Thanks to those who reviewed. As ever I had to split the anticipated chapter. I trust all my readers are well and safe wherever you are in the world.


Standing upright at the foot of steps leading to the hotel foyer while awaiting the arrival of the Registrar, Iman and the weapon carrying escort, few would have guessed at the apprehensions pounding through the brain of the immaculately suited and booted Harry Pearce. The armour provided by his Saville Row tailoring an effective fa?ade, behind which his stomach was performing somersaults. One slip, one second of momentary lapse, would see the creation of a diplomatic incident, with all the follow up hassle of an investigation concluding with the equally inevitable scapegoating. This however Harry was accustomed to. Admittedly the aftermath of any errors today would be unpleasant to live through but the blame game would eventually fade as other events crowded in, allowing any disaster today to eventually fade away into nothingness. As ever his main priority was to ensure that his team emerged alive and unharmed. For years, lacking any family of his own, combined a personal history of 'ships that passed in the night' - or more accurately ships that had met for the occasional carnal collision - Harry had juggled his job as boss while treating his operatives as surrogate family, and now he had an additional dimension – if anything happened to Ruth….

His gloomy thoughts, which were at serious variance to the panorama of autumn tinted trees glowing in the bright morning light, was interrupted by the arrival of his love herself. He hadn't actually seen her since the wrap up of the operational plans the previous evening. By mutual agreement they had decided that to sleep apart – not a habit he wished to establish - but contemplating the horrors of the day in front of them neither had felt that last night had been the time, or place, appropriate to cementing the newly established intimacy. Appropriate or not he couldn't resist complimenting her. "You look lovely Ruth -shame it's wasted on the operation." Sparking a slow smile as she replied, "As long it wasn't wasted on you." Any reply on Harry's part was halted by the sight of government luxury cars crunching through the wrought iron gates as they made their stately slow drive over the sun dappled gravel, scattering the odd grey squirrel scampering over the lawns in search of titbits.

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching from behind made Harry jerk his head. As if on cue, uncle was bouncing his way across the paved forecourt, making his descent down the small set of steps to stand shoulder to shoulder with Harry, oozing a self satisfaction that was forcing Harry to subsume his baser tendency – a deep desire to punch Mohammed whatsit in the face – into the diplomatic persona he'd been forced to adopt.

As the cars disgorged their passengers, an Iman, three gentleman in suits that rivalled Harry's and a bag carrier, uncle's fixed smile wavered a little as he turned to Harry demanding, "Who are these extra individuals – I only require the Iman." Harry with a calmness he did not feel, although enjoying the sight of uncle's discomfiture, was more than willing to reassure him. "Legalities – the civil ceremony is required by Her Majesty's Government. I was advised early this morning that in view of the changed circumstances some extra officials would be attending." Ruth was biting her lip, Harry was telling the exact truth, while not particularising the exact circumstances he was referring to. Wishing to avoid further bluster from uncle, while subduing the continuing temptation to rearrange the latter's face Harry moved forward to greet the party.

"Thank you for attending – shall we proceed?" A statement couched with an inflection that was less of a question and more of an instruction. Uncle however was not to be baulked. "I really must insist the religious ceremony takes precedence." Harry was mercifully saved from answering by the Registrar who drew himself up to his full pinstriped length, prior to stating in the exact clipped tone that Harry himself utilised to crush officers who had offended big time. "I am obliged to inform you that it is the custom of this country to insist that the legal ceremony supersedes any religious considerations." Before uncle could argue further the Iman intervened with his mite, "I would not be willing to conduct the marriage until the civil ceremony completed." Adding as clincher, "having been called upon to superintend the...er... aftermath of Aisha's accident I am disquieted by the speed with which this further engagement has been arranged." The suggestion that he would decline to officiate if uncle continued to be obstructive was left hanging as a not very subtle, unspoken threat.

Without any further pause Harry nodded to the official party, an indication that it was time to move. They all began to ascend the steps to be greeted by Ros at the entrance, as ever whiplash smart, although Harry did note that she had seemingly swapped her previous tailored jacket for one that appeared to be a little less close fitting and possessed of deeper pockets. With a no nonsense voice that mirrored Harry's, as she stepped forward Ros introduced herself as if everyone in the party was unaware of her covering persona, "Good morning gentleman. I am the Hotel Manager. I have set an extra private room aside for you as requested, and have arranged some refreshments." A statement that produced a further explosion from uncle, of the variety that might just prove that spontaneous combustion of the human body was not a myth.

Harry eyeing the obnoxious carbuncle advised, "Inside and then we will explain further." With the rest of the group being ushered into the foyer by Ros, while Ruth helped out by engaging the Iman in conversation uncle was presented with little choice, unless he preferred the alternative scenario of being ignominiously stranded on the drive.

Once indoors Ros, ignoring uncle, turned to Harry asking, "Sir would you prefer myself or Miss Evershed to act as Zahra's chaperon?" An apparently innocuous enquiry that had uncle spluttering once more as he insisted, "For the wedding she doesn't need one and I'd pref…" His bombast cut through by the swift intervention of the Registrar. "As my colleague" – a courteous nod to the Iman – "has already stated the circumstances are somewhat unusual. The relevant government departments are prepared to waive the usual notice period for the civil ceremony, but only on the strict understanding that Zahra has not been coerced in any way whatsoever." Having paused he added, "For this reason I am obliged to interview Zahra privately with neutral observers."

This had the effect of infuriating uncle even further, "I can assure you that it is of her own free will and this is totally unnecessary."

The Registrar in less refined company might have punched the air, but being a loyal representative of the state he settled for fixing uncle with a glare that even Harry would have envied, while responding in a voice that would have halted global warming in its tracks, "Then there can be no problem with my ascertaining that fact first hand."

