13th September 1991, 9 pm
140 Gower Street, London
The week has passed quickly but, though the rest of the op is going well, they've still had no luck finding out who compromised Harry. The three men Harry had never met had turned out to have no connection they could find to anyone in MI-5, and though they have not given up looking for their mole, Ruth has been given other tasks, on other operations. Not that that's stopped her from taking their failure personally, obsessing about who the mole could be, and using some of her time every night to continue searching for them.
"You're not still here again, Ruth," Mark says, incredulously.
"I think I must be, or you'd be hallucinating."
He laughs. "Come on. Take a break for a change. Join us at the pub."
She looks up. "You're going too?" She knows Mark rarely does. Normally he goes home to his wife in the evenings.
"Friday night," he explains.
She smiles. "And I suppose Saturday night is date night?"
"Exactly. Sue's out with her mates tonight too."
She nods, turns back to the pile of papers in front of her, sighs and nods again. "Alright. Pub it is."
"Excellent."
She likes Mark. He's a friendly bloke, respectful and smart, who doesn't seem to care for gossip. Malcolm too, and in the last few days, she's made some friends amongst the women in their section – Nancy and Connie, both of them desk spooks like her. Nancy is only a few years older than her and has been here just over two years. Connie is older and wiser, around Harry and Malcolm's age, experienced and very smart – nothing gets by her. She seems to know just how to put 'the boys', as she calls them, back in their places and even Coolridge seems a little wary of her. She's quite opinionated, sarcastic, and things need to be done her way or there's trouble, but she's also a wonderful ally and her protection has undone a lot of the damage that Harry's thoughtlessly managed to inflict on her reputation. He's not a bad bloke really. She understands that he's just unused to thinking of anyone but himself and finds it tricky to see things from another's point of view when it comes to his own behaviour. Peter, her step-brother, is just like that.
Connie hasn't managed to fix everything, of course. A lot of the younger lot, particularly the women, are still keeping their distance, she suspects, out of loyalty to Jenna though, apparently, according to Connie – who seems to know most of what's going on here – she's deluding herself about Harry. Even if that's the case, however, Jenna has clearly been expecting more from him – whatever their initial interaction had been that had sparked her obsession – for want of a better word. She can understand that. Literature is full of women who fall for the wrong man and hope to change him, only to discover that they can't. She, herself, discovered a long time ago that people can only change themselves. Trying to make them change is a waste of everyone's time and effort.
She knows from others and her own limited observation that Harry's remarkably brave – sometimes bordering on reckless. He's intelligent, has a good sense of humour, is charming and disarmingly attractive when he wants to be, yet he's serious about work and a decent leader on the Grid. He puts the safety of civilians and other officers first, and always brings his best self forward when on operation. For these reasons alone, he's well respected by the others and his less than stellar traits overlooked. And he has kept his word to her, for which she's very grateful. It's just that she's also gathered that his personal life is a mess, that he can be rather selfish, that he drinks too much, and that he has a temper. She hasn't seen him lose it yet, but she's heard stories of pub brawls from Connie – Connie loves to tell stories. So no matter how attractive she still finds him, how much her stomach ties itself in knots when he's near, she can't possibly let herself succumb to the temptation. She's sure it'll pass eventually anyway and, in the meantime, she finds the willpower to resist him.
The pub is noisy and the rest of the team rather boisterous. It's the first time she's joined them for something social and she's feeling rather apprehensive, unsure of how she will be received. Connie's there, however, so all is well and everyone friendly, most of them acknowledging her with a smile and nod of the head. She gets herself sorted with a half pint of cider and sits beside Connie and Malcolm, Mark taking a seat at the opposite end of the table, near Chris and Leon. They probably want to talk sport.
"Glad you could join us, Ruth," Malcolm says in his gentle way, giving her a lopsided little smile before taking another sip of his whiskey. She's never seen him drink before, but it doesn't surprise her to find out that he's a fan of whiskey. It used to be her father's drink of preference too and it fits Malcolm – he seems older than his thirty-something years.
"Thanks, Malcolm," she replies with a smile. "What did I miss?"
It's Connie who answers of course. "Not a lot really. They've been talking about the riots or rugby all evening. It's enough to make you down two G&Ts in under an hour, I tell you." And with that, she picks up her glass and takes another sip.
Ruth smiles, but sure enough, most of the men at their table are talking about football and most of the women about the equally boring subject of footwear, at the moment. She can never bring herself to care much about either subject in conversation, so she turns to look around the pub, wondering where Harry's got to. She daren't ask, of course, daren't betray how much she thinks about him because that would be suicide. She can't see him anywhere. Perhaps he didn't come or has already pulled and gone off to shag the lucky woman senseless – she's sure he wouldn't let a little thing like a gun shot wound get in the way of his entertainment.
"How are you settling in, Ruth?" Malcolm asks.
"I'm fine. Still at the safehouse, but I'm looking for somewhere to rent. Coolidge said I could take my time finding somewhere, which is nice, but I want to do it soon. It's not easy living out of a suitcase."
