The Gruinard Project Chapter 5

[khandy]

Chapter Five

Conference Room Section D Thames House.

Kate looked around as she entered the conference room, like everything else she had seen it reeked of quality and expense. The large oval table that dominated the room, was made of polished mahogany, the deep red brown patina pleasing to both the soul and the eye. No dust marred its perfection, the beautiful grain of the wood lovingly polished. Twelve matching chairs encircled it and the various members of section D sat, in what she assumed were their normal places. Lucas pulled out a chair to the right of Harry and motioned her to take a seat.

A large flat screen media display unit took up one wall and a row of windows another. She wondered, as she took her seat, if they overlooked the river or if this room was on the other side of the building. A wall of glass opposite the windows allowed an uninterrupted view of the reception area of section D. The glass must be a two way mirror as she had not been able to see into this room from reception.

She glanced around her at the people she had just met, all seemed relaxed and at ease, while she felt intimidated, both by them and this room. That was as it should be, after all this was the secret service and they should have home court advantage. She had read somewhere that the Oval office in the White House was designed specifically with that in mind.

“Sir Harry, would you please explain why I am here?” She tried hard to disguise the fear in her voice.

“It’s Harry, I dislike the Sir and never use it if I can avoid it. Lucas perhaps you would explain.” Harry looked at the younger man.

“We need to know why you have an interest in biological weapons.” Lucas was seated to her right and she turned slightly at his question.

“I don’t have an interest in biological weapons. Why would you think I had?”

“When I came into your office, last November, you were working on a PowerPoint display about biological weapons. I saw it,” he said quietly.

“That was for my interview at the Health Protection Agency,” she paused as something occurred to her. “Hold on a moment you never entered my office, you just stood in the doorway. How could you possibly know what I was doing, you were there less than a minute?” she asked.

Lucas looked slightly embarrassed as he answered.

“I’m trained to notice things,” he said simply.

“Yeah but even so you were by the door,” she said.

“Lucas is one of the best at what he does. You were doing a PowerPoint about biological weapons. So you do know about them,” Ros interrupted sharply.

“Well of course I do, I’m a microbiologist.” She spoke to Ros as if she were being a little slow. “I wouldn’t call myself an expert though. I asked for an explanation not to be interrogated. I am not answering any more questions without a lawyer present. If I am being held on suspicion of terrorist activity, you either arrest me, or let me go.” She stood meaning to leave, daring one of them to stop her. Turning to walk to the door, she missed the silent exchange between Harry and Lucas.

“Kate please sit down,” Lucas asked her.

She turned to face him.

“Why, will you stop me leaving Lucas if I don’t? Do you think because I have no family I won’t be missed, so you can do what you like? Do you get off on intimidating people? Well you should be happy. I am intimidated, I am fu**ing terrified. Of course you wouldn’t have a clue about that, would you Lucas? Being held against your will, not knowing what you’ve done. Not knowing when or if you will be able to go home.” She wasn’t shouting, every word was delivered with deadly, icy calm.

Each word was like a slap. Lucas, could feel his control slipping. He gripped the table as the conference room disappeared, an image of a darkened room was all he could see. A stranger was shouting questions in Russian, at a man stripped naked and restrained by straps in a hard, upright chair. He didn’t need to see the man’s face to know that it was him. He knew this was just a memory and that if he concentrated he could block it. The problem was the image was so intense, so vivid that it was incredibly difficult to block it out. As he fought to do so he could only guess at what it would cost him.

He came round on the floor of the conference room, lying in the recovery position, Kate’s hand resting gently on his carotid pulse. His eyes flickered open, the room came back into focus. He began to think how he could talk himself out of this situation. If Harry suspected how traumatised he was by his experiences in Russia he would remove him from The Grid. Lucas knew he couldn’t function if he was not a part of this. God knows he had nothing else in his life but MI5.

“Back with us are you?” she asked.

He made to sit up but she held him firmly down.

“Just lie still for a minute. Did you hit your head?”

Since nothing hurt he assumed he hadn’t.

“No, I’m fine. Please let me up,” he muttered.

“As the only person here with any medical training I’ll decided decide when you can sit up, not you,” she told him firmly.

She checked him over thoroughly, assessing his conscious level using the Glasgow coma score.

“You’re very jittery,” she said, looking at the fine tremor in his hands. “When did you last eat?”

