"What do you mean 'you know we're not married'?" Makepeace snapped "- we're not even living together"

"No but we are sleeping together" pointed out Dempsey unsure if the argument had gone off track

"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Harry impatiently

"Well it obviously means nothing to you" Dempsey retorted

"As if that's got anything to do with it"

"I don't see your problem"

"My problem?!" Makepeace was incredulous

The SI10 duo were in the middle of the main corridor of the Metropolitan Police Department – Broadway. A few people had put their heads out into the corridor but none had braved walking down it.

"Well I don't have one - you're the one ranting and raving" Dempsey dared to suggest

"So you shouting across the room 'that she ain't doing it' constitutes what may I ask" Harry enquired sardonically

"Just that I ain't letting you do this job Sergeant" Dempsey raised his brow knowingly

"You can't stop me Lieutenant" Makepeace put a heavy emphasis on the 'you'

"Harry…" Dempsey dropped his voice but it didn't have the desired effect

"Don't you try that. You have no right to say what work I can or won't do - that's my decision Dempsey and mine alone. You cannot come barging in on a meeting that I'm having with vice squad, humiliating me and SI10."

"I think you'll find I just did"

"If you think being flippant is clever then you've a lot to discover - for god's sake grow up Dempsey"

"You ain't going on the street" he doggedly repeated

"The vice squad will be watching" she reiterated

"You have to take business to keep your cover"

"I'll take undercover business"

"What if other business comes?"

"I'll deal with it"

"I ain't happy; surveillance can't protect you from……"

"From what Dempsey? You're not waiting inside a wardrobe all night watching out for me, I'm a big girl now, I can do that myself!"

"Oh you think so?"

"I don't think Dempsey…" she saw him about to pounce back in and continued forcibly "I know so" and whilst Dempsey was stumped she continued "I don't need you mollycoddling me"

"I never said anything of the sort – you're jumping ahead of yourself"

"I mean I can work on my own"

"Fine" Dempsey threw down the pencil he'd been running through his fingers and slammed the entrance door behind him. Makepeace was furious and turning sharply marched back down the corridor. When she reached the door of the office she paused and took a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure; as she opened the door she put on a fake smile that fooled no one and apologised for the interruption.

"We were told SI10 were fully behind your deployment"

"They are sir"

"The display just now..."

"Won't happen again" Sergeant Makepeace could feel the blush rising across her neck and cheeks, she was livid with Dempsey.

Sgt Makepeace sat down and listened to the Inspector describe the plan of operation.

At the end most of the other team members slipped out and Harry knew it was because they didn't know what to say to her.

Kate approached her though and invited her for a drink. Harry accepted gratefully. She and Kate were to be the two hookers new to the ground. The aim was to try and make contact with other new girls looking for a pimp, hoping to meet up with a string of girls being brought over from Eastern Europe under false pretences.

Dempsey spun his wheels and drove off. He was mad – weren't they supposed to be partners? Harry had been busy the past two days; too busy to see him after work last night and now his mind was running overtime with suspicion. As it did so he felt a death needling its way into his mind injecting poison into any thoughts he harboured. Hurt and betrayal began to multiply like organisms breeding in his brain; he wasn't wanted or needed, he didn't know which felt worse. Sharp pains shooting from his chest started to escalate and as he drove past the Bramcote Arms he braked sharply.

Harry turned to Kate as they approached the bar in The Feathers "What's it to be?" she asked

"A G&T thanks"

"Gin and Tonic and a Vodka and Orange" Makepeace ordered then added "Oh and make them doubles"

"Gosh I'm not sure we should be drinking too much whilst we're working" Kate whispered with some concern

"Well for one we're not working yet" Harry pointed out "and secondly I'm afraid that earlier episode has left me in need of a stiff drink" then in an effort to lighten the situation slightly she added with a wink "and it's not good to drink alone"

Kate took her cue from her elder officer and raised her glass "To a successful night" she toasted. The glasses clinked.

Dempsey looked around the pub – usually there was someone from SI10 in there to drink with. He wondered where they all were and if this was a conspiracy to keep him out of everything. The barmaid asked if he wanted a pint or a double. "Both" Dempsey opted and put a tenner on the bar. "I'll need another one soon"

"What an arsehole" Kate said as her and Harry found some seats

"Who?" asked Harry confused

"Your SI10 guy who came barging in – who does he think he is and what bloody century does he live in?"

Makepeace coughed as if to convey her embarrassment with the topic of conversation but Kate was in full throttle and not about to stop soon.

"Women cops can do just a good a job as men; in fact I think we're better. I wouldn't put up with some prick telling me what work I should be doing….. I'm surprised you work with him at all or do you not get any say in the matter…"

Makepeace coughed again but as previously it went unheeded "…no wonder you wanted to work with vice for a while – bit of a breather hey? Guess you can get smothered by someone"

"Well I guess you can" Harry conceded and was just about to add 'but…' when Kate diverted the conversation quite randomly onto clothes and what she was going to wear for 'work'.

"You have got suitable clothes?" she suddenly asked Makepeace noting her ruffled collar that was high around her neck and the long sleeves of the said blouse.

"Oh yes" Harry reassured her picturing the yellow zipped top that clung to her body form and the short skirt that Dempsey had only made reference to the other week. She'd not had cause to wear it since that time she had visited him in deep cover when he was befriending Myra but to her surprise Dempsey had not forgotten the occasion.

Kate made arrangements to meet Makepeace later undercover and Harry ordered another vodka before she too made her way home to prepare. She couldn't be bothered to think about Dempsey and his irritating behaviour she focused on all she could recall from the briefing and tried to pre plan the route through various scenarios that she could imagine happening.

Dempsey pleaded with Rose the barmaid to serve him yet another drink swearing blindly that he hadn't had too much. He could still feel the pain so he needed more drink – his logic was really quite straight forward.