Meanwhile back at the safe house Chas had filled the fridge with food for a week and had been designated as the main liaison with the witness, he placed a meal before Robert Makepeace and saw the man's sneer at the plain meat and two veg.

'They didn't assign a chef,' the dour policeman informed his guest. 'My cooking is plain and simple but nutritious,' he was a bit defensive as he couldn't cook for toffee and had argued a bit about being head cook and bottle washer as it wasn't his idea of field work.

Dempsey who was reasonable in the kitchen but didn't want to talk to Robert more than he had to had pulled the rank card and that was the end of that.

'Vice would give you a chef; probably serve up your balls as an entrée,' Dempsey pointed out pleasantly. 'Put the pizza on Chas, I don't like English food.' He'd seen Chas's cooking and decided his waistline would have to take the hit, he flicked through the evening paper and dragged on a cigar his feet up on the coffee table.

Watson came in and returned his gun to the shoulder holster. 'Nothing to report, all's clear,' Dempsey gave him that look and he gave an internal groan; the Yank could be really picky when it came to detail.

'You checked the neighbourhood for new cars?' Dempsey looked over at him, 'well go and do that Sergeant, we've got precious cargo here,' he resumed his perusal of the paper whilst Watson went out. He quite liked watching the team jump to his command it amused him.

'So Harriet actually spends every day with you,' Robert found it hard to believe that his aristocratic wife could get on with this thug. 'I can't imagine that you have much in common.' He uttered his pronouncement in such disdainful terms it would have been difficult not to take offence.

'We rub along, bring different talents to the team, hey Chas did you get the extra pepperoni and the chilli oil,' Dempsey yelled at the man in the kitchen. He was deliberately hamming it up to annoy Bobby as he'd decided to call him. 'Bobby Mack here could probably do with some salt and pepper, you British are mean with the condiments,' he added in a confiding tone. Although looking at the food he doubted whether a shake of salt and pepper could cheer that up the gravy was a grey colour and he wasn't quite sure how Chas had managed that.

'I wouldn't mind pizza,' Robert muttered pushing around the mashed potatoes in the watery gravy, Sergeant Jarvis's cooking skills weren't anything to write home about that was obvious and Makepeace was wondering whether the team would take turns or he could ask for a take out.

'Well you can't have that yet as our instructions are you've had a plain diet in the prison and we don't want you to get a touch of Mussolini's revenge.' Chas here has to do the cleaning and he's against it.'

'Harriet must be the department pin up, she certainly must cheer up that scene; a bit of a change from all those hairy arsed coppers,' he muttered looking round at the all-male protection detail. He was curious as to what the American boor thought of his ex-wife. He didn't think Dempsey's team had bothered to bathe at all while they'd been on the detail he sniffed disdainfully his nostrils offended.

'Not allowed to comment on the personal appearance of staff as it can be considered sexist,' Dempsey responded tongue in cheek. 'I've been told that a few times. Anyway, this ain't no beauty pageant we're here to keep you safe, buddy boy.' He had to admit that he preferred Harry's subtle perfume to the guy stench; someone had obviously forgotten the deodorant and it wasn't him.

'My name is Robert Makepeace or Mr. Makepeace or even sir,' the witness responded in icy tones. 'I won't answer to Buddy or Bobby.' He detested Dempsey and his macho swagger.

'You'll answer to the Queen of Sheba if I tell you to,' Dempsey responded in a dry tone with a hint of humour. 'I'm being nice so far.' The American was enjoying letting out his inner thug as Harry called it when she was in one of her snippy moods. Now he was missing her snippy moods; must have got it bad.

'Pizza,' Chas plonked the plate down in front of his colleague. 'Rhubarb and custard for afters sir; are you finished with your main course?' He addressed Robert Makepeace and could see Dempsey smirking out of the corner of his eye.

'Yes thank you, please remove it and no afters,' Robert said 'afters' in a glacial tone as he moved away from the table and threw himself on the couch picking up a book and ignoring the protection team.

'Fry up tomorrow morning Bobby, maybe you'll fancy that. Chas ain't much of a cook so maybe I'll lend a hand or if you've got a classy way with eggs you can have a go yourself. I like eggs benedict but we probably don't have the sauce for that.' Dempsey shovelled in the pizza and was passed a beer by Chas; he belched loudly after gulping some. He gave a big grin at that which got wider as Mr. Makepeace looked disgusted.

