Apologies for the length of time between chapters and thanks for the patience in waiting. If I didn't thank those who reviewed the previous chapter again my apologies. I wasn't sure what the site was doing with messages.

Midnight. After the traumatic events of the past twenty four hours Harry knew he should be hitting his pillow in the search for a refreshing night's sleep. Instead he was sitting hunched over his kitchen table staring at the letter from Ilya while seeking enlightenment through the medium of a quadruple measure of whisky.

Alexis was now tucked up in Harry's guest bedroom having feasted on fish and chips before succumbing to exhaustion, aided by the sleeping pill Harry had accidentally dropped into his final drink. Despite the inevitable awkwardnesses resulting from their previous encounter, during which a vengeful Alexis had attempted to stab Harry and succeeded only in killing Ruth by accident, the evening had been reasonably convivial.

The first few moments after they had sat down were silent. Harry observing his unexpected guest practically gobbling his meal before remarking, "Hungry Alexis?" The young man instantly looked up, shamefaced and embarrassed, as he muttered an apology. "Sorry but I've not eaten since I left the ferry." A comment that astounded his host, "Ferry I'd assumed you'd flown in." Noting that Alexis was about to embark on an explanation Harry hastily followed up his original comment by adding, "You can explain later on a full stomach." Ending any further argument by tackling his own plate, teeth champing on the very crispy chips from his portion of the meal while his mind whirred furiously with questions all of which ultimately distilled down to, "What the hell was Ilya up to and why had he involved Alexis?"

Harry knew Ilya to be ruthless, in that respect they were almost shadow twins, but he'd also seen the concern and utter horror on Ilya's face as he processed the damage that the Cold War aftermath had inflicted on his unwitting son. Indeed when they had met up briefly to discuss the taking out of the remnants of Russia First, both of them, still reeling from the truths and deceptions so starkly revealed in that ministry bunker on the Thomas estuary, Ilya had expressed concern that his son, tainted and mentally damaged with the genes of a traitor, would never recover from the breakdown he'd spiralled into. Yet here Alexis was, sitting in front of him, coherent, tired, thin to the point of almost emaciation with deep rings under his eyes but eating well, while ensconced in the house of a man who almost certainly featured in the upper reaches of Putin's hit list.

It was about half an hour later with the dishes washed up, the carryout debris consigned to Harry's dustbin and were both seated with a cup apiece of freshly brewed coffee that Alexis asked with a tremor of apprehension, "Harry what happens next in the safe house". Harry, all too aware that in Russia incarnation in a safe house was usually the final pitstop to the charnel house, hastily reassured his visitor. "What it says, you'll be questioned of course regarding your arrival on my doorstep but you will also be protected from anyone who might seek to harm you." Alexis with still looking dubious as Harry continued, "Perhaps you need to tell me what is happening. The last I knew you were still being treated in…." While he paused for an acceptable term Alexis broke out into a grin, "I believe the English term is nut house." Harry gave a quick bark of laughter as he replied, "We prefer clinic but yes I'm not going to argue the point."

Noticing that Alexis seemed slightly more comfortable Harry asked, "Can you tell me how you came to be sent here. It will help me to arrange suitable accommodation and help. For example why the ferry and not a plane?"

Alexis gulped, "I don't suppose you'll believe me but I really don't know." Harry considered for a moment, his eyes scanning Alexis for any indication of prevarication. It might be true, Alexis could just be the subject of 'need to know', which in view of his recent instability –had he actually made a full recovery – made him an unlikely repository for state secrets. Conversely though given the combination of his FSB background and his upbringing from two master spies he might also be indulging in one master bluff. Cautiously Harry suggested, "Then tell me what you do know."

Alexis swallowed a quick mouthful of coffee before admitting, "I've rather lost track of time but I think it was about a week ago I was…" pausing before explaining, "I'd been moved a few weeks previously form the mental hospital and was in a supervised flat, independent living but with a warden on site", adding, "it was a private institution my father was.."

"Paying", Harry had supplemented this hesitation smiling as he added, "I'd expect no less, I know he was both shocked and angry at the way…" He faltered remembering how Alexis had idolised his mother, even after she'd be exposed as a cold hearted manipulative bitch who had failed to utter a word when Harry threatened to shoot her son. Harry's ex wife had her faults but the one thing they had retained in common as couple was a desire to do their best to support their children, they just disagreed on the means of achieving it. Harry could imagine Jane's reaction if anyone had threatened to shoot Graham. She'd have gone for them with her bare hands, although the chances were that Harry would have beaten her to the kill. Alexis lost in his own narrative failed to notice Harry's pause.