Seizing the opportunity he lied.

“Yesterday evening.”

“Well that was sensible wasn’t it!” she spoke as if scolding a teenager, sarcasm lacing every word. “I would say he is hypoglycaemic but without a blood sugar testing kit I cannot be certain. Can we get him some food and a glucose drink?” she asked.

“That would be Lucas aide instead of Lucozade would it?” Malcolm said dryly as he headed for the door.

She allowed him to get up slowly.

“I’m alright just a little light headed. I will be fine when I have eaten. Please can everybody stop fussing and can we get on with the matter in hand? ” Lucas was trying to divert attention away from him. He really did not want to answer any questions, especially from Ros or Harry.

Malcolm reappeared with sandwiches and a bottle of Lucozade. Harry looked at Lucas, was he lying or not? With Lucas it was very difficult to tell. He glanced at Ros, who was also studying Lucas intently, she was obviously having the same thoughts.

“Mr Pearce, I meant what I said before. If you are not going to arrest me or allow me a lawyer, I wish to leave.” Kate Masters interrupted his thoughts.

“We’re not arresting you we want your help,” Lucas said quietly, the colour returning to his pale cheeks.

Ros sighed, obviously he was not going to admit to anything other than a fainting episode, brought on by low blood sugars.

“I’ll explain. You eat,” Ros told him.

“We received a message two days ago, just one type written word ‘Gruinard.’ was on it.”

“Was it tested for anthrax spores?” Kate asked, interrupting Ros.

“Yes it was, there were none,” Jo confirmed.

“Why would you think that it had anthrax on it?” Ros asked.

“Gruinard is the place where we tested it during the second world war. I assume that the message is meant to convey either some warning or threat of anthrax. It could have been intended as a direct attack on MI5. In the 1990’s there was a spate of letters sent to congressmen in America with Anthrax spores on. I think five or six people died comma mainly postal workers and administration staff.”

“So this is a warning against an anthrax attack? We need to figure out where,” Ros stood up and started pacing.

“Why tell you what biological agent they are going to use?” Kate spoke again.
“I mean that just gives you time to prepare against an attack.”

“They are toying with us,” Lucas said. “Feeding us a little useless information.”

“So what we have to do is narrow down the biological agent?” Jo looked at Kate.

“Do you have any idea how many agents you’re talking about? There are over twelve hundred recognised bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins.” Kate looked around at each person in the room.

Lucas half smiled.

“Now you know why we need your help.”

“No you don’t. You need the help of an EXPERT in bioterrorism, not me. You should speak to one of the MOD’s microbiologists,” she told him bluntly.

“We can’t do that Kate.” There was something in the way he spoke.

“You suspect the MOD?” she looked first at Lucas then at the others.

“We suspect everybody, we have to. We don‘t know if this is a threat or a warning. Answer me this. Is there any biological weapons research going on in this country?”

“Well yes of course there is, otherwise we wouldn’t know how to defend ourselves against a biological or chemical attack. However, under The Biological and Toxic Convention of 1972, the development, production and stockpiling of biological agents and toxins was banned except in amounts necessary for protective and peaceful research. This kind of research is heavily legislated and policed,” she explained.

Lucas looked at her aware that her idealistic notion of the world didn’t exist, nothing was black or white. The world was shades of grey and those shades were open to interpretation depending on which fence you sat. As the liberal press would say, one man’s terrorist was another man’s freedom fighter.

“I am being naïve aren’t I?” She sighed “Why me Lucas, why choose me?”

“We needed a microbiologist, who was smart enough to be able to help but not a recognised expert in the field of biological weaponry. I remembered you were a microbiologist. You were a starting point but then I discovered that you are a mover, not a high flyer yet, but seen as having a lot of potential. In other words you fit the bill Kate. You were perfect.”

There was a slight inflection in the way he said perfect. Not many would have picked it up but Ros Meyers did. Her eyes narrowed, there was more going on between Lucas and the good Doctor than he had let on. Ros realised that Dr Masters was questioning Lucas alone about why she was here. A virtual stranger would have been asking Harry, the man in charge of these questions, but she wasn’t. They knew each other better than either was letting on. There was a tension about how they were interacting with each other, barely discernible, but it was there. Now why was that Ros wondered.

