Harry had an extremely tedious day going through the accounts of Van der Bilt & Farrel but she had found some discrepancies which she'd sent to the Metropolitan Police's finance department to get an expert opinion. They were looking into a fraud case which had two bodies in the morgue attached to it; very large sums of money were involved and when that was the case people, quite often, weren't very nice to each other.

'You may as well call it a day Harry, you can't do much more until the bean counters have taken a look at your findings,' Spikings looked round. 'Where's Dempsey? I see he's left you with all the paperwork as usual.'

'Here boss,' the American entered the room creating the usual wave of energy in his wake. He sat on Harry's desk. 'Van der Bilt's having an affair with a very attractive young lady; she works in the personnel department of his company so I thought I could maybe engage her in conversation and see what I could find out. And apparently the lady and Van der Bilt regularly go to Dubai for long weekends and when they do he takes a lot of samples over to exhibit although she's never been to any kind of exhibition. May be just a dirty weekend could be some kind of illegal transfer of money or gems, whatever. We should get customs to check it out; next visit's at the end of the month.'

'Worth following up,' Spikings stroked his chin. 'Harry's found some errors in the company's accounting we're just having it checked out before we make a move; and the report comes back from the morgue tomorrow on the two unfortunate board members who are now stiffs. I could do with a pint, you two coming?' He walked to the door, 'I'm paying if I didn't make that clear.'

'Hard to refuse,' Dempsey responded with dry sarcasm. 'C'mon babe, the man's buying.' They followed the boss out and over to the local and sat at a table with Chas and Watson who'd gone over earlier and kept their seats warm.

Henry Pearce-Wynding made to come over and join them but Dempsey got up and turned his new buddy round and headed him back towards the bar and bought him a drink on Spikings tab.

'Makepeace don't need to know about your meet with Angela, girls are terrible gossips can't keep a thing to themselves.' He could see that Wynding wanted to buddy up with him as the guy nodded conspiratorially. 'Guys don't need to tell the girls all their business that's all I'm saying. How'd it go anyway; she's an attractive lady?'

'Very well, it was good to catch up; you're not dating Angela are you?' Henry didn't want to step on any toes and the comment about the red dress had made him wonder. He looked relieved when the Lieutenant said no. 'What about Harry,' he wasn't clear on Dempsey's relationship with her.

'Harry's my partner; I vet all her dates though and if I don't trust them then they may find a little heat coming their way if you know what I mean.' Since Dempsey was well known for supplying heat Henry knew exactly what he meant. 'I have a very distrustful nature cos Harry's a lady and I wouldn't want to see anyone take advantage of her capiche?'

Henry wasn't too sure whether Dempsey was getting rid of any contenders for Harry's favours or he was just being a good friend but he did get the distinct impression that he was being warned off.

Makepeace was immediately suspicious at the buddy relationship between Henry and Dempsey; Dempsey usually had SI10's general macho attitude towards other divisions and wasn't keen on fraternising unless he wanted to know something. Chas and Harry usually played the diplomatic role and were well liked in the force which was a credit to them as most of the teams resented SI10's special status and license to carry arms at all times.

Dempsey sat back down next to Harry and put his arm along the back of the leather backed seat they were occupying basically including Harry in his personal space and threatening hers.

'Am I crowding you Lieutenant,' Harry asked with her usual cool tone although she actually felt rather warm and could see Spikings mouth twitch with amusement.

'Nope I'm fine,' he smiled at her smugly. 'I'm trying to help you with your campaign if the guys' think I'm interested in you; you'll get more votes.'

'Votes,' she turned to look at him and looked confused, where the hell was he going with this?

'Top bird,' he responded tongue in cheek, 'according to a reliable source I'm the top bloke, a diamond geezer so if I take an interest in you then you're status improves.' He lifted a beer to his mouth amused at Harry's pissed off expression.

'You're not much of a detective if you don't know that everyone on the force thinks you're interested in Sergeant Makepeace the question has always been is she interested in you.' Spikings took a long draught of beer his gaze amused as he watched the pair of them.

