Chapter 21

"Ya know this Oklahoma guy?" asked Dempsey. They were walking upstairs to the interrogation room on the top floor of the building.

"Hardly. I met him a few times on several occasions. It's Peter I know better, the younger one. Why are you calling Charles Oklahoma guy, he was there on a business trip only!"

Dempsey shrugged. "I need to tell them apart. Too many Athertons in this case."

Harry rolled her eyes. "Well at least try not to address him by this name, he'd be surprised."

Charles Atherton waited for them already, in the company of Tony's, one of the younger officers. What Dempsey noticed at once was that 'Oklahoma guy' was devilishly handsome and dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. And his matching tie! He stood up when they entered the room.

"Harriet" he greeted Harry so casually as though he was the host here. This little Winfield girl was a real hottie, he thought, perhaps he could invite her for dinner some day. "Long time no see. How is Simon?" he asked cordially. "You were at this luckless party together, weren't you?"

Dempsey winced painfully. Hell, being on cloud nine lately he had completely forgotten the damned shrink. Harry kept the stony face although she felt like laughing suddenly.

"Well I suppose he's fine" she said vaguely "haven't seen him for a while. So, shall we start?"

"As far as we know, Mr Atherton" Harry opened after having recorded the interview details "Jason Dalley was a friend of yours. Was it a close relationship?"

"Well we met couple of years ago in Los Angeles. The company I work for is stuck to the Hollywood business. I wouldn't say we were friends but good colleagues, yes. We would meet up quite often, in London and in LA, for business purposes but also for private dinner sometimes. He was a clever guy."

Dempsey raised his eyebrow.

"So, what did you do when you met up" he asked. "What did you talk about, for example?"

Charles Atherton shrugged.

"This and that. Nothing important, at least I can't recall anything that would be other than business things or just talking about life, you know."

"And what was that, the talking about life?" Dempsey pushed him.

Atherton seemed a bit irritated. "Like I said, Mr Dempsey, just talking. About our holiday plans, our girlfriends, families, some gossip about people we knew or about people from business. If you're asking if there were any serious and sincere talks, we weren't that close. And I am rather a private person. And so was he."

"But he met your family before they started working on the film in England" Harry joined the conversation "how did it happen?"

"Ah, once we met at the airport in LA by chance, we flew together to London so I invited him for a weekend at our place. He liked England a lot, he was very keen on English way of life…"

"Upper class, I assume?" Harry added. Atherton laughed.

"Yes, you're right. I must say it was a kind of idée fixe of him. In fact being among us he would behave like a regular housewife at a party of the biggest Hollywood stars. Such a weakness for posh and beautiful" he smiled indulgently. "So I invited him, he spent a weekend at Atherton House. It was… three years ago, I think. Since then he was there a few times."

"Where did you use to meet when he came to England?" Dempsey asked. Atherton looked at him surprised.

"In restaurants. Where else?"

"Any entertainment, too? I mean, did you go also to a club, or a late night show?"

"No, Mr Dempsey. I am not that kind. And neither was Jason, I think."

Ah Dempsey smiled to himself. What a great observer ya are, boy. A pretty good judge of people.

"What can you say about his private life in London?" Harry asked.

"He had girlfriends, of course, but I guess it's not a crime?" Charles smiled dismissively. "He was single, handsome and he had money. A single man in London, long way from home… lots of pressure… and lots of temptations, you know. We're all human."

"So" Harry sat down at her desk.

"So" Dempsey echoed broodily.

"So?" Fry asked expectantly. They both looked at him, then at each other and at Fry again. Fry panicked. "What? I just thought…"

"Well don't think Fry, just make us beverages" Dempsey demanded "tea for Sergeant, coffee for me."

"You shouldn't ask him to do things like that" Harry admonished her partner quietly "he's not your butler, he is working with us on this case."

"Yup but he's my junior and he's working with us to get more experience and be promoted to a DS" Dempsey grinned "he should learn about his full duties and since this world exists..."

Harry flashed him the how-nice-to-see-you-in-trouble look. "Are you going to tell me, making you coffee is a DS duty?" she asked with the voice too silky to be genuine.

He found himself being jeopardised. "No."

"No it isn't?"

"No I wasn't going to tell you that, I am not stupid" he winked. "Do I take it you're never ever gonna make me coffee again?"

