*****
"I thought she was safe with you!", Spikings said in a raised voice and his words felt like a needle pierce through Dempsey heart.
"I blew it", Dempsey admitted.
Spikings looked at him and realised how awful Dempsey must have felt.
"So what happened?", Spikings asked. "Why did she leave the house alone?"
"Her friend came over and when she left Harry realised she had left her jacket"
"What friend?"
"Angela"
"Could she have something to do with the abduction?"
"No", Dempsey replied. "I don't think so"
"You don't think?"
"She's Harry's friend since school times", Dempsey said. "She wouldn't have any reason…"
"Lieutenant, stranger things have happened", Spikings said. "So what happened next?"
"Harry saw a taxi pull up in front of the house and the driver sounded the horn so Harry presumed it was Angela coming back for her jacket", Dempsey paused. "I told her to wait. I said I'd give the bloody jacket to Angela, but Harry didn't listen..."
"And where were you at that time?"
"In the kitchen", Dempsey answered. "I called out to her to wait. I should've known … I should've …"
"It's not your fault", Spikings said. "She felt too sure, too secure knowing you were inside and the cops were outside"
"I wasn't alert enough", Dempsey said. "I lost vigilance"
"You didn't lose it", Spikings said. "She did"
"But I was her protection"
"Did you see anything or anyone outside?"
"No"
"Any phone calls, anything suspicious at all?", Spikings went on. "You must have seen or heard something"
"I saw nothing!" , Dempsey yelled and kicked the chair standing next to him. He went over to the window and looked out, taking a deep breath.
"I didn't even hear her scream…", he said quietly. "I assured her she was safe with me and look…"
"It's no time for self-pity, lieutenant", Spikings said firmly, trying to keep his composure. "We have to concentrate… we have to find her"
"But how?", Dempsey asked helplessly. "We have nothing!"
"There's got to be something"
"Harry and me looked through those files hundreds times and nothing"
"I suggest you contact that friend of hers and talk to her", Spikings said. "We've got to be sure she had nothing to do with it. Maybe she left the jacket there on purpose to drag Harry out of the house"
"Ok", Dempsey said.
*****
"James, what brings you here?", Angela asked when she opened the door. "Where's Harry?"
"Can I come in?"
"Sure"
"Harry's missing", Dempsey said watching Angela's reaction.
"What?", Angela looked stunned. "How? When?"
"Last night right after you left", Dempsey said. "Someone kidnapped her"
"Someone?", Angela was still in shock. "And you didn't do anything? You just let them take her?"
"I wasn't there", Dempsey said. "I mean I was, but I was in the kitchen and she … she went outside to give you back the jacket and…"
"Wait a minute. What do you mean she went outside to give me back…"
"You left your jacket", he cut her off. "And Harry saw a cab pull up and she thought it was you and went outside… and they…someone took her"
"Oh my god!", Angela sank in the armchair and covered her face with her hands. "it's my fault. She thought it was me?"
Dempsey watched her for a moment and then sat in the other armchair.
"Why are you here?", Angela asked. "Why aren't you chasing them, trying to get her back?"
"I am… I just had to talk to you to…", he hesitated. "maybe you saw something when you were leaving or someone?"
"No, I don't think I did. It was dark and it started to rain so I wasn't really looking"
Dempsey sighed resigned.
"Damn it", he said.
"But what is it really about? You didn't tell me much last night. Someone had been stalking her, but who? Why?"
"We don't know who or why. We have a suspect but he's hiding and we can't get to him"
"Is he a criminal?"
"Yes. One of the guys Harry helped to put behind bars". Dempsey replied. "But we can't even be sure it's him"
"I guess in this job you must have a lot of enemies"
"That's right", Dempsey said. "We've been trying to dig in other directions too, think of other suspects, find someone who's been asking around about Harry, but nothing"
"James, you've got to find her", Angela said desperately.
"I know", Dempsey said. "I've got to go. I'll keep in touch"
They both stood up and headed for the door.
"Wait a minute", Angela suddenly stopped.
"What?"
"You said something about asking around about Harry?"
"Yeah", he replied. "Why?"
"I don't know if this is important", Angela paused. "No, it's probably stupid"
"What is it? Tell me! Anything that will cast some light on the case counts"
"Well, a while ago I was at this school reunion. Harry couldn't come. It was after her father died so...", Angela said. "Anyway, there was this girl asking a lot of questions about Harry"
"What girl?"
"She went to school with us for about a year, but then her brother had some serious problems, he broke the law and her family moved to another town"
"What's her name?"
"Errr, oh gosh, I can't remember"
"Think, Angela!", Dempsey insisted. "It might be important"
"Err…Sarah..", Angela smiled. "I remember now, it's Sarah"
"Sarah who?", Dempsey asked.
"Uugh, I don't remember", Angel said.
"Damn it", Dempsey cursed.
"But she had a brother Tony"
"Sarah and Tony", Dempsey wrote the names down. "Are you sure you can't remember their surname?"
"Sorry", Angela replied. "But I can try to find out"
"Ok", Dempsey said and looked at the note he's made. "Tony…You said he had problems with the law?"
"Yes"
"What kind of problems"
"I think it was about drugs", Angela said. "But he's no good to you"
"Why?"
"He's dead", Angela said. "I think he was stabbed to death in prison"
"Ok, thanks Angela", Dempsey said. "You try and find out the surname, but be careful. I wouldn't want to look for you too"
"Ok", Angela smiled. "I'll call a friend I know I can trust. The trouble is she's away, but I'll try to get in touch with her"
