While Harry was pouring over pages and pages of balance sheets and other riveting financial documents, James was on the phone with Spikings relating Harry and Ada's earlier conversation.

"You see, chief, she doesn't want to go back home with him. She doesn't even want to see him at all. So, I would tell dear stepdaddy to stay put for now since he can't see her for a while yet anyway. We need to find information to back up Ada's testimony. We need proof that he sold Ada to O'Cryon. O'Cryon will probably never admit to it so it's up to us and we need time. Harry is currently going through his financial records and we'll go through the whole file again with Watson."

"Well, son, I'm afraid time is the one thing we don't have. The step dad, a certain Matheos Putzer, has already landed in England and is already making waves! He demands to see Ada and claims that he has legal guardianship"

"What? But she's in our custody for her own safety. She's a major witness AND victim in an international human trafficking racket. She's been sold to some older man in Lebanon. If we let her go, we'll never see her again. You know how those work. She's 10, Chief! It's child prostitution."

"I know and Chas is liaising with MI 6 to find out more about the whole thing and that guy in Lebanon. As soon as we hear from them, we'll be in touch. In the meantime, I have a meeting with the Foreign Office and the representative of the Romanian embassy. I'll fight our corner and explain the danger Ada's in. The only problem is that only Sergeant Makepeace knows about the whole Lebanon thing and, considering that O'Cryon is accusing her of attempted murder, her credibility has been damaged"

"For fuck's sake, chief. We're playing O'Cryon's game here. He probably has enough people in his pockets to make him look like an innocent little angel. I think I should interrogate him. Ruffle his feathers a bit if you see what I mean"

"That's exactly what you WON'T do Lieutenant! Officially you and Makepeace are OFF the case. I warn you, back off or I'll send your sorry ass back stateside before you can say O'Cryon! Am I being clear enough Dempsey", bellowed Spikings.

"Loud and clear, chief. But I fear if we're too soft, Ada and Harry will end up paying the price."

"I am fully aware of the rather delicate situation we find ourselves in, Lieutenant! But going all guns blazing, is exactly what they want you to do and will get Harry in prison and Ada somewhere in Lebanon fulfilling some pervert's sick wishes! Is that what you want?"

"Of course not! You know that full well!"

"Then get your head down lieutenant and find something, anything in those files! That's how we're going to break this case. I'll be in touch later today and hope to receive some positive news from you. Make sure that Harry isn't overdoing it though, she's supposed to be on sick leave, recovering from a life-threatening injury!"

"I keep an eye on her, Chief, and the quack is coming later this afternoon to change her dressing so I will ask him for the full work", explained Dempsey over the phone while staring meaningfully at his partner while she rolled her eyes at him.

After hanging up, Dempsey went over to fetch a glass of water and produced a couple of pills from his pocket.

"Take those Sergeant! It's an order!"

"An order? You're not my superior because we don't have lieutenants here so don't you dare"

Watson was looking at his colleagues thinking "here we go again. They're bickering AGAIN!"

"Harry, please? Humour me here!"

"Whatever. Gimme those. There! Happy?", grumbled Harry.

"Well … if you'd give me a kiss right here I WOULD be happy Sergeant," added Dempsey maliciously.

"Lieutenant, I keep my kisses to deserving gentlemen! You're still to reach that level!"

"Oh, crashed, burned Dempsey!" laughed Watson.

"Yeah Watson, see, I think the Sergeant here was shot in her brain. She can't recognise a rare specimen when she sees one." said Dempsey with a twinkle in his eye.

"My brain's completely fine, Dempsey. Don't you worry. So fine that I actually may have found a potential lead. We'll have to get the finance people to double-check my findings but Putzer seems to have received a sudden influx of money hidden in a new account opened a year ago, which more or less coincides with Ada's mum's death. There was no money on that account coming or going until 2 and a half months ago when Ada was put on that boat. Weird coincidence, isn't it?"

"Indeed, Sergeant. Glad you survived, your brain is a mighty fine machine!" added Dempsey, impressed as always by his partner's ability to find a needle in a haystack. The smile on his face and the look of pure tenderness he gave her gave rise to a mighty blush on Harry's face.

It didn't escape Watson's peripheral vision and he suddenly remembered how he found them asleep in each other's arms on Harry's bed when he took the first watch at the hospital. He knew they were the best of friends and cared deeply for each other. Now, though, he thought that those two had something going on, he was quite sure of it. Finally, though…it's been a long time coming and they both deserved a bit of happiness after the past year. In between Dempsey going into hiding as Johnny Lupino, Harry's brief resignation, the shooting Harry had been a victim of,,…yeah they both deserved a break! He had the tiniest smile as it gave him hope in this dark world full of child prostitution and violence.

Recovering from her blushes and realising that her silence had lasted long enough, Harry asked her partner what other information Spikings had shared with him. Dempsey relayed everything Spikings said to his colleagues and they both agreed that they needed to find a link between O'Cryon and Putzer. Harry and James knew they needed to talk to Ada and that the time had come for them both to get some in-depth information out of the young girl. They both cared deeply for Ada and it made the task ahead that little bit harder. They wanted to protect her, they wanted her to enjoy her childhood like any child should be able to, without fear. But they knew that for her to have a care-free childhood it meant hurting her right bow by asking her questions she would rather avoid answering.

"Harry? You know we have to talk to her now. We can't avoid it any longer. You'll have to act as a police officer and forget any feelings you have for Ada. You understand that, right?" asked Dempsey, his eyes lingering on her face, feeling sad and heartbroken having to ask that from not only his partner but also the woman he loved.

"I know", answered Harry looking straight in his eyes, "and so will you. We both have to put our police officers' caps on, don't we?"

Dempsey nodded, with a tight smile, knowing full well that this was going to be as hard for her as it will be for him.

"Let's get this over with then partner" added Dempsey starting towards the office door.

As soon as they were alone in the hallway, away from prying ears and eyes, Dempsey took Harry in his arms and whispered "I am truly sorry sweetheart. I really wish we didn't have to do that. Think that if we can prove a link between Putzer and O'Cryon, then we will be able to wipe off O'Cryon's stupid murder accusations and both you and Ada can move on from this sordid affair."

She nodded in the crook of his neck, tears in her eyes. They were holding on tight to each other as though their whole world was about to come crumbling down.