“How did you know I was a microbiologist? You thought I was a medical doctor when you asked me for help.” Kate was still unable to understand.

“The mug on your desk, ‘don’t worry microbiologists like mould'. It was a long shot but one that paid off,” Lucas told her.

“They must have trained you well Lucas, you appear to have missed nothing about my office in those sixty seconds.” She turned to Harry.

“If I don’t agree to help, what happens?”

“We place you in protective custody until this over,” Harry explained.

“So either way I cannot go home today. What have my employers been told? What about my cat?” she asked.

“You have had a sudden family bereavement and had to go away. The cat has been placed in a local cattery, he’s fine, which is more than can be said for our agent, aggressive little thing isn‘t it?” Jo answered with a smile, the younger woman sympathised at the resigned look on the doctors face. The speed with which MI5 worked was overwhelming.

Kate weighed up her options before speaking.

“I’m far from certain that I am the person you think I am but since I can’t go home, I’m faced with Hobsons’ choice, so I will give you any help I can.” She looked at the relief in Lucas North’s eyes. “Besides how many other microbiologists does Lucas know? I would love to say where do I sign the official secrets act but I have already signed it.”

“Thank you Dr Masters we are indebted to you,” Harry said.

“Can you please call me Kate? Dr Masters makes me sound like an expert and I can assure you I am not. What do you want me to do?”

Ros as section head took the lead.

“Well to begin with Kate, we need you to compile a brief overview of biological weapons, to include characteristics and suitability of the agents used, method of attack, countries and organisations with the capability to produce and coordinate such an attack. To bring the rest of us up to speed.” She glanced at her watch. “I can give you two hours to come up with a report. Can you be ready by then?”

“Yes I guess so.”

“No guessing Kate. Yes or no, can you be ready?” Ros demanded.

“Yes I can be ready.” Kate realised that she was not going to receive an easy ride from this woman.

“Good. Jo show Kate to a desk and computer she can use. Then pull together a list of all non military or government labs working in biological research. Malcolm scan international channels comma find out if the Americans, Russians or Chinese are reporting anything. Lucas find out what major events political and public could be targeted in this country in the next month.” They stood to leave.

“Lucas, before you go can I have a word in private please.” Ros stopped him as he walked out of the door. He might have guessed she was not going to let the fainting episode go unmentioned, sighing he closed the door and turned to face her.

“What’s the deal with Dr Masters Lucas, and don’t bother telling me nothing. I would know you were lying. You are obviously not the strangers you pretend to be.” Ros lent leant on the table.

“Depends on your definition of strangers Ros,” he replied as he went to sit back down.

Ros positioned herself in front of him, glad he had sat down. It was hard to intimidate some one someone of his height. Now at least she was the taller of them both.

“Don’t try and be clever Lucas. If you don’t explain your relationship with Dr Masters now, I will haul your ass in front of Harry and make sure you never work for MI5 again." Ros’ voice was deceptively calm.

Lucas swore in Russian under his breath. He knew Ros didn’t make idle threats.

“I have met her twice, the last time in December when she stitched my wound as I told you.”

“And the first time?”

“Nine years ago. Her grandfather died, she had run away from everything. I kept an eye on her, we shared a meal, but not our names.”

“Did you sleep with her?” Ros asked coldly.

“Begging your pardon Ros, that’s none of your business,” he answered.

“Everything you do is the department’s business Lucas. Are you sleeping with her?” Ros’ tone was hard and firm.

Lucas pushed forward in the chair forcing her to take a step back.

“Really, everything I do? Tell me Ros, where was the fu*king department when I was held for eight years in that Russian hell hole? Where was the department when they were sending electric shocks through my balls just to satisfy their perverted needs? Where was the concern about my sex life, when in that same Russian jail, some HIV infected inmate taunted me, telling me all the vile, twisted things he would do to me. Ask me how I avoided that Ros? Ask what I had to endure? Where was the department when I was tortured day after day? Forgive me Ros if my perception of what the department thinks is it’s business, differs from yours. I was left to rot in there, after six months I gave up believing I would ever be free but in spite of that I never divulged a fu*king thing. Eight years of torture and isolation, where was the department then? I am finally released and five months later I am STILL having to prove my loyalty! If the department knew its business , it would know I would die before I compromised any member of MI5!” Lucas was beyond mad.