"Shame you don't get on with Jenna," Connie replies with a little smirk. "She's been looking for a housemate."
"Funny," she replies.
Connie grins. "I thought so."
"I have a room," Malcolm says quietly, "if you like. It's just a room, not a flat, but it's there if you need it..."
"Thanks, Malcolm. That's sweet of you." She smiles and rests her hand on his arm in gratitude briefly. "I'll see what I can find, but it's good to know I have a backup and won't end up homeless."
He rewards her with another, brief, lopsided smile. He really does have a lovely smile.
"Harry has a spare room too," Connie says. "I'm surprised he hasn't offered it to you yet."
She narrows her eyes at her. She's either had too much to drink, she decides, or she's in one of her moods. Or it could be both. She's only known her a little over a week, but she's a quick study and has already figured out that it's best not to rise to the bate when Connie's like this. "That's probably because he knows I'd pass," she replies smoothly.
"Well, let us know when you've found it. We could help move things in if you like," Malcolm hastens to interject.
"I will. Thanks." She smiles at him and takes another sip of her drink, feeling rather relieved when the sound of a chair scraping the floor near them interrupts their conversation. If Connie's going to start teasing her about Harry too, she doesn't think she'll be able to bear it.
"Alright, Ruth?" Harry's warm voice greets her, even before she turns her head to see who the newcomer is. She feels her cheeks flush and can't help the way her heart-rate trebles, his unexpected appearance throwing her, but luckily for her, he doesn't wait for a response, reaching across the table to grab his pint and bringing it to his lips, thirstily downing half its contents. "Ahhhh," he sighs. "That's better."
"Good game, was it?" Connie asks.
"Oh yes," he replies and pats his pocket.
Connie rolls her eyes, but Malcolm merely says, "Marvelous. Next round's on you then."
Harry laughs. "I'd be honoured, Malcolm."
He turns his eyes on hers then, his warm smile doing odd things to her insides. She's not seen him look this happy before and it's quite bewitching. "Pool," he explains, but she's so distracted by him and her body's treacherous response that she almost doesn't understand him.
"You're good at it then?" she says and hastily takes another gulp of cider.
"Of course he is," Connie responds, her voice rather disdainful. She has a dark side. Ruth knows that, but she's never seen her this narky before.
"Poker too," Malcolm confides. "Don't ever let him talk you into a game."
"Oi! Stop giving away my secrets."
"Hardly a secret though, is it?" Jenna interjects, surprising Ruth. She hadn't realised she was sitting that close to them and able to overhear their conversation. "Everyone in the Section knows it." Her tone of voice is haughty and she gives him a withering look before tossing her hair over her shoulder and turning back to her friends. Clearly she's stopped trying to seduce Harry and is intent on getting even instead.
Harry just raises an eyebrow and smirks before taking another gulp of his drink and turning back to them. He catches her eye and winks at her, which sets off alarm bells in her head and she hastily looks away, downing the remainder of her drink.
"Come on, Malcolm," Harry says. "Ruth's finished her drink, Connie's almost there. Drink up and I'll get us all another."
"Thanks, Harry, but I think I'll call it a night," Malcolm replies. "I've got to be in early tomorrow."
"Me too," Connie echoes. "I've had enough for one night." She doesn't specify whether she means the G&T or their company.
She looks around, wondering who she can stay with if Malcolm and Connie are leaving. Nancy isn't here and Mark's engaged in an animated debate about football. That leaves Harry and she can't stay with him. The gossip would be horrendous. "I think I might go too. It's been a long week," she says quickly.
Harry sighs. "Fine. I should probably head home as well. Early start tomorrow."
Malcolm nods sagely. "Ah, that's right."
"It's your weekend, is it?" Connie asks.
Harry gives her a warning look, but nods, and she can't help wondering what they're talking about.
They finish their drinks and all leave together, saying goodnight to the others and making their way into the crisp night air, retracing their steps to Thames house together, she and Connie in front, Malcolm and Harry behind them, talking in low voices. Connie doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk, so the two of them are silent. She doesn't mind. She loves taking in her surroundings and letting her mind wander, watching the people and admiring the buildings of London. She can't quite believe that she's here. She's always longed to live in a big city – London, Paris, New York.
"Anyone need a lift?" Harry asks as they arrive at the entrance.
"Ruth and I are taking the tube," Connie tells him.
"Right." He smiles and turns to Malcolm. "Let me know in the morning," he begins, but Connie interrupts him.
"Don't you dare, Malcolm. He's got the day off. Let him enjoy it."
Harry rounds on her. "No one asked for your opinion, Connie," he says. "I'm senior agent on this op and, if there's something I need to know, my sodding day off doesn't matter."
"It matters to those little ones, Harry, and you well know it. Do the right thing by them for once in your sorry life. Be a decent father." And with that parting remark she turns and strides away, leaving Harry staring after her, his face a mask of control though his eyes are on fire with fury.
So great is her shock to find out Harry's got children, that she barely recovers in time to remember that she's taking the tube with Connie, hurriedly say goodnight, and catch up with her before she disappears round the corner.