She looked up at him with a disapproving expression. "Not in the predictable period of time."

"So what are you gonna do now guys?" Chas went round Dempsey's desk and sat at the edge of it "Fry, tea for me too, please. Thanks."

Fry sighed but obeyed. Dempsey looked at his partner.

"Do you think what I think Harry?"

"Uh huh I think I do" she nodded her agreement. "Do I?"

"What are you getting at?" Chas demanded impatiently.

"There's somethin' in this man" Dempsey said twiddling a pen. "You believe he doesn't know nothin' about Dalley's life? Huh? My nose and Harry's hunch tell us he ain't that unaware as he tried to seem to. Sounded so naive, holiday plans, girlfriends, families, I don't buy it. He's a grown up, must've heard sumthin 'bout his pal's kinky odds…"

"Precisely" Harry nodded again. She paused trying to weigh her words properly. "Seems each and every male on in this planet knows everything about Dalley's dirty little secrets but all that's been kept from Charles Atherton? How and why? They didn't want to damage his innocent soul?" she snorted. "Something's wrong here."

"Perhaps he doesn't know we know" Chas remarked. "And what he knows he doesn't want to reveal as a gentleman."

"Yep that's quite possible" Dempsey agreed "but as the good subject of Lizzy the Queen he should share his knowledge with us, it's 'bout a murder" he grinned.

"If I were you I'd restrain myself from calling Her Majesty Lizzy the Queen, Dempsey" Spikings emerged from behind the door "try to start using the proper title at last, would you?"

Dempsey straightened up in his chair. "OK Chief!"

"And this applies also to the title of the authority you report directly to" Spikings glared at the Yank and entered his office carefully closing the door behind him. Harry hid her smirk, opened her notebook and checked something, then raised her head. "Fancy a trip, Dempsey?"

"Always" he grinned "where are ya takin' me to?"

"You and Fry, to be precise. As you've noticed Fry needs more experience" she said sweetly and he knew she took her revenge on him for this coffee-sergeant thing "I have a desire to pay a visit to the lady I've met some time ago. I'd like to talk to Mrs Elizabeth Summerside again."

"And why Mrs Summerside?" Fry asked reasonably when they got into Harry's car. She gave him keys and went to the back seat and to her slight irritation and amusement Dempsey followed her, taking the seat next to her. She glared at him and mouthed "what?!" but he kept an innocent look. "Go on Fry, we don't have all day", he chased the younger colleague up, who, embarrassed with his role, didn't give a single thought to this untypical seating arrangement.

"I just want to ask her a few more questions" she paused. So far no one but Dempsey and she knew about the victim's secret pied-à-terre although she knew it was time to inform Spikings about it "... and it's a good tactic Fry to return to a prey and attack when they've dropped their alertness already."

"For a reason you sound very true Harry" Dempsey jibed "watch out Fry when you see her in action. You'll learn a lot."

She glanced at him sideways. "Oh really."

He didn't answer but secretly took hold of her fingers, squeezing them lightly and intertwining with his. It wasn't within Fry's sight but anyway somehow she didn't care. You're evidently mellowing Harry, she thought just taking the pleasure from this innocent and tender caress.

At the previous encounter with Elizabeth Summerside Harry had had a thought that had Dempsey been with her he'd have drooled on the floor at the sight of the lawyer and, on the other hand, she wouldn't have given him a single look. Now, funny, she thought totally otherwise.

Elizabeth was mad like hell when she was interrupted her afternoon meeting with some VIPs by Bella, her assistant who told her with the startled voice someone was waiting for her and it was urgent and couldn't wait. She would have skinned Bella alive for disturbing her and her clients but she knew the girl would've never allowed herself to do such a horrible violation if she hadn't been forced to. So she excused Mr Smithley and other clients and left the room with ice fury.

And there she was again, bloody DS Makepeace looking like an angel of justice, so absolutely cool, posh, perfect and… and eyeing Elizabeth with disgust, yes. She was accompanied by two men, a young man with boyish face and big eyes and… well well well. Who was the other one? A tall dark haired man leaned on the counter of the reception desk. Dishy, hard to deny it. Very sexy, nonchalant and relaxed, but there was something in his posture that suggested his permanent vigilance on everything.

