Spikings words were to stall Kieran and Derrick whilst Terror squad mobilised; as Harry hung up she doubted the feasibility. Dempsey's words had been an expression of disbelief; he doubted that either of the men would be around much longer.

Sure enough during lunch Derrick made a phonecall, on his return he announced how disappointed he was that the office had called him back on a priority problem; in reality Ken was the only disappointed one, he was beginning to think he was making progress with the blond.

As all three stood to take their leave Makepeace resigned herself to Derrick disappearing, what surprised her was the ease that Dempsey took the news with. She leaned across the table but as she opened her mouth to speak Dempsey popped one of his chips into it forcing her to bite it in half and at least eat the portion in her mouth by which time her question was answered.

Derrick was back in the bar asking whom he could call out to sort out his tyres. Ken plonked himself back down next to Makepeace "I think he must have driven over some glass" he explained

"A flat tyre?" asked Harry

"Two" Ken admitted

"Now one flat's unfortunate" Dempsey surmised "but two – now that's careless"

Harry glared at him but he just winked back at her before he addressed Kieran who had turned sharply as he heard Dempsey's goad.

"So what dangerous activity have you got lined up for this afternoon Instructor?" Dempsey taunted

"Well I rather thought you should finish off with something up at the centre" Kieran began "I've rung up ahead and asked them to set out the archery range"

"Aren't you going to be teaching us?" Dempsey demanded "I thought you were in charge"

"That doesn't mean I can't ask some of my excellent trained staff to run the afternoon" Kieran smarmed

"So you can elsewhere" Dempsey challenged

"What do you mean by that?" Kieran stood in response

"What are you going to be doing Kieran -whilst we're out there firing bows and arrows?" Dempsey demanded

"Arrows" Kieran corrected "You using bows to shoot arrows"

"I've seen it done" Dempsey mocked

"Well now you can have a go" Kieran seared back

"Only I was wondering if you were going caving again" Dempsey menaced

"Why would I want to do that?"

"I don't know – you tell me"

The stand off had begun again and once again it was Harrison who broke it without design.

"Kieran chuck us your keys and I'll take these guys back up to the centre" he suggested as he pulled his jacket on and nodded to the three remaining lads, John, Bob, Dempsey and Makepeace"

Kieran tossed a set of keys to Harrison suggesting that he himself would hang around and 'make sure Derrick got away ok.'

Harrison looked at the keys that landed in his palm; he held them up "aren't these the spares?"

Kieran glared at him "Yeh, I seem to mislaid the others, I'm sure they'll turn up soon"

Dempsey grinned and as he rose out of his seat took Kieran's keys out of his own pocket "Maybe these are yours?" he queried "only I found them lying around at the guest house last night" he dared Kieran to take them "I meant to hand them in, but what with the rush to get to the caves I clean forgot"

Ken was more bound up with Harry than understanding the events unfolding in front of him "Maybe Alan and I could go up to the centre and try some archery whilst Derrick waits for the car to be sorted" he ventured

Kieran looked at Ken, sitting next to Harry again "Don't think you'll get anywhere with her" he scorned

Ken touched Harry's knee and she jerked back, Kieran noticed and whispered in Ken's ear loudly enough for others to hear "Frigid mate, she's bloody frigid"

Dempsey coughed and Kieran turned "either that or she's screwing him and they're telling us a pack of lies"

"It ain't nice to talk about ladies like that" Dempsey pointed out as he pushed Kieran back against the wall

"So why don't you tell us who you really are" Kieran challenged "cos she ain't your sister"

"My mother" Dempsey grabbed Kieran's sweater and pulled it tight around the neck

"It's no good getting all frustrated with me mate, just because she hasn't fucked you"

Dempsey pushed Kieran up the wall a little, lifting him off his feet "I told you to be quiet"

"Excuse me – I am here" Harry stood "and I am quite capable of defending myself if required" she walked towards them and stood to the side so both could feel her presence "Now I'm sure your egos are big enough but I'm really not interested" and turning back to Ken she smiled sweetly "I think you and Alan had better see if Derrick is actually still out there"

"He's got two flats" Dempsey chided, miffed at Makepeace's intervention

"And he's got two feet" Makepeace glowered back sarcastically

Finally Dempsey put Kieran down and flew outside ahead of Makepeace. A car was driving off up the road and they could make out the profile of Derrick in the back of the car. One of the bar staff passed Alan some keys along with a message from Derrick about waiting for the garage and that 'he'll catch up with him some time'

"Where's he gone?" asked Alan

"Said he needed to get away" the witless lad conveyed the message

"I bet" Dempsey added and then asking the brainless lad "Whose car is that?"

"Oh that's Madawg, he's like the taxi driver"

"Where they going?" Dempsey demanded

"I dunno" Gavin shrugged

"Well if you needed to get back to London for an important meeting where would you go?" Makepeace probed more helpfully

"Probably up to Rhyl to get the train" Gavin suggested after an interminable pause

"Waste of time I'd go straight to Wrexham" Dafydd contributed seeing this as the most exciting bit of life in Bala for weeks

Dempsey returned to the bar asking for the local cop shop; he introduced himself as Lieutenant Dempsey from the London police and he was requesting an APB on Derrick and Madwags taxi"

"It's Madawg" Dafydd explained but Dempsey couldn't care; at least the constable was called Jones.

"Now listen here Constable Jones" he instructed as if Jones was deaf and across the room "I need people at every station they might go to – that included Real and Wrexham and any other station…"

"It's Rhyl, not real" Dafydd interrupted

"I don't care if it's make believe or bono fide" Dempsey was shouting down the phone "just so long as they don't let the scumbag get away. Oh and the registration number was GKL 642 T"

Makepeace followed Dempsey back in, she could hear him across the pub and unfortunately so could their illustrious leader who stopped giving Harrison further instructions and froze; he caught the Sergeants eye and the realisation hit him.

"Oh NO" Harry winced as she started to run towards the exit that Kieran was nearly out of.

Dempsey ran up behind Makepeace, they both looked out into the wild terrain that had enveloped Kieran and hid him from sight. Without saying a word Dempsey turned and walked off

"It wasn't my fault" Makepeace defended

"Did I say it was?"

"In as many words"

"I ain't said nothing yet"

"Your silence can shout as loudly as you Lieutenant" Harry accused him "And if you didn't shout quite so loudly then maybe, just maybe Kieran wouldn't have taken off"

"Yeh well don't think you could have enticed him to stay, seems you had become be person non grata"

"Is this about an IRA terror threat or your wounded ego?"

"The IRA, is there anything else?"

"Do you two want a lift?" Harrison shouted across the yard as he prepared to drive the minibus away

"Do you mind dropping us back at the guest house?" Makepeace asked hopefully

"No problem" Harrison seemed to be the most obliging, innocent person out.

As the minibus slowed outside the guest house no words were spoken; as Dempsey and Makepeace alighted they both turned to the quad bikes sitting in the pen.