Suddenly there he was, a good looking guy standing at her door, hopeful and with a bottle of wine. She fetched two wine glasses and found herself smiling when he said don't go kissing him; as if she would.
She looked straight at him and he was glad he'd straightened his tie; then he wondered why he though that this was his work partner. Her fingers touched his as she took the wine from him and he found himself liking that.
They had drunk three quarters of the bottle of wine before Dempsey suggested food, but Makepeace said she was feeling tired with her cold coming on as well and that she'd like an early night.
"We can just get a take away" he'd suggested "You know, feed a cold"
"And starve a fever" she had finished.
"Have you got a fever Makepeace? I'll bathe you down, you know wipe your brow, sponge your body…"
Harry noted the leer "Just a cold so don't go getting yourself all excited Lieutenant"
"You disappoint me Sergeant" he tried to look pitiful but it didn't work so he just clicked back into normal mode "You want a takeaway or not?"
"Oh go on then" Harry gave in and as she did so suddenly realised how long it was since she'd last eaten. She opened a draw and pulling out three or four menus passed them to Dempsey. He flicked through them "Chinese?" She nodded her assent "Anything in particular?" this time she shook her head "surprise me" she invited him suddenly and then aware of the flutter her lashes had just made, dropped her gaze right away and sipped her wine. Dempsey noticed it all "Don't open the door to strange men" he winked at her as he left.
Half an hour later he was back, with a white carrier bag packed up with little silver foil trays, their cardboard lids with Chinese markings on them and a second bottle of wine.
Harry took the warmed plates from the oven and they sat at the breakfast bar.
"I got us a whole mixture" Dempsey pulled off the lids as he spoke "Sweet and sour" he looked at her she grinned "'like me' you want to say don't you lieutenant"
he feigned incomprehension for a moment then glancing along the unopened trays picked one out to open "Szechuen King Prawn Sergeant" he looked straight into her eyes and paused; she waited knowing what would follow would be very deliberate and provocative but unsure what exactly the words would be "Hot and Spicy" he held her gaze. She flicked her eyes down for a fraction of a second, hoping his would still be there when she looked back up, they were watching, waiting for the response.
The little finger of her right hand dipped into the tray of prawns and Harry, eyes still locked, licked the sauce off of her finger herself "Well that's something you're unlikely to found out Lieutenant"
The moment passed. He opened the wine and refilled their glasses then taking several trays, forked a generous amount onto his plate. Harry followed suite, but with a rather more restrained amount.
As they ate they chatted aimlessly but happily, both realising this was the most relaxed evening either had had for some time. For Dempsey he usually had the aim of ensuring the woman he was with would be with him in the morning. Such conversations and evenings were easy for him in one sense but never the less they were evenings where his effort was always demanded. For Harry she was either having to network guests invited to her fathers table or be part of a group of friends in a communal conversation, nothing wrong with that, but she'd not sat and relaxed with a boyfriend like this for months… bloody hell she checked herself, a friend like this for months.
With their hunger satisfied conversation drifted back towards work. Dempsey had got the suspect to talk on the basis of duel interest; Harry expressed approval "Is that a compliment?"
"Not yet" well not to be voiced yet she thought.
Harry suggested the wheelman; Dempsey thought it a good brain wave
"Is that a compliment" she deliberately asked
"Not yet" well not to be admitted to yet he thought
With the second bottle of wine empty, Dempsey stirred himself off the sofa.
He and Harry had been sitting watching the ten o'clock news to see the coverage of the lunchtime events. Harry used to be quite aware of Dempsey when his closeness seemed 'accidental on purpose' but now she just accepted his presence in her space without thought or discomfort. Harry yawned.
"You going to be ok" he double checked
"Sure" she replied, any problems I'll phone in.
Dempsey rose and made to leave; he paused in the door way "This guy who owns this place…."
"He's safe" Harry wasn't quite sure what she meant by that, neither was Dempsey and he found himself hoping that Tom wasn't coming back to check on Harry. Was he safe in that he wouldn't hurt her? Wouldn't get involved with her again? Or just didn't have criminal associations – what was that in the pit of his stomach? Jealousy? Just walk he told himself.
Harry was just grateful to climb into bed, all be it one she'd never slept in before.
Next day she crept back home to pick up some clothes and having taken them back to the flat went to find Morocco Jack.