It's been a quite a while since I published the previous chapter. I hope you'll like this one.

Chapter 25

"Who am I, babe?"

"Daddy, you're Daddy."

"And you're…?"

"Daddy's girl."

"And what do you want from Daddy, babe?"

The images on the screen shook and blurred as if a recording person moved too quickly. Spikings took the remote and pushed the stop button. He looked at people sitting around the table. Serious faces, no stupid smirking or grinning. Dempsey, Makepeace, Dave, Fry and Chas. Harry with a cool face, Dempsey frowning, a cigar stub in the corner of his mouth, Dave blushing with embarrassment, Fry, for a change, a bit of pale green, and Chas looking decidedly grumpy. Spikings cleared his throat.

"I think we've seen enough" he began slowly, weighing his words. "This and - this" he tapped the photos scattered over the desk with his pen. His eyes wandered to a plastic bag aside, containing all the erotic gadgets that had been collected from Dalley's secret flat.

Mercifully, Spikings didn't want them to watch all the details of these pathetic porno movies for dummies, but it was obvious someone would have to. And it'll be me, Chas thought unwillingly. He was pretty sure this would be his task this afternoon. Great.

"OK, any comments on what we just got to know?" Spikings looked around.

Dempsey moved impatiently on his chair and pulled the stub out of his mouth. "For me it's obvious Boss, the picture of this lady gal, that speaks for itself. That's a proof."

"A proof of what?" Spikings raised his eyebrows. "A proof a silly girl had her pornographic pictures taken, that's all. It's regrettable but it's not a crime."

"But it tells us that, beyond any doubt, the family's involved" Dempsey pointed the stub at Spikings, looked at it and quickly put it down in the ashtray. "Can't deny it, Boss."

"In fact I could deny it Dempsey, 'cause it's not that obvious like you wish it was. But I agree it's very probable the family is involved."

"Or a boyfriend" Harry noticed quietly. "Or it's not like it looks like." She kept silent for a while, trying to find proper words. "What I mean is, Sir, if someone of the family is involved why were they so stupid to murder the guy at their property during a party given? It could be done anywhere, at any time."

"Impulse?" Dempsey prompted.

"Might be" she agreed but it was clear her mind was working intensively.

"Anyway Guv, what I think is we are getting back to the Athertons, including this lady Stephanie" Chas said. "She was not questioned in the case."

"And why not?" Dempsey asked, irritated. Chas shrugged.

"Not necessary so far. She lives near Cheltenham, was not invited to the party, we were not aware about her daughter's relationship to Dalley. Now of course it's different. I'll contact the local police."

"Wait Chas" Spikings said, "so far we're gonna pay a visit to Lady Atherton, Dempsey, Harry and me. And then we'll see. But definitely we need just some information about the Ladbrokes, Dave, collect what's possible. And you, my lad" he smiled at Chas "have a closer look at these love stories on videotapes."

It was quiet in the car.

They had taken Spikings' Ford Granada and Spikings had ordered Dempsey to drive it. Dempsey didn't object: Spikings sat in the back seat covering himself with papers he began to review and didn't show any interest to his subordinates in the front seats. His subordinates felt very content with that. They didn't talk, didn't even look at each other but the waves of warm vibrations flowing between them were so intensive Harry was surprised Spikings hadn't made any remark about the unusually high temperature in the car on this rather tepid day.

Harry sat comfortably, her mind taken with thoughts about this afternoon. Still slightly unnerved, she was able to see things in a proper way though. But in fact she didn't spare a single thought of it; it was rather how she felt about it. The tension, the fever that had exploded in her body out of the sudden… well let's rather say in a bad time. She really had wanted to control herself as the moment had been really unfavourable then. But she'd failed.

