The gruinard Project chapter 4

[khandy]

Chapter Four


Journey to London

Kate wiped the tear that had escaped from the corner of her eye away, annoyed at her own weakness, she would not cry over this man. The car, new comfortable, and nondescript moved off towards London. She observed him from half lowered eyes. He drove confidently with out being flashy; his long elegant hands, that lightly griped the steering wheel, were relaxed. His movements to change gears calm and unhurried. His intense blue eyes concentrated on the traffic, moving them away from Salisbury and towards the M3.

She contemplated the fact that, although those long elegant hands and intense blue eyes had intimately caressed and gazed on every inch of her body, this man was a stranger to her. Glancing at his profile he even looked different she thought. Oh he had the same dark hair but it was expertly cut and styled, his skin was as clear unlined and smooth as she remembered. His suit, which must have been tailor made,that moulded his broad shoulders, was a world away from the jeans and jumper he had worn on their first meeting or the blood soaked shirt she had thrown away after she had stitched his wound. The tattoo at his wrist had been removed, or had it been a transfer? She wondered if the other tattoos had gone as well. The hurt in his eyes, when she had seen them, suggested that his Russian souvenir comment had to some degree been true, and that would have meant the tattoos were real. She guessed he had gain a little a weight, but not much he was still long and lean. An image of his long lean naked body appeared in her mind, as she remembered how it felt under her touch.

It was his demeanour that was the real difference. Both times she had met him before he had been edgy, with more than a hint of danger surrounding him. Now he was calm, very controlled and she suspected ruthless. His comment back at the conference, that if she did not accompany him he would take her anyway, spoke volumes about who and what he was. She shivered slightly as she remembered the intensity in his face as he said the words, without a doubt he could and would make her do anything.

She had thought about their last meeting often. Why had she not reported it to the police especially when she heard the news reports of a man being found dead just a mile from her work? Looking back she had been unable to believe she had behaved in such a wanton way, begging him to say. If she had been the type she might have gone and seen a psychologist and had her behaviour analysed. That was not her style though, it was not as if she made a habit of having sex with strangers just this one. She often wondered what had possessed her to behave so uncharacteristically? What it was about this man that had compelled her to throw caution to the wind and be daring? The first time nearly nine years ago they had been drawn together by the common bond of grief and pain. The second time physical response to him aside, she had always believed that it had been the sincerity in his voice.

“I can’t tell you Kate. If it helps I hated leaving you.”

And the pain in his eyes when he had spoke about the tattoos.

“Russia, they’re a souvenir from Russia.”

She laughed silently at herself. What a fool she had been. Had there even been a wife, let alone a divorce? Had the pain in his eyes and the soft tone in his voice just been a supreme act? How many other woman had he played the same game with over the years? How could she have been such an idiot? That was what hurt the most, how she had played for a fool.

Anger and bitterness began to spread through her. She wanted to lash out at him, hurt him, penetrate that calm polished exterior. Like a woman scorned hell had no fury, she wanted to know why? Why had he chosen her? Another thought caused her anger to raise another notch. He had obviously completed a search on her. How long had he been tracing her movements. She felt suddenly violated, not only did this man know her body intimately, he also knew her life. While she had nothing not even a name.

“Pull over at the next services,” She demanded quietly.

“Why do you need a toilet break?” he glanced over at her. She looked pale and tense.

“No I don’t. I want you to stop and give me some explanation. I want to understand what is going on? I need you out of the car so that I give in to the urge to slap you hard, you bastard. Now signal that you are leaving the motorway at the next exit or I will grab the wheel and cause an accident.” Her eyes flashed with anger.

Lucas glanced at her again. Yes, she was good and mad, and no doubt she would try and grab the wheel. He sighed and signalled that he was leaving the motor way.

“Understanding is over rated you know, it would be easier if you just did as you were told,” He pulled into a parking space. “Lets grab a coffee.”

She slid out of the car and waited as he locked it.

He moved to her side, she had forgotten how tall he was.

“Lets get this out of the way shall we,” she said.

He braced himself for the smack but not the slug in the gut. It was a hard sharp jab that made him stagger. She then raised her hand and smacked him hard across the face, leaving a red print on his cheek.

