Thanks to those who reviewed the previous chpater. This is not the chapter I'd intended to write but had to rejig my original plan.

Harry was temporarily stunned. Was this really happening again? For a second time within twenty four hours he'd been door stepped by someone he'd never expected to see again. And in the case of Alexis Gavrick had never wanted to. Despite this he managed to disinter a degree of suavity as he uttered the rejoinder,

"Good evening Alexis and what can I do for you?" Quietly considering what he'd really like to do to that young man. As Alexis hesitated Harry took the opportunity to really eye rake the little shit. From the boy's demeanour he seemed ill at ease, not exactly a surprise given the circumstances of their last meeting. Harry noting his visitor's discomfort recalled that Ilya had confided that after the emergence of those disastrous truths by Thames mudflats and the subsequent events Alexis had withdrawn into himself and been committed to a mental facility. A closer examination suggested to Harry, even taking account of the street gloom, that Alexis was looking unnaturally pale and had lost weight to the point of gauntness.

Finally a reply came. "My father sent me – I have a letter."

Curiouser and curiouser. Harry was beginning to wonder if he'd somehow morphed into Alice in Wonderland or possibly…. he had vague memories of reading a story to Catherine in which four children ended up in a country called Topsy Turvey land. Trying to remain anchored in the vaguely sane present he responded, "Perhaps you'd better hand it to me then."

Alexis registering the underlying hostility gulped, "It's inside my jacket – you will permit – I'm not armed."

At this precise point Harry's mobile rang – a quick glance at the screen told him it was Dmitri, probably with Intel, and that was certainly not a conversation he'd want to conduct in the street. Also as he glanced back at Alexis he noticed the boy was shivering in garments that were more suited to early autumn, jeans and thin fleece. Why on earth had Ilya not equipped his son with warmer clothes? Admittedly compared to the average Russian winter the climate in London was positively balmy but even so…. Killing Dimitri's call and typing out the quick text code 'gv me 5. Harry made an instant and possibly foolhardy decision.

"I think it best we continue this indoors."

The apprehensive expression on Alexis' face suggested that he was fearful of Harry's motives and the precise form of the proffered hospitality. Considering their recent history this was not, Harry conceded, an unreasonable reaction.

"Alexis if we stand here much longer you'll probably freeze and my neighbours will become curious." The latter point was certainly not hyperbole, the events of yesterday evening had inevitably attracted some unwanted attentions, batted away with the phrase 'gas leak'.

Alexis nodded and followed Harry up the steps, although it was clear from his hesitating footfall that he was not completely convinced as to his fate behind closed doors. Harry thought that was all to the good, although he was puzzled as to why Ilya, who could never be accused of underestimating his enemy, had decided to send his son to Harry of all people. There again in the aftermath of the estuary showdown and their later collaboration on wiping out Russia First the two previous adversaries had struck up an uneasy alliance which Ilya may have decided to trade upon. But why use Alexis the emotional loose cannon? The only possibility Harry could think of was that either Alexis, or Ilya himself, were in some sort of danger. Given Ilya's chummy relationship with Mad Vlad, aka Putin the democratically elected dictator, that seemed unlikely but you could never underestimate the mental instability of the paranoid. A brief vision of his own two children flashed across Harry's brain. If either of them were in danger what would he do? Hell, he'd once sat with blood draining directly from his arteries into Catherine's to save her legs and possibly her life. As for Graham, he'd traded on an endless good will, not to mention the odd bit of accidentally revealed information, to the Plods, an unacknowledged bribery to ensure his druggie son avoided prison. For some reason Ilya must of have decided that Alexis was safer with Harry than in his homeland. Presumably when Harry read the letter all would be revealed.

Once indoors Harry ushered Alexis in his sitting room with the words, "I'm sure you remember the layout from your previous visit." Noting the wince that greeted this statement he added consolingly, "Sit down Alexis and relax. I don't kill people in my own home – getting bloodstains out of the Axminster is an expensive nuisance."

Alexis essayed a ghost of a grin at this, but before he could respond in any other way Harry's mobile buzzed into life again.

"Sorry Alexis I must take this." Swiping the call open he advised Dimitri, "I'll be with you in a minute." Before turning back to Alexis to ask, "When did you last eat?"

Startled by the very mundane nature of this question Alexis mumbled something that sounded like, 'Breakfast".