She still felt the trail of his kisses on her skin under the blouse, as though it was burning, especially that one spot where his lips had covered both her skin and the lace of her bra… God, it all had happened so fast and totally beyond control. Harry was really taken aback when thinking about that. She hadn't expected such strong feelings and emotions and she had never, ever expected she'd succumb to him so quickly, after only a few days of their newly founded, blossoming relationship! She had been never too quick about the stuff, she rather liked things slow, the third date rules never appealed to her, she liked savouring and cherishing the courtship and slow seduction… and so she did now for sure but… it seemed it didn't work with James! The courtship was nice and delightful but when it came to senses…

Soon. It was obvious for her it would be rather sooner than later… Harry felt a delicious tingling in her lower belly. In fact it felt a bit scary. How will it be like since she got completely mad only at the touch of his hands and lips, losing her control, wanting more regardless of the circumstances?

She took a quick look at Dempsey's hands resting on the wheel. Strong wrists, well formed nice fingers. Harry had always secretly fancied his hands; she had always paid attention to men's hands and voices; for both Dempsey far exceeded the score. Her friends appreciated different features… Kenna always looked at men's beautifully shaped calves, Mary was fond of their chests while Angela…

Harry bit her lower lip to stifle a giggle. Of course Angela had to be the one who assessed men's crotch in the first place!

Hmmm.

No, she won't look. No.

She did.

To her embarrassment again she felt a sweet flow going through her body and what was worse her nipples hardened unexpectedly. Oh my God. Stop it Harry, get yourself a grip, she admonished herself in panic. You're at work. Quickly she shifted her look but anyway his thighs in blue jeans looked also very... tempting. She yanked her notebook out of her bag, opened it and started browsing through it, hoping to look very busy and lost in her thoughts.

Dempsey, what was rather obvious, also has been thinking about them, he just couldn't stop it. Her arms wrapped around him, her soft willing lips, her shy and demanding touch. The glorious moment his lips had touched the lace of her lingerie… Jeez!... He had wanted to take her bra off but instinctively had decided to draw out the moment of the first intimate encounter… Bloody RT.

He took a deep breath and cast a sideways look at her, very discreetly. With huge satisfaction he caught the glimpse of her gaze scrutinizing him unobtrusively. So easy to guess what was on her mind. Wonderful. Her sudden interest on her notes amused him and he just couldn't stop himself and asked her with the most innocent voice possible, however giving her clue he must have noticed something:

"Found anything interesting, Makepeace?"

Lady Grace was definitely not pleased to see the three policemen on her doorstep.

I don't blame her, Harry thought. It was nearly six o'clock and whatever Lady Grace had planned for the evening must have had nothing in common with receiving the unwelcome visitors from the force.

"Lady Harriet."

"Sergeant Makepeace, if you please, Lady Atherton" Harry corrected her politely but firmly.

"Ah yes, I am sorry" Lady Atherton smiled but the smile was cool and a bit dismissive. She was nothing like the warm, delighted and hospitable charming woman at the party four weeks ago. Leading the way into the back of the house she added "I must say I am really impressed by the way of the career you happened to choose. Not easy and sometimes dangerous, I think?" she continued. "And how does Lord Winfield cope with these important decisions of yours?"

Harry looked at her. "I am sorry Lady Atherton but I am not here to talk about my life and about how my father feels about the path of my career. You may remember my Governor Chief Superintendent Spikings and my partner Lieutenant Dempsey, you've met before." Both Spikings and Dempsey nodded reluctantly on Lady Atherton and Spikings took the helm of the conversation.

"Shall we sit somewhere quiet and talk, Lady Atherton?"

Dempsey who had been about to cut off Lady Grace speech about Harry's life choices ('if only you knew, you old aristocratic bag') now calmed down; apparently Harry didn't need his protection.

Spikings started with exactly the same questions he had asked four weeks ago, at the night of the murder. Lady Atherton answered patiently most of the time, but finally she had enough.

"Excuse me sir…" she paused for a while "would you mind explaining me the reason for all this? As far as I remember your people have asked me about all this during the night the poor Mr Dalley has been killed. I assume it all has been noted and filed in the police records. Why are you repeating it now? Did your people lose all the essential documents?"