-oOo-

Dempsey stood outside the public telephone box waiting his turn. It was currently occupied by a dame who seemed to have a pile of change and no end to her conversation; it was a freezing cold day and his feet were like blocks of ice. He'd learnt from Chas that Harry was at Angela's for lunch today and he wanted to hear his partner's voice.

After another five minutes he'd had enough and he opened the door, 'c'mon lady my wife's having a baby and I need to make a call.' The woman eyed him dubiously but pocketed her change and said her goodbyes to whoever was getting the ear bashing. 'Thanks,' he grated as he pushed his way inside the box.

He dialled the number and asked Angela to put Harry on. He waited and his heart beat got faster as she picked up the receiver. 'Hey babe, how are you.' Harry sounded surprised to hear from him. 'Heard from the guys you were gonna be there and since I'm on a payphone I guess its discrete contact.'

'I'm fine bogged down in a fraud case with the very charming Inspector Booth; well he thinks he's charming anyway. How about you how's it going?' Harry was cool and polite as she responded but there was no warmth in her reply.

Dempsey picked up on that; did Makepeace sound a little off maybe he was imagining it. 'Boring and routine so far,' he growled. 'Look why don't I do a midnight raid on your place; I'm sick of the male company. C'mon Harry you know you'd like that,' he grinned imagining her snooty response.

'As delightful as that would be it would be a waste of time because I'm staying with Angela tonight and we're having one of those girl to girl chats. In fact she told me that she happened to meet you in the Dorchester Hotel a few weeks back.' Harry was upset that James had obviously intercepted Angela to talk about her past and that made her totally paranoid that he would talk to her ex-husband about her and she was burning with humiliation at that thought.

'Chance meeting passed the time of day what's wrong with that,' he rolled his eyes Harry was bright and she'd be onto the set-up with Pearce-Wynding in a hot minute.

'Don't you dare bullshit me, Dempsey.' she said obviously annoyed, 'you put Henry up to that meeting,' Harry's blue eyes flashed with annoyance he couldn't think she was that stupid.

'Hey, we were talking about your crowd and I mentioned Angela and he said he'd look her up nothing wrong with that. How are they getting on?' He grimaced knowing he wasn't likely to divert her that easily.

'You're so manipulative,' she hissed down the phone at him. 'Anyway you'll have plenty of opportunity to get first-hand information since you're babysitting my ex-husband. I'm sure he'll be only too happy to tell you my shortcomings.'

'Sweetheart, I know all about your shortcomings I've lived with them for three years,' he growled annoyed this conversation wasn't going the way he wanted it to. 'Add to that the only person I want to hear about your past from is you; Angela just said that he blamed you for his cheating and that's all she wrote.'

'I don't talk about it because I don't want to talk about it,' she responded in a defensive tone. 'It was a difficult time for me,' her voice held a slight tremor. Harry just wished that the past could stay buried she was tormented by the thought of Robert regaling James with her failure in the bedroom.

Dempsey could see this conversation wasn't going anywhere good and decided he'd have to give some to get some. 'I miss you,' his tone deepened as he made the admission. 'Can't wait for this gig to finish; I'm sorry you're upset, Harry. Guess I realised you were a little gun shy and I just wanted to make sure I didn't spook you by triggering something.'

Harry sighed and let go of her anger she was touched he'd found a way to contact her. 'I miss you too,' she responded softly her mood improved a little by his confession. She knew it took a lot for him to be open with her as he found it difficult to talk about his emotions.

'Gotta go and make sure Chas ain't killed the witness with his cooking, keep it warm princess,' he smirked knowing how much she hated his innuendo filled comments and hoping it would bring back the feisty Harry he'd fallen for.

'I can promise you it will be piping hot when you return,' she gave a shaky laugh; Dempsey always improved her mood even when he was being irritating.

The American smiled and wished he could be by her side he had a feeling Harry needed him although she'd never admit it. It was killing him not being there for her and that's why he'd frozen his butt off waiting to make the call. 'You're getting better at the flirting, bye sweetheart.' When he rang off he felt like the colour had drained from his world and he just wanted to be back at Harry's getting cosy with a glass of wine and making her feel good.

Angela smiled at her friend encouragingly when she came back into the room. 'James is on your side Harry, he'd do anything for you; you know that. He won't be put off by anything Robert says.'

'I hope not; it's just that for years I felt…. I've wanted to be close to James for such a long time but I was scared I wouldn't be enough; after all I wasn't enough for Robert that was pretty clear.' She picked up her wine glass and stared into it. 'Dempsey and I score points off each other all the time and I felt I'd lose my edge with him if he found me lacking in that way.'