"DS Makepeace" Elizabeth greeted Harry icily. "What brings you here again and why is it so important?"

"Mrs Summerside" Harry's answer was equally freezing. "Still the same inquiry. You may remember we've been investigating the murder of your friend" she added bit sarcastically.

"And why does it take so long?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.

Harry ignored the subtle attack. "This is my partner Lieutenant James Dempsey and this is DC Fry. Shall we go and sit somewhere as we need to talk."

"Lieutenant Dempsey" ignoring the youngster Mrs Summerside bobbed her head towards the handsome man. She couldn't help but notice his brown eyes landed on her face and scrutinized her coldly, as if he was a scientist examining a rare, dangerous species. She didn't like that kind of look. But she definitely fancied the man and the undeniable sexual magnetism he was oozing. To her own surprise she felt the urge to reach out her hand and touch the muscular arm underneath the jacket sleeve. She hasn't had a man since Jason was murdered, and this guy was certainly worthy of note.

"So what can I do for you?" Elizabeth Summerside set the ball when they all sat in the armchairs in a small library. Bella brought them coffee and retreated quickly to her office. "I thought we discussed everything when you did me the honour of visiting my office the first time round?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but you can never say you discussed everything until the inquiry has been closed" Harry responded coldly.

"Yeah if ya don't mind answering a few question..." Dempsey added, looking up and down at her.

"You're American too?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows slightly. The little emphasis on the word too sounded as though she equated Dempsey with Dalley in a way and it made Harry furious. "How come you work for the British force?"

Dempsey ignored her question. "Jason Dalley was your beau. I want to know where you would meet during your relationship."

"What do you mean?" Mrs Summerside frowned, evidently and truly astonished and amused. She leaned forward a fraction. "Would the answer 'bed' be correct, Lieutenant?" she asked looking him straight in the eye.

Despite herself Harry felt amusement. This woman was incredible. Ok James let's see how you'll cope with her attitude. She sat herself more comfortably and looked at her partner.

Not even a muscle flinched in Dempsey's face. "I'm impressed madam but we all are quite busy and still have a lot to do today so would ya please tell us where your… trysting places were?"

Elizabeth looked carefully at his calm face. "I see it's serious, isn't it?" she smiled lazily. Fry was watching her with a mix of anxiety and fascination. Dempsey smiled, too, but there was something very unpleasant in his smile and it made Elizabeth turn away from the idea of being half-cold and half-seductive.

"Usually we used to meet in my apartment, as there's a big cosy bedroom there" she explained defiantly, still looking into Dempsey's eyes "and his apartment as well. He got a lot of stuff there, the stuff we both needed during our parties and it was meaningless to bring it to my place each and every time. Oh, and there were times we would meet right here, in this office. Off the clock."

Harry felt sick listening to her. This woman reminded her Rowena Phelps but Rowena was not even a bit so rotten to the core. "So no other places? Has he ever invited you to another apartment of his?" she asked.

Elizabeth looked at her. "He didn't have any other apartment, DS Makepeace, as far as I know. Why would he? The one he held was spacious, comfortable and discreet. And conveniently located."

"Mrs Summerside, I advise you think very carefully about how you are going to answer this question again" Harry warned. It was a bluff, she had no idea whether Liz Summerside knew anything and moreover she had no hunch she would but it wouldn't hurt to insist. The glance of the lawyer however remained cold and honest.

"I don't need to rethink my answer over as this is the only one I can come up with" she answered "had Jason any other place to live I don't know anything about it. Dare I ask what makes you think he would?"

They returned to the office after eight pm. During their journey back Fry was evidently agitated and couldn't pipe down, commenting on Elizabeth's behaviour and attitude. He even used the word slut once and evidently he wasn't charmed by her personality. Either Harry and James shared his feel but they hardly answered, lost in their thoughts on the back seat of the car. Dempsey was rubbing his chin, apparently wondering of something deeply. Harry watched him sideways quite curious what he was thinking of.

"Right, Boss, ya know what I think?" he asked while they sat down around the table in the office, together with Spikings ad Chas. "Got an idea. Since everyone's playin' a fool all the time we'd try it different."

"Meaning?" Spiking asked sharply.

"TV and papers. A picture of the stiff in the next issue of daily papers and on TV. Should anyone recognize the guy please contact us and so on. There must be someone living in the neighborhood of his pied-á-terre, who has seen him once or even spoken to him."

