The Ghost of a Chance

SI10 was in uproar. Cheers and shouts could be heard throughout the entire building. The officers roared with laughter and for once Spikings simply leant against the door frame of his office with his arms crossed and observed the spectacle, an amused grin on his face.

Fry was balanced on one foot halfway down a long line of masking tape that had been stuck to the floor. An empty waste paper basket had been placed over his head and his arms were outstretched as he tried desperately to keep his balance.

"Hey, ya see that boss? You think we should book him for drunk and disorderly?" Dempsey shouted across to Spikings.

"Give him a chance to prove himself Dempsey, he hasn't reached the end of the line yet."

"Come on Fry, get moving!" one of the officers yelled.

Fry's response was indistinguishable and came out as a muffled noise from underneath the waste paper basket. He put a foot forward but wobbled alarmingly and compensated by taking another two quick steps along the line.

"Oi, get back on the line, you're over stepping it Fry!" the officer shouted.

Fry mumbled again and rose on his tiptoes before taking another couple of steps. Hilarity filled the room.

Dempsey leant towards Makepeace who was stood next to him, her arms crossed and her lips pressed together as she tried to hold her laughter in.

"You must be glad to be back now. Look what you've been missin'," he said under his breath.

"I don't recall it ever being quite like this," she grinned.

He leant his arm on her shoulder and looked down at her for a moment, his eyes brightening before returning his attention to fry.

"Rubbish!" Dempsey hollered.

Chas pointed to Dempsey. "Good one! It's the end of the line for you Fry!"

Dempsey acknowledged Chas's pun. "You've lost you're chance now sonny!" Chas added.

"Yeah, it's bin and gone!" the other officer joked.

More hilarity filled the room.

"Fry, get a bloody move on will you? I do have to put some reports through before the end of the day!" Spikings boomed.

At the sudden sound of Spikings's almighty voice reverberating around the room Fry lost all control of his arms and legs and teetered on the brink of total humiliation. The hand that shot out beside him ensured that his final downfall was as spectacular as everyone had hoped. He toppled to the side whilst circling his arms like a demented windmill before crashing into a chair and falling to the floor. He sat, surrounded by the reams of paper that had slid off his desk in the commotion, whilst the entire office exploded into life with cheering and shouting. Taking the bin off his head, he grabbed a sheet of paper, rolled it into a ball and threw it into the crowd. The ball of paper was swiftly hurled back in his direction and there followed a frenzy of scrunching and throwing as paper missiles shot around the office.

"All right, all right, that's enough!" Spikings bellowed. "If I don't see some bottoms on seats sharpish all intoxicating substances are going to be relocated…to my office." Spikings added.

The crowd quickly dispersed as the officers made a beeline for their glasses of celebratory drinks, taking them back to their desks and watching with relief when Spikings disappeared back through his office door.

It was around lunchtime when Spikings had gathered everybody in his office to make an announcement that had startled everybody. He had declared that, although he still expected paperwork done and files on his desk, there was much reason to celebrate that day. Firstly, and most importantly, Sergeant Makepeace was now in good health and had returned to SI10 bringing some style and decorum back into the office. Secondly, although many of the officers saw the following reason as more of an excuse than anything else, Spikings felt it was his duty to inform them that Fry was going to reach his twenty fifth birthday by midnight that day. And last, but definitely not least, he was delighted to say that he had recently been voted president of the London and Provincial Angling Association. All of the above considered, drinks would be provided to mark the occasion.

A couple of hours, and several drinks later, Fry's ability to hold his drink was in question and the masking tape had been produced.

Fry was still sat on the floor when Spikings re-emerged from his office moments after the entertaining display. Spikings had in mind to speak to Dempsey and Makepeace but when he caught sight of a bewildered Fry still sat amongst the array of papers he ran an exasperated hand over his head and addressed Fry instead.

"Fry!" he barked. "If you want to make it to your twenty fifth birthday I strongly suggest that you pick your uncoordinated self up off that floor and tidy this chaos up!"

Fry flapped around for a moment on the sheets of paper like a fish on the shore before finally rising to his feet.

"Dempsey, Makepeace," Spikings made a head gesture towards his office, "a word please." He turned but then swung back before Dempsey and Makepeace had joined him. "Oh and Fry, that report you've taken most of this week to finish, make sure it's on my desk in five minutes."

Fry nodded and then the office door was shut. He breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked down at the floor and sighed at the mess. It was only seconds later when his head shot up, a look of horror on his face.