'How's the sex life?' Angela picked up an olive and bit into it her eyes amused but kind on her friend. She had a feeling that Harry's James would be dynamite in the bedroom or anywhere else come to think of it.

'Terrific,' she answered awkwardly, picking up her wine glass her colour fluctuating a little. 'Different, it's easy to be physical with James he's so relaxed about it.' It was true, he was comfortable in his own skin that way and it allowed her to be the same.

'Well then, there you are. Robert was a first class louse and you've waited too long to find someone who would deserve you and now you have. Angela raised her glass, 'to men, who are terrific,' she toasted her friend.

'I'll drink to that,' Harry responded feeling a little better. She knew the doubts would nag at her later but just for now she enjoyed the warm glow that Dempsey's phone call had given her and the calm common-sense and good humour of her friend.

-oOo-

Whilst Dempsey was out of the house Robert tried to pump Chas for information on Harriet and her partner. He accepted a cup of coffee which seemed to be Nescafe or worse Maxwell House and pretended to appreciate it. 'I suppose it's unusual having a male and female team in your department.'

'Well we have D.I. Makepeace she's a good copper and she has to partner someone, they make a good team; read each other well,' the Scot offered his charge a jammy dodger; it was refused.

'And what about off duty do they read each other well there too, if you know what I mean?' The barrister could be charming when he wanted to be and had decided to be chummy to get the inside track on Harriet and the brash Yank. 'They must get quite close spending all that time together.'

'Move in different circles I would think,' Chas was quite adept at playing it dumb, he did it with Spikings all the time. 'We all go to the pub now and again but that's about it I would imagine.'

'Come on now, I know you guys and office gossip. Is he getting into my wife's knickers that's what I want to know,' Robert's tone had got nastier as he talked to the dumb cop.

'Ex-wife,' Chas responded dryly. 'No business of mine sir, and no business of yours either if you don't mind my saying so, you could always try asking Dempsey.'

'Ask me what,' Dempsey came back through the door stamping his feet and blowing into his hands looking from one to the other.

'Forget it,' Robert responded icily. 'This is disgusting,' he thrust the coffee back at Chas, 'I'd stick to the day job if I were you.'

-oOo-

A week later they needed to make another move which was always the most dangerous part of the operation. Dempsey sat with Chas and planned it out. 'We've had two locations suggested but then Vice could get wind of them as budget cuts mean they've been used before. 'I've talked to Lord Winfield and there's a Hunting Lodge at his place we could use which has nice open views so we can see trouble coming plus there are a few tricks that we can use to get us out of there if we get surrounded.'

Chas was cautious. 'What does Spikings say?' He knew Dempsey could go rogue if he felt the situation demanded it but he needed his salary and pension and would much prefer to go by the book.

'He doesn't know and it's better for him if he don't or can say he didn't. You can give him the inside track if you like but tell him I'm taking the hit on this if it goes wrong.' Dempsey had a lot of respect for his senior officer and didn't want the chief taken down if he screwed up.

'Okay, I'll tell him. Is Lord Winfield doing this because he's Robert Makepeace's former father in law?' Chas was curious as to why Harry's father would help them; he couldn't imagine that the D.I.'s father would have warm feelings towards someone who'd hurt his daughter.

'Nope he's doing it because he'd like the pain-in-the-ass, bastard on a different continent. Under all that genial bluster he's a tough cookie. Look Chas we don't have too much longer to look after the witness. And personally I'll be cheering when someone else gets the care of the charmless, jerk. Just trust me on this I've done a lot of this kind of stuff.'

-oOo-

Spikings listened to Chas and nodded as he understood the Yank's reasoning. 'I'll officially condone this when it's over, Dempsey doesn't need to risk his career over this. Put in the paperwork for the submission of the location for my approval; do it on one of those floppy disks things and put in the safe with a for the attention of. We're close now we're not risking this operation for a bit of protocol.'

'I'll get one of our teams up to the Winfield estate with carefully chosen personnel which I'll supervise and even taking those precautions I think we'll have a battle on our hands as I'll have to tell Knocker in Vice and depending on who he needs to tell that could be problematical. Actually thinking on that I'll ask Knocker who he does need to tell; might be able to clean up their act for them if one of them squeals.

