A/N: Greetings, everyone, and please forgive the delay in posting this chapter. Life suddenly got busy. Many thanks to those of you who continue to read and especially to those who post encouraging reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy. As to those of you who choose to comment in a negative, non-constructive, and often rude way, you're braking up the wrong tree. I have long ceased to care what you think of me or my work, but I do derive some satisfaction from having managed to make you waste a part of your valuable time on this earth reading something you hate, not because of any injury you've caused me (which you haven't) but for all those fanfic writers who are just starting out or do not yet have the confidence in themselves and their writing (as I did not too, once upon a time), and who are really hurt by your malicious words. So to those, new writers reading this, I'd like to encourage you to ignore the naysayers and just keep writing. There is always someone out there who enjoys your work and many, many people who know and appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into writing it. Those intent on tearing you down are not worth your time or energy. Remember that practice is the key to success and just keep at it. Cheer, S.C.

24th September 1991, 8 pm

140 Gower Street, London

"Do you know what they did to me?" Harry demands, his face inches from hers, eyes intense, boring into her.

"Don't. Please don't." Sophie Mills recoils, turning her head and leaning away from him, her eyes pleading with Mark. "Please."

Mark remains unmoved though his eyes are soft and full of regret.

Harry grips her chin with one hand, forcing her head round to face him. "Have you ever felt the cold steel of a gun against your forehead? Have you been hit so hard in the face that you think your head might explode?"

She whimpers and shakes her head, eyes filling with tears. "I didn't mean for them to hurt you."

"What did you think they were going to do with me when you sold me out?" he asks so quietly that the microphones in the room have trouble picking up his words and it's only through lip reading that Ruth is able to be certain of what he's saying. She's watching the interrogation with Malcolm and Coolidge through the one way mirror lining the side of the room, utterly enthralled by the masterful way Harry and Mark are carrying it out, each playing their part to perfection. The menace in Harry is so real that it troubles her. Is it all an act or is this darkness part of him?

"I don't know. I didn't tell them who you were. I told Patrick that MI-5 was watching them. I didn't intend... I just wanted him to get out before it was too late."

Harry releases his grip and takes a step back in disgust, turning towards Mark and walking past the table towards the mirror concealing her and the others, seamlessly passing the buck to his colleague, who leans forward and addresses Sophie in a gentle voice. "I believe you," he says. "I do." And Sophie bursts into tears, her confession coming pouring out of her lips in between her sobs.

"I was distraught when I heard what they did and so relieved that Ruth saved him. I didn't intend anything bad to happen. I just wanted Patrick to come home. Aunt Debbie is so worried and Declan is starting to talk like Pat, and I'm so scared both of them will be killed and then Marty will be beside himself and there's not telling what he'll do and he was begging me to do something and all I could think was to scare him out of there, but it didn't work and the more I talked to Pat, the more he seemed to be using me for information, and when I realised and refused to give him any more, Pat threatened to expose me so I'd lose my job." She takes a deep breath and looks at Mark. "I can't lose my job, Mark. Mum and Dad depend on the income and I love my job."

"What did you do when Patrick threatened to expose you?"

"Nothing. It was last week. I told him I'd try to find out what he wanted, but I've been avoiding him. Yesterday, though, he came round to my place and talked to Mum and Dad. He... He never used to be like this." She starts crying again and Ruth can't help feeling sorry for her. Sophie's put herself in an impossible position and it serves to highlight for her just how important integrity is, how paramount it is to always stick to the high moral ground and never give into temptation or make exceptions for anyone, however dearly you might love them.

Mark reaches into his pocket and produces a packet of tissues that he hands to her.

"Thank you," she whispers brokenly and proceeds to attempt to pull herself together.

"There's nothing you can do to save Patrick now and, I'm afraid, there's going to have to be a review, Sophie," he says softly, and it's quite heartbreaking to see the devastation on Sophie's face. "You know that, right?"

She nods.

"Anything you do to help us now will count in your favour. Think back for a moment. What information do you have that can help us?"

