*****

"What's your problem?", Dempsey snapped.

"We're not doing it", Harry said firmly.

When they had come into the office, Chas had told them they were going to do the undercover as a married couple. To Dempsey's astonishment, Harry had looked angry and demanded to have a word with him in private so they had come into one of the rooms.

"Why?", he asked.

"Dempsey, they want us to do an undercover as a married couple!", she sounded outraged.

"So what? We've done that before"

"Exactly – BEFORE"

"I don't get it", he felt confused.

"We did it before we … before …"

"Before what?", he tried to hide a smile.

"You know…"

"No, I don't know"

"Before we … ", she hesitated.

"Come on, Harry, say it. There's nothing to be ashamed of", he insisted with a smile. "Before we did what?"

"Slept together", she finished quickly, feeling she was blushing. "Satisfied?"

"Oh, yes! Each time!", he grinned and Harry poked him.

"You're so childish, Dempsey"

"Am I?", he smiled and pulled her closer.

"I'm telling you Dempsey, I'm not doing it", she said, trying to free herself from his embrace.

"You're not sleeping with me again?"

"Yes! I mean …. No! Oh for Christ's sake, Dempsey. You know what I mean"

"I must admit I'm a little bit confused", he said, having as much fun as ever.

"You want me to spell it out for you? Fine. I'm not doing the undercover with you as my husband", she said and broke away from his embrace.

"Why didn't you say so in the first place", he said. "I thought you'd rather do it with me than watch me do it with someone else. But since you insist then it's fine with me"

"What?!", Harry frowned.

"You heard me", he said, suppressing a smile.

"You're disgusting"

"I'm disgusting?"

"Yes!", she said and made her way for the door.

"Come on Harry", he tried to stop her. "We have to decide something here"

"I've already said what I think", she replied.

"Are you sure? The murder squad are probably bringing their undercover cop and they'll insist he's on the team so you'd better think about it"

"There's nothing to think about", she replied.

"Fine", he snapped. He was angry with her. He wanted to do this undercover. It could be fun pretending to be husband and wife, but she as usual had to ruin this. What was she afraid of?

Harry had made an urgent phone call before she could join them in Spikings' office. When she came in, she caught a glimpse of Dempsey talking to some woman. There was also a man in the office who was busy talking to Spikings and Harry assumed he was the Chief Superintendent Mallory from the murder squad so the woman must have been the undercover cop. She glanced at Dempsey and felt a twinge seeing him talking to the woman with this grin on his face she knew so well.

"Harry, meet Chief Superintendent Mallory from the murder squad and this is sergeant Donahue", Spikings introduced them to her. "And this is sergeant Makepeace"

Harry nodded her head and then looked at Spikings.

"So when do we start?", Harry asked.

"Start what?", Spikings asked and everyone looked at her.

"The undercover", Harry explained.

"We?", Spikings seemed baffled.

"Yes – me and Dempsey"

"But he just said you weren't going to do it"

"Did he?", Harry asked innocently.

"Well, yeah. That's what you said", Dempsey sounded puzzled.

"I had my objections but we discussed it and I think it wouldn't be wise to involve someone else. I mean we're partners and we work together, we understand each other better than anyone else so it's safer that way"

Dempsey stared at her in bewilderment.

"Are you sure about this?", Spikings asked. "because if you aren't you'd better tell me now as it's a very important case"

"I'm one hundred per cent sure, sir" , she said firmly, avoiding Dempsey's eyes. She realised she wasn't very professional and he had every right to be angry with her, but she just couldn't help it. She couldn't let him work with this woman. She couldn't stand the thought.

"So could you brief in my people, please?", Spikings turned to the man.

"There's been a murder at the Carlton Hotel. The owner, Bruce McLiam was found dead in his room last night", the man said.

"Why's this guy so important that you need our help?", Dempsey enquired.

"He used to work for MI5. After he'd retired, he took over a family business from his uncle and ran a hotel. As you can probably guess because of his past occupation he had lots of friends in high places and a lot of them stayed at his hotel. We need to find out if any of them could be in danger"

"Why do you need us for?", Dempsey asked.

"We need someone inside"

"Why us?"

"You're American", the man said. "And I hear you're good"

"I am American, so?"

"Bruce McLiam had a daughter. When she was 19 she fell in love with an American who her father didn't approve of so apparently she fled to the USA to marry the guy. She's the only member of the family that hasn't been seen for almost 14 years and no-one has seen the American either so we thought it's a good chance to send someone as Mr and Mrs Clarkto investigate the case"

"So you need an American?", Dempsey smiled.

"Yes"

"So you've got one", Dempsey said.

They then talked about the cover and established what they know about McLiam, his friends, family especially daughter. It took them most of the afternoon so when they could finally go home and pack a few things, it was late in the evening.

"Are you going to say something?", Harry asked as they were in his car. They had been driving for over 10 minutes and he didn't say a word.

"What?", he asked.

"You're angry. I can see it"

He opened his mouth but closed it, too angry to speak.