He made a mental note to keep her away from Ros, his section head packed a punch as well.

She turned and walked towards the branch of Costas at the service station, leaving him to face the stares from people returning to their cars.

“That will teach me to forget our anniversary,” he said ruefully.

Rubbing his smarting cheek he followed her over to Costas.

She had already found a seat tucked in the corner, when he walked in.

“You can buy. Skinny Latte please,”

He smiled, mad as she was she still remembered her manners.

He returned a few minutes later with her skinny latte and his own plain unadorned black filter coffee.

“Is there any point in my asking questions or will you just have to lie?” she asked when he sat down.

“Depends on the questions,” he sipped his coffee.

“ Would I know if you were lying?” she wondered.

“It’s doubtful I am a very accomplished liar, however I won‘t lie. If it’s question I cannot answer I will tell you I can’t answer.”

“Were you ever married?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah I was a long time ago.” He spoke quietly the pain at his marriage break up had long past.

“So nine years ago, that was not just some scam?” Kate tensed waiting for him to say he could not answer.

“No Kate it wasn’t. My Decree Absolute had come through that day.” He would have reached for her hand if he had thought it would be welcomed.

“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”

“My boss called, something had come up I had to leave immediately.” When Harry called you always dropped everything. “I knew we had no future so I decided not to wake you. I didn’t want to see the hurt in your eyes, you were so young and innocent.”

“The man who was found dead, in Lambeth, on the day I stitched your wound. Did you kill him?”

“I think you know the answer to that don’t you Kate?” he spoke softly.

“Did he deserve to die?” How could she sit calmly drinking coffee with a man who had taken another persons life? It was absurd.

“I am not sure anyone deserves to die, however it was me or him.” Lucas explained.

“Is it easy?” she watched him as surprise showed on his face.

God what kind of question was that, He thought for a moment before answering.

“The mechanics are easy, but that’s my training. It’s after when you are alone in the middle of the night and you relive the memory that it’s hard.”

“Why didn’t you have sex for the eight years between our meetings?”

God she was direct.

“It wasn’t available where I was.” He flushed slightly.

“Where was that?” she asked.

“That’s one I can’t answer.” Just for a second his eyes seemed haunted.

“There had to be one. Did you want to be there wherever it was? I guess what I mean was did you have a choice, could you have left?”

“No I couldn’t have left. Can I ask you a question?” She nodded “Why are you not asking why I am taking you to the Grid?”

“The Grid what is that?” she asked puzzled.

“MI5 headquarters.”

“I assumed that would be one question that you couldn’t answer.”

“You are perceptive you’re right I cannot explain, not until we get there.” He glanced at his watch.

“Time to move I suppose. Do you trust me to visit the bathroom with out doing a runner?”

“I think you have the sense not to run. I’ll wait by the car.” He stood to leave.

“One final question, Am I in trouble?” she asked.

“I don’t know Kate are you?” He left her to ponder his question.

She watched him walk away.

Oh yes, she thought, Where he was concerned she was in big trouble.

He was stood waiting by the car.

“Are you sure you’re a spy, it’s a pretty non descript car for a spy. James Bond drives an Aston Martin.”

“Ah well he’s MI6 and I am MI5; besides I am better, much better than Mr Bond I don’t need any fancy gimmicks.”

No, she thought, I bet you don’t.

************

Thames House London.

Ros Meyers sat studying the report Lucas had compiled. It was thorough and detailed, yet concise and to the point, not unlike the man himself. Like Jo, Ros found Lucas an enigma. Outwardly calm and unflustered, he had slipped back into the team as if he had never been away. His manner so matter a fact, that it masked his extraordinary brilliance. He displayed great charm and beneath that quiet exterior a cheeky boyish sense of humour. She smiled as she remember him asking very suggestively if she was better at the real thing or faking it, just as they were planning a fake bomb explosion.

She worried about him however, the trauma of Russia had left deep scars, it had cost him so much, eight years of his life. The torture and isolation would have broken most men. On top of which he had then had to prove his loyalty to the very people he had endured eight years of hell for. That had hurt him badly she had seen it in his eyes.

It would have been easy for him to resent her, after all he had been about to be appointed section head when he had been captured. He returned to the team just as she was promoted. Promoted, after Adams death, her friend and lover; how she missed him. Lucas had given his whole hearted support and in the months since his return they had developed a good working partnership.