"Anyway I'd just returned from food shopping when two men arrived at my door with a note from my father instructing me to go with them." Harry was aghast, "And you believed them?" Alexis nodded, "I know what you're thinking but I and my father have three code words to be inserted into any message in a particular order." That point established he continued, "I was driven in a car with blacked out windows to a small airfield where we boarded a plane which landed just beside the border to Poland." Taking a further swig of his coffee he added, "My father met me there, gave me that letter and the message for you."

"Nothing else?" Harry's credibility was restrained only by the consideration that he would, in similar circumstances have limited the information, but still why on earth... as he wondered anew what the Hell was Ilya playing at?

Either Alexis possessed mindreading skills or he was simply continuing his tale as he explained, "My father said that he had his reasons for sending me and he was hoping to follow shortly."

Harry digesting this utterance, in conjunction with recent Intel from his counterpart in Six to the effect that 'that bastard Putin is reviving the Cold War.', was achieving a glimmer of Ilya's reasons for extracting his son.

Alexis looked slightly sheepish as he added,"The papers he gave me included a false EU passport as I'm not allowed to leave Russia. I think he might have bribed some officials to let me over the border into Poland – I don't know. He had arranged a series of train reservations, euros to get me to Zeebrugge, he told me to change any that remained for pounds when I arrived in England."

Harry was somewhat puzzled. The smuggling of Alexis into an EU country with the freedom of travel rules made sense but why ferry and not air travel?

Having voiced this query Alexis gave a slight quirk, "I asked the same but my father thought that if, or rather when, I was found to be missing the airports would checked before the ferry terminals."

Harry had to admit that made sense, he'd spent more time than he cared to recall arguing for tighter controls at the seaports. Experience of his own estranged son though meant he had a further question, "And you did as he requested?" Disbelief in every syllable.

"Knowing my father I suspect he had hidden minders following my progress." Causing Harry to nod, he'd have done the same. Hesitatingly Alexis added "And he must have had good reasons given what happened….." trailing off with his eyes suddenly acquiring a forensic interest in the non existent patterning of Harry's pale beige carpet.

Much as Harry would have liked to reassure Alexis that in fact he was not a murderer, at least as regarded Ruth, he held back. With the news the Bernard Qualtrough had turned up in the Thames after depositing a zombie Ruth on Harry's doorstep there were schemes afoot that needed unravelling. It was only the fact that Harry and Ilya had, against the odds, managed to form a tentative alliance, stretching to the point of a cautious liking of one another, that made Harry ponder the possibility that the the reason underlying Alexis appearance was based on a solid truth rather than a shape shifting deception.

Noting that it was now nearing ten o'clock and the heavy shadows under Alexis' eyes suggested that he was near the point of exhaustion after his European odyssey Harry asked, "So you disembarked at Hull. I assume you then travelled by train to London."

Alexis nodded, "Then taxi to here."

Harry cleared his throat, "Very well bed for now. Tomorrow you can come with me to Thames House. We'll arrange as safe house, medical checks, a formal debrief and I'll try to contact your father.

Alexis rising from his chair reasonably suggested, "If you could just decode the letter…"

Which was why Harry some two hours later was still trying to establish the cipher keyword. He was sure GCHQ held software that would probably break it in minutes but if Ilya had chosen a handwritten mode, while undoubtedly aware that a computer programme could crack the cypher, presumably this was for "eyes only" or more accurately "Harry's eyes only" and it was possibly also linked to the reappearance of Bernard Qualtrough, now drowned and deceased. As the clock hands swung silently past midnight Harry was cursing Ilya for being so bloody cryptic. Leaving aside the eighteen month old horrible memories that had locked himself, Ilya and Jim Coaver into the final three days of their life long battles on behalf of their respective countries…...aahhh what was the phrase …"That of the triumvirate only two remain but one still serves ….". Harry and Ilya still drew breath but Jim Coaver…..Coaver no repeated letters in the name but still serving!… A possible lightbulb moment? Acting on the hunch Harry hurriedly began to scribble and then followed up with the work of squaring and translating.

After the first few letters had been teased out it began to look hopeful. Gradually letters became words, words became sentences. Sentences that explained to Harry's horror exactly why Ilya had entrusted Alexis to his care.

Thanks for reading I'll be away for a few days so may not be able to respond to reviews (if any). For those readers who are new to the site some of this story is based on the narrative I invented in my first ever story 'Next' chapter 59 and also on the two shorts by Antonia Caenis 'The Seed' and 'The Quiet Man'. The latter are well worth reading as is anything written by Antonia.