Dread

"Ma!" Dempsey yelled as he walked back into the apartment. "Ma!"

"James." Anita rushed towards him as he and Harry walked into the room. A uniformed officer sat on the couch as she hugged her oldest child. Harry sat next to the officer.

"Officer?"

"Chan."

"Detective Sergeant Makepeace." She pointed to herself as he nodded. "Lieutenant Dempsey." She nodded towards Dempsey who was trying to placate his mother. "What do you know regards Ashley Dempsey's disappearance?"

"She was abducted. That much we are certain of. It seems the victim."

"Ashley. Her name is Ashley." Harry stared at her. "And she's my sister in law, she has a brother and mother who adore her. Keep that in mind. To you this is another case. To her family it's the end of the world."

"Ma'am."

"So?"

"Blood, we believe to be Ashley's was found in the doorway at the rear of the property plus neighbours state they heard a car engine at the time of abduction."

"Ok." Harry frowned. "Her father? He's currently on the run from a murder charge, he's killed a security guard and made an attempt on his son's life."

"Yeah, we are aware of what happened in London." Chan stated firmly. Harry nodded, not satisfied the junior officer was aware of the situation he found himself in. She glanced towards Dempsey who had managed to calm Anita slightly. A phone ringing in the hallway caught their attention. Harry grabbed the receiver before either Dempsey could.

"Yes?" She paused. Listening she narrowed her eyes, knowing Dempsey would never agree to what his father was proposing.

"She's alive? Let me speak with her. I want proof." She glared as Dempsey swore. "Ash? It's Harry." She listened to what was a clearly scared but very angry Ashley. "It'll be ok." She spoke calmly, wincing as she heard the other woman gasp. "Ok, we swap. 9pm tonight. And I promise you, if there's a hair damaged on her head you'll see why I rarely use my title." She ended the call glaring at Dempsey. He frowned.

"What?"

"Ashley is alive."

"Oh thank God." Anita crossed herself. "She's unhurt at present but she'll be home tonight. 9pm approximately."

"What did you just agree to?" Dempsey felt his guts twist in fear. Harry held his gaze. "Harry?

"It's the only way."

"What is?" Anita asked.

"A direct swap. Ashley for me."

"No." Chan and Dempsey spoke at the same time. "No, that's not happening, Princess." Dempsey grabbed her arm, ushering her into the relative privacy of the kitchen.

"Dempsey!"

"You can't do this! He will kill you."

"No he won't." Harry touched Dempsey's face as his eyes flickered closed. "It's the only way of getting Ashley back. It's not her he has a problem with. It's us. The only reason we're here is to give evidence against him."

"Which is why he'll kill you." Dempsey felt his voice break.

"You'll be there. The NYPD will be there. This is our chance to get him. This is our chance to get Ashley home." He rested his forehead against hers, his grip on her waist tightening.

"I love you."

"I know." She smiled as he raised an eyebrow. "I'm quite fond of you too." She kissed him deeply as he held on to her for dear life.

"Harry." He whispered her name as he broke the kiss. "If anything happened to you. If I lost you."

"You won't." She held his face gently. "You won't." She kissed him lightly before stepping back from him. "I need you with me on this."

"Always." Dempsey sighed. "Always."

Xxxxxx

A/N please review