Chapter 20

Parking Makepeace's Ford in the car park next morning Dempsey has spotted his Merc which was by the way much cleaner than on the day he had given it to Harry; he grinned in amusement, that was Harry all over. She must have got up early to visit the car wash before coming back to work. Dempsey looked at his watch, it was ten to eight. Shame he hadn't arrived first, he thought suddenly, he could have been waiting for her with a fresh pot of coffee. On the other hand she might have been here since six thirty, the little good policewoman who had inexcusably left one working day!

If she hadn't called him yesterday night he would've been nervous and completely uncertain and full of hesitation and fears. But now he knew well what that call had meant. Evidently Harry had had her time to think the things over during her absence and it seemed she had decided - well at least that was what he was hoping for - to give them a go!

He dreamt about her this night again but this time these dreams were neither upsetting nor bothering. They weren't innocent, either. They were hot, as hot as was Harry in them. In fact when he first woke up at about 5 am he found himself in trouble, so to speak.

Taking two stairs at a time he ran upstairs, smiling to himself. Yeah, it's gonna be a busy day but he'd do something to make it nice as well for both of them. He opened the office door vigorously and then his common and booming "Yo, guys!" exclamation has died on his lips.

The floor and all the desks within sight were covered with sheets of paper that seemed to be the crime records; among the desks Watson and Fry were buzzing in hurry, shuffling the papers from one place to another and wiping them with tissues. Chas sat on one of the desks, self-evidently entertaining himself but Dempsey immediately focused on Harry who was standing right by the door, leaning her back against the wall on a very narrow piece of the floor free of papers, eating apple and observing that weird scene with a deadpan face.

"What the hell's goin' on here?" he asked, amazed, instead of simple mornin' Harry, although today he'd rather like morning, honey anyway. Jesus, she looked great dressed in this blue something with short sleeves revealing the slightly tanned skin. He would give a year of his life just to take her in his arms now and kiss her but it was absolutely out of the question in the office full of guys. Why the hell had they all arrived so early?

"The most used phrase in these premises, isn't it" Harry remarked biting into the apple. She sounded cool and friendly as always and she kept the stony face but her shining eyes warm on him told a different tale, full of simple joy of seeing him again. "The boys were playing with a coffee pot and two mugs and you can see the result. Coffee's everywhere. It's good to lock the papers in a file cabinet at the end of the day, believe me."

"Don't worry Dempsey" Fry rushed to explain "your papers are OK, just a few drops of coffee and I have wiped them off immediately. So no problem…"

"Well just you try and tell me my papers aren't OK" Dempsey growled menacingly and wanted to add something else but Watson interjected: "... and your jacket's fine too, I've checked."

Dempsey slowly turned his head and couldn't suppress the wide grin when he saw his denim jacket hanging off the backrest of his chair. He just realized it had been at Harry's all the time since that memorable evening up until this morning! Struggling with the grin he looked straight in Harry's eyes meeting her blue gaze. They smiled at each other knowingly.

"Go on guys, Spikings is just parking his car!" Dave shouted looking out of the window. "He'll be impressed seeing this mess!"

"Oh God" Fry whispered through white lips. His face turned a kind of pale blue.

Dempsey grinned with merciless satisfaction. "Don't worry Fry I'll call your mum and tell her you were very brave in the last minutes o' your life. How d'ya like the idea, boy?"

Dempsey thought with irritation he had never realized he worked with so many people. People who relentlessly wanted this and that from him!

He was dying to talk to Harry in private, just a few words, five minutes, that's all. Wishful thinking… As soon as Spikings emerged the office the real hell began. The previous night a murder of a politician had been committed in the City and the team tasks needed to be reassigned, so after the long briefing Dempsey spent a lot of time with Chas in Spikings' office fighting to keep his team unchanged and discussing the necessary moves. When he finally left the room it was almost noon and Harry was gone. He groaned inwardly. "Where's Makepeace, I need her urgently" he asked Frank, God only knew it was true.

"What?" Frank looked at him absently. "Oh, yeah, she's in the meditation room."

What they called 'meditation room' was a small poor cubby-hole at the end of the corridor, with a small desk and one chair only - it used to be a tiny utility room before - where those of them who were longing for a little privacy could hole up in and work at peace. No-one used it often as there was no space there for files and other documents and it was more convenient to sit in the main office, with all information within reach. Dempsey rushed to there, enjoying the fact he will be alone with Harry for a while.

