The Gruinard Project Chapter 37

[khandy]

Chapter 37

The Strathairn Estate Nr Gleneagles.

The helicopter landed lightly on the grass and a moment or two later two men emerged in the bright early morning Scottish sunshine; the castle in front of them nestling perfectly into the surrounding Scottish countryside. The weather beaten granite stone turrets reflected in the loch on whose shores it was built.

Lucas had realised on the approach to the castle that they were not travelling directly to Gleneagles but Harry had been reticent about where they were going and why. He had been very quiet throughout the journey from London to Edinburgh and Lucas had suspected that he’d had very little rest worrying about Ruth. It wasn’t in his nature to pry into his colleagues private lives however he had needed to let Harry know that he had his support.

“It can’t be easy being the boss. I mean the responsibility alone is barely worth the pay cheque, without the added personal complications,” he said quietly.

“Yes well I have never complained about the pay but I have foolishly done what I have criticised some of my best agents for doing.”

“Falling in love you mean?”

Harry sighed.

“Exactly.”

“I don’t know that I agree Harry, surely it is our emotions and how we react to them that set us aside from our enemies. We are not just machines. Where is it written that as an employee of MI5 you should not have a private life.”

“That’s all good in theory but what happens when your private life compromises your position at work?”

“I think you are too experienced to allow any relationship to do that,” Lucas told him.

“You forget Lucas I was married before…”

“Not to Ruth though. Ruth knows the score Harry. I think you should trust her and you should trust yourself. You will make the right call you always do.”

“Have I made the right call with you Lucas?”

Lucas smiled wearily.

“I think you made the only call and I guess that sometimes that is harder than having a choice.”

Harry had nodded and returned to his paper; remaining silent for the rest of the trip.

They walked across the grass towards the gravel driveway that led to the entrance to the castle with Lucas none the wiser as to why they were there. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow in the bushes to his left. Keeping his breathing even, he slowed slightly and knelt looking as if he was tying his shoe lace all the while unobtrusively watching the person in the bushes. Harry had moved slightly ahead so Lucas stood and moved to walk besides him. Now he was between Harry and the person hiding in the bush.

Harry smiled to himself; not that he knew it, but Lucas had just passed the first part of his test. He wondered how mad the younger man would be when he realised that they were at Strathairn Castle to evaluate if he was fit to carry out his job. Harry couldn’t risk the Prime Minister’s life no matter what demands were made. Harry was expecting the man to make his move so when Lucas pushed him to the ground and withdrew his weapon as the man came running out brandishing a firearm, he was ready and he rolled expertly.

“Lower your weapon and lie down on the floor now,” Lucas told him.

“Make me,” the man challenged.

“Lower your weapon, you have been warned,” Lucas repeated.

The man advanced and Lucas’ hand calmly squeezed the trigger hitting the man in the shoulder causing him to drop the gun he was holding. Moving quickly he went to restrain the man. Forcing him to the ground he stopped abruptly when he came into contact with the body protection.

“A hit man in a bullet proof vest?” He turned him over “And a bullet that does no damage. Did anybody ever tell you that you’re a bastard Harry?” Lucas turned towards his boss.

“Frequently but I had to be sure I made the right call in bringing you here. Lucas North, Alistair Strathairn Laird of the Strathairn estate and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Black Watch.” Harry introduced the two men.

“He’s good Harry and blanks sodding well hurt.”

Lucas smiled.

“Not as much as the real thing. What other tests have you got lined up?”

“Not many, time is short. I want to see you on the shooting range though I think you have proved your hand is steady and I have a couple of computer tests. Pass them and we will move on to Gleneagles.”

“Let’s get on with it then, as you said time is short.”


Gleneagles Hotel, The Blue Tower Suite 12.00hrs.

The tycoon smiled, BBC News24 was reporting a delay to the opening of the conference due to an electrical failure, and it would now open at 14.00 hrs. MI5 must be buying itself time. He glanced in the mirror as he straightened his tie and smiled again, nobody messed with his games, he controlled them.

The telephone rang and he answered it unworried that it could be traced. MI5 were not the only one who had sophisticated equipment, if this call were private it would be scrambled.

He picked up the receiver.

“Good morning,” he answered politely.

“Good morning just a quick update on that new venture you have an interest in. They have responded positively to your proposal and the delivery you requested from London is on its way.”

“That is good news though I am not surprised that they have decided to play this my way. Now as to the loose ends can I leave you to tie them up and snip them off.”

“Of course no problems.”

The Tycoon disconnected the call. Yes Sands could be left to deal with the loose ends. He thought about the face he had seen in the picture, a pity really that such an attractive woman would be unidentifiable when Sands had finished with her.

The familiar sound of a helicopter approaching interrupted his thoughts and he walked to the window. He watched hidden behind the half closed blinds as it landed on the grassed area. Harry Pearce jumped down from the helicopter once the rotor blades had stopped followed by a taller younger man. Lucas North had arrived in Scotland. The Tycoon watched as they both walked across to the hotel’s entrance. Lucas North certainly did not look ill. Glancing down he could see that they were being met by Ros Meyers.

He turned away from the window and pulled out his pocket watch. It was 12.30, time for lunch and to meet Lucas North up close.

Scotland Yard 12.30 hrs

Jo was sat opposite the younger of the two kidnappers; she smiled slightly at his obvious discomfort noticing his hands rested in his crotch protecting the family jewels, no doubt remembering how she had threatened to blow his balls off.

“Do you know what Hobson’s choice is?” she asked.

“No should I?”

“Well no possibly not but you are facing it now. The choice is that you help us.”

“What’s the alternative?”

“That’s the thing about Hobson’s choice. There is no choice.”

“How do you propose to make us help you?”