-oOo-

Harry had moved into the Spikings household on the Chief Superintendent's recommendation. He'd called her into his office and asked her to sit down. 'I'll get right to the point Harry, there's a lot of heat going down to shall we say locate Robert Makepeace. In addition to that this force is as leaky as a sieve and the traffickers will know that D.I. Dempsey is leading the operation.'

He took out a cigarette and lit it and inhaled. 'You have an association with both men and that makes you a target for the villains who will by now be getting very focussed on exploiting any said vulnerability.'

'I see,' she held his gaze. 'Well where would you suggest I go, I suppose my home is out of the question? Are you suggesting a safe house?' Harry ran her arms around her body defensively wishing she was with her partner he always managed to raise her spirits when she felt under threat.

'No I'm not, you're coming with me and my home is going to be protected by a squad of woodentops so we should be fine, after that we're going to join Dempsey at an undisclosed location. You're not going home to pack, my wife has been shopping for clothes in your size and toiletries so good luck with that.' His wife favoured certain designers that Spikings found hard on his pocket and hard to like. Harry always looked very nice so he hoped Jane had reined it in a bit.

'I'm sure I'm very grateful to Mrs Spikings,' Harry responded in her upper class, most polite manner.

'Good, well let's go.' Spikings didn't really want his team getting an insight into his home life but if he had to have any of them in residence Harry would be his preference as she was discrete and wouldn't go blabbing about the colour of his bathroom suite or his wife's sharp tongue.

-oOo-

Harry lay in bed that night in one of the spare rooms at the Spikings residence. The crisp, cool cotton of the sheets settled around her. She mused on her host's relationship; even though Jane and Gordon were combative they obviously had a strong if fiery relationship. Harry smiled, they were old marrieds' but it was nice she wondered if she would ever get there with Dempsey.

Images of her relationship with Robert reared there ugly head. 'You look like you'd be good lay but it's like screwing a corpse; why can't you be like Lisa she knows what she's doing in the sack; everyone has threesomes these days why are you so screwed up; I'd ask you to go down on me but you'd probably end up in the basement.'

Endless taunts, all cruel and demeaning, would Robert repeat them to James. She bit her lip to keep the tears back. She'd loved Robert or thought she had and it had all been such a disappointment; is that why she'd picked someone his total opposite? No, that wasn't right; she hadn't exactly picked James he'd just gradually become essential to her because of who he was not as a reaction to someone else.

Her thoughts went round and round like a hamster on a wheel. Dempsey had realised she wasn't like other women that's why he'd arranged the meet with Angela to find out why she was the way she was. Would he be able to resist getting the inside track off her ex. Oh God, why couldn't she just be enough?

-oOo-

Robert Makepeace was surprised when Dempsey drew up outside the Hunting Lodge on the Winfield Estate. 'This is the safe house? Are you out of your mind! Winfield hates me and always has done.'

'I'm not privy to that information; this is a good location as it's easy to defend. We're close now and you'll get taken out of here by helicopter to the court. You'll be safer when you've given your testimony; course they may try and off you for revenge but I'd say they'd have more to worry about. I can vouch for Lord Winfield's discretion it took a bit of persuasion to get his permission for this; didn't want to disturb the ground nesting birds.'

'And you're familiar with Lord Winfield I suppose,' Robert sneered at that. 'I'd be surprised if you've ever met.' Robert found it offensive that a mannerless oaf like Dempsey would have any communication with the aristocracy. Makepeace himself always found Winfield to be cold and unwelcoming and he'd been barely tolerated because of Harriet.

'Colour yourself surprised then,' Dempsey responded in an even tone. He barked a series of instructions to the team and unlocked the door and told Makepeace to go in.

'Okay Bobby, got to tell you this is the time we're most likely to get hit so you will need to wear protective clothing,' he threw the other man a set of gear. 'Your former friends' will be throwing money around like confetti to find out where you are and if we have a weak link they'll find it. Jesus,' Dempsey said hit by a sudden thought. 'Watson, take care of Mr. Makepeace I need to make a call.'

He got hold of Spikings on a private frequency they'd arranged. 'Boss you've got to secure Harry it suddenly struck me they could go for her; she's close to me and Robert Makepeace. If they know I'm on the operation which is likely, they'll make the link.'

'Yes I know that detective,' Spikings responded wearily; he often wondered if his team thought he'd just come down with the last shower. 'D.I. Makepeace is secured, don't worry I can personally vouch for that. I'm expecting an attack on your location keep your head down and follow the plan; backup has been arranged under my supervision.'