Dempsey's eyes ran over Harry in a rather unsubtle masculine appreciation she recognised from days of yore. 'That's cos she looks the way she does; if they didn't think that they'd be saying I batted for the other side,' Dempsey saw off the boss's intervention with ease as he was used to those kind of games.

He looked over at the bar, 'lusty Linda's just come in and word is she's going out with Tratter's DI,' he dropped his arm around Harry's shoulder, 'so D.C. Harmon thinks she's on the podium already. Almost makes me want to run interference; you know the path of true love never runs smooth.'

Watson grinned at him, 'a tenner says you'd crash and burn; you know the old saying an Inspector in the hand is worth more than a Yank in the bush,' he laughed along with the rest of the male contingent.

'Where's your loyalty?' Dempsey looked at them with mock outrage, 'we gotta support Harry she's got ambitions here.' He could sense Harry's body stiffening with annoyance without the embrace. He wondered why she was getting in such a snit as she was the one who wanted them to act like normal.

'Well perhaps I should run interference on D.I. Andrews,' Harry offered batting her eyelashes and deciding to stick it to her partner since he was being so irritating. She shrugged his arm off her shoulders and went to powder her nose. On the way out of the ladies she was greeted by Nathan Andrews who wasn't actually in a relationship with D.C. Harmon but had taken her on a one night only deal.

'Harry,' he smiled. 'Buy you a drink,' he was surprised when she accepted as normally she'd have the Yank at her side and flirting with Makepeace whilst Dempsey was in hearing range bought you nothing.

Harry's enjoyment of Nathan Andrew's company was enlivened by Dempsey's expression changing to what could only be called unfriendly. She felt very sexually powerful all of a sudden as Andrew's was clearly smitten and James was jealous. She supposed her relationship with Dempsey had given her back some of the confidence she'd lost with her ex.

'It's nice to talk to you Harry, don't often get the chance as you're usually attached to the Lieutenant. I hear your promotion is just a matter of paperwork you must be pleased.'

Harry smiled politely, she was well aware she had to work harder than any male to get the same status and she was also well aware she was more intelligent than most of the bone heads in the force. 'It will be different directing the operations rather than always being on the front line but its a new challenge so I'm looking forward to it.'

'How about Dempsey can't imagine him sitting back and letting go of the action,' Nathan smirked as if he'd landed one on the yank. 'More of an action man I hear a regular one man army.'

'Not exactly, he's usually partnered with me so we're a two person army,' Harry smiled to take the sting out of her words. 'D.C. Harmon is over there I hear you're an item if office gossip is to be believed.' Her blue eyes were innocent of guile as she looked up questioningly at the D.I.

'Not really, gave her a lift home after the last time we were in here with your crowd, you know what the blokes are like worse gossips than women when it comes down to it. What about you Harry are you seeing anyone?'

That was difficult as far as the force was concerned she wasn't seeing the Lieutenant on a personal basis on the other hand she didn't really want to give the chaps any more to gossip about by flirting or accepting a date with D.I. Andrews. As she was pondering her answer Dempsey rode up at her shoulder. She'd subliminally registered he'd gone to the gents and had half expected an intervention.

'Andrews,' Dempsey nodded in acknowledgement. 'Spikings wants a word told me to tell ya,' he took a certain malicious satisfaction as the guy went off to speak to the boss. 'What the hell are you doing, Harry?'

'Trying to improve my score but then I thought maybe I was improving Andrews' so I was debating my response as to whether I was seeing anyone,' she raised her eyebrows questioningly. 'What's wrong with you? You seem agitated,' she smiled coquettishly into his face. 'I thought you liked the new me with my inner glow and swaying hips.'

'Makes me feel like Svengali and we all know how that went?' He liked the fact that she was coming out of her shell so he wasn't going to come on heavy because of that. 'You got that I'm jealous right?' He saw her smile widen but he didn't begrudge her the win.

'I got that,' she looked up at him with an imp of mischief. 'Are you running interference because I think I was going to get asked out by a Detective Inspector, she made a little 'woo' sound of appreciation with her lips that had Dempsey transfixed as he watched their moist invitation.

'Don't do that to me in public Makepeace unless you want my tongue down your throat and an ass grab,' he put his hand on her waist and guided her back to their seats. 'Got the princess back to the castle before she did anything rash,' he growled. 'Don't want the guys' accusing Makepeace of fraternization with Tratter's team; tar and feathers ain't pretty.'

