catherine and the rest of the Pearces were safe. She narrowed her eyes as she tried to work out what, if anything she would be able to say to Gracie and Nick if Ruth never came home. Checking the car before unlocking it she promised them that whoever took Ruth was going to pay. And she would be bringing her friend home.
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"Say that again." Zaf asked as he pulled his collar closer to him. He hated meeting in the underpass but the small urine smelling and graffitied area was one of the very few areas of London not covered by any CCTV.
"Ruth has been taken." Zoe folded her arms. "Ros got a message to me. Told me to wait here for you and Adam. You managed to get in his house ok?"
"Course." Zaf shrugged. "You think he's behind it?"
"Yes." Ros stated as she walked closer to them. "Lord Farquhar and Anouska Krycheck are in this up to their necks. I don't know what hold that woman has on him but she has Ruth. Tariq is at the safehouse now with Will looking for any evidence. I've spoken to Harry."
"And?"
"We better find them before he does." Lucas frowned, knowing how it felt to be in Harry's position. He glanced at Ros as Adam joined them.
"Left Calum and Malcolm on the Grid with Beth. Dimitri and Erin are chasing some lead he sent them on. "
"Lead?" Ros turned to Adam. "What?"
"Dunno. Some wild goose chase. Told them to go, it may be nothing but it at least gives the pretence that we are listening to him. He was interrogating Calum earlier about Harry's funeral."
"Yeah? Well I hope he has planned his own." Ros snapped as she explained what she wanted her team to do.
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Ruth realised she was no longer in the safe house as voices just too far away to make out what was being said caught her attention. She kept her eyes closed, head down as she realised she was currently handcuffed to a chair. Her shoulders burned in protest as she tried to ignore the pain and work out how she was going to get herself to safety. Don't know how long I've been missing. Oh I feel sick. Concussion? Maybe. Harry. The others, they have no idea what happened. Why am I so stupid? Why didn't I just. Just what? My head is killing me. And I thought migraines were bad. THINK RUTH. COME ON, YOU'RE AN ANALYST. Analyse this. Her thoughts were a blur, all hitting her at once as the decidedly female voice of one of her captors caught her attention. Fighting to keep her breathing under control she forced herself to concentrate. In that moment getting back to Harry and her children was all that mattered. She would see Grace and Nick again. She would see the grandchildren again. All she had to go was go home.
Ruth sat in silence as the female voice got nearer to her. Eyes remained closed as she remembered her training. When once sense is lost, use the others. Smell, hearing, proprioception. All would help save her life. It was the sudden realisation that the woman was talking to her, saying her name as if it was a curse word that caught her attention.
Russian accent, or at least Eastern Block.
"Lady Ruth Elizabeth Pearce." The slap was hard enough to topple the chair with Ruth still tied to it. The woman laughed as Ruth remained apparently unconscious. "You really should have woken up. Would have loved to have looked you in your eyes before I finish my job."
"Leave her be." A familiar cut glass and decidedly male voice filled the room. Ruth swore internally as she realised who it was that had just saved her from a beating. "We don't have time."
"Oh I believe that time we can make." Krycheck laughed. "Must you be such a stick in the mud?"
"I don't do torture."
"But treason? You do treason. Because that is what this is."
"YOU WANTED HER DEAD. I told you I would have no part in it."
"So, my lover. You are to return to Section D while I do the dirty work?" She scoffed. "You do that. Remember I put you there. For a very good reason."
"Yes and now both your nemesis are dead, or near enough. I did as you asked Anouska."
"Not entirely." She smirked. "Before you leave, pick her up."
Farquhar stepped across to Ruth, gently lifting her and setting the chair back on its feet. Ruth let her head fall forward, bruising beginning to colour her cheeks. He ran a thumb over it, shaking his head.
"This is really of your own making."
"Mine or hers!" Krycheck snapped.
"I dare say both." He turned to her. "You believe that she should have allowed Elena to continue with her plan, sparking a hot war with Russia while I believe she should have told us Harry wasn't really dead and is far too clever for her own good. I am done with this. You blew up three cars in London."
"Yes." She nodded. "And I will remind you. You are the one who got me the explosives and the means to do it. You sent your friend to meet me that day on London Bridge. Because you, Sir High and Mighty are in this up to your neck. You are a double agent and now is the time to not forget it."
Ruth listened intently, knowing that no one was coming to rescue her she had to use the information she had to get out. The only problem was she had no idea how.
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