Harry, keen to move on before the temporarily silenced uncle could produce any further objections, turned to Ros, "Miss Marsden if you would be so good as to escort Zahra to this room – perhaps her father would like to accompany you and explain the reason."

Left with no option other than to withdraw as graciously as was in his power, that was with a huff, a muttering of 'utter nonsense' and several words that only a native of the language would understand, uncle whisked his rotund body through the door in a swirl of flying cotton clothing and irritation. Ruth accompanying the party to the door monitored their retreat down the corridor before closing the door to say with relief, "All clear, they've gone to uncle's suite."

It was the signal for a flurry of activity. While one of the so called officials moved to stand against the door, blocking the entrance to all comers Adam arrived, via the long casement window that overlooked the lawn and the summer house. The latter being currently occupied by a couple of Jed's men, ready to move as soon as the group in the room proceeded to the minor matter of the wedding. The brief cases carrying the official documents were thrown open, with the linings pulled out to expose the promised sidearms, which three of which Harry hastily handed to Adam with the instruction, "For yourself and pass the others to Zoe and Danny as soon as you can."

"Will do but I'd best collect Aisha first," spoken by Adam as he pushed the hardware into the rough woven sack he was carrying, which he then accessorized with a few twigs on top and slung over his shoulder in a casual manner. Looking at the two other officials Harry checked, "I presume you also are armed," not waiting for an answer before taking one of the two syringes the Registrar was holding out to him. "I'll take one of these and Ruth, I assume you have room in that clutch bag so make sure you are clutching this." One of the anonymous officials dared to demur. "I understand Miss Evershed is not a field officer so should she…"

Harry interrupting this protest, brushing it aside with a brusque, "You have been informed correctly but no member of my team is ever allowed into these situations without training. Miss Evershed is no exception and has practised using these injections." The thought occurring to him that if she wasn't required to use it today he must repossess it before he managed to upset her again.

With that matter closed Harry turned to the Iman with an apology, "I regret that you have been inadvertently involved in this but.." Before he could finish Harry had the rare experience of someone else doing unto him as he'd just done unto one of the other officials, ie cut off in mid sentence as the Iman assured him. "Muslims like that individual do my religion much harm. While I may not approve of this deception I approve even less of the attempt to murder."

Knowing just how in some quarters the Iman's aid in the deception might be taken, and anxious to protect him from the inevitable and unpleasant reprisals, Harry smiled, "Thank you but can I suggest that once Zahra has arrived, but before we arrange the switch, you proceed to the room where the marriage is to take place. You can reassure her father that all seems to be well and later feign ignorance."

It was at this precise point that Ros arrived escorting a heavily veiled Zahra. Closing the door she stated flatly, "Zahra's father is most insistent that this is unnecessary." Zahra throwing off her veil while proceeding to unwrap herself from the suffocating outer garment she was wearing added, "Ros is being tactful. Actually he used several swear words which he thought she wouldn't understand. I'll be glad to see the back of the old sod." The Iman, however simpatico he might be to the plight of Zahra and Aisha was about to remonstrate when the door opened again to revel Adam accompanied by an individual, who at first glance seemed to be a slim young man. Startled Harry's hand was preparing to grab the stab tube when the stranger pulled off the uniform cap to reveal a large amount of long hair tumbling down across the shoulders as the individual moved to hug Zahra.

Ros watching this sight interrupted, "Sorry but we don't have time for this – I've set a screen over there …" A statement accompanied by a nod of her head, "so can you swop clothes asap." The two girls didn't need telling twice, although Harry could have managed without the giggling. This was a serious matter that if mishandled could result in death, which reminded him. "Ros your side arm." Ros taking this with a grateful look was moved to ask sardonically, "Who gets the pleasure of using it on Zahra's father?" as she stowed it in her pocket. Harry, now recognising the reasoning behind the change of jacket and, although appreciating both that piece of forethought and the emotion underlying her question, chose to ignore Ros in favour of nodding to the Iman, "Go and you didn't see Aaisha." The Iman with a fine touch of irony as he moved to exit informed Harry,"I didn't. I saw a young man coming in to clean the room."

By the time the door closed behind him Zahra and Aaisha having changed outfits, with a speed disguised, by the giggling were emerging with their clothes swap complete. Ruth and Ros running a critical eye over the pair moved to make a few minor adjustments. Ros removing a couple of hair pins from her own jacket as she tucked away few spare strands under Zahra's cap, while Ruth was occupied in adjusting the veil and cloth that Zahra had been wearing around Aaisha's slightly slimmer figure. Looking at Zahra Ros declared "You'll do." Harry nodding turned to Adam "Depart. We'll delay as long as we can but get her out of here asap and text me when you've done so. Copy Jed in, and Malcolm so he can cut the comms." While he was issuing his orders Aaisha was hugging Zahra, "Good luck and thanks." Zahra grinned, "I should thank you. I'm out of what you've volunteered to head into - don't give my father my love."

Harry on the verge of exasperation jerked his head at Adam who seized Zahra and hurried her out the room as Harry's phone buzzed. It was Malcolm. Looking at the screen Harry turned to the group. "One of uncle's minions is on the way down to see what is taking the time." After a quick check on Aaisha he instructed her, "Move as slowly as you can and don't speak." To the Registrar and the two independent agents – oops witnesses - he ordered, "Again as slowly as you can setting up the documents, we need everyone to create as much time as possible before Aaisha has to unveil.' The Registrar trying not to gulp asked. "And then…"

"When the shooting starts hit the floor."


Thanks for reading.. If you have a moment a review would be appreciated. Now I just have to write the next chapter.