“Do you know how many times I have had sexual intercourse in the past eight years? Once. I bet the section head has had sex in the last 5 months, haven’t you? Christ, even Gordon Brown is allowed to have it off occasionally! Shit you have got me so mad I am swearing, something I rarely do.” He rubbed his hand over his face.

“I take it that’s a yes then.” Ros smiled briefly. She held up her hand to stop another torrent of words. “Lucas I cannot imagine how you survived, it’s a miracle that you did, but as for not trusting you…” She shook her head, “Lucas, within days you had proven yourself above reproach. If you are still sleeping with her take care, I know what it is like to sleep with a colleague, things are never the same.” Ros was thinking about Adam.

“I doubt I will be sleeping with her again. The rules have changed and you know me and rules. Besides I am sure , observant as you are, you will have noticed I am not exactly flavour of the month.” He smiled ruefully, tiny crinkles appearing at the corner of his blue eyes.

Ros wondered if he realised how utterly charming he looked when he gave that half smile, somehow she doubted he did.

“Yeah she is good and mad at the moment, but you know what they say about make up sex?”

“No. What do they say about make up sex?” he asked.

“Best kind there is.”

Lucas chuckled, Ros with her fiery temper would know. He walked to the door.

“Oh Lucas, one more thing. Collapse like that at work again and you will be on sick leave.” Ros walked passed him leaving him in no doubt who was the boss.

Kate watched as Ros Meyers left the conference room, a smug, satisfied smile on her face. Lucas left a couple of seconds later, he was smiling as well. She wondered if something was going on between them. She glanced at Malcolm and Jo wondering if they suspected anything, but both were concentrating on the computer screens in front of them and paid no attention to Ros or Lucas. What business of hers was it anyway, he anyway? He could be shagging every female spy in MI5 and it would be none of her business. Except of course, despite being as mad as hell with him, she still wanted him, which meant that the green eyed monster had reared her ugly head. She had to stop this, it was pointless. She had known the rules, hell she’d made them, “no names and no questions about real life.” Well the rules had just been blown out of the water, so she would have to settle for what they had already shared.

She managed to complete the report, just barely, in the time Ros had given her. Jo showed her where the files were and she printed off a copy for everybody. Once more she entered the conference room only this time she was one of the team not an outsider.

“Ok Kate I think it is sensible to start with you,” Harry said.

She passed the files round and stood. She could speak better if she were moving.

“Biological warfare uses pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi as biological weapons. They differ from using non living toxic products which are called chemical weapons. The main aims of such weapons are to kill, incapacitate or seriously impede an individual or huge sections of the population in cities or other places.

It is important to realise that this is not a new idea, civilisation has been using biological weapons for centuries.

As I said earlier the manufacture and stockpiling of such weapons has been illegal since 1972, when more than a hundred countries signed the Biological Weapons convention. The rationale of the agreement is to prevent the potential catastrophic loss of live a biological weapon could cause. Currently 162 states abide by the treaty. Those states are listed in the report I gave you. It is also important to note however that every year more and more countries develop the capability to create these weapons.

When selecting an agent as a potential biological weapon against humans, ideal characteristics are high infectivity, high potency, non-availability of vaccines and delivery as an aerosol. Most biological weapons are quickly produced and easily stored.”

“Well that’s bad news,” Jo said.

“Not necessarily Jo. The primary difficulty with these weapons is not production it’s delivery. The method of choice for a large scale attack is through the air and that would most likely involve delivering it in an aerosol cloud. Any change in the weather would make the behaviour of that cloud completely unpredictable. That’s not the only problem. You have to get the particles in the right mixture. Too large and they would be filtered out by the respiratory system, too small and they would be inhaled and exhaled before they could infect,” Kate explained.

Lucas sat watching her. It was impossible not to be impressed, like her lecture earlier she was coming across as confident and knowledgeable.

“Are there any other potential problems?” he asked.

“Well after delivery the big one is containment,” she said.

“By containment you mean what exactly?” Ros glanced up from her copy of the report.

“Containing an agent is one of the most important reasons they haven't been widely used. The bacteria and viruses don't discriminate between an ally and a enemy. Then there is the so-called boomerang effect, the biological agent affecting those who released it.”

“Ok so who is going to use this kind of weapon and how?” Harry threw the question out into the group but it was Kate who answered.

