As promised yet another conversation. Can I thank my readers for their patience and reviews. I'l be away for a few days and minus a computer so may no be able to reply to any new reviews for as quickly as I would like.

Harry's whole demeanour as he stalked his unwilling way into the Home Secretary's office was sufficient to make lesser men tremble. Towers, by now accustomed to the beast, merely buzzed his PA with an instruction to deliver coffee and biscuits asap, settled back into his own chair and waited for Harry to be seated.

The necessary pause while the PA provided the ordered refreshments allowing Towers a precious few moments to decide on his further tactics and Harry an opportunity to reflect on exactly how much he could avoid revealing to his political lord and master. Answer: the usual: as little as possible.

Coffee delivered the two opened up their latest round of political chess with Towers providing the opening move.

"Apologies for Harry but a suggestion has been mooted that the body found by the Thames Barrier was a service killing."

Harry came batted this one back in an instant, "On what basis?" while internally marking down whoever had leaked that piece of Intel for a very boring assignment.

"I believe it came from Special Branch and was passed to a political advisor in the Defence department."

Harry, silently incandescent at being dragged before Towers on the say so of some over ambitions spad, snapped his reply.

"The individual was indeed shot but with a gun favoured by the Russians. He has been identified as Bernard Qualthrough of Renaissance fame." Adding after a sip of his coffee, "and could whoever raised query this be reminded that we do not admit to the liquidation of enemy agents on British soil." Mentally he was exempting his own poisoning of Towers' predecessor from that statement, on the basis that the enemy within was a very different matter.

Towers noted the caveat, but decided to hijack the three wise monkeys by hearing no evil and speaking no evil. With regard to seeing no evil he'd be happy to ignore the state liquidating anyone responsible for the damage inflicted on Ruth. If he felt that way heaven alone knew how Harry had been affected. As Harry had provided him with an answer, however specious, that would clear the Security Services of murderous intent Towers preferred to enquire, "I presume the evidence of the bullet and identification are inarguable."

On Harry's nod he added, "I was going to ask you to update me anyway on Ruth. Would I be correct in assuming that this killing relates to the events of the other evening?"

As he nodded in rely one thing Harry did appreciate in his dealings with Towers was the latter's ready recognition of how events inter related.

"So Harry who was responsible for that body and why?"

"Mother Russia does not tolerate failure. We know from the CCTV that two people drove Ruth to my door. I'm assuming that when Ruth missed her target the driver had instructions to liquidate Bernard." Harry didn't embellish this statement. Despite his previous lukewarm assurance to Towers the fact was that he'd have preferred to carry out the task himself, given past history combined with more recent the reduction of Ruth to zombie status.

While Towers was processing this very uninformative reply Harry decided to pile on the mystery. "I might have a clearer picture later in the day." Pausing for effect he added, "Sasha Gavrick doorstepped me last night with a letter from Ilya."

It wasn't often Towers was overtaken by speechlessness. He was a legend in the Commons for redirecting the supposed killer question posed by the opposition back to from whence it came. In fact while Harry was obliged to be a political neutral he could only hope that Towers stayed in post as long as possible, unlike some of the idiot of holders of high office he'd had to deal with Towers was susceptible to reason.

During the short silence Harry waited for the question to land.

"So what did you do?"

"Fed him fish and chips, gave him a bed for the night and decoded the letter Ilya sent with him." Before Towers could begin to make an Erin style protest regarding Sasha Harry hurriedly added. "Sasha is now in a safe house guarded by an agent of his own age. I don't anticipate any trouble but have advised my operative that in the event of an escape attempt to shoot him in the leg. The other one, not the one originally damaged."

In a tone of irony Towers commented, "That was very considerate Harry." Before enquiring, "So why did Ilya take the risk of sending him out of Russia to you of all people?"

Harry knew damn fine why, but this was not Intel he was planning to share as he informed Towers,

"Because only a few of us know what really happened a year ago, and from his letter I think Ilya is afraid for Sasha's safety if they remain near to Putin." After moment Harry spelt it out, "Sasha could be used as leverage to force Ilya, who has international contacts, to return to the world of espionage with his business as a cover."

Towers nodded, "Yes one of my colleagues is pushing for a more robust attitude to Oligarchs."

"Quite, although my own contacts tell me that Ilya runs a clean business and has been quietly shifting its focus more to Europe and the UK, the latter spanning both the EU, the emerging Commonwealth countries and the USA."

Towers nearly baulked at this snippet of information. He knew Harry's spy contacts were manifold but had never thought they extended into the esoteric regions of the stock market and international monetary community. Harry noting this with some gratification took pity on him, "My father and brother were both bankers so I still have the ear of a few people who know people who.."

Towers finished the sentence for him, "know people. I see." After another pause he asked, "Three questions then, your next move, where does Ruth fit in and what it the latest report on her condition?"

Harry took the last part of the question first, "The medics are still running tests but we're trying to stimulate her via memories and personal interests that are not centred around the Security Services. I intend to call into the hospital tonight for an update. From what Malcolm tells me the Aircrew who took her from the estuary are clean, so he is now calling in records from the hospital mortuary and the profiles of the staff responsible for receiving her body. The letter Ilya sent suggests that some new weapon was in process. I hope to find out more when I meet with him."

"And when might that be?"

Ignoring Towers for a moment Harry pulled out his phone and after a couple of seconds delay the screen replied.

"In about half an hour. He arrived in London earlier today and I sent him a message advising him that Sasha was safe and we need to meet."

Many thanks for reading and no prizes for guessing who the next conversation will be with. If you have new moments a review is always appreciated.