'Very good Lieutenant, kind of you to take one for the team,' Spikings observed tongue in cheek. 'As you sent DI Andrews over here for a conversation that I'd unknowingly requested; it reminded me of an instruction I've had from upstairs about inter-departmental relations and the lack thereof. So I've invited Andrews to spend one day a week with us for the near future and I'm assigning Makepeace as our liaison. I've got a bonus riding on this so no funny business and no practical jokes or you'll have hell riding on your back.' He glowered round at them to show no-one was exempt.

'Don't worry sir I'm sure we'll get on like a house on fire,' Harry was trying to suppress a bubble of laughter as she could sense Dempsey's annoyance. 'I won't let you down,' she accepted a fresh drink from Chas and gave her partner a sparkling smile; his glower of disapproval wasn't totally unexpected.

The argument afterwards was run of the mill.

'Now look at what you've done,' Dempsey fumed as she started the engine of the car to drive them home. 'I suppose you'll like Andrews drooling all over you, you'd better freeze him off or I ain't answerable.'

'What I've done! You're the one who started the whole 'top bird' thing and you're the one that sent Nathan over to speak to Spikings. Spikings can't resist payback he's as bad as you if not worse.' Harry concentrated on driving whilst trying to ignore the seething mass of testosterone sitting in the passenger seat.

'Nathan, you're calling him Nathan now that's nice; took you forever to call me James,' he sent her an angry look. It seemed to him that since he'd told her he cared she'd started to play him.

'Well I had so many names for you and James didn't regularly turn up as the appropriate choice,' she responded in combative style. 'Bastard Yank was quite popular, man-whore was a favourite, oh and charmless git was a contender and then there's my personal favourite 'he who thinks with his dick,' an endearment that still gets a certain amount of use and seems entirely appropriate for this evening.'

'Just drop me off at my place you're not getting sex because you're too annoying,' his face was dark with anger and he was well aware he was cutting off his nose to spite his face because he was more than keen on sex with Harry. That truth didn't improve his mood but somehow he didn't think she was ready for angry sex just yet.

'I'll do better than that I'll drop you off here as your place isn't on my route, there's a taxi rank on the corner,' she screeched the car to a halt and sat looking forward and ignoring him.

'Fine your loss,' he got out and slammed the door with unnecessary force and strode off to the taxi rank. He was so mad with her it was a relief to get out of her aggravating presence.

Harry gave an exasperated sigh and put her forehead momentarily on the steering wheel, she really didn't like falling out with James he was stubborn and could take a while to get back on side. She took a deep breath and started the car maybe they needed some space it had been a roller coaster ride over the last few weeks and suddenly she felt exhausted.

Finally reaching home after a long day she was grateful to close the door on the rest of the world and quickly moved into the bathroom to wash off her make-up and brush her teeth. She put on her comfortable pyjamas and brushed her hair, her blue eyes in the bathroom mirror looked troubled and vulnerable and she groaned. Should she ring him? Harry was deliberating the matter when her phone rang. She answered it announcing her name.

'Just checking you got home okay there was an accident on the north circular heard it on the taxi radio,' Dempsey's deep tones caressed her ear.

'Yes I saw it, looked nasty,' she responded in a soft tone, 'held me up a bit,' she was touched that he'd been concerned about her and the anger dissipated.

'I'll pick you up tomorrow and bring breakfast,' he offered in a much more pleasant tone than he'd used in the car. 'But only if you say thank you James and not any of those other nice names you got for me.'

Harry smiled and her eyes sparkled. 'Thank you James, I'll look forward to it,' she felt disappointed when he said goodnight as she really would have preferred to talk to him for a bit longer.

An hour later a warm embrace surrounded her and she woke up and stared at him her eyes soft and unfocussed, 'I thought you were bringing breakfast,' she whispered surprised he'd come over.

'I did croissants in your oven ready to be heated up,' he pulled her to him and gave a soft groan of approval as she settled on his chest. He caught her hand as it started to roam. 'Still angry, wouldn't treat you right,' he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, 'in this for the long term Harry not just to jump your bones.'

