[ENTRY] Consequences.

[HellsBells]

Running through the bustling London market, he pushes past early morning shoppers. Merchants' shouts reverberate around the square, their offers ringing in his ears as he runs faster. The Russians are closing in; he sprints for all he is worth, knowing the commotion behind him is doubling as his Russian pursuers push the same path through the crowd. He runs down an alley and hides in an alcove, pulling his phone from his pocket. Young, healthy lungs are racked as he tries to draw breath and wipes the blood from the mobile's screen. He dials.

"Tom? It's Lucas, get me out of here NOW!".


Tom answers “Where are you, Lucas” then to Malcolm “Get a trace and send an armed response unit now!”
Lucas catches his breath a little “Just off of Smithfields. There’s four agents moving in”
“We’re sending in an armed response unit to your position”
“ETA?” queries Lucas.
“At least seven minutes”, he knows what Lucas’ response will be.
“That’s going to be too late, they’re already close. Tom listen my contact wanted to sell a list of Russian sleeper agents here in the UK”
Tom was confused “Surely he doesn’t have that level of clearance.”
Lucas moves further back into the shadows and lowers his voice to a whisper knowing that he has to brief Tom before they find him. “The Russians knew about the meet, we were under surveillance the whole time. Someone must have told them.” The accusation hung in the air, a leak within the team, amongst their friends.
Tom asked “What happened? “
“Just as I was about to leave they moved in all guns blazing, my contact was hit right next to me, it was chaos! I climbed out of a backroom window, but I can’t shake them. Where’s the back-up?”
Tom lies “They are very close now, just hold out a little longer.” Both know the cavalry will be too late.
Tom hears another voice over the phone “One of Harry Pearce’s people, you’re just what we need.” Tom listens to the sounds of a scuffle and then the phone goes dead.
Malcolm announces “Armed response two minute away.”
Tom looks at him; Malcolm knows they’re too late.


“Harry! Lucas has been taken by unknown agents”. Tom marches into Harry’s office.
“Go on” replied Harry calmly.
“I think Russian agents have Lucas. We need to Red Flash the team, alert all UK exit points and start a full scale search, starting with the Russian Embassy. They can’t just take our people off the streets, this is our own bloody country.” Tom raged.
Harry was too calm for Tom’s liking, infuriatingly so, “I think I know what this is all about, there is no need to look for Lucas.”
“They’ll want to take him out of the country as fast as possible.”
Harry spoke “No, I do not believe that is what they want.”
“Care to enlighten me” Tom seethed.
“Tessa’s team intercepted a number of illegal immigrants entering the country a week ago. There was only one person of note in the whole group.”
“Who?” demanded Tom.
“He’s a Chechen, codenamed Joshua. Why he’s over here we have no idea, but he has been linked to recent suicide bombings in Moscow and Chechnya aimed at Russian personnel. As you can imagine the Russians are rather keen to talk to him.”
“What has this got to do with Lucas?” Tom knew any delay in the search would increase the chances of failing to find his missing friend.
“Simple. The powers that be are being slow at agreeing the handover. They will do it, of course, improve London/Moscow relations, but they want their pound of flesh, so to speak. The Russians have just upped the ante, that’s all. They will trade Lucas for Joshua, without any lost of face. Just business as far as they are concerned.”
“You had better be right, because you are betting with Lucas’ life!” Tom replied unable and unwilling to hide his anger.

Several hours later Harry announced that the deal had been done, “Tom, pick up Joshua from the safe house and take him to the Russians, they will be waiting with Lucas.” Harry smiled to Tom silently saying I told you so.
Harry’s mobile rings “Yes. “
A man’s voice replies “I’m Ron Bakewell. I am responsible for Joshua at the safe house.” He hesitated slightly, “I have to inform you that……..that Joshua suffered a heart attack a few minutes ago. Despite all our efforts……..we could not revive him.”
Harry’s world stopped for several moments while the implications of what he had just heard worked through. Quietly, Harry replies simply “Thank-you” and closes his phone. The team looks at him. He looks towards Tom and the young man realises something is wrong, very wrong.
Harry takes a deep breath “Joshua has died at the safe house. There will be no exchange.” The full impact of that statement was not lost on anyone.
Tom yelled “Right, I want a full scale search and all exit points monitored. Let’s find Lucas North now!”

[Tea Lady]

Good grief HellsBells, that's a really good opener. That would make a good storyline for an episode. I thought Harry was being too confident on this one. This is the first "Entry" I have got round to reading. Well done.

[Aria]

Great entry HellsBells. Gripping read and like TL, I thought Harry was too overconfident about getting Lucas back.

[Lukyan Lyubof]

Great entry, I can just see this as the start of an ep, which leaves me wanting to see if they get Lucas back (hint hint )

[Skully]

Nice work!

[HellsBells]

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments. This was my first ever fiction writing since leaving school.

[Jhokur]

Very well done - definitely could see it as an episode for sure.