"The report!" he exclaimed, diving back onto the floor and reaching for the scattered balls of scrunched up paper.

Dempsey took a seat on a chair in front of Spikings's desk and glanced sideways at Makepeace who was sat next to him. He itched to reach out and touch her, to take her hand and pull her onto his lap, to feel the softness of her lips against his; and although he was over the moon that she had returned to work that morning he had the feeling that working with her now was going to be nothing less than torture. Since the night they had spent together in Makepeace's bed Dempsey had been haunted with memories of her body moving under his, her soft sighs, the sound of her voice calling out his name, the feel of her skin as his hand slid over her silk nightdress. He wanted more, he had imagined more a million times but now his imagination had been given a jump start. Now he could almost feel what it would be like to caress her naked body, to have her begging him to go further. He'd wanted women before but he'd never felt anything close to this kind of desire for a woman.

"Lieutenant," Spikings called, "do try to pay attention."

He grinned. He knew he'd been caught out. "Sure boss."

Good god, it's like having a love sick school boy sat in front of me!

"I have a rather," Spikings cleared his throat and looked a little uncomfortable, "sensitive, somewhat unusual task for you two tonight."

Tonight? Hmmm, I could think of a sensitive task for us tonight.

Dempsey's eyes were on Makepeace again.

"Sounds intriguing Sir," Makepeace commented.

"Yes, well it's a challenge of a different sort I have to say. I had a phone call from a fellow angler of mine earlier and he asked me to pull a few strings to help him out with an old friend of his."

"What he had some trout stolen? Been threatened with a fishing line and a net or somethin'?" Dempsey sniggered. Spikings's eyes bore into him. "Sorry boss."

"Hmph, it's not fishing related," he said behind gritted teeth. Spikings picked up a pen from off his desk and ran his fingers up and down it. He seemed reluctant to continue speaking. "It's...well it's a favour for a friend and considering that you've not long been out of hospital," he directed the comment at Makepeace, "you're going to look into it." He spoke as if there was no room for argument although he suspected that the Sergeant would kick up a fuss about this one.

"Look into what sir?" Makepeace asked a little impatiently.

"The err... incidents at Rainington Hall."

"Incidents?" Dempsey inquired.

"Yes. The owner, Lord Maybrook, is a nice chap but he's been having a few problems lately with unwanted err intruders. I want you two to pay him a visit tonight and investigate." Spikings finally finished.

"Tonight sir? Could we not go today?" Makepeace suggested.

"No sergeant, this particular investigation warrants a night visit."

"How come boss?"

Spikings ran a rand over his head before continuing. "The intruders have been entering the house at night. I'll provide you with more information and directions to Rainington Hall before you leave here later this afternoon. And now I'm going to see what that lilly livered excuse of an officer out there has done with that damn report." With that he rose from his seat and made for the door, pausing before he left the room to quickly add, "Oh and you need to know that Lord Maybrook has not been on top of the world lately. In fact his health is in serious question. He has been known to refer to the intruders as...well...visitors from the other side. And I'm not talking from the east end here." With that he was gone.

"What the..." Makepeace was staring after Spikings with a look of disbelief. "He thinks were the bloody Mystery Inc now!" She stood and began pacing the office.

"Scooby dooby dooooo," Dempsey laughed. He rose and stood in front of her blocking her way. "What, you don't like spooks?"

She folded her arms and glared at him. "This isn't a proper case at all. Spikings is obviously mollycoddling me because I've just come out of hospital. It's ridiculous!"

He rested his arms on her shoulders. "Oh I don't know, it could be quite fun." She rolled her eyes. "So, is it good to be back here? You and me again, partners hmm?" he said softly, moving closer to her. Her eyes flicked nervously to the door. He put a hand under her chin and turned her head to him.

"Dempsey," she warned as his mouth moved towards hers. She put up a hand between them and halted him. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"Just one quick kiss," he whispered. "Go on, I dare you."

"You're out of your mind," she whispered back. "This is Spikings's office and he's just outside!"

"All the more exciting eh Harry," he grinned. "You've never imagined stuff in here?"

Her eyes widened. "I don't know what you mean!"

His grin grew. "Sure you do."

And then without warning his lips were pressed to hers, his hand on the back of her head leaving her no room for escape. Moments later he pulled away, turned and made for the door. She watched him go, instinctively lifting a hand to her lips. At the door he turned back to her and winked.