Hidden Agenda (Work In Progress)

Hi Everyone,

Finally, here is chapter four of Hidden Agenda.  Hope you like it. :)

Sara


Chapter Four

London, July, 1996


There were two male police officers assisting the fire fighters and paramedics who pulled them out of the rubble. They started asking uncomfortable questions about Ariadne's bullet wound. Alessandro was ready to come out with some farfetched cock and bull story or failing that, making a run for it when the pretty lady decided to save his bacon. He remembered raising his eyebrows at her as she panted out her story with such fervour and animation that anyone should have believed her.

'I don't know where they came from. There were two of them. One started shooting. I got shot. I thought that was it. If this man hadn't come along and helped me take cover I would have been dead. He saved my life.'

Alessandro's eyes widened with surprise as he stepped into the ambulance after they'd handed her in lying on a gurney. He sat down across from her with the officer eyeing her quizzically. But she would not meet his eyes. Why the hell was she helping him yet again?

'I owe him my life.'

Alessandro wanted to laugh for one mad moment. Don't overdo it, honey. I owe you mine.

Yet the police officer wouldn't stop asking bloody questions and he and the male paramedic attending her were becoming angry at the man's persistence as they drove off at speed.

'I don't know who they were or why they were shooting at me? Don't you think I would tell you if I knew?' she told him wearily obviously beginning to feel the effects of the morphine she'd been given for her pain. 'Maybe they were involved in the bombing . . .' she trailed off, her eyes closing momentarily with drowsiness.

'That is what I am trying to ascertain, Miss Philips,' the officer said with barely disguised impatience.

'Why don't you give her a break? She's injured. She's told you everything she can,' Alessandro urged, wary of the officers constant questioning.

The officer narrowed his eyes at Alessandro.

'Look sir, London hasn't been bombed this much since the bloody Blitz and if there are two gunmen running about the debris then we need to know.'

Alessandro gestured with his hand towards Ariadne.

'But she's told you all she can. I saw them shooting at her. Like she says we took cover in that doorway and the building caved in around us, pushing one of the parked cars at us. We thought we were going to die.'

The officer shook his head as they both watched the paramedic cover Ariadne's mouth with an oxygen mask.

'I need more information from you both.'

'But there is no more to give!' Alessandro feigned exasperation and annoyance.

'Enough constable,' the paramedic ordered replacing his plastic gloves to have a look at Alessandro's cut. 'Miss Philips has been shot, and she has concussion. She needs to rest and I need to take a look at this gentleman's head now I've got her stable. You can talk to them again after they have received treatment in the hospital and not before.'

Silence and no more questions. Alessandro felt relieved. He glanced over at Ariadne and found her watching him with her sleepy eyes. She suddenly looked afraid. He gave her a gentle smile of reassurance and thanks. He noticed her finger was tapping with agitation on top of her stomach. His father did that. He always finger tapped when he was angry and trying to keep it under wraps or anxious. He wondered which emotion Ariadne was feeling. Probably both. Something made him reach out and stretch his arm across the small enclosed space in which they travelled to catch hold of her finger tapping hand. She didn't object as he gave it a gentle squeeze and held on to it tight.

The first explosion in which Alessandro and Ariadne had been caught up in hadn't been far from the river and it was to University College hospital they travelled. The whole place was in chaos but Alessandro found that he and Ariadne were dealt with promptly. At least two of the doctors appeared to know Ariadne and were alarmed when she was brought in. Alessandro wondered if this was the hospital in which she worked as a doctor.

They were parted before he could find out and after he was treated it took some initiative to lose the persistent policeman and find out where they had taken her. He found himself worried about the small beautiful woman who had protected him. He needed to keep her in sight. Despite his warnings to Gregorio, his grandfather would not hesitate to kill her. Not to mention Alessandro wanted that damned package and he wouldn't be happy until he had taken it from her.

He eventually found her in a private room. He was about to go in when a tall woman who bore a striking resemblance to Ariadne and a fair headed man with short hair stepped outside of her hospital room. He bore all characteristics of a plain clothes CID police officer. Alessandro slipped back behind the corner and discreetly watched them and listened in on their conversation.

'You have to talk to her Jane. We need to know what she saw? I am sure she is hiding something from us? None of it adds up. Why would they just shoot at her indiscriminately. They have to have a reason. Why her? I want to talk to this man she was with,' the fair headed man was saying.

Alessandro watched him scrunch up a paper cup with undisguised irritation and throw it into a nearby bin.

'Don 't be so hard on her. Although, I have to admit it does seem as though she is hiding something. It's not like her. Then after what she has been through tonight . . . When are you going to tell her we are together? I hate all of this sneaking around,' the woman returned in a shaky desperate voice.

The man pulled the woman into his arms and kissed her gently.

'Soon. I promise. Tonight would be cruel after all she has been through.'

'But she's my sister, Richard. I feel so dishonest.'

The man kissed her forehead this time.

'Shh. Just a little while longer.'

The woman nodded reluctantly in his embrace.

Alessandro rested his head against the wall. Shit. Ariadne didn't deserve to be attached to a prick like that or have a sister who deceived her. She was worth more than that after what he'd learned of her tonight. He smoothed his hand over his face wondering if he should tell her what he'd heard if he ever had the opportunity.

'Jane, try and find out what she is hiding? This isn't like her. I will see you later. They need me working on these attacks. No one has claimed responsibility yet but something tells me it isn't the IRA. My money is on that environmental group, Voice of The Earth. I have to go, babe.'

The woman nodded. She wiped tears from her eyes and watched Richard walk away from her down the bare clinical corridor. For a moment, Alessandro thought Jane would re enter the room but she sniffed back her tears and began walking down the other end of the corridor. No doubt for some refreshment or just to clear her head.

Alessandro took his chance and slipped inside Ariadne's room. She was lying peacefully in her bed, a drip in her arm and a heart monitor bleeping gently in the background. He stole by her bed in the dim light eager to be near her at the same time as wondering what the hell she had done with the package. He sat down carefully on the bed beside her. She appeared to be sleeping and he felt a sudden irresistible need to touch her. Very gently he brushed his fingertips against her cheek. She stirred and opened her eyes. She gave him a soft sleepy smile.

'I suppose you've come for the tape,' she whispered. 'I'm sorry but I can't let you have it. I promised Paul you wouldn't get it. After the explosion, the only people he wants to have it are the police.'