'Roger that,' Dempsey growled eyeing the dusky rural landscape. He went back into the house from the car and took his position; they had security lighting around the lodge but that could be taken out quite easily.

Robert Makepeace was lighting a cigarette and watching the men take their positions around the house. 'I hope your team's up to this,' he muttered. 'So far they seem an unprepossessing bunch and you seem to be some kind of egotistical maverick. I bet you're the type that gets turned on by a bitch like my ex-wife and I bet you fantasise that there's fire under all that ice. There isn't there's just more ice, she's never had anyone like that since me, I know that because I've kept tabs on her. I could turn on the charm and get back in her knickers in a heartbeat.'

'That right,' Dempsey responded in a bored tone. 'Sounds to me like you might of put her off dating guys rather than spoilt them for her,' he drawled lighting up a cigar. 'In my experience a man who suggests a woman's frigid is usually a man who can't light a fire with a blow torch.' He gave a low laugh and held the other man's gaze his expression hard and unrelenting. 'And a word of warning D.I. Makepeace is a highly respected officer and a well-liked member of SI10 and since your ass is on the line you might want to think about that.'

'Are you threatening me,' Makepeace blustered annoyed at the Yank's disdainful response he'd expected to hit a nerve as he suspected any man who'd spent time with Harriet. She was beautiful and he was possessive and jealous of her even now after all these years.

'No I'm not threatening you, but there's a bunch of guys approaching that might be, 'incoming,' he yelled out to the team. 'Chas send the signal out now.' Gun fire could be heard and the security lights were hit.

'Right Robert, listen to me and I'm gonna tell you what we're gonna do,' Dempsey got hold of the guy's collar. 'There's a passage that leads from here to the Hall and we're gonna leave by that. Now don't panic and follow me.' He moved from room to room and then pressed a panel in what looked like a pantry and the door swung open. 'In,' he hissed at Makepeace's ex.'

'How do I know this isn't a trick,' Robert was panicking the pallor of his skin pale and sweat drenched.

'Well you don't but my men are protecting this place and people are shooting at them so I suggest you get your ass moving, cos when you do they can maybe follow us and get out of here with their lives.' Dempsey yelled the last part and gave the witness an encouraging shove and then half pushed and half dragged him down the passage.

It took the best part of half an hour to get to the main house and then to the helicopter waiting at the rear. Dempsey got into the chopper with the protectee, Chas and Watson and then radioed Spikings for the all clear. 'Is everything okay,' he asked knowing Spikings would know what he was asking.

'A few scratches and a graze from a bullet but we're in good shape here Dempsey, get the witness to the holding cell and your part of the operation is over.'

Spikings team had had a hard time as there'd been a sizeable force of men to contend with but as they hadn't expected SI10's and Vice's back-up teams they'd had the element of surprise which just showed you some of those Vice boys were decent coppers.

'Roger that,' Dempsey responded grimly. 'Let's go,' he spoke through his microphone to the pilot and the rotor blades whined as they took off. His dark eyes met those of Robert Makepeace and he let his contempt show the guy had been a whimpering jelly as they'd made their way down the tunnel and he'd practically had to drag him most of the way. He saw the other man colour with shame but it gave him no satisfaction and he looked away in disgust.

-oOo-

At Winfield Hall Harriet's father was more concerned by Harry's demeanour than the injury to her shoulder; she was quiet and had that haunted look about her again; Robert Makepeace he supposed. That man had seriously damaged his darling Harriet and if he could have put a bullet through him he would have been sorely tempted.

'Chief Superintendent Spikings tells me that things have gone well and your team have contained the trespassers.'

Harry gave a weak smile as weeks of sleepless nights had taken their toll. 'Yes that side of things is sorted, a successful operation. Winfield Hall is secure; the lodge will need a bit of work though.'

'Don't worry about that it's only bricks and mortar in the end. Your partner Dempsey, the awful Yank as you used to call him, took Robert off in a helicopter a while ago so hopefully that piece of business is over.' James had told him to look after Harry for him and he meant to.

'Yes,' she answered in a tired voice. 'Sorry Freddie, do you mind if I go to my room for a while; I haven't slept very well lately.' The dark rings around her eyes and her loss of weight spoke to her distress; her father had noticed but hadn't commented.

'Of course darling, go and get some rest,' he smiled at her fondly but his expression was seriously worried when she left his presence. She needed Dempsey to cheer her up; even if they were fighting all the time that man brought colour to Harry's cheeks.