Spikings smiled sweetly. For those who knew him this was a kind of a smile that would easily turn into a scary grimace within a split second. But Lady Atherton didn't know Spikings well.

"Oh, it's all on purpose" he said kindly. Harry and Dempsey shared a brief meaningful glance; they had recognized this smile and this kind of voice. Spikings didn't explain the purpose, though. "Now, could you tell me a few words about your sister, Lady Stephanie Ladbroke?"

Had he planned to take her aback with this sudden change of the subject he succeeded at hundred percent. Lady Atherton looked at him completely startled and astounded. Spikings waited with the same seemingly kind and good natured expression on his face.

Lady Atherton cleared her throat and brushed her forehead with her left hand in a gesture of fatigue. "Chief Spikings…" she started "I must say I am confused. I don't understand. First, all these questions again. Now, out of thin air, you're asking me about my sister. Seriously sir, if I knew why it is important for you…?" her voice got slightly squeaky.

"Answer my question, Lady Grace" Spikings demanded, totally unaffected by her words.

Lady Atherton sighed with anger. "My sister Stephanie lives in Cotswolds. She's a widow, two children, David and Emily…"

"Please go on" Spikings prompted.

"Well, David's thirty and Emily is twenty two… Oh and she is in Australia now. She's getting married at Christmas… a very noble, old, wealthy Australian family… And we have David's wedding just tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Spikings looked curiously. "In Cotswolds?"

"No, here in London. At bride's home. My sister arrived yesterday, with David. They're staying at Ritz."

"How about Emily?"

"She's not coming."

"And why is that?"

"Tickets are expensive and Emily left England only three months ago."

Dempsey looked around the elegant room full of old furniture, at a thick carpet, long silver curtains. The big floor-to-ceiling windows looked out across wide green lawns. Dempsey thought about his home, a small house in Brooklyn, with a few square feet garden in the back, three stuffy bedrooms and cosy but small kitchen full of laughter and delicious smell of cookies.

Lady Atherton seemed to sense his disapproval.

"Life is tough these days" she was still addressing Spikings "we cannot afford to spend money left and right. Maintaining the property gets more and more difficult, Lady Har… Sergeant Makepeace would say something about it too" she trailed off but Sergeant Makepeace didn't pick up the topic, making notes and keeping the stony face.

"So Emily's fiance of the old wealthy Australian family wouldn't like to attend the wedding and meet his soon-to-be family?" Spikings couldn't restrain himself from a slightly ironic comment. Lady Grace's cheeks flushed, she pursed her lips. "This is not my business Chief Superintendent, I don't ask my sister's family about such sensitive issues. If you want to know why it is so you must ask her."

"Definitely we will, Lady Grace. And now if you don't mind I'd like to ask you a few more questions before we get going."

It started raining on their way back but they hardly noticed that discussing the visit at the Athertons. The heated talk was suddenly interrupted by Chas who radioed the important message for Spikings: he was expected in the Foreign Office premises.

Dempsey swore under his nose, he really was not in the mood to be driving the Boss around the city. Spending the evening in the factory, in the stuffy office was bad enough, he could think of better ideas… But fortunately Spikings had his own plans.

"Pull over, Dempsey" he demanded, and as Dempsey did he fell silent for the moment. "Not bad, you two. I think we can pay a visit to the good Lady Ladbroke tomorrow and take her by surprise. We might suppose Lady Grace has no idea about her niece's antics and I wonder if Lady Ladbroke does." He looked out of the window, the rain pouring hard. "I'll drive to the Foreign Office alone. Go back to the factory and discuss the fruits of the day with guys. You may go."

"Hey Boss" Dempsey looked at him incredulously "it's rainin' cats and dogs, why wouldn't I drive us to the office first and then you may go alone? Are you serious?"

