Due to circumstances, it took me a little longer to finish this (rather short) chapter, but I haven't given up! Hopefully, you haven't either. Please, let me know what you think of this chapter as I always appreciate your comments very much.

Dear Night Owl22, thank you so much for the valuable feedback you have given me in the past. I really hope I won't disappoint you!

At the beginning of this chapter, I'm taking you all back in time just a little, to the moment when Dempsey rushed out of the room to catch up with Spikings. And Harry keeps her father company while waiting patiently for her partner's return..., or not?

Chapter 10 : Mission Accomplished

Lord Winfield sat in his comfortable armchair near the window sipping his scotch and Harry poured herself a glass of her favourite champagne, when Dempsey helter-skelter dashed out of the study to catch up with Spikings. Harry looked up, disturbed by the unexpected commotion, and almost spilled some of the exquisite champagne.

What was that all about? What did he forget to tell Spikings?

She put the bottle back in the cooler and took a sip of her glass, eyeing the door suspiciously.

Surely, he wouldn't try to convince Spikings to let him go to Hyde Park, tomorrow?

Even though she was confident that the Chief Superintendent would stick to his guns about allowing Dempsey to go to the meeting with his assailants, the blonde detective had an uneasy feeling about it. After all, she knew from experience how persuasive her partner could be. How often hadn't she given in to his crazy ideas, against better judgement? And if there was something she had learned over the last couple of years, it was that her partner was capable of anything! She took another sip, before putting her glass on the small table beside her father's armchair.

That's it! I need to know what he's up to!

Instead of taking a seat next to her father, she turned around and stepped resolutely to the door, making a vague excuse that 'she urgently had to do something but she'd be back soon.'

Harry quickly left the room, leaving alone her perplexed father. With swift pace, she went down the hallway. Halfway through the long corridor, she could already hear the voices of Spikings and Dempsey, quietly at first but gradually increasing in volume with every step she took. Judging by the sound, she estimated they were standing in the main hall of the mansion, at the foot of the stairs.

Harry had almost reached the stairs, but halted abruptly when she heard Dempsey mentioning her name. She stood listening in silence, out of sight of the two men. Her eyes opened wide, when she overheard her partner requesting Spikings not to tell her about their conversation.

Damn you, Dempsey, you devious bastard! Even after all we've been through together, you still try to keep me out of things!

She was about to go downstairs in a blind rage to tell him exactly what she thought of him, when she heard Spikings ask 'Why not?' It took her a lot of willpower to restrain herself, curious to hear what reason Dempsey would come up with, and how the boss would react.

When she heard her partner explain his intentions, however, her anger reduced and was replaced by growing horror. Rooted to the spot, she overheard the whole conversation.

Harry secretly encouraged Spikings for trying to talk her partner out of this crazy idea. But when she eventually heard the boss say 'I know I can't stop you from doing this, Dempsey', her mouth dropped open in amazement!

What do you mean, you can't stop him? If anyone can stop him, it's you! You're his superior, for god's sake!

Harry hesitated about going downstairs, to make Dempsey change his mind about his suicidal plan. If Spikings didn't have the guts to stop him, she would do it herself! But, on the other hand, she dreaded her partner's reaction, if she would have to confess that she'd overheard their conversation. Knowing him, he would be way too furious to listen to reason. She was still pondering on the pros and cons, when she heard Spikings ask him 'to wait a few more days'. With bated breath, she stood waiting for Dempsey's answer, all of her nerves tensed to the limit.

It wasn't until she heard her partner hesitantly agreeing to the proposal, that she was able to exhale again, relieved that Spikings had at least gained a few days. If it would be enough to catch the gunmen or to make Dempsey change his mind about going to New York, she wasn't quite sure, but at least it would give them a few days to come up with another solution.

But maybe there was another way to prevent him from going back to New York… Slowly, a little plan developed in her mind. She knew very well it would infuriate him, but that was the least of her worries at the moment. Right now, she had to concentrate on finding a way to stop him or at least delay him, before it would be too late. All she had to do was get into his room, unseen, and take away something. She just had to wait for the right moment...

Harry was thinking about the concrete realisation of her plan, when she suddenly heard Spikings leave the mansion. She startled and hastily made her way back to her father's study, hoping that Dempsey wouldn't come from behind the corner and spot her there. Her heart was pounding hard as she reached the room and slipped inside. She flopped down in the armchair next to her father, and pleaded him to keep quiet about her little escapade.

The poor man didn't understand any of it, but before he had the time to ask for further explanations, the door swung open and Dempsey re-entered the room. Freddy glanced from the one to the other, trying to figure out what was going on between them. As Harriet had requested, however, he didn't say a word about her earlier absence. His daughter most likely had a good reason for this secrecy towards her partner. No doubt, she would give him some clarification later…, unless it was one of those 'top-secret-things' from her work, of course.

Once she had composed herself, Harry addressed Dempsey as nonchalantly as possible. "What exactly did you have to discuss with Spikings so urgently?"

Dempsey took his glass of scotch and sat on the other armchair beside Lord Winfield. "Nothin' special. Just goin' over some details with the boss about the meetin' tomorrow…"

She frowned. "What? Did Spikings allow you to go to that meeting, after all?" she exclaimed, feeling the anger rise in her, now she was sure that he was lying to her.

