16

Ros walked onto the Grid glaring as she heard Malcolm call her name. Nodding once she headed over to his desk as he turned his attention back to the computer monitor in front of him.

"It's not good news I'm afraid." Malcolm stated. "Will called. The safe house has been burned to the ground. London Fire Brigade were there as they arrived."

"Shit." Ros glared over at the office where Harry should have been. "No forensic evidence."

"Apart from the memory stick Ruth has left in the garden for us. She hid it."

"Under a plant pot." Ros rolled her eyes.

"Sometimes the old ways are the best." Malcolm shook his head as Ros smirked.

"Sometimes. Don't let Tariq hear you say that."

Malcolm smiled slightly before handing her the memory stick.

"She did it. Ruth got the evidence that links that woman to our so called boss."

"Don't tell me he's ."

"Sleeping with her? Yes. As distasteful as that sounds, it very much appears to be the case." Malcolm wrinkled his nose as Ros kept her eyes on the screen.

"Each to their own." She muttered as the Pos doors whooshed open behind them.

"Catherine."

"I've been called in." She stated as she made her way down the ramp. Ros raised her eyebrows.

"Who called you? You're on bereavement leave." Ros marched over to the office as the door opened.

"Mrs Reed."

"Sir." The word seemed to get stuck in her throat as she wheeled past him.

Xxxxxxx

Ruth lay on the concrete floor as blood oozed from the various wounds she had sustained as Krycheck had finally lost her temper. Hands cuffed behind her meant she had no way of fighting back so now she had been left to choke on her own blood. Ruth spat out the blood as it dripped from a wound on her face; hair already matted to her scalp as she tried to concentrate on the voice currently telling her to open her eyes.

"Ruth? Please. Try for me." The familiar female voice sounded soft, caring and determined as she tried to ignore it and rest. "FOR FUCK SAKE! Open your eyes Ruth."

"Jo?"

"Still dead and I don't want you to join me yet. So come on."

Ruth blinked as the petite blonde woman who had died so suddenly years earlier watched her. "Come on."

"Jo. I."

"Don't give up. Ruth Pearce doesn't give up. Not my mate." Jo knelt next to her.

"I." Ruth gasped as pain shot through her back. "Since I joined section D I have been beaten up, stabbed, held hostage, permanently damaged my spine and I'm tired."

"So? That's a spy's life."

"Too much. Can't do it."

"What? Can't do what?"

"Live. Too broken. Too tired."

"Ok." Jo paused. "You've changed. My friend would never give up. Not when there's a 16 year old boy and 8 year old girl waiting. Not when the love of her life is searching for her. But if Gracie-Jo, Nick and Harry don't count." Jo shrugged. Ruth grunted as she felt a tear slip down her cheek.

"My babies. Harry. I."

"They need you. Help is coming. Just wait. Please Ruth just wait." Jo reached out to touch her as Ruth groaned in pain. She nodded once, knowing her best friend was right.

Xxxxxx

"Details are yet to be confirmed." Catherine spoke calmly as Farquhar nodded.

"And how are you and your brothers coping? Gareth and Neil."

"Graham and Nick. And they are as gutted as myself and Gracie Jo. Not to mention his grandchildren."

"Have you seen Ruth?"

Ros stormed in the office before Catherine could answer.

"I should have been informed of this meeting. I'm Section Chief. Catherine is on my team."

"Ros. I."

"Catherine, I can only apologise for Mr Farquhar's error and not going through the correct channels via HR. You are dismissed. Go home. Go back to your family."

Catherine nodded before spinning herself around and leaving the office. Ros glared at the man in front of her who just seemed to shrink under her glare.

"That girl is going through Hell. She was shot and paralysed here. On the Grid. Her mother was murdered, her friends arrested for treason, her father committed suicide for fuck sake and YOU, the man who replaced him goes against protocol? You're lucky she doesn't go straight to IA or HR. I know I damn well would." Ros marched away leaving her new boss to wonder what had hit him.

Xxxxx

Harry walked through the lane knowing that his asset would have already gone. The dead drop was old school- former KGB officer who hated the current regime in his own country now helping the Uk secret service would never allow himself to be seen near Harry. Josef was a professional with a very strong sense of self preservation. The information Harry needed would be where Josef told him. Moments later he was reading a scribbled note that would make no sense to anyone bar him.

"Hold on Ruth." He whispered. "I'm on my way." He pulled out his burner phone, carefully typing in the text before sending it. He just hoped his team were nearer than he was, Ruth's life depended on it.