A Strange Way to Find Out - Chapter 8

[arctic]

[b]A Strange Way to Find Out - Last Chapter
May contain spoilers for Seasons 4, 7 & 8
I thought I would load the story quickly as it exists in its full form on ffnet.


CHAPTER 8
*****

“Tariq, what’s happening?” Lucas inquired, noticing the gunman rummaging through the trash.

“Oh no” the young man began “I’ve told Harry a hundred times he needs to exchange the batteries.” Tariq brought his fist to his forehead. “The mobile’s beeping because the battery is low.”

Lucas’ voice was strident. “I’m going down there. Brief Sharon and Bram when they arrive. Contact CO19 and tell them to be ready to go in.”

*****
Tex brought the mobile and wallet recovered from the rubbish bin. The Ringleader tried to access information from the mobile but found the keystroke lock activated. Thwarted by the phone, he began to flip through the wallet. Ruth could feel Harry’s tension mounting. Harry always left his badge in his desk on the Grid but his wallet contained his security pass and his driver’s license, complete with photo.

“So, Mr. uh – Pearce? This lovely black card would seem to indicate that you are not what you seem.” He fixed Harry with a cold stare. Harry held the man’s stare, giving nothing away.

“Perhaps you could tell me what you are doing here?” He then nodded to Tex who struck Harry with the butt of his gun. As Harry fell to the floor, Wes released a piercing scream and launched himself at the American bank robber. He latched onto the man, kicking, screaming and punching. Ruth tried to pull the boy off but he was too strong. She called to him but he wasn’t hearing her. He was lost in his terror, images of his mother and father flashing across his mind.

Tex spun around flattening Wes against a wall causing him to loosen his grip. Tex took the opportunity to lift the boy by the scruff of his neck and fling him to the floor. Wes immediately leapt up and flung himself at Harry.

“Don’t die, Uncle Harry, don’t die don’t die please!”

All eyes in the room were fixed on Wes. The Ringleader pulled a pistol from behind his back and pointed it directly at Harry’s head.

“Make him stop!” He commanded urgently.

Harry pulled Wes onto his lap as he sat on the floor, wrapping his arms tightly around the boy. He spoke his name softly until the boy looked at him.

“Wes” Harry continued, speaking gently, “Wes. Is that what’s wrong, son?” Wes nodded as he sniffled. “I am not going to die. Do you hear me? I am not going to die.”

“Promise?” Wes whimpered.

“I promise.” Harry reassured him, holding him tightly. “Could you please stay with Aunt Ruth while I go and see to these gentlemen? And if she begins to get worried, remind her of what I told you. Okay?” Wes nodded. Harry gave him one last hug and handed him over to Ruth.

“Mr. Dresdin – Mr. Pearce – please accompany me.” The Ringleader, Harry, the Bank Manager and Tex walked through a door behind the bank wickets. They descended a flight of stairs, walked through a hallway to a room filled with little locked boxes.

Harry whispered tersely to the Manager, “We can’t let them get this information.”

Mr. Dresdin whispered back, “Don’t worry.”

Tex cuffed Harry in the back of the head, “Hey, no talking.” Harry turned and fixed him with a withering stare.

Harry heard the clunk of metal hitting the marble floor.

*****


When Tariq relayed the pictures of Wes Carter freaking out, Lucas knew the situation could turn ugly any moment. He raced to the bank, jumping curbs - driving like a madman. On arrival, he ran up to the line of Officers, showed his badge and was escorted to the Officer in Charge.

“There is an MI-5 officer in that building along with his wife and child. We need to go in – what’s your status?”

“Mr. North, two of the gunmen and two of the hostages have just left the main lobby of the bank. We believe this is the time to go in but we’ve been ordered to wait for your permission. Do we have it?”

“Yes yes. Go go.” Lucas responded.

******

The explosion of tear gas served as a red flag to Harry. He shoved Dresdin to the ground with one hand as he propelled himself at the Ringleader. Harry was determined that he would keep his word to Wes. He grabbed the man’s gun hand and punched him solidly in the head. The Ringleader fell like a bag of cement.

One of the Officers gave Harry a gas mask as he made his way back up the stairs through the tear gas smog. He strode past Tex who lay pinned beneath the weight of two CO19 officers, stopping beside Mr. Dresdin who was being led away by another officer.

Harry removed his mask long enough to ask, “Mr. Dresdin, what did you mean when you said, ‘Don’t worry’?”

Dresdin looked Harry up and down before he answered. “You don’t truly believe that a man like Percy Rodman would keep such important information in a bank in London, do you?”

Harry studied the man. “You and I need to have a conversation.” Dresdin returned Harry’s implacable stare.

Meanwhile, upstairs, the Chief Inspector approached Ruth and Wes tucked together beneath a table, Ruth’s long flowing skirt protecting their faces. He double checked the photo he’d been given and addressed himself to Ruth, “I’m looking for the MI-5 Officer.”

Ruth replied, “I’m an MI-5 Officer.”

The Chief Inspector looked surprised, “I’m looking for Mr. Pearce?”

“My husband.” Ruth replied. The adults didn’t notice Wes’ thoughtful stare.

Harry walked away from Dresdin, knowing that he would learn nothing new from him right now. He caught sight of Ruth and Wes talking to the Chief Inspector and quickened his pace to meet them as they ran to meet him.

Harry held them tightly, two of the most precious people in his life. Harry sighed as he led them out of the bank. Lucas was waiting outside the doors. He hugged Ruth and tousled Wes’ hair.

As the three spooks began to debrief in a huddle, they were interrupted by Wes’ tentative voice, “Uncle Harry?”

Harry turned his gaze on Wes. “Are you feeling better now, mate?” Wes nodded. Before Harry could turn back to the conversation with his colleagues, Wes intruded again, “Uncle Harry? If you and Aunt Ruth are spies, and my Mom and Dad worked with you? Does that mean that my Mom and Dad were spies?” Harry, Ruth and Lucas exchanged a questioning look.

Ruth took over, “Yes, Wes. Your parents were two of the best spies in the world.”

Wes looked somber and thoughtful for a while as the adults looked on.

“Uncle Harry, I think I’ll be a Dentist!”

The End

[Nia M]

So glad they're all safe, and Wes is just too cute Thanks for sharing!

[lwhite53]

Read all the chapters at one go -- fun story. Poor Wes, I'm not sure he knows how dangerous it can be to be a dentist! Thanks for sharing this.

[Nia M]

The dangerous dentist thing has just made me think of the latest Harry Potter film, where Slughorn asks if dentistry if a dangerous profession