"Gotcha at last" he announced cheerfully when he entered the small room. Harry sat at the desk preoccupied staring at small objects laid out in front of her. Lost in her thoughts, she lifted her head and looked at him with a smile but a bit unconsciously. "What have ya got there, Tiger?" he touched her cheek briefly.

"Dalley's things found in his pockets" she said tilting her head a fraction just to extend the moment of his touch "I am searching for clues but again, it isn't working."

He leaned in looking over her shoulder. "Yeah, I remember… An earring, a handkerchief… a pen… a key and a clew… and you said you were searching for clues, there you got one?" he grinned.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd, for a man, to carry a clew in his pocket?" she asked.

"What's really thrillin' me is the key" he put his hand caressively on her shoulder, with all his might trying to focus on job. She looked up at him with interest.

"And why is that? You have seen it before."

He winced. "And this is the moment I need to tell you something, Princess."

"Well go on then" she prompted him.

He ran his fingers through the thick hair. "And I'm afraid you ain't gonna like it."

"What have you done" it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Well, nothing big" he pouted his lips in what he believed was a completely innocent smile. "The end justifies the means, ya know."

"Tell me what you have done. Now!" she demanded glaring at him.

"Well" he grinned "you were out of town and I felt a kinda lonely so, I went to The Black Marketeer again and… found Keith Lymon. Or, to be honest, he found me, on the street."

"Dempsey!"

"Care to know what he told me, Angel?" he hoped to sound unconcerned but he knew she'd be mad with him. And so she was.

"I don't believe it!" she rose from her chair piercing him with these unbelievably blue eyes with anger. "You went there, with no support, without having told anyone…"

"How can you know I haven't told anyone?"

"Because we didn't talk about it during the briefing today which would have taken place if you had!"

"Oh."

"Yes, oh! What did you think you were doing James? You are completely irresponsible, impossible, irrational…"

"Irresistible…" he tried to save his skin with his charm but it didn't work this time. Harry had a lot to say about his stupid ideas. Chas and Watson passing by the door heard the staccato speech of hers and they stopped abruptly, frozen to the spot and looking at each other with horror.

"Again?" Watson whispered in despair.

"Oh God please not again" Chas moaned quietly. "I wouldn't survive it this time."

Watson moved and sneaked up on the door where he listened for a while. Then he turned to Chas with laughing eyes.

"That's OK, mate, that's OK. Dempsey just did something stupid and Harry is chewing him out. Everything's fine, mate. We got back to normal."

"Phew" Chas couldn't restrain himself from a sigh of relief and they walked on.

"Are you listening to me?" Harry asked furiously. He was looking at her with eyes full of happiness.

"I am."

"You don't seem so! What are you thinking of?"

"You're shoutin' at me, Harry."

She didn't understand. "So what?"

"You're shoutin' at me, as always. Boy, it feels so good when you're just shoutin' at me."

The penny dropped, she knew what he was so disarmingly getting at and she relented. "Well don't expect I'll stop in the nearest future if you still do such stupid things! This guy hates you, don't you remember that?"

"Oh no, that's not so bad. Remember what you said after our last encounter with him? That first we hated each other, then we respected each other and if there was a third time we'd fund the solid friendship between us."

"And, did you?" she asked sarcastically.

"Hell, no" he sat on the edge of the desk. "But finally I got some information worth risking."

"Which is?"

"A Lymon's mate was a kind of an escort for our stiff when he wanted to entertain himself. And, what Lymon knew was Dalley had a secret pied-à-terre somewhere in town. In other words not only has he had fun in Soho but sometimes he used to order some fresh meat to be delivered to an extra apartment he rent. My nose tells me we could find something interesting there. Thing is, we don't know where it is."

"Lymon gave you an information? And what was your quid pro quo? I mean, what did you give him in return? I can't believe he just told you something out of affection for you" she jibed.

"I know what quid pro quo means, Harry" he said resentfully. "I didn't give him anything. I just promised we'd forget about this dump and all the dirty business there."

"You can't promise things like that!"

"Don't worry, I said we would forget it. But there's also the vice squad involved, remember? I can't speak for them" he grinned. Harry shook her head and tutted disapprovingly.

"How about this guy, Dalley's escort as you called him? He must know the place."

