Sorry for the delay. I had a lot on my mind lately. Indeed, life can be really hard sometimes. But thanks to the support of our family and friends, we find a way to carry on. Thank you, my dear friends in fanfic-world, for your support and your kind words. Everyone else, thank you for your patience. And to my new proofreader, I really appreciate your feedback. It encourages me to continue. X

Chapter 18 : Life Is Hard,…

"Can you see anything?" Sergeant Hargreaves asked, with her eyes following the blonde woman who walked with steady pace in the direction of the apartment building.

"No, nothing suspicious anyway. You?" From the driver's seat her colleague was scanning the area with his binoculars.

"Just the postman delivering the mail, and an older man walking his dog." Joyce enumerated all passersby.

From where Watson had parked his car they had a good view of the main entrance of the building. Not to arouse suspicion, they couldn't get too close. Another team of detectives was observing the place since early that morning and hadn't reported any irregularities so far.

Joyce let out a sigh of relief when she saw Sergeant Makepeace enter the building without any problems. So far, so good. From now on they were dependent on the microphone to receive further information from their colleague. With both hands the brunette pressed the headphones against her ears. She relaxed when she heard the three taps. "The coast is clear in Dempsey's apartment." They'd agreed this sign in advance, considering that the flat might be bugged.

Even during the time Harry was inside, the detectives kept scanning the area for any suspicious movements. They couldn't afford a moment of inattention. Hargreaves and Watson were aware that, the moment Sergeant Makepeace would leave the apartment building, she'd be an easy target again.

"Do you think they're still around?" Joyce asked after a brief silence.

"No idea. But if they are, they sure have a lot of patience. Dempsey's off the radar for how long now? Three, four weeks? He let out a chuckle. "You know, I wonder how Makepeace managed to keep him away from here for so long. Maybe she's locked him up in one of the dungeons of that huge castle," he spoke in a low, mysterious voice. Watson was still impressed by Harry's ancestral home, his imagination taking him back to the books he loved reading as a child. Stories about kings and knights. "Either that, or she used her feminine charm or certain other skills to keep him occupied." The big grin on his face revealed what skills he had in mind.

Joyce looked at him with disgust. "For God's sake, is that the only thing you guys can think of? You don't seriously think a distinguished woman like Sergeant Makepeace would...?"

"Why not?" he interrupted her. "C'mon Hargreaves, on which planet do you live? Don't tell me you've never felt the mutual attraction between those two? Besides, no woman has been able to resist Dempsey's charms so far. Why would she be any different?" He looked sideways to see her reaction. "We all know she's your friend. She's never confided in you she has the hots for him?"

"Of course not! Harry is way too smart. She'll never jeopardise her career by starting a relationship with her partner! Especially not with such a rude and insensitive man like Dempsey!" Joyce reacted fiercely. The question was who she really tried to convince.

"She is risking her life for this rude and insensitive man." Watson remarked.

"That's just the way she is! Devoted to the job, and loyal to her partner. And she's probably trying to prove herself again to Dempsey and to all of you guys!" It enraged Sergeant Hargreaves that women apparently needed to keep proving themselves in this male bastion. In her eyes, if one woman had proven to be a worthy detective, it was definitely Detective Sergeant Harriet Makepeace. And still Joyce had the feeling that the male officers didn't take her seriously!

Sensing this was a highly sensitive subject for his female colleague, Watson wisely kept his mouth shut. At that time, their attention was drawn by some movement at the main entrance of the apartment building. The door opened, and they saw Makepeace appear in the doorway.

Watson sat up straight, ready to intervene at the slightest sight of danger. Joyce took the RT, pressing the button to talk. "Charlie 6 to Control. Swallow is leaving the nest. Over."

The moment they arrived at their destination, Dempsey subjected the site to a thorough inspection. If this were the place for the ultimate confrontation with his attackers, he needed to be prepared! The long driveway led them to a detached white house, with a large storage place on its right. From the boys he knew it had been used to store drugs. That was until last week, when a team of SI 10 detectives managed to round up the entire gang. Since then it was deserted, leaving a desolate impression on the house and surroundings.

He had to admit Spikings was right. This was the perfect location for an ambush. Good view over the place, and enough hiding spots for the detectives. If anyone were to follow Harry to here, they'd be surrounded in no time. End of the game!

After his inspection round and having greeted some of the colleagues outside, Dempsey joined Spikings and Chas in the house. He found them in the kitchen at the back of the house, where they sat gathered around the radio. The American didn't have the chance to say a word. As soon as the boss saw him enter the room, he gestured him to be quiet and take a seat. Seeing the questioning look on his colleague's face, Chas clarified in a muffled voice. "Harry is in your apartment right now."

Chas words still hung in the air when the RT crackled, "Swallow is leaving the nest. Over." Dempsey held his breath. He knew that the short distance between the apartment building and her car was one of the most crucial moments, where she was most vulnerable. The danger could lie in wait everywhere, and he couldn't do anything to help her. This was so damn frustrating. Hell, it was far worse than being in the firing line himself!

The three men stared anxiously at the radio. Aside from the tense atmosphere, it was awfully quiet in the big house. Time went by so very slowly, the minutes seemed to last forever. Until finally the redeeming message that Harry had safely reached her car and was now on her way to her destination.

Not that the Sergeant was out of the danger zone. Far from it! She still had to brave the busy London traffic and then drive about ten miles on the highway and another five miles on a narrow winding road, until she would arrive here. With or without pursuers. Dempsey couldn't wait to look into her surprised ocean blue eyes. No doubt he would get the full blast for his presence there, but he couldn't care less. As long as he knew she was safe.

Unable to remain seated, the American walked restlessly back and forth in the small kitchen. Every time the radio crackled to announce new information, he rushed back to the table. Even though his fidgeting got on their nerves, both Spikings and Chas knew it would be pointless to argue about it.

At Spikings' request, they were kept informed of all movements along the way. Which meant that new information kept coming in through the RT, from the various teams of detectives following the Sergeant.

"…Traffic's too busy. Not clear if anyone is following..."

"…Driving on the highway. Three cars heading in the same direction for some time now..."

"…Still two possible pursuers: a brown Ford and a black BMW..."

"…The brown Ford took the exit. Black vehicle is still driving ahead of us, two cars behind Swallow..."

"…BMW is taking the same exit, now driving directly behind Swallow! Only one person in the vehicle, no other passengers visible! Any news about the license plate?"

Chas quickly handed Spikings a piece of paper. "Control to Charlie 3 and all units. We just received information about the vehicle. It is a rental car, rented since last week by Mr. Smith, an American. No other information available about this man, so it may be a fake name. Attention everyone, this could be our guy! Keep following, but not too close! Just let Swallow lead him to us. The rest of you, take your positions and wait for further instructions. Over!"

Seeing Dempsey checking his gun was a red flag for the DCS. That bloody Yank was so predictable. Spikings watched him head for the back door.

"Where do you think you're going?"

The calm and authoritarian voice made the detective stop in his tracks. He turned around to face the Chief Superintendent. "As you said, I'm gonna take my position."

"Your position is right here, Lieutenant."

"I can be of better use out there!" Dempsey pointed in the direction of the storage place.

Spikings shook his head, his gaze on the Yank. "Out of the question. Until further notice, you're staying inside this house. Or shall I remind you on which terms you were allowed to accompany us?"

"But…"

"Don't make me regret my decision, Leftenant. You're staying right here, at my side. Do we understand each other?"

Dempsey was about to object, when suddenly Harry's voice sounded through the RT. Again, she had the perfect timing to soothe things between the American detective