Spikings shrugged. "You can walk, it's only about ten minutes from here. Are you made of sugar or what? Besides, there's an umbrella in the boot, you can take it." And after a second of silence, he barked. "Well go on and fetch it! I'm not gonna move to the driver's seat soaking wet!"

Dempsey jumped up abruptly. "You must be kid…"

"Dempsey" Harry cut in brightly, defusing the incoming storm looking at him with the bright blue eyes innocently wide open "Dempsey, could you bring us the umbrella from the boot? We're running out of time and we have work to do in the office so…"

Dempsey shrugged. "All right, Princess, you say jump, I say how high…" He opened the car door and got out, right into the pouring rain.

Makepeace couldn't suppress a wide happy grin. Spikings looked at her suspiciously.

"England!" Dempsey snorted as Spikings drove off in the dry warm Ford, nonchalantly waving them goodbye. He put up the collar of his summer jacket. They started walking towards the factory.

"Yeah, yeah, seems it never rains in summer in the Big Apple" Harry slipped her hand under his forearm. The black umbrella was really huge but it was nice to find an excuse to cuddle up a bit. She looked up at him. "So what's bothering you?"

He didn't answer at once. "The weather" he said finally, smiling at her. "I don't know how you put up with it."

"No, but what's really bothering you?"

After another pause he spoke. "Well not bothering… that's ridiculous but I am thinkin' of the lady's words, about how life's sooo tough to her" he mimicked the grimaces of Lady Atherton. "And this huge fancy house an' everythin', whole nine yards."

She instinctively knew what he worried about and gave him a comfy squeeze. "Fancy houses, kids in private schools, Italian ham for breakfast and when you ask they say somehow we manage to make the ends meet, that's what you mean?"

"Yup."

"Well, what can I say. Not all of us think likewise."

"I know" he passed the umbrella from his right to his left hand and put his arm around her shoulders. For a split second she tensed, they were so close to the SI-10 premises… but it was a gesture Dempsey had done thousand times before and at last she had given up protests, first of all she had known it was his style, besides… she secretly had got to like it. "Wonder how she'd feel living at your place for a month or two?"

"She wouldn't live a minute like that" she answered straight. "But I've chosen this kind of life, James. And I feel quite happy living the life that is more like my mother's than my father's. Which of course you may already know." And, to let him know she had understood what his real fears and concerns were, she added, "don't worry. I don't miss fox hunting, debutante balls or a four poster bed at Winfield Hall. It's bloody difficult to dust it, believe me."

He didn't answer but when they walked just a few steps further he lowered the umbrella and kissed her lazily and tenderly as if they were sitting in front of the warm living room fireplace with plenty of time ahead of them. The black umbrella was big enough to give them a comfy shield to prevent them from any curious looks if anyone happened to come outside, although in such case it would be rather obvious for anyone what they were doing. Somehow they didn't care though.

It was nearly midnight Harry felt she was completely wiped out.

The day has been ridiculously long and weird, full of emotions and unexpected twists of events. They'd spent the last hours discussing the new facts with the team, then Spikings returned, now they were working on reports and information Chas had obtained from the Cheltenham police. Harry was focused on her job totally but finally she was overpowered by acute headache that attacked her temples. She rubbed them with her fingers and closed her eyes for a while but it didn't help. Harry thought dreamily about a freshly laundered, crispy, ironed sheets in her bedroom.

"Are you fine Princess?" Dempsey, watchful as usual, looked at her. "Got enough, huh? So do I. Boss!" he shouted towards the ajar door of the inner office "have mercy on us and let us go home. We cannot read a single word anymore, let alone understand it!"

Spikings appeared on the doorstep. He looked briefly at his wristwatch. "All right" he chewed the words for a moment "you may go. I wanna see you back here seven o'clock sharp. Make the most of it to recover 'cause it's going to be a long day again."

Saturday in the office, Dempsey thought grimly. The last thing on his wishlist. It seemed the planned barbecue was out of the question now. Perhaps they will be lucky enough to make it to Angie's evening party… He stifled the sigh. He didn't want to go to Angie's party. Oh hell he didn't.