“Well if you don’t we will explain to Sands how you told us all about the Gruinard project and he won‘t be pleased and we both know what happens when he is not pleased”

“You’re bluffing you don’t know anything.”

Jo smiled.

“Oh but we do, for example we know that Lucas North has to be silenced because he witnessed Sands murder a young teenager.”

The man could not control the surprise that flitted across his face.

Jo continued.

“We know what is planned for Scotland. In fact we know more than you. You’re just a donkey doing the pack work. In fact you’re expendable and that is what he will do when he realises you screwed up.”

The man was frightened because what the blonde was saying was true.

“How do you know we won’t tip him off?”

“Because you will die if you do. More Hobson’s choice; if you don’t co operate you die, either by his hand or by mine” Jo allowed her eyes to drift to the man’s crotch. “I would begin by aiming low.”

“You know who I work for?”

“On a black op,” Jo smiled again, “Six won’t help you; they will deny you even exist. You’re mate won’t help you either he will just save his own ass.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“I told you, you don’t die and you keep your dick.”

She stared at him.

Jo placed the mobile they had taken off him on the table.

“When he rings answer and play along with him.”

“How do you know he will ring?”

“Lucas North has arrived in Scotland. You will be told to kill Ruth Evershed very soon I should imagine.”

The minutes ticked by. Jo sipped at her coffee as they waited. Five minutes had passed when the phone rang.

He picked it up listening carefully.

“Ok where do we send the photo’s to?”

He listened again and then disconnected the call.

Jo looked at him expectantly.

“We are to waste her now. He wants photo evidence then we are to return to the safe house we are staying at.”

Jo nodded and picked up her own phone.

“Ok we need to fake your death, you up to that? Good I will send a car for you.”

She turned and faced the young man.

“You, get up. Let’s go and have a photo shoot.

Gleneagles Hotel 15.30hrs

Malcolm looked at the images that Jo had emailed him and shuddered, relieved that he knew they were fake. Ros leaned over his shoulder.

“Planning to be nasty bastards weren’t they?” she commented. “Has Harry seen them yet?”

“Yes he saw them before he returned to London.”

“I wonder who else has seen them? I still don’t believe Sands is the Kingpin and neither does Lucas.”

“How is Lucas?” Malcolm asked concerned for his friend.

“Amazing. If I am honest Malcolm I didn’t want him here, I didn’t see how he could function, but it is as if he has just totally filed all his Russian memories deep in his subconscious. It’s as if the last 48hrs have not happened. I honestly have no idea how he does it. Harry planned some little tests for him which he sailed through. My main concern is that he does not have a relapse but Harry feels it is a risk we have to take.”

Malcolm glanced at the surveillance camera images that were displayed on a bank of TV screens. Lucas was easy to pick out because of his height. He was stood behind the PM who was sat at large conference table partly obscured by a pillar.

“Anything unusual to report Lucas?” he asked.

“No nothing, the PM has opened the conference and now they are discussing the possibility of a new trade agreement designed to help some of the poorer commonwealth countries. I am expecting Bono to walk in at any moment.”
Malcolm smiled not at all surprised that Lucas, despite being in a Russian prison at the time, was aware that at the G8 summit in 2005 Bono had led a highly visible campaign to reduce the debt of some of the world’s poorest countries.

“I doubt he will Lucas, the Commonwealth is probably not big enough for our jet setting stars,” Malcolm replied cynically.

Lucas smiled; one thing that had pleased him immensely was how little Malcolm had changed and jetting setting pop stars dabbling in politics would be seen by Malcolm as nothing more than free publicity at a time when they had a new CD due out.

“Oh Malcolm you cynical old man, don’t ever change will you? Is this the main conference room?”

“Yes why?”

“I’m just assessing the likelihood of the attack taking place here. No air vents but there are sprinklers in the ceiling. Get on to Kate and ask if they could be used as a method of delivery.”

“Will do Lucas,” Ros interrupted, images of the Jews in gas chambers springing to mind. “Anything interesting happen at lunch?”

“No, I was introduced to three of the country’s biggest business tycoons Philip Russell, Thomas Chamberlain and James Stephenson, all knights of the realm and rich as Croesus. They are here to discuss how British business can help in third world countries.”

“More like assessing how they can get rich using cheap labour and goods,” Malcolm said.

Lucas had to stop himself from snorting with laughter.

“Look I better start paying attention. I am standing by a plant talking, people will mistake me for Prince Charles if I keep this up.”

Ros smiled, as if Lucas could ever be mistaken for Prince Charles.

“I am going to speak to Kate,” she told Malcolm.


MI5 safe house London 18.30hrs

The shower had cleaned off the blood and gore from the photos she just wished that she could erase the memories of being tied up so easily. For the second time in her life her death had been faked. She smiled at the absurdity of the situation.

Jo had told her that Kate was safe and that from what they could tell the kidnappers had used her relationship with Harry to force his hand. She sighed, Harry would almost certainly use this as a reason to end their relationship. The door opening interrupted her thoughts; she turned expecting to see the policeman who was protecting her. Instead to her surprise Harry walked in. She waited seeing if he would make the first move. He walked towards her so she stood to meet him. His hands cupped her face and his eyes devoured hers. Ruth couldn’t help but notice the fine tremor in his hands.

“I’m Ok Harry,” she whispered.

His lips lowered to hers in a gentle kiss which Ruth deepened.

“Can you stay?” she asked when he broke the kiss.

“I shouldn’t,” Harry began, “But I find myself powerless to stay away.”

Ruth smiled as she led him through to the bedroom. Being in love had a power all of its own.

[HellsBells]

Another great chapter. I'm glad Lucas passed all of Harry's tests and love the idea of Harry and Ruth being together.

[khandy]

If you like Harry and Ruth together you will love the next chapter