“I thought about that as well Harry. I doubt that you are looking at a military operation.”

“Why?” he asked

Malcolm answered before she could.

“Presumably it has something to do with time, the time between the attack and its results.”

“That’s right Malcolm.Most military analysts would argue that the main problem with a biological weapon attack, is that it would take days to be effective, and therefore, unlike a nuclear or chemical attack, would not immediately stop an opposing force,” Kate agreed.

Lucas looked at Kate.

“I suppose containment is also an issue for the military, you don’t want to kill your own troops?”

“That’s right. Large military forces wouldn’t risk their troops. Terrorists on the other hand, wouldn’t think twice about that consideration. Which is why I think you are looking at a small operation and a small, but high impact target.”

Kate sat down and poured a glass of water praying that she had done alright.

Ros looked up again from the report.

“After that display, it’s what WE are looking at. You used ‘you’ to mean us, but you are one of us now. Welcome to the team Kate, that was an excellent job.” Ros was impressed, Lucas had called it correctly, Kate was indeed impressive.

Lucas hid a smile at Kate’s blushes, she was obviously not used to that level of praise.

“Lucas any potential targets?” Ros asked.

“Well the obvious political one is the Commonwealth Head of States summit at Windsor on the 22nd of April. There really is nothing else on the political calendar. Public events are just the usual sporting and music ones. Of course the X factor tour is going on. I could be persuade to end that assault on the eardrums by the use of a biological weapon.”

“You are such a music snob Lucas and old as well,” Jo told him.

“Ok everybody that’s about all we can achieve tonight, lets let's go home and start again in the morning. Jo did you book a hotel room for Kate?” Harry asked.

“I did, at the Plaza On The River. You are registered as Sarah Hampshire. Your luggage has already been delivered to your suite.” Jo held out a key card.

“Oh right thanks,” Kate had given no thought to where she was staying.

“Lucas will take you there and we will see you again in the morning at eight thirty. Ros was right Kate, you did a great job with the report.” Harry turned and left.

The hotel was not far from Thames House and her journey with Lucas was a short one.

He pulled up in front of the hotel.

“Try and get some rest. It must have been a tough day. This is my mobile number, if you need anything just call me.”

“Lucas one final question, why didn’t you correct me about your name?” she said before she got out of the car.

“I wondered when you would ask that, I expected you to at the café? Why didn’t you?” he asked a question of his own.

“I assumed it would have fallen into the category can’t answer. So I just didn’t ask.”

“Well I didn’t correct you because I am pretty sure you wouldn’t have believed me, also I wasn’t sure how Harry was going to play things when we got to London. The guard calling me Mr North told me Harry was going to treat you as an ally,” he explained.

She got out of the car. Before shutting the door she lent leant down and asked one final question.

“Why did you give me your real name , back in December?”

“I needed you to know that what we had shared meant something. I didn’t want to be some nameless stranger. I felt you deserved that.” His voice was soft almost breathy as if remembering that night in December.

“Thanks Lucas, you’re not a bad guy after all. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She shut the door.

“Goodnight Kate,” he whispered

He watched as she walked into the hotel and waited until the light went on in her hotel suite, four floors up and five windows in, just as Jo had said. After a couple of minutes he reluctantly drove away, back to his empty flat.

[Aria]

Loved Ros in this chapter, very in character. Enjoyed the reference to X-factor LOL. The Kate/Lucas relationship is starting to get interesting. Keep the updates coming.

[khandy]

Thank you for reading. Ros is actually a joy to write as is Malcolm. More later today but I need to do a big edited as it is very naughty

[KitKat385]

Enjoyable chapter! Lucas's whole speech to Ros was really good, and congrats on keeping everyone in character! Kate is a very nice OC, and the threat connected with Gruinard seems like a very well-thought out idea.

[khandy]

(21-11-2010 08:04 PM)KitKat385 Wrote:  Enjoyable chapter! Lucas's whole speech to Ros was really good, and congrats on keeping everyone in character! Kate is a very nice OC, and the threat connected with Gruinard seems like a very well-thought out idea.

Thank you I have to say I did an awful lot of research for this story when I wrote it

[KitKat385]

(21-11-2010 08:09 PM)khandy Wrote:  Thank you I have to say I did an awful lot of research for this story when I wrote it

I can tell! It's always nice to see that in a story