"No one's seen him for weeks."

Harry rolled her eyes. "Well done, really. Problem solved."

"What can I say Harry, shame he hasn't attached the address tag to the key, would be easier."

"OK anyway we need to think of something" Harry sat on the desk next to him, it was so small their arms touched. "It might be a way to find something more about his life and his relationships, yes, but we might as well start visiting the random houses in London trying to fit the key to the holes. Guess we'd find the right one about the year two thousand and seventeen."

"We'll find a way. A good brainstorm will help" he wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to pull her closer. Harry looked at him sharply.

"This is what you call a brainstorm maybe?" she asked sweetly.

"Yeah why not" he nuzzled her hair and for a second she let him, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes. It felt so good...

"Nice dress, Tiger" he murmured, stroking the fabric, his voice was soft and tender. Harry thought about how much time she had spent this morning standing in front of her wardrobe trying to choose something very nice, and very sexy, and about the lingerie she had put on, just to feel... special. After a while she straightened with a sigh. "I don't think we'll find the way this way."

"At what time do we have this Atherton from Oklahoma City?" he asked out of the blue. She looked at him surprised. "At three."

"Great" he slipped off the desk and reached his hand out to her. "C'mon Princess, let's go."

"Where to?"

"Where to?" he raised his right eyebrow. "Out to lunch! Dontcha think we deserved one?"

"The cantine?"

"Nope."

"Bramcote?" she tried again.

"Noooope" he nearly sang it. "Take your hat and gloves, lady, and off we go. A nice place, ten minutes by car from here. Let's go."

Intrigued and amused, she followed him.

"Pine and Apple" was a nice place, indeed. A small pub Harry has never been to, cosy and quiet at this time of the day.

When they left the car Dempsey took her by the hand lacing their fingers together and then in the pub still didn't let go of her hand, leading her to the bar. To be honest Harry felt tense and awkward in this quite new situation of theirs but told herself to relax and enjoy. She hoped she could. What seemed completely natural and enjoyable for him made her nervous, it felt so strange to walk with him holding hands… but she loved it. It may have felt strange but it felt lovely, and cute, and…

They have ordered at the bar and with their drinks they sat down at the small table standing alone at the wall. Harry sipped her wine. "When did you find this place?" she asked. "We've never been to here before."

"I came here once some time ago" he answered vaguely "far enough from the office, no guys from the factory comin' here. You like it?"

The waitress brought their food and James looked critically at Harry's plate. "How come you can live on rabbit food twenty four seven?" he asked with amusement.

"It's a very good salad with roasted duck breast Dempsey and it's very satisfying. And much more healthy than your beefburger, however at least this one's homemade, not like that junk from McDonald's".

"They don't know how to make real burgers here" he grinned, and took a huge bite of the burger ignoring the cutlery. "I'll make one for you someday, you'll see the difference."

"Is it what you're going to make for the promised dinner?" she looked at him through her long eyelashes.

"My heart's bleeding Harry" he did his best to look hurt and shocked. "Beefburgers for dinner? Even a guy like me knows it would be very improper." Somehow he liked the fact she had mentioned the planned dinner.

She put down the fork and looked at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Then what are you going to surprise me with?"

"Yes, that's the word Makepeace. Surprise. Do you know what it means? But don't worry. No hotdogs."

"That's a relief" they smiled at each other, now it was Dempsey who stopped eating, he took a swig of his beer and made a serious face.

"Harry there's somethin' I need askin' ya."

She straightened in her chair and was not able to hide her frightened look. He, of course, noticed it. "Relax Princess, don't be gettin' nervous" he took her hand in his placatingly.

"I am not getting nervous!"

"Yes, you are" he smiled looking into her eyes "but you shouldn't be. Well" he continued slowly, leaning in and lazily caressing her fingers "when you left on Thursday Spikings called me over… to discuss… my future at SI-10. He asked me about my plans and gave me a few suggestions…"

"Meaning?" she asked hoarsely. Their heads were just inches away which made their talk very intimate.

"Well" he shrugged "he said I could go back to the States now if I wanted to. I could stay till the end of the year here and then go back to the States if I wanted to. Or…" he paused "I could try to apply for a permanent job and residence here… if I wanted to. As a Detective Inspector by the way which I am fairly sure you know as Spikings has told you about it already."

