'Get your head out of the Cold War Harry,' Towers had told his Head of Counter Terrorism, when he'd found him skulking around outside his house and balling up his fists as though he'd been about to combust. Ahead of an announcement that the Government were drawing up papers, for a deal that would see the UK getting into bed with the Russians. A deal that would surely upset the Americans and the world in general, but because it had been seen as the only option and as untasteful as that was, had been voted through parliament with very little opposition.

Something that until he'd closed the door behind him and taken off his coat, he'd agreed with, if not whole heartily. But having poured himself a drink and settled down to a cold supper, because Mrs. Towers was out at her book club, one of the many evening activities that she saw as a means to avoid him and as a consequence meant he spent a good many his evenings on his own, instead of turning on the TV which he usually did to while away the hours before he went to bed, he'd turned his attention back to his conversation with Harry and Harry's reaction to the news. More than that though, he'd realised how dismissive of Harry he'd been, which after consideration, he'd concluded wasn't in his best interest. That he should have at least listened to him, or better still have invited him in. If for no other reason than Harry had gone out of his way to confront him outside his house, rather than wait until the morning. Which was now making him wonder if perhaps Harry's protestations weren't based solely on his understandable mistrust of almost every nation on earth, given what his job was and Russia in particular, but for reasons, that if he hadn't been so dismissive, Harry might have been prepared to explain. Because as a staunch supporter of Harry, despite him almost always being able to run rings around him, it would have been the sensible thing for him to have done.

Especially as he was one of the few people who knew that Harry had been through one hell of a lot recently and as far as Russians were concerned, had good reason to mistrust them. His analyst Connie James, who Harry had trusted implicitly, turning out to be a Russian spy and had been for decades. Attempting to frame him to save her own skin and almost getting away with it. The loss of his section chief Ros Myers, which he knew had hit Harry hard and had been followed up by the subsequent demise of Nicholas Blake. Something he was sure that Harry had had a hand in, but would never voice. And last but by no means least, his section chief Lucas North. Another person who'd had a long association with the Russians, albeit an unfortunate one, who again had proved to be anything by loyal to the service and to Harry in particular. All of which were perhaps causing Harry to doubt his own judgement, but when pieced together, meant that Harry had plenty of reasons to be suspicious about what lay ahead for his country and for himself in particular. Or to put it another way, it was a minor miracle that Harry hadn't already thrown in the towel. An act, which should he do it, would see him as Home Secretary, on a long walk into the unknown, with a Section Head that he knew little about.

Which was why he intended calling his Personal Private Secretary first thing in the morning, to ask him find a member of their staff, preferably female, who could work hand in hand with Harry for the foreseeable future. To delve more deeply into the terms of the partnership and before it was signed, see if there were any loopholes. Someone who was highly intelligent and who knew everything there was to know about the Russian regime, past and present. Someone who could speak the language fluently, but at the same time was less than obvious in her appearance, sufficient that the Russian delegation wouldn't give her a second glance. Even if she were to walk into the reception on the arm of Harry Pearce or one of his cronies.

.

Harry has also closed his front door and hung up his coat, but in his case, he hasn't come to any conclusion, other than this is another in the long line of nightmares that he's been dealt recently. Especially as unlike Towers, there is no wife or significant other to leave his dinner on the table and a note to tell him where she's gone. Not that he still doesn't imagine what would be his ideal partner in life, because he does. But he's long given up hope of meeting someone who will be prepared to put up with the erratic hours that he works, the unpredictability when it comes to him keeping his temper, justified though it generally is, but more importantly, someone who will trust him and in return he can trust without question.

A situation that has been made worse now and is adding to his irritation, is that he's been landed with Erin Watts as his section chief. Nice enough as a person and a more than capable officer, he doesn't doubt, but Ros Myers she isn't. Ros had been tough, his mirror image. Someone who in the end and against all the odds, he'd come to consider as a friend. A friend that had given her life for her country, as had so many that had preceded her. That he misses Ros more than he will ever disclose to anyone, is just one more cross that he has to bear alone.

Thoughts that for now he needs to put to one side, because he's hungry and he's tired and most of all he needs to sleep. Sleep which will require him to wake with a clear head and is why he leaves the whisky where it is and settles for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Because tomorrow morning he intends to be outside Tower's office when he arrives and this time, Towers will listen to what he has to say.

The following morning.

Unlike both Harry and Towers, Ruth Evershed has no such concerns. She is currently on holiday, or what amounts to a holiday in her case. Which means that when she receives the phone call, she's not thinking about what's happening at work, or who might be ringing her at eight o'clock in the morning. Instead, she's still curled up in bed, having just finished the latest chapter of the book that she's reading. A book that she's enjoying, almost as much as the mug of tea on the table beside her. Something that her friend, colleague and boss of the section where she works Andrea, has come to accept is part and parcel of who Ruth is, over the ten years, since she and Ruth arrived at the Home Office on the same day. Which is where the similarity ends. Because unlike Ruth, Andrea is outgoing, up for anything and a real party animal, who has risen through the ranks, whereas Ruth is her polar opposite. Not only is she small in stature, but she's also quiet and contained and almost always refuses to let her hair down. Dark hair, that sort of matches her personality. All of which Andrea knows suits Ruth just fine.

Until it comes to analysing, translating and interpreting, especially in Russian, where Ruth is streets ahead of all her colleagues. In other words, she blossoms into an altogether different person. Simply the best when it comes to digging into the dirtiest and most dangerous corners of a nation, that still likes to think it can pull the wool over the eyes of its rivals, long after the so-called cold war has ended. Which means that none of its inhabitants are safe if Ruth has been asked to investigate them, or what they're currently doing.

Added to which, she has a memory that is almost photographic, which makes her a prime asset, without the need for a paper trail or a memory stick that can be traced back to her or more importantly to The Home Office, and is the reason that The Home Secretary's, personal private secretary, has asked Andrea, to call her colleague and to tell her that the Home Secretary wants her to come back into work. To attend a meeting in his office with the Head of Section D at Thames House, for reasons that for the moment, she isn't able to tell Ruth. Reasons which when Ruth finds out, will have her reacting in one of two ways, but with only one option that is acceptable to the powers that be.

To be one half of an alliance that will work. Why? Because it's so unlikely that it will be thought to be ridiculous, other than by a small and elite group, who fall into the need- to-know category. A group, who will soon be told, to hold, not only their tongues but their nerves, as they watch Ruth and Harry who are going to be working together, to prove whether or not his misgivings are well founded and if so, unpick the motives of the person that is causing Harry to behave in the way he is.