Finally they changed the chips and went back to the bar to order more drinks. She turned to him. "Champagne?"

"You need to ask?" She ordered a bottle of champagne and poured two glasses. "What are we drinking to?" He took the glass and stroked her fingers. "Good times… and many more evenings like this one eh Harry."

"I'll drink to that." She said, clinking glasses with him. She swivelled on her stool to lean back against the bar and look out into the room. "So do you think anybody is going to win big money tonight?"

"Sure, some will loose big money too." She looked across at him then suddenly with an animated face. "What would you do if you won big, big money?"

"What, big, big, money?" He said teasing her, she laughed. "Yep, millions." He smiled. "Hmm, well I'd take you away on my private jet."

"Private jet." She looked impressed. "Where would you take me then?"

"Some Caribbean island." And make love to you, he thought, caressing her with his eyes. She turned around on the stool to reach her glass of champagne on the bar. As she leant forward his eyes moved down her back and noticing his gaze gave her a warm feeling inside. Their eyes met. She sat paused, suddenly unable to think of anything to say. The seconds passed and his eyes were still searching hers. She swallowed, feeling the intensity of the moment but unable to break eye contact with him. Suddenly she found it hard to breathe. Look away, say something. He eventually broke the silence but kept his eyes on her face. "When I found you outside my apartment, you were about to leave, why?" The question threw her; she couldn't clear her clouded mind to think. "Er…I…thought you might have someone there." She came out with the first thing that sprung to mind. He pushed her. "You needed your key, so why leave?" She frowned, looking down. "I don't know Dempsey." He sensed her change in mood and, not wanting to push her further, he said matter of factly. "Well I'm glad I caught you anyway."

They finished the bottle of champagne and on impulse; Dempsey ordered another bottle, suggesting they move to the more comfortable seats in the hotel lounge. Making their way through a connecting door, they strolled across the hotel lobby to a lounge area at the other side. They sat drinking the champagne, laughing and chatting about the evening's events until the bottle of wine was finished. Makepeace looked at her watch then and, although she really didn't want the evening to end, she felt obliged to suggest leaving. They stood up to leave and Makepeace went to walk towards the lobby but Dempsey halted her. "Here, we can get out this way to avoid the crowds."

He led her through another door and into a corridor with an exit at the far end. The corridor was lined with hotel suites and Dempsey grinned as a thought crossed his mind, then he shook his head dismissing it. Before they reached the end of the corridor they passed a room with the door left open and Dempsey glanced inside. Suddenly he pulled Makepeace back away from the door as a frown crossed his face. "What the…"

"Shh, stay here." He moved to the edge of the doorframe and looked into the room. There was a man inside standing by the dressing table, the room was in darkness and the man glanced around nervously. When Dempsey saw what was in his hand he entered the room, turning the light on. The man looked startled and ran at Dempsey who grabbed the object in his hands before he bolted out of the door and down towards the exit.

Makepeace appeared at the doorway and Dempsey brushed her aside, rushing back into the corridor. There was a loud noise as the door of the room slammed shut with his sudden movement. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"What on earth is going on Dempsey?" Then she noticed the object in his hand, it was a diamond necklace with a large sapphire in the centre. "The guy was after this." He held up the necklace. "Right, well now you've got the necklace and we can't get back in!" He looked at the closed door with a frown. "Dempsey, we've got to put it back!" Suddenly voices could be heard coming from the lobby exit and Dempsey looked up abruptly. "Here, do something with this," he said, handing her the necklace. She gave him an incredulous look. "What pray tell would you like me to do? Slip it under the door with a note."

As the people approached them Makepeace hid the necklace behind her bag and Dempsey pressed her to the wall, his hands on her waist. "So do I get lucky tonight sweetheart?" The people glanced at them as they passed but they soon reached the exit and disappeared outside. She shoved him away. "Do you mind?" Flinging the necklace back at him, she said, "And you can take this back, I feel like a bloody thief!"

"Hey, what you getting' so worked up about? We'll just take it to the front desk and explain."

"Hmm, that's if the owners don't find us with it beforehand and brand us thieves."

"Calm down Sergeant, we're cops, remember."

"We're not above the law you know Lieutenant." She said with her hands on her hips.

He growled and started to walk back towards the lobby but stopped after a few moments, feeling conspicuous holding the necklace. "Here, put it in your bag." He said holding it up between them, she glared back at him. "Hey, you!" They both jumped guiltily and looked up to see a man approaching with his eyes on the necklace in Dempsey's hand. "Police, hand it over." He showed them his badge and held out his hand for the necklace. "Fantastic!" Makepeace said, rolling her eyes. Dempsey gave him the necklace. "Look, were cops too, just caught a guy stealin' it in the room down there."

"You're cops are you?" He looked at them with doubt. "Sure, show them your badge Sergeant." Her eyes flew to his. "Why don't you show him yours Lieutenant?" He ran a hand through his hair. "You aint gonna tell me Sergeant that you don't have your badge on you."

"No, where's your badge?" She said under gritted teeth. They turned to the officer to see him staring at them with his arms crossed. "Look, we're SI10, call in and check it out, Sergeant Makepeace and Lieutenant Dempsey." She said looking to the ceiling in annoyance. At that point two more men joined the officer and Dempsey's eyes widened when he took a closer look at the second man. "Hey, that's him, that's the guy who was stealin' the necklace!"

"No Lieutenant…" the officer said with sarcasm, "…that's one of my men."