Her heart made a flip. "And what did you tell him" she asked lowering her voice involuntarily. He smiled warmly at her.

"That I need to discuss it with you."

"You told him you'd need to discuss it with me?"

"Well that I need to discuss it, that's what I said. But I guess Spikings knew who I meant, we both know he's not stupid. Who else should I discuss it with?" his mind returned to the evening and the chat with the Boss in the pub a few weeks ago. "Never mind, that's not the point. I'd have discussed it with you if you hadn't left ten minutes earlier. But we can do it now. So... " he paused "what d'ya say Harry? Should I stay or should I go?"

There was this sly spark in his look that she knew he knew what she'd say. Anyway her heart stopped beating for the while and she couldn't say a word. She fixed her gaze on his eyes and just couldn't look away. She bit her lower lip what of course made Dempsey's world spinning round. Jesus, she is so sexy when she does that, each and every time, he thought waiting for her answer. He knew what it would be but was curious if she was able to say it straight without beating around the bush. He wanted to make her say it straight.

"Isn't it… obvious James?" her voice faded away.

He raised his eyebrow, tilting his head and nibbling his lower lip with the fingers of his left hand while his right one still held hers. "Well… yeah maybe but I'd like to hear it anyway. You know, to be sure."

Bastard, he was teasing her mercilessly. She got herself a grip immediately.

"Well, I'd say it would give you a few profits if you stayed here."

"Like what?"

She wasn't going to lose this duel of the two tough natures.

"Like… having good times maybe?"

His eyes flashed in a way she liked. "How good?"

"Very good?"

That was it.

"If you say so?" he looked into her eyes that were full of unspoken promises.

"I say so" unbelievable how blue and shining these beautiful eyes were!

"Well" he murmured still keeping her gaze "then there's another problem."

"Hmmm?" she said lazily. She was so lost in his look she hardly understood what he said.

"Exams."

She emerged suddenly. "Eeee what?"

"Exams, Harry. I may not pass it. I am just a simple cop and I'm not good at learning and stuff. I may fail and I would never live that down I am serious now."

She laughed happily. "Don't be silly James it's not an exam for a post of the King of England, it's just a confirmation of your skills. I'm sure you'll pass it."

"Promise?"

"I will help you if you want me to" she said impishly. "I am good at teaching and stuff".

He could hardly believe she was provoking him that shamelessly!

"OK then" he squeezed her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Then let's go back to the office, I need to talk to Spikings urgently. And then you might start teaching me. And stuff."

She was still smiling stupidly happy to herself when they made their way to the door but this time they didn't turn to the main entrance they had used before but to the side exit through the narrow dark corridor leading to the car park. Just halfway through Dempsey stopped. "Wait" he said.

She turned to him. "What?"

Immediately and without warning he took her in his arms pulling her close. "I've been waiting for it for four days, damn" he murmured lowering his head and plunging his mouth on hers.

Before she realized what was happening she responded, she flew her arms around his neck and they kissed madly, fervently, raking their fingers through each other's hair and oh boy she'd been waiting for it too, she'd missed it so much she thought feeling his hot and rough kisses on her lips and over her face everywhere and then going back to her lips again, his mouth so hungry and demanding… like hers, his tongue against hers, and their hands all over each other. She didn't know how long it lasted and was emerged from this madness by a hoarse voice that sounded suddenly next to them she nearly hit the ceiling:

"Good God, people! Get a room upstairs!"

An old guy stood there at the door looking at them with both amusement and admiration. Harry raised her hands to face. Good God, indeed, for the first time in her life she got caught red handed like that, she had never allowed herself to do such things in public… well, not entirely in public, but anyway, witnessed, oh God, how could it happen?! What was he doing to her?! She mumbled an excuse and hurried outside trying to collect herself. Dempsey cooled off much faster and he even managed to grin at the guy: "Hell no, these rooms must be poor, home's better."

When he left the pub, still grinning like a monkey Harry was already waiting at the car, leaning against the passenger door; she gave him a sharp look but it was warm and loving enough to keep him at ease. When they sat already in the car her discomfort somehow slipped away at all and she managed to ask casually and a bit mischievously: "So, no comment about the guy's words? It isn't like you."

He couldn't hide his amusement when he answered: "Well it was temptin' but I thought better of it."

She laughed heartily. "Very wise."