Chapter 15
As Harry pulled her hand a piece of rolled-up paper fell onto the table under Dempsey and Ada's anxious eyes. The three of them looked at the document lying there, their hearts beating fast, barely daring to touch it, almost afraid of what it will reveal.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Dempsey unrolled the paper, took a deep breath and started reading it.
Slowly, but surely a smile started to appear on his face as he handed the paper to his partner for her to read it in turn. Looking straight at her, he could see tears forming in her eyes and stroked her hair gently with as much tenderness as he was capable. "You're off the hook, Sergeant. That's enough proof to send O'Cryon to prison for the rest of his life."
And then he turned towards Ada who was very nervously twisting her hands "And you, come here sweetheart" and then Ada climbed on his laps and Dempsey hugged the little girl tight and explained what her mum had written on the letter "Your mum was a genius kid. She compiled a list of all the girls that O'Cryon sent to the UK over the past 6 months and has written down how your stepdad was helping sorting out the paperwork for those girls who were entering the territory with fake papers. Your stepdad is a crook and we can prove it. Between your mum's letter and what Harry has discovered in our files, you, little Madame, have nothing to worry about. He will go to prison for a very long time. Human trafficking is not something that is taken lightly and as soon as I call my boss, he will go and arrest both Putzer and O'Cryon." The little girl kept on crying in Dempsey's arms her little face buried in his neck. Once her tears stopped, she looked absolutely exhausted and Harry gently stroke her hair and said "it's a lot to take in, why don't you go for a nap now sweetheart? I think you deserve a bit of rest after all this rollercoaster of emotions, don't you think?"
From the door stood Freddie, peering at the threesome in front of him, thinking that they made a beautiful unit and that they were looking really good together. He was happy that things were on the up and that they all had a brighter future ahead of them. He had really been taken by little Ada just like the rest of them from Dempsey to Mrs Bradshaw, the little girl had become a firm favourite to all those that met her. He knocked lightly on the door frame to make them aware of his presence although he felt bad interrupting their moment. Dempsey turned towards him. Freddie could see that he was visibly shaken.
"Sorry to interrupt but the doctor is here to check on Harry if she can spare a minute to see him?" he asked gently.
"Oh, of course. Off you go Sergeant. I'll take little Ada to bed for a nap and I'll see you after you're done with the doc. And, Freddie, ask him for the full work please!"
"Lieutenant, I'm quite capable to talk to my doctor on my own! Thank you very much!" grumbled Harry
"Oh yes she surely are but I also happen to know that you're stubborn so what I say goes on that topic. There. Thanks Freddie" And he walked off with Ada, half asleep in his arms, ending the conversation there. Lucky was dutifully following his little protégée and kept guard by her bed as she settled for a nap. Dempsey patted his head before walking out, making sure to leave the door ajar in case Ada had again one of her nightmares. That reminded him he needed to ask Spikings for a reputable child psychologist who could deal with these sorts of traumatic situations.
He walked back downstairs where he explained the situation to his colleagues. They kept on going through the files reassured for now that both Sergeant Makepeace and the little Ada could breathe for now. But the more findings they had to support their claims, the easiest it will be in court.
Dempsey then called Spikings on his direct line to share the good news with him, only to end up talking to Chas who informed him that their boss was on their way to see them directly as new information had appeared.
« What new information? » asked Dempsey worried.
« He didn't tell me. He just grabbed his coat, some files and ran out the office and told me to man the fort while he drove down to Windfield Hall! »
« How long ago was that? »
« Roughly 45 minutes ago I'd say »
« OK I'll wait for him then but let me know if anything happens your end, ok? »
« Will do! Good luck! »
« Ok guys, the boss will be here soon. Apparently things have changed again. Let's make sure that our security system is still top notch. Let's go through it all together one more time »
« Ok Dempsey. So, » started Watson « Cameras 1,2,3,4 and 5 are all operational and showing nothing odd so far. It's quiet outside but getting darker so you never know what the shadows may be hiding I suppose »
« Good point », replied Dempsey « we'll have to do a thorough search of the grounds once Spikings' been perhaps. Speaking of which, I think I can hear a car. », peering through the front bay window, he confirmed the arrival of his boss.
Within seconds Abbot knocked at the door of their temporary office and introduced Spikings before leaving them to it.
« Yo Chief! What brings you here? Chas was rather evasive on the phone saying you had new information? »
« Sadly, yes Lieutenant. Where is Sergeant Makepeace? » asked the older man, looking rather unsettled.
"With the doctor. She should be finished soon. You want me to fetch her?"
"No!" Almost shouted Spikings under the surprised look of his subordinates.
"I mean not straight away. The information I have just received will affect her and I think you should know about it before her so you can prepare her"
"Ok, what's happening here? You're scaring me now!"
"O'Cryon left the hospital this morning with his lawyer. He signed the discharge papers against all medical advice. They couldn't do anything considering that he wasn't in custody or anything, just your average Joe"
"Your average Joe? You must be kidding! Where is he now?" demanded Dempsey with impatience.
"We don't know. He seems to have just vanished! But that's not our biggest problem. His lawyer, our only contact, is demanding Sergeant Makepeace's suspension for gross misconduct and attempted murder."
"Chief, if I called you in the first place, it's because we now have proof of O'Cryon's guilt, as well as proof of Putzer's role in the whole organisation. So, they can shove their accusations where the sun doesn't shine!", replied Dempsey with barely disguised contempt.
"I wish it was that simple, son" sighed Spikings rubbing his hand in his hair, a sure sign of stress.
"What do you mean?" asked Dempsey suddenly worried.
"The lawyer has a personal vendetta against the Sergeant and wants to take her down and demands she's arrested immediately…which obviously won't happen!"
"Who's he? Did he represent one of the criminals Harry arrested over the years? He takes professional commitment to a brand new level. What's in it for him? I don't get it!", throwing his hands in the air in frustration.
"He's never represented any of the criminals either Harry or you ever arrested. His vengeance is of a more personal nature. He's her ex-husband. Robert Makepeace. » added Spikings with a low voice as he let the information sink to his officer.
« What? No! You're joking! That asshole is defending O'Cryon? He sank to a new low! Wow! He'll make it his life mission to destroy her. Shit! How on Earth are we going to break the news to Harry? »
« Which news? » suddenly Harry was in the room, looking from Dempsey to her boss with wide eyes.
Dempsey turned to his 2 colleagues and asked them to go check the safety devices around the grounds and waited for them to leave the room before turning to Harry. Spikings sank in a nearby armchair feeling all the weight of his age at that moment.
« Harry, come sit down », he pulled her hand until she sat next to him. Holding her hands in his, he looked at her with so much sadness.
« The chief here has some news which are hard to swallow. I'm really sorry but I don't think there's any easy way to say this. O'Cryon discharged himself from the hospital and has since vanished. The issue lies with his lawyer though. He has a personal vendetta against you. »
« His lawyer? But who's he? »
« It's Robert, Harry. You're ex »