Harry waved his hand in the direction the document strewn bookcase. "You'll find a set of carry out menus there. Choose what you'd like and order for two. Use the land line and give my name. I have an account with all of them." Leaving Alexis to obey or not as the whim took him Harry marched into his kitchen.

"Sorry Dimitri but I have an unexpected visitor."

"Again!"

"Quite but I'm assuming you weren't ringing for a social chat,"

"No Harry. The body by the Thames Barrier we've got an id. Erin didn't recognise the name but thought you might."

"And"

"Does Bernard Qualtrough ring a bell?"

Harry was wondering just how many more shocks his heart could take as he managed to reply evenly, "It sets an entire belfry clanging– he was part of Operation Renaissance."

"Err"

"Before your time. He was part of a very deep undercover Russian cell."

In a tone of puzzlement Dmitri asked, "How does that tie up with Ruth's reappearance?"

"I'm not sure but I have a further development, Alexis Gavrick has just doorstepped me."

The silence of shock was palpable before Dmitri asked, "Have you alerted…." Only to be cut off by Harry voicing a further bombshell, "No he's currently in my sitting room ordering us a meal."

Dmitri normally quietly respectful, expostulated "What after…Harry he isn't safe and how did.."

"He get here –exactly. He says he was sent by Ilya and he has a letter for me. I'm prepared to bet that this is tied up with Qualtrough and Ruth, but as to how I'm hoping Ilyas's letter might enlighten us."

Dmitri wasn't reassured as he asked, "Harry are you sure its…"

"Safe to keep him here. I don't think Ilya would have sent …"

"Do you have any proof Ilya did send him?"

Harry was beginning to feel a little frayed after the shocks of yesterday evening, approximately three hours sleep, the Grid meetings, the harrowing visit to Ruth and the return of the pseudo prodigal son as he snapped back, "I've maintained a backdoor contact with Ilya…" That much was true, even in if this latest turn of events still mystified Harry, "Anyway I'll update everyone tomorrow and thanks for the Intel. It might be relevant to whatever Ilya has sent in the letter with Alexis." With that Harry ended the call before Dmitri could protest further. Protests which Harry knew were justified. He was taking a risk in believing Alexis but at present curiosity was out bidding caution.

Returning to his sitting room where Alexis was still perched nervously on the sofa's edge Harry was fairly certain that a further face to face assassination attempt was unlikely, which was why his unexpected guest's goodnight drink would be secretly spiced with a precautionary sleeping pill. On Harry's entrance he turned his head to mutter, "I've ordered fish and chips."

"Ah the classic English dish", stripping off his overcoat Harry instructed Alexis, "Take off your fleece – you can stay with me tonight and we'll sort out accommodation tomorrow – probably a safe house." As Alexis removed his outer garment a slight crackle reminded him of his mission and he produced a long envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to Harry.

"The letter."

Harry turned it over, the seal seemed to be intact as he commented, "Congratulations on your restraint in not opening it,"

Alexis responded with a sketchy smile, "No point, my father told me it's a cipher."

Harry opening the envelope saw a couple of pages written, as Alexis had said, in cipher. With a wry snort he commented "Good old fashioned spycraft – a Playfair cipher. The problem is I need the keyword which I don't suppose you have."

Alexis looked crest fallen, "No my father merely gave me the letter as he sent me away."

Harry thought for a moment, "What exactly did he say."

"That of the triumvirate only two remain but one still serves."

Harry thought for a few moments – no - he was sure this was the clue but for now the answer eluded him.

He was interrupted by Alexis asking, "Why a cipher letter, I'm sure my father could have…

Harry almost looked at Alexis with approval. Clearly the young man's brains had not been hugely impaired by the ordeals of the last few months.

"Emailed or communicated in some other way. That's been puzzling me." Looking again at the document in his hand he suggested to Alexis, "I can only assume he thought the electronic comms might be hacked, which must be a very real threat."

Noticing the Alexis was still looking confused Harry added," This form of cipher was abandoned around the time of the Second World War on security grounds so Ilya must have had good reason to distrust more er modern methods." Something else had been niggling Harry leading him to make an additional enquiry, "How did Ilya get you out of Russia anyway?"

Before Alexis could answer the doorbell rang, leading Harry to say, "You can enlighten me over the fish and chips."

Thanks for reading. A review if you have a moment would be appreciated. As I'll be away for a few days with no computer access I won;t be able to respond to an reviews quickly especially since I note the site emails are still not always reaching members so I may not know if a review has been posted. I have tried to fix the problem as per instructions but whether that has worked...?