"Bit risky" Harry noticed "the embassy might not like it, neither the family."

He looked at her. "Yeah but have ya got a better idea? Everythin' failed so far. We cannot walk along the streets of London askin' random people and shovin' his picture in their faces."

"Agreed" Spikings growled "we've kept the low profile as long as we were able to, now we can't. Chas, arrange this. I will speak to the embassy tomorrow in the first place."

"Tomorrow, Sir?" Harry raised her eyebrows. "What if they don't agree?"

"Fait accompli, Sergeant. I don't care if they agree or not. I'm gonna do it, come what may. Now please write your reports. I need to be filled in before the new morning has broken."

It was nearly eleven when Dempsey raised from his desk to make more coffee but he stopped halfway when he looked at Harry. She was writing notes in her notebook but looked terribly knackered. She just rubbed her eyes with a gesture of fatigue. Something came to his mind and he sat back on his chair.

"What time did ya get up today Princess?" he asked nearly cheerfully. She glanced at him.

"About five thirty, I guess. Why do you ask?"

"Because it's a quarter to eleven which means you've been up all day for more than sixteen hours now, after only a very few hours of sleep. Don'tcha think it's time to go home and have a rest?"

She shook her head with aggravation. "We have a job to do Dempsey, I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes you are. You won't be useful here if you wipe yourself out. Come on, get your stuff together and off we go. I'll drive you home."

"I have my car in the car park here, you don't need to drive me home" she said with tiredness, leaning her head on her palm. Horrible fatigue was overwhelming her.

"Yeah but you shouldn't be driving when you're such worn out" he pointed "so I'll drive ya and pick ya up tomorrow mornin'. Come on, let's go."

"Would you stop commanding me?" she snapped at him but at the same time she stood up taking her bag and jacket off the rack. Dempsey grabbed his jacket too and they both walked to the door.

Surprisingly to Dempsey, Harry had fallen asleep on their way to her home and she didn't wake when he parked up next to her door and turned the engine off. She didn't even move, her eyes closed, her head leaned on the headrest.

Dempsey watched her in her sleep for a long while being aware of the warm rush of tenderness filling up his heart boundlessly. So many times throughout all these years they would sit like that, in the car, at night, he used to see her sleep so often, but this time was different: it wasn't Harry his partner, his colleague, his friend anymore; now it was Harry his love, someone to protect and defend, to stand by her side and just to be with her. Now he realized clearly how much he had fallen for her and he hadn't done anything not to because he hadn't wanted to do anything not to. Whatever the future could bring he was for her and she was for him and he felt it the same way that he knew another day would come. It was undeniable and inevitable. What surprised him he had felt all this in such an ordinary, simple moment of all. But on the other hand, perhaps it was as good a moment as any?

Trying to harness the feelings burning up in him he leaned forward and brushed her hair with his lips lightly. "Hey Princess wake up the carriage has arrived home" he murmured in her ear.

She straightened up, looking around unconsciously, she realized they were at her door and looked at him with surprise. "Good God I've fallen asleep" she murmured astonished. "You were right this time, I need to have some sleep."

"I'm always right when it's about you" he smiled holding her gaze. "Aren't I Tiger? So you don't need being mad at me when I'm, as you say, commanding you."

"I'm not being mad at you" she sighed "it's just sometimes I'm getting a bit irritated when you're getting overprotective of me."

"Well don't blame me for that" he said quietly "think that's obvious, that's the way it goes when…" he paused abruptly. This was neither the time nor the place. "... when you care about someone."

She lowered her eyes and said nothing, trying to quieten a sudden jolt of excitement in her soul caused by his words and his look.

Dempsey leaned over her and kissed her; it was to be just a brief tender goodnight kiss but to his delight she leaned closer a bit to extend the moment of his caress stroking his jaw and he felt her lips over his for quite a long time before he thought it better to stop.

"Get your sexy ass and move out" he demanded with a small laugh "bedtime, Tiger. Don't tempt me to follow you, OK? I will pick you up at seven thirty, fine?"

She reached her hand out to open the car door. "Fine" she said looking at him slyly "but seven fifteen if you can manage it. I have very good Colombian coffee to treat you to. But as Harry, not as the Sergeant, remember."