CHAPTER 15

"Harry!" Tariq called. "Come quickly."

Entering the computer room, Harry heard Ruth's voice whispering, "Harry? Harry, are you there?"

"I'm here Ruth. Are you okay?"

"We're okay. They slapped Jane once but other than that they've not hurt us."

"What can you tell me?"

"They knew enough about each one of us to lure us into a situation where we could be apprehended. They faked a call from Robin to Jane, saying that Graham had been injured and they used Anna to get to me." Ruth paused. "Sorry, I'm standing in the corner of the room. Catherine is comforting Jane at the other end of the room. The guards are outside."

"How many are there?"

"There are at least six but maybe as many as ten. We're in the basement of building, cinder block walls and concrete floors. The door to our room is metal. Harry-" she paused.

"Yes, Ruth."

"I love you."

"I love you, too. I promise I will get you out of there."

"Catherine's quite amazing you know but Jane-"

"I know, trust me I know," Harry chuckled. What a conversation to be having!

Louis popped his head into the room. "Harry, Graham's back."

"Graham's back, Ruth. I have to go but Tariq is listening. And Ruth? Be careful, Darling." Harry walked out of the computer room in search of Graham.

Harry led Graham into his office, inviting Louis to accompany them. Graham told them everything he remembered from the colour of the walls to the accents of each speaker. Harry sent the two young men off to draw up, as nearly as possible, a schematic to the basement room.

Harry answered the telephone on the second ring.

"Hello, Mr. Pearce, I am impressed by your ability to keep your word. Now I feel we have a common playing field from which to begin. Did you receive my message?" The voice had regained its cultured attitude again.

"Yes."

"If you would be so kind as to ensure that all security and police forces are kept away from my little shipment then I will release your women unharmed and will see that no charges are pressed against your son. Do we have a deal?"

"Where is the shipment?" Harry asked, keeping his voice even.

"Too bad, Mr. Pearce, I was hoping you would realize how serious I am. Which Pearce to begin with, I wonder?" The buzzing of the phone line jolted through Harry's system like lightning. What did he mean? Practically running, Harry arrived by Tariq's side just as he was about to call for him.

"Ladies, I'm sorry to say that Mr. Pearce is not being very cooperative. I believe we need to teach him a lesson." Pointing to Jane, assuming she was the weakest and most pathetic of the bunch, he chose her first. "Come here."

"No no not me." Jane began to weep anew. "Not me. He doesn't care about me. Choose her. She's his wife now. We're divorced. I-"

"She's right. There's no need to torment her. I'm his dau-" Catherine was interrupted.

"I'm his wife. You don't know as much as you think you do." Ruth challenged him, trying to take his attention off the other two women. "She," pointing to Jane, "is his ex-wife, and he's been estranged from his children for years. You might as well let them go. I'm the only useful hostage here."

Sharpe studied Ruth through narrowed eyes then his face relaxed as he came to a decision. "Bring her!" he commanded.

"Louis! Find me a way in!" Harry bellowed onto the Grid.

"We've got it! We've got it!" Louis replied. "Graham has a brilliant-"

"I don't care what it is, just do it. Bram! Conference with these young men, contact CO19 and get my family out!"

"The phone, Harry!" Tariq called. Harry raced back to his office, taking a deep breath to calm himself before answering.

"Yes."

"I have here your wife. Just to be certain that I have your complete cooperation, I intend on giving her a taste of what's to come if you do not comply with my every wish."

"There's no need to hurt anyone." Harry attempted to placate Sharpe.

Ignoring him, Sharpe continued, "At this moment my compatriot is tying her hands and raising her arms above her head as she stands here in front of me. Now he is removing his belt_"

A voice rose up from Harry's gut, a voice of cold, dark fury, "If you hurt her, I will kill you."

The voice on the other end quavered as it spoke, "We'll see."

Harry's vision went black as he heard Ruth cry out once, twice, three times then the phone went dead.

CHAPTER 16

Thirty minutes later, Lucas and Tom led the friendly detective to the London docks to hi-jack a shipment of explosives bound for the streets of London.

Thirty minutes later, Graham was on the phone to Robin asking him to drive into the city to pick up his mother.

Thirty minutes later, Sharon and Anna were on their way to the Grid.

Thirty minutes later, Harry Pearce shot Mr. Sharpe straight through the heart as he stormed the basement holding with Bram, Louis and a dozen CO19 officers. Bursting through the door restraining them, Harry was met by a semi-hysterical Jane who began screaming curses at him until Catherine firmly told her to "shut up and get a grip". Hugging her father gently, she led him over to the bed in the room where Ruth lay curled in a foetal position, face to the wall.

"She's a brave lady, Dad. She saved us." Catherine patted his shoulder and kissed his temple before ushering her mother out of the room and over to the waiting paramedics.

Sitting on the bed, Harry holstered his gun and gently reached out to stroke Ruth's hair. "Ruth?" She flinched at his light touch. He tried again, "Ruth, it's me." Gently but firmly he turned her body to face him, reached his arms around her and pulled her against himself.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Harry." She gripped him back, tears beginning to leak from the corners of her eyes. "Oh, Harry."

"Ruth, I'm so sorry. I got here as quickly as I could. I'm sorry." He held her, misery plainly visible on his face.

"I'm thinking our life might go a bit smoother if you took my name."

"Pardon?" Harry asked, genuinely confused.

"Well, all this trouble seems to surround 'Pearce'. Wouldn't you like to become Harry Evershed. Mr. Evershed never has these kinds of problems." A tiny grin formed at the corner of her mouth.

Harry watched her in shock until her grin spread across her face. Laughing in relief, he held her tightly. "I love you. I will be anyone you choose. I love you."

THE END