The Scars Run So Deep

There Will Be Hell.

I knew Lucas was up to something when he left this morning. There was that haunted look in his eyes again, I hadn't seen that since the nights after he had left the hospital and the nightmares consumed him. Holding Bonnie in my arms I watched him walk away from me and knew somehow in my heart that this would be the last time I would see him alive.

I could not stand by and let him give up his life for something, and instinctively I knew what he was going to do, I had heard him shouting in his sleep enough - he was going to get to Alexander. How he would get to him I didn't know but everything screamed at me that he wasn't just heading to work... Our daughter knew there was something wrong too, her soft whimpers turning fast to hard and mournful wails causing my nosy neighbour from Hell to look over glaring. The bitch could go rot, I had far more important things to do like find a way to stop Lucas from doing something foolish.

I couldn't call Dimitri... he was too close to Lucas so if something was indeed happening, he would be the one person my hard headed partner would turn too for help. Could I turn to Beth? Would she even know what was going on - would she help? I realised I had no choice the time was ticking.... grabbing the phone, I called her and prayed that we weren't being monitored in any way, it had been my constant fear since coming back to this country - that I would never be completely free.

"Beth... I know it's a stupid question but is Lucas on the grid yet?"

The silence at the other end of the phone was almost deafening in it's bitter truth. Lucas had lied.... after everything we had been through, he had lied to me.

"Is Dimitri there...."

I knew the answer before it came.

"Neither of them are here - which is a surprise I thought they'd both be in by now. It's just me and Tariq. Even Harry isn't here yet..."

"Okay.... if they turn up - tell them I'm looking for them both."

Jesus Lucas, what have you gone and done?

* * * *

Ending the call from Elena... I looked to Tariq and couldn't help but notice that he was avoiding looking at me. Whatever was going on, he knew something. Walking over to him, I watched the junior officers moving around the grid endeavouring not to look at us and failing.

Nosy lot.

"You're coming with me now into the conference room and you're going to tell me exactly what the Hell Lucas and Dimitri are up to. Don't for one second try to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about - you and I both know you're in this as deep as they are."

He nodded and moved.... but for once, not removing the ear piece from his ear. He didn't think I'd noticed the screen either as I'd leant over. There were details about two prisons on the screen, one in Manchester and one in Liverpool, I knew as soon as I saw the one in Manchester, Strangeways - that this was definitely something to do with Alexander Dimitrov and Elena's fears were right. Lucas was following up on his threats it seemed. No one could blame him really, the man had tormented Lucas for many years and then of course falling in love with Elena had increased his hatred for the arrogant Russian a thousand times over.

Tariq was not only involved but in contact with the two missing men.

Closing the door I pushed Tariq down into the seat nearest to me and turned to face him - the expression on my face and tone of my voice leaving no room for argument. He would tell me the truth and then he would help me possibly save the lives of two excellent and invaluable members of our team.... our friends.

"Tell me right now... where are Lucas and Dimitri. For Gods sake don't even begin to lie to me..."

It was then he removed the ear piece and laid it on the table - knowing he had to come clean about his involvement in whatever hare-brained scheme the two other men were in.

"They're at the prison... Alexander Dimitrov is being transferred to another prison today and I managed after Lucas gave me no other choice to have them take the place of two of the prison officers in charge of transferring him to Walton.

I have no idea what they're going to do but Lucas was adamant that no one knew. I figured that Dimitri would stop him, but you know as well as I do there is no stopping Lucas North when he has vengeance in his mind."

Tariq was right.... Lucas was a law unto himself at times. Especially where Elena and now Bonnie were concerned. I knew he would lay down his life for the people he loved.

"When did they go and how did they get there?"

Glancing at his watch Tariq went white....

"Must have been about seven? They flew commercial to Manchester and then were intercepting the van that was scheduled to get Dimitrov I should have heard from them about an ago but there's been no communication from them at all.

I've been trying all numbers as well as monitoring the speed cameras etcetera on the route they had to travel - it's logged with the prisons apparently so no diversions can take place. They've disappeared."

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Things weren't helped as I saw Harry and Ruth making their way across the grid and towards the room we were in.

"We have a problem. It's headed our way right now Tariq. You'd better have paid up your health plan because you're going to need it when you tell Harry what's happened.

I for one, hope he rips you limb for limb you naïve fool - you give Lucas the chance to get to Dimitrov and he's going to kill him. You've just given him the chance to commit murder. Cold blooded murder."

He nodded... hearing the truth from me had obviously made him realise how foolish he had been.

Harry stood in the doorway with Ruth a little behind, her face filled with concern. How she knew something was wrong before I did was beyond me - Ruth Evershed was like Yoda or something, all knowing and seeing.

"Anyone want to tell me why I saw Lucas's and Dimitri's cars parked up but security told me they've not come in the building and we've got reports that Alexander Dimitrov has been removed from Strangeways by two prison officers who appear not to work for Her Majesty's prison service?

Anyone? Tariq?"

What was the expression - ah yes, Tariq had been busted.... well and truly. 

"Elena has called me Tariq - she's found something that really doesn't belong in her house. It's a detailed map and list of security protocol for transferring high security prisoners. There was also a spare HMP identification card with Lucas's picture on but with the name 'John Bateman' on it. Now I know that John was a friend of Lucas's who died in Dakar over fifteen years ago - I've seen photos of the two men. They could have been brothers so for him to even begin to think about using that name tells me whatever he is doing, and trust me I have a pretty damn good idea of what it is, is serious."

* * * *

I found myself on helicopter at Heathrow on my way to Manchester to track down Lucas and Dimitri... staring at the map and route on my knee I tried to work out where they would be roughly. Elena was calling again, desperate for news... I diverted the call only to get a text message.

I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. I'M ON MY WAY. E.

Shit.

Harry was going to have my head for this.

I'LL BE AT THE PRISON. SEE YOU THERE. B.

If I was going to go to Hell well at least I'd be there with the team I cared for and the woman I counted as a good and trusted friend.