Chapter 13.
When the meeting at SI-10 had been concluded and the plans finalised, Dempsey, accompanied by Jamie and Andy, drove back to 'The Windsor Hotel' in the Cosworth, Harry following in her white Ford Escort convertible.
Upon arriving, Dempsey handed its keys, along with those of the Peugeot 205GTi, to his two fellow detectives, who returned the cars to the SI-10 underground car park.
While Harry made her way to her room, Dempsey fetched the Mercedes 500SL from its hiding place in a lock up garage and parked in the hotel car park.
Then he, too, went to his room and collected the two bags containing their disguises. There was little else, seeing as he'd arrived with nothing.
As pre-arranged, he met Harry in the lobby and they swiftly exited without becoming waylaid by anyone who may have recognised them from their stay.
Mercifully, the hotel receptionist, who had identified Bobby and Mikey to the police, was on sick leave due to the trauma of that night and her replacement hadn't been recruited from an agency until the following morning.
Since SI-10 were settling the bill via credit transfer, there was no need to involve any of the hotel staff in their departure.
"We'd better get some provisions, angel." said Dempsey, as he walked with her to their cars. "I haven't seen my place for days seein' as I've been shackin' up with you, an' I don't think there's much in the fridge."
"What am I, some sort of floozy?" replied Harry, indignantly and with a hint of tetchiness.." You haven't been shacking up with me, Dempsey. Living with me, yes, but not shacking up with me!
"Shackin' up, livin' with, it's all the same to me, sweetheart."
"Well not to me." she replied. "There is a difference for your information. You shack up with a tart, you live with the one you love."
"An' if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with. " he sang, bouncing on his toes and humming the rest of the Crosby, Stills and Nash hit.
He immediately backed off when he saw her face.
Harry's eyes were hard, filled with a mixture of anger and concern as she returned his gaze.
"Sorry honey." he said, reaching for her hand. "I guess you're worried. I was just tryin' to lighten the load, that's all."
"Well it's not working." she replied, a harsh edge to her voice and avoiding his hand.
He took a step closer and leaned in, gently holding her arms and pulling her to him, looking her in the eye and feeling the tension in her body as she attempted to resist him.
"Angel, angel. It's gonna go okay. Trust me." he said, softly, stepping back a little, but not releasing her. "I ain't gonna let anythin' happen to you. Not to the love of my life."
Her beautiful eyes searched his face and softened.
She reached for his hand, and once finding it, held it tightly as if never wanting to let it go.
"I do trust you, darling. And I know you're trying to cheer me up." she answered, finally. "It's those two beasts I don't trust!"
His soft brown eyes creased into a smile. "Wanna love the one you're with?"
He felt her relax, all the tension subsiding, and leaned in once more, kissing her softly on the mouth. She responded with unmistakeable passion.
They jumped into their cars and accelerated away, Dempsey happy once more to have a big V8 under his right foot.
They stopped off at a large Marks and Spencer outlet where they bought a trolleyful of food, wine, spirits and champagne and then headed for his apartment.
Much later they lay together, legs entwined, Dempsey's arm round her shoulders, his hand stroking her hair, while she ran her fingernails back and forth across his chest.
She'd been quiet for a while.
"What you thinkin'?" he asked.
She rose up on one elbow and looked into his face, her hair falling across her brow.
"Do you think we can still handle this job?" she said.
"Wow! that's role reversal if ever I saw it, honey," he replied, brushing the hair away. "It's been me up 'till now with the worries and doubts."
"Yes, yes I know." she said. " I'm just being silly. Ignore me."
"I'd never do that, angel. Anyway, if Bob Wagner and Steph Powers can do it, we can!"
"That's Hart to Hart!" she replied, not sure whether he was being serious or not. "It's fiction !"
"Yeah I know." he said, shaking with laughter, "but they love each other don't they? an' they're okay fightin' crime!"
She punched him lightly, joining in with the mirth.
"You are a dope!" she giggled. "Do something useful for a change and open some wine or champagne or whatever!"
