11. Chapter 11 (1/2)
after his phone conversation with alec, harry hands the phone back to ruth, and sighs heavily.
"am i implicated in any way?" ruth asks, her face barely disguising her fear.
"no, you're not even in the picture," harry says, putting his arms around her, and drawing her close to him, as they lie back against their pillows. "the police are looking for a prostitute he was seen picking up somewhere in walthamstow, as she is believed to be the last person who saw him alive." harry again sighs, and pulls ruth closer, so that her head is against his shoulder. "mi6 have two safe houses in chigwell. one is in use, while the other hasn't been used for over two years."
"you're saying it's an inside job."
"most likely. i think we need to put our plan into action, ruth. today."
"today?"
"yes. i'd been thinking that we need to act within the next week, but allen's death, and within hours of having spoken to you, is too close to home."
"who could be behind it?"
"anyone and everyone. i've always though mi5 to be factional, but mi6 is rife with paranoia. i'll take you home for you to get changed, and then i'll drive us both into work. operation mr and mrs james will be put into action a little after mid afternoon. i won't be able to say goodbye to you at work, ruth, so ….." harry looks down at her with one eye
ow raised.
"we have to make the most of …... now."
harry nods, before reaching down to kiss her. the kiss is different. this is the closest thing to a goodbye kiss since that freezing morning in 2006, when ruth had to go into exile.
their lovemaking is slow and sensual, each holding the other's eyes throughout. in the weeks and months ahead, this is what they will each be remembering as they close their eyes, ready for sleep, not knowing how long it will be before they can be together again.
afterwards, they stand under the shower, their arms around each other, while the water cascades over them, and they, almost oblivious to their surroundings, share sad smiles and quick kisses, while the water runs like tears down their faces.
by the time they reach the grid, ruth and harry have said all the words they need to say to one another, and are ready for ther roles as professionals. before they leave harry's car, they share one last kiss.
"the cameras," she reminds him.
"to hell with the cameras. i need to kiss you," harry says, before he kisses her again.
ruth ensures she is busy all day. she spends her day between her desk and the registry, so that when she re-enters the grid in late afternoon, and sees harry's office empty, and the light off, she knows that the plan is already in action.
"does anyone know where harry has gone?" she asks no-one in particular.
"were i to hazard a guess," tariq begins, "i'd say he's gone to meet lucas."
ruth makes a face. "that can't go well, then."
"why? lucas is one of ours."
"are you sure about that, tariq?"
"i thought you liked everyone, ruth."
"i do, mostly, but that doesn't mean that everyone is …... trustworthy."
ruth wouldn't normally speak this openly on the grid floor, but today is different, and she's feeling both worried and rebellious. she realises that she wishes to be remembered, and yet she's not the one who won't be coming back to work ever again. she puts her head down, and slips on her headphones. when feeling unhappy or disturbed, some translating always gets her out of herself.
so, ruth is surprised when she feels someone sit down in the chair next to her. she lifts her head to look into the eyes of alec white.
"thought i'd
ing you up to speed with the andrew allen murder," he says. "a 30 year old prostitute from walthamstow has been arrested, but she declares it was all an accident, and that they were playing some sexy version of russian roulette."
"likely story."
"i know you were meeting him last night, because -"
"i told you."
"just keep it to yourself, yeah?"
"i have. only harry knows. and you."
"good. you have nothing to worry about, then." and alec gets up from the chair, winks at ruth, and then swaggers back to his own desk.