"Hey, relax, will ya! Of course he didn't. Ya know very well the Chief is way too chicken for that!" he retorted slightly annoyed. "But he promised to keep us informed about any developments in the case."

It got on Harry's nerves that her partner didn't even look her in the eye while he was talking to her. She wondered if he deliberately avoided her gaze. Instead, he seemed extremely interested in the contents of his glass that he was rocking gently in his hand. He took a sip and turned to Lord Winfield. "Say Freddy, this is another scotch as the one we had yesterday, isn't it?"

"Indeed, it is. I must say, I'm quite impressed that you noticed the difference, James." A broad smile appeared on Lord Winfield's face. "You see, I thought it was time to introduce you to some of the finer spirits of our country. Now taste again and then tell me which scotch has your preference," Freddy prompted the American.

Dempsey took his time, first to study the golden liquor and then to smell its aroma, before he closed his eyes and took another swig. He opened his eyes again and nodded. "I have to admit, yesterday's scotch was very good, but this one's even better!" he reacted enthusiastically.

"Excellent choice, my friend! I thought you would like it. Very different from your American Bourbon, isn't it?" Freddy smirked. The older man was pleased to finally have a visitor who seemed genuinely interested in his favourite beverage, as it certainly wasn't his daughter's 'cup of tea'.

Soon, both men were engrossed in their conversation about the different brands of whiskey, and Harry thought now was the best time to retreat to her room. She finished her glass and excused herself, saying she would have a long hot bath, before going to bed. She gave her father a kiss on the cheek and wished both men good night. On her way to the door, her eyes met Dempsey's and for a moment she held his gaze. Just like at the lake, she saw the same worried look in his dark hazel eyes. At least now she knew more about what was going on in his mind. She so wanted to talk to him about it and make him change his mind, but she couldn't reveal that she'd overheard his conversation with Spikings. However much she hated it, her only other option was the realisation of her plan.

Once Harry was in her room, she went straight to the connecting door between her bedroom and Dempsey's. When they had arrived in Winfield Hall, she'd informed him briefly about the secret door, pointing out that it was only to be used in emergencies. During the time he was staying here, she made sure that the door stayed locked at all time. And she'd refused to give him a key, fearing he would take advantage of the situation to gain access to her room whenever he wanted. But now, the connecting door came in handy to get access to his room without being noted.

Beyond all expectations, his bedroom looked pretty neat. Probably thanks to the staff, she thought. She couldn't imagine Dempsey keeping his room so tidy. Only the chair and desk were loaded with his jacket, a pair of trousers and a couple of shirts, even though there was a huge wardrobe in the room. She shook her head. Men!

On top of the desk, half hidden underneath one of his shirts, she found his 'missing' sling.

Well, well, what have we got here? Hadn't you claimed that you couldn't find your sling anywhere, this afternoon? James Dempsey, you bloody liar! I shouldn't even be surprised if you'd deliberately hidden it, among this pile of clothes!

Shaking her head, she concentrated back on her main task. Harry knew she had not time to waste as her partner could return to his room at any moment. She quickly began to search the room, meanwhile constantly keeping tabs on the door. After she had searched the desk, she headed to the bedside table. She could feel her heart pounding as if it were to jump out of her chest, when she was going through his things.

What if he would come into his room now? What would she have to say to explain her presence here? That she'd lost an earring or so? Hell, he would never believe it! The more she thought about it, the more nervous she became. It amazed her how Dempsey always seemed so at ease, when he broke into someone's place. Wasn't he ever afraid of getting caught?

After having searched the top drawer unsuccessfully, she opened the second drawer. She went through his stuff, while muttering to herself. "It must be here, somewhere! Come on, come on, where did you put it?"

Then her face brightened as she held in her hand the ultimate piece of her victory.

Thank God, I've got it! So, if everything else would fail, this will stop you from committing the biggest stupidity of your life, Lieutenant. Let's see what you're going to do now, partner!

She quickly put everything back in place, so Dempsey wouldn't notice that someone had been in his room and had searched through his things. Then she returned to her own bedroom through the connecting door, which she carefully locked again behind her. Before taking a long, hot bath to calm her nerves, she hid the object first on a safe place in her own room. She was quite confident that he wouldn't find it there, since he never even knew it was missing…, yet.

About an hour later, Harry was lying in bed, hopelessly failing to fall asleep, even after her relaxing bath. She was still tossing and turning in bed when she heard soft footsteps approaching in the hallway. Someone went past her bedroom and halted at the adjoining room.

She lay listening quietly to the sounds that followed after that: the squeaking of the door, the footsteps entering the adjacent room ... then a moment of silence, shortly thereafter interrupted by the sound of running water in the bathroom..., footsteps again..., the creaking of the bed, eventually followed by complete silence.

No shouting? No banging on her door?

Relieved, she turned on her side and pulled the duvet a little higher. Less than ten minutes later, she fell asleep, reassured that Dempsey apparently hadn't noticed that someone had been in his room, nor that something was missing.

Mission accomplished!

(TBC)