"OK Princess, ready?" he asked, jumping off the chair and grabbing the car keys from the desk.

"Incidentally, where's your car?" Harry asked, having sat in the car comfortably while Dempsey started the engine and left the car park. Pain was still throbbing in her temples but at least she wasn't exposed to the cold white office lights anymore.

"I'm your chauffeur today" he grinned "we don't need two cars". He stepped on the gas although he couldn't really speed up due to the rain. "I'll pick ya up at six thirty in the mornin', fine for ya?" he added looking at her sideways.

Harry looked at her watch, then at him: his tired face, messed hair, five o'clock shadow, and after a second of hesitation she made a decision. "Well" she said slowly and a bit awkwardly, "it's nearly half past twelve. Why don't you stay at my place, I mean if you like? This would give you another hour of sleep, you know. It takes twenty minutes from my place to yours and back, so."

He couldn't suppress a grin and she noticed that. "What I mean is we really need a rest" she added quickly, suspecting what might be on his mind "so every minute counts, doesn't it."

He reached out for her hand and slowly kissed her knuckles. "Honey, you can be sure I wouldn't lay a finger on you tonight although I wish I could. You look awful."

"Well thank you very much" she said sarcastically, blushing at his meaningful words and feeling warm at the word honey. "I always knew good appearance means much to you."

He laughed out loud. "That's not what I mean. You are deadly tired, aren't ya? And you were right, we need a decent sleep. Definitely. And you look cute when blushing" he added slyly "even with these shadows under your eyes and messed hair. If you were a man you'd have a dark stubble too at this time of the night" he scrubbed his chin.

She peeked into the rear mirror. "I am not having messed hair!"

"I always knew good appearance means much to you, Harry."

"Headache?" James asked with sympathy, looking at Harry with concern. She sat on the edge of her sofa, her shoes off, massaging her temples. The piercing ache was unbearable. "I think a bit of whisky might help."

"Whisky?" she moaned. "You're kidding. It would only make things much worse."

"Not the Doctor James terrific medicine" he took two glasses from the cabinet in the corner of the room, a bottle of whisky, and brandy. She looked at him in horror. "Trust me". He poured very small amount of whisky and literally a few drops of brandy to both glasses and handed one to her. "Drink it quickly. That's one sip. Come on, girl."

Harry obeyed and swallowed the liquid, wincing at first. But to her amazement the pain vanished almost immediately. "See?" he smiled at her. "Sudden impact. Always works." He finished his drink. She laid her head on the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. Good heavens, she was here with him, in her lounge, on the same sofa earlier this day they had… and all she wanted to do was sleep. She felt him sat down beside her and he took her in his arms. She decided his chest was a better place to put her head on. "Just a minute please" she murmured, it was a bliss.

"I have a better idea".

"Have you?"

Without warning, he gently released from her and lowered her down onto the sofa. Surprised, she opened her eyes when she felt a cushion under her cheek. Before she could say a word he took his sneakers off and lay behind her back, spooning her. The sofa was wide enough to feel comfortable.

"Dempsey."

"Shhh babe" he smiled and reached out his hand to turn off the light. "Now we can sleep" he wrapped her waist with his hand and nuzzled her hair. He sought for her hand, held it and placed it together with his, resting on her waist, their fingers locked together.

She thought it wasn't such a good idea, she should have removed her residual makeup, put something more comfortable on and in general, he was tired too, they both did need a decent sleep, in wide and comfortable beds, separately, to be really fresh in the morning… but suddenly the idea of him sleeping downstairs and her sleeping upstairs seemed totally unnatural for her; besides, it felt wonderful to lie here in his arms, feel his breath in her hair…

"I do love you, James Dempsey" she thought, or she murmured it out loud? She didn't know. Slowly, slowly, happy and safe in his arms and cradled by their strength and warmth, she gradually drifted into a quiet, deep sleep.