'That's almost romantic,' she nuzzled into him. 'Not at all like you.' She mulled over his words and had to admit to being fascinated by what he meant, 'were you hinting at pleasing dominance or the other kind,' she murmured in a teasing tone.

'Well that just it isn't it,' he growled as he suddenly turned her under him and looked down at her his eyes dark in the dimmed light of the bedroom, he could see that she wasn't so sure of herself now and could feel it in the way her body tensed under his. 'You'd have to be the one to judge.' He kept the position of dominance for a few seconds and then relaxed and rolled onto his back and pulled her into her former position on his chest.

'Point taken,' she said quietly as she settled down but she had to admit he'd got her hormones dancing, Dempsey did a mean line in intimidation and she had a feeling he'd just tempered it with her, enough to make the point but no more. She took a bow to feminism but although not politically correct it had been an incredible turn on.

'Go to sleep and stop wriggling like that,' he growled; the way she was squirming was provocative and she kept pressing against his dick which wasn't helping.

'That's easy for you to say,' she muttered as her body was stinging in all her sensitive spots which made settling down for the night difficult.

'No it isn't,' he muttered irritably tipping her off his chest and turning his back on her.

'Charming,' she turned her back on him and tried to go to sleep but in the end settled for a pleasant set of fantasies, nothing too lurid of course, until sleep claimed her.

-oOo-

Harry woke up as she smelt coffee; coffee meant Dempsey as she rarely made it in the morning unless he was here. She looked over at the dent in the pillow and remembered last night. He'd been a perfect gentleman which should have been nice but somehow wasn't. He was up first which was unheard of so he was obviously still in that mode; maybe he was still mad at her. She got out of bed and pulled on a blue, silk robe and padded out to the kitchen.

'Morning,' he pointed at the seat next to the kitchen table with a spatula. He opened the oven and got out the croissants and put one on her plate and went back to the scrambled eggs. 'Tea's in the pot only just brewed so it should be fine. You want some eggs?'

'Croissant's fine,' she responded pleasantly. 'This is very nice,' she thanked him with a warm smile.

'Good,' he sat down across the table and drank back some coffee his gaze running over the pretty picture she made with the cream satin pyjamas and blue robe. 'I think we need some ground rules,' he leant forward. 'We're exclusive right,' he felt rather better when she nodded even though she looked a bit taken aback by the question. 'Okay so when Andrews visits I don't want any funny business cos the guy has a thing for you, Harry.'

Harry's eyes widened with exasperation. 'When have you known me get up to funny business,' she picked up her tea. 'You're the funny business expert as far as I'm aware; I've been a nun for years until you scaled the walls of the convent. I hardly think this conversation is necessary.'

He gave her a considering glance then laughed at her summary of the situation. 'Yeah, well now that I've got rid of the habit you're kind of a new you and that you seems to take pleasure from yanking my chain.'

'I always took pleasure from that,' Harry responded sipping her tea, 'it's payback for all the sexist comments and innuendo. And since you scaled the walls and stripped off my habit I think the problem is the new you; you've become jealous and possessive.'

'Jesus is this conversation turning you on cos it's doing it for me,' he smiled over at her his eyes twinkling.

'Yes,' she laughed as he bore down on her and picked her up.

'Last night was a bitch,' he growled as he pushed the door open with his shoulder and dropped her gently on her feet; her robe and pyjamas were off in seconds and she had to admire his speed in getting naked; years of practice she assumed.

'Are you still mad at me,' she whispered as she landed with her back on the mattress; her arms linking round his neck.

'A little bit,' a smile tugged at his mouth, 'you want me to play it rough Sergeant because I can do that but with you being a lady and all I've taken it out of my repertoire.

'Oh really,' she ran her hand over his chest and the down past his abs, 'and there was me thinking you were the SI10 hard man,' she smirked as she reached her target.

'Yeah really, quite happy for you to take charge,' his hand went over hers to show her how he liked to be touched. 'Get on top Harry it's time we promoted you,' his eyes darkened as she took up the challenge, there was no way he was giving this up and anyone that got between him and Harry was in major trouble.