"We ain't got any 'whatever'" he answered, "and we ain't even unpacked the stuff we bought from M and S, but I guess the red wine will be at room temperature by now."
Bobby and Mikey had successfully navigated their way to the flat in Hackney.
It had one bedroom, a bathroom, kitchen and a living room with a dining area at one end and three piece suite at the other. A television sat in the far corner and a small coffee table stood in front of the sofa.
"You can have the sofa." ordered Bobby.
"Yeah okay." replied Mikey, sizing it up and knowing his feet would be hanging off the end. "whatta we gonna do now?"
"Apart from wanting kill them sonofabitch pigs, I'd like to put a bullet through that fink Gino's skull! No-one rats on me!"
"Yeah" agreed Mikey, "We got a score to settle with that squealer. But we can't get to him, Bobby, so what now?"
"We're gonna cruise over to that hotel an' see if anythin's goin down." he said. "I'm gonna get a drink or two in the bar and see if those two cops show up. No-one's gonna recognise me like this."
"Yeah an' what do I do, Bobby?" asked Mikey.
"You stay in the car." he replied, "if I need ya, I'll come getchya."
"D'ya really think they'll still be there?"
"I dunno. Mebbee." stated Bobby. "They might think we won't show up again. Well, we might just surprise 'em 'eh?"
Having dropped into a McDonalds 'Drive-Thru' for a burger, fries and a Coke each, they motored over to 'The Windsor', where Mikey, as instructed, stayed in the car.
Bobby made his way to the hotel bar, ordered a beer, sat down at an empty table and watched and waited.
Mikey spent his time constantly ducking out of sight the second anything or anyone came anywhere near the car.
After two hours had passed, Bobby's impatience got the better of him and he walked to the lift, punching button 4 when he stepped inside.
Alighting on the fourth floor he walked along the corridor to room 414 and paused, listening at the door for any noise that may indicate someone was in there.
Sure enough he heard voices and they were getting louder.
Conscious that someone was going to show themselves he stepped back and pretended to be about to enter the room opposite.
As the door to 414 opened, he reached behind him, intent on drawing his gun and spun round.
A elderly lady was looking at him.
"Good evening." she greeted, smiling sweetly, before walking off to the lift.
Bobby remained silent and watched as she disappeared into the elevator, then found the stairs, returned to the bar and ordered another bottle of beer.
After another hour had passed by he'd had enough and joined Mikey.
"So?" he asked. "see anyone?"
"No you dumb cluck." replied Bobby. "Otherwise I'd have come gotchya, wouldn't I? They ain't here, anyway. Some old crow is in the broads room. It was a long shot but unless I'd checked it out, we would never had known."
"What now Bobby?"
"We'll take a look at the place that blond bimbo owns." he said, taking a scrap of paper from his pocket with the address scribbled on it.
They shot out of the car park and worked their way through early evening traffic, eventually arriving on the road where Harry's house was located.
"Getchya head down." Bobby instructed Mikey.
"Why Bobby?"
"'Cos there could be cops stakin' the place out, that's why, you blockhead."
"Oh yeah."
Carefull not to cruise by too slowly he noticed it looked empty.
"See anythin.'" asked Mikey.
"Nah. She drives a little white breezer, don't she." he said. "That ain't parked there. In fact nothin's parked there. House looked locked up and quiet."
"How'd you know she'd still be drivin' round in it though, Bobby?"
"I don't." he replied. "We just gotta hope she still is. Ok, get the a to zee out. We'll give Dempsey's cave the once over."
They finally found the address and, as before, with Mikey ducked down, cruised along the relatively busy road.
Suddenly Bobby let out a whoop
"Bingo!" he yelled.
"What Bobby, what?" shouted Mikey, about to leap up, untill Bobby smacked his head.
"Stay down!" he snarled and drove further until he saw a side road off to the left.
He parked and banged the steering wheel.
"Both cars Mikey!" he said excitedly. "Both friggin cars. They're in there right now!"