Section D had been ripped apart in those months; Adam and Ben’s deaths, Connie’s betrayal and ultimate sacrifice. Lucas by rescuing Harry ensured that section D would survive. Harry was section D. He had shown great faith in her when he had promoted her.

She looked up at the sound of the tap on the door and Harry entered.

He glanced at the folder in her hands.

“Has Lucas checked in yet?” he asked.

“Yes he is on his way back to the grid. With Dr Masters.” She looked at Harry a question forming in her mind.

“What is it Ros I can see the cogs turning?” Harry asked.

“Did you know about Lucas’ memory Harry before this week? Is it how he remembered the disused underground network? she asked.

“Yes Ros I did. It was one of the reasons I recruited him. He was a student at Cambridge; one of those students you read about, who enter Cambridge early. Lucas was fifteen when he passed the entrance exam. He took up his place two weeks after his 16th birthday. He studied for double award in history and modern languages gaining a first in both. He then studied for his Phd in Modern languages. Even among the boffins at Cambridge he stood out. Probably because he didn’t act or look like your average boffin.” Harry smiled at the memory of the younger Lucas.

“I’m worried, so is Malcolm, he sat with Lucas after that memory flash he had the other day. Lucas said it was better to have a vision that was not Russia. How much is he locking away in himself? How much of what we see here is a front? When will the real Lucas North stand up? What will those eight years cost him before he does?”

“Who knows Ros. Lucas is a completely different person to the man who went to Russia, he was almost a stranger when he came back. I allowed him back on The Grid so soon because MI5 was all of his old life that remained.” Harry looked at his section head “All we can do is hope he can handle it.”

*******

Lucas shook her gently, she had fallen asleep an hour ago. She stirred stretched and sighed as she slowly opened her eyes.

“We here already?” she asked yawning.

“Yeah we are. There’s a waterproof in the back put in on it’s raining heavily.” The coat dwarfed her slight body covering her from head to knees. Lucas was pleased she would not be identifiable on CCTV cameras.

They walked to the main entrance and Lucas passed through the security checks.

“Thanks Mr North, Sir Harry is waiting for you both,” the guard informed them.

Kate wondered, as they past through the reception area, who Sir Harry was and whether Mr North was his real name.

They entered the lift and she lowered the hood of her jacket. She shivered partly from the cold and partly from nerves.

“Don’t worry Kate it will be alright.”

The lift doors slide silently open and they entered section D.

“Welcome to The Grid Kate.” Lucas held a door open for her.

What ever she had been expecting of MI5, this surpassed it. One wall was a bank of TV screens all tuned in to a different news channel, with people watching. Computers everywhere with people working away. Obviously the life of a spy was not all guns and car chases. Two desks were empty, she studied then both and guessed that the one with no clutter was his.

A man in his early fifties approached, his hand extended, in welcome.

“Hello Dr Masters I am Harry Pearce Head of Counter Terrorism, thank you for coming.”

Head of Counter terrorism, who’d have guessed? He looked more like a teacher. Kate wasn’t about to let him of the hook.

“I was under the impression that I didn’t have a choice. Your agent assures me he would have brought me anyway if I refused,” she informed him tartly.

“Well I am glad you came voluntarily,” Harry sighed, just what he need a smart mouthed female as if Ros wasn’t enough.

“Let me introduce you to section D. Malcolm Wynn Jones, our technician and data analysis.” A man of a similar age to Sir Harry stood and shook her hand.

“ Jo Portman, one of field officers.” The tiny blond at the desk in front of her smiled.

“Ros Meyers, section head.” Kate flinched under the tall blonde’s scrutiny. Kate’s impression was that this woman was tough, do you have to be because this must be a man’s world, Kate wondered.

Sir Harry turned towards the man at her side

“And of course Lucas who you have already met.”

She turned her dark eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t lied about his name at all. Why had he let her believe he had?”

“Well shall we go through to the conference room and explain why you are here Dr Masters.” Harry pushed open a door.

“Yeah I could do with some explanations,”she muttered.

[Aria]

Another good chapter, I am enjoying your references to Lucas's past.