Sophie takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes again. "Pat didn't tell me much. They're meeting somewhere in Staffordshire. He didn't say where exactly. The target's in Birmingham and it'll happen soon. That's what he said last night. He said they're waiting on one thing and they hope to have it sorted by the end of the week. He wanted information quickly. He said he'd come round again tonight and I'd better have something for him."

At that, Harry and Mark exchange a glance, as do Malcolm and Coolidge.

"She could wear a wire," Malcolm says.

Coolidge nods. "Get it sorted."

As Malcolm leaves the observation room, in the interrogation room, Mark is saying, "You know what we must ask you to do, Sophie, don't you?"

"You want me to betray him." She looks miserable.

"We want you to help save innocent lives," Harry interjects forcefully, the contempt in his voice all too evident.

Mark gives him a warning look as Sophie crumbles. "Yes. Yes, of course."

"This is bigger than Patrick. It's bigger than you or I or your aunt, Debbie," Mark says softly.

She nods. "What do you want me to do?"

"Go home as normal, talk to Partick," Mark explains. "We'll give you something to pass onto him, but you'll need to give it up with reluctance. He mustn't suspect anything."

"Okay, but he might be suspicious anyway. I'm very late home already."

"Mark will take you home," Harry interjects. "He'll be your new boyfriend."

"But Pat will see him!" Sophie looks alarmed at that.

"That's the idea. You were out with him. He drops you off, says goodnight, and goes off on his merry way. You look suitably pleased and happy until you spy your cousin. Problem with being late home solved."

"Oh." Sophie looks down, embarrassed yet apparently pleased, judging from the blush gracing her cheeks.

"You'll be wearing a wire," Mark adds, "and there'll be a team nearby to record your conversation and protect you if need be."

Sophie's face turns serious and rather pale. "Okay."

"You'll do brilliantly," Mark reassures her, giving her his most encouraging smile.

"I hope so," she replies, looking more hopeful. "I really never meant to hurt anyone."

Ruth sees Harry's eyes flash, but he wisely holds his tongue. She can't blame him. How exactly did Sophie think she'd not be hurting anyone by helping a terrorist group? It's amazing really how people manage to convince themselves that they're doing the right thing under all sorts of circumstances.

9pm

"You alright?" she asks him, a little concerned by the sullen look on his face.

"I'm fine." No smile.

"You don't look fine." She's been helping Malcolm get everything ready, fascinated by how it all works. This is her first experience of the preparation that goes into a field operation and she's loving it for the most part, though she's not a big fan of the worry that's taken up residence in her gut, over the success of the op and especially Harry and Mark's safety.

"Remember, Harry," Malcolm interrupts, offering Harry a gun but without relinquishing his grip on it until Harry looks up and meets his gaze. "You're to stay in the van unless things go terribly pear-shaped. He's seen your face. He knows who you are."

"I know, Malcolm," Harry replies irritably, slipping the gun into the holster slung across his chest.

For a moment, she gets distracted by the broadness of it, the strength she knows is hidden below the tight, black, polo neck he's wearing, the sexiness that, even now, in the middle of something this important, is making her insides churn with desire.

"Ruth?" His warm, deep voice brings her back to reality and she blinks.

"Sorry?"

He smiles softly at her. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Christ! Is she that obvious?

"I'm not," she says quickly. "I know you will. You'll be in the van. It's Mark I'm worried about."

"That's why I'll be the one in the van," Harry replies, his face turning serious. "I'm not losing anyone to these bastards."

She watches him go, even more worried than before, desperately scared for his safety, her mind awash with images of how they met, her rising anxiety making her breathing rugged. What if she never sees him again?

"He'll be fine," Malcolm reassures her, pausing by her side. "He's a crack agent – level headed, calculating, decisive, ruthless – and he'll have back up this time. This is nothing like when he was undercover."

She nods and turns to him, offering him a grateful smile as her breathing eases a little. "I want to stay until it's over. I won't be able to stand the suspense if I go home now."

Malcolm smiles his crooked smile. "I'll have a word with Coolidge."