4:9 From this day forth: In sickness

Dempsey and Dave had been undercover for almost a week in Liverpool, following a small firearms supply chain. It linked back to TheBronxinNew Yorkand forward toLondonviaIrelandandLiverpool. Dempsey provided the perfect spoil for the American end and Dave was taking a major undercover role as the Londoner for the first time.

This meant they could demand to meet the Liverpool runners along with the shipment dealers from the US and Ireland to discuss how Dempsey's consignments would reach Dave in London and also allow themselves the luxury of knowing each other without raising suspicion. They had two rooms booked in a hotel with a view of the Mersey and they could watch the arrival of a wide variety of boats into port.

Previously

Spikings ever watchful of his budget had suggested a twin bedded room and Dempsey had protested strongly. "The supplier don't go sleeping with the buyer" he explained to Spikings in a derisive manner, then turning to his partner "No offence Dave, you just ain't my type" a smile flickered across his face by the time he'd finished his sentence.

Dave had shrugged his shoulders, assuming Dempsey wanted a room to bring back any woman he picked up. He felt less confident himself – he hadn't had a regular girlfriend since he joined SI10 and wasn't much good at one night stands, but he hoped he might get the chance to watch the expert at work in the next week or so. Anyway he'd rather have a room to himself as well – just in case!

Dempsey looked back at Spikings "Two rooms is still cheaper than the honeymoon suite"

Spikings nearly pointed out that his budget was constrained as a result of their earlier escapades but he merely capitulated "If this project goes over budget Dempsey you'll be paying for it personally"

Spikings had been surprised that Harry hadn't wanted to go up to Liverpool as well but she had suggested working in London co-ordinating and watching all the connections and moves, looking for the significant links and he hadn't had the time to wonder why, but now he found himself driving home hoping, once again, that everything was alright. Having gotten (he smiled at his use of an American phrase) used to Dempsey and his nonconformist style he had grown to like the success rate that his duo of Dempsey and Makepeace brought him. Back in the spring he had feared it could fall apart because they were failing to acknowledge their obvious growing feelings for each other and now he was equally concerned about what would happen if they fell out! For certain he would never have an opportunity to stop worrying. He had told them what they did in their own time was private but he wanted nothing of it in work time and to their credit since the early weeks had passed they had settled down well to the normality of the previous year: friend and foe, fighting and flirting but always protecting, trusting and depending on each other.

He presumed Dempsey wanting separate rooms had something to do with Makepeace, rather ironically he found himself hoping that it had; horror struck him when he realised his mind on auto pilot had considered the Dempsey of old wanting separate rooms because he could bed a different woman every night. He knew he'd use Dempsey's own magnum 357 to shoot him in the balls if he messed Harry up.

Dave wouldn't have counted himself a best mate of Dempsey but they had shared plenty of after work drinks, sometimes as part of the SI10 crowd, just occasionally they had gone together to a match on a Saturday afternoon. Dempsey was the funny guy with the quick answers, the guy he wanted to be: fast with his words, fast with his gun, fast with his women. He wished he knew how Dempsey knew what to say to get girls eating out of his hand. However he was bitterly disappointed on the first two nights.

After they had spent all Monday setting out the feelers for the Liverpool links Dave had suggested finding a lively local pub but Dempsey had said the hotel bar would do fine. As they sat with a beer each, Dempsey talked about the guys they had met, describing them again – fixing the details in his mind. It was actually a technique he had learnt off of Makepeace, admittedly by experience rather than accepting any theory. She had made him discuss cases so frequently, especially in the first 48 hours of a new case and in time he realised how much it helped; so here he was doing the same with an unwilling Dave. 'Harry would be proud of me' Dempsey thought to himself.

Dave was frustrated, they had spent all day on the case – he wanted a break and he expressed his frustration. Dempsey was not in the least understanding. "We're cops, cops are never off duty"

"Well my brain's had enough for one day" Dave stood

"I thought you wanted to learn undercover?"

"I do"

Dempsey lifted his beer, his silence spoke more than any words could. He missed Harry, he wished she were there.

***

Harry threw herself down onto the bed exhausted. She would run a bath in a moment and unwind she thought but right now she just wanted to collapse in comfort. She pulled a pillow under her head and turned her face onto it. It smelt newly laundered and instantly she regretted that. It meant that there was no point in moving across the bed to sleep with James' aftershave, it had all been washed away, gone, and she lamented his absence.

Suddenly lying on the bed seemed uncomfortable and distressing; she got up and ran a bath. She chose some of her favourite bath oil and added it to the steaming water. Next Harry wandered downstairs and fetched a bottle of wine and a glass but by the time she was back upstairs it didn't appeal so she left it on the bedside.

The hot bath was comforting and relaxed the tension of the day. As she wrapped her robe tight around her waist she reflected that there had been no second robe covering hers, getting in the way and disappointment surged through her again.

Determined to be stronger than that Harry found a novel she had started months ago and took it to bed to read. She noticed the bottle of wine and opened it. 'Be strong girl' she told herself, live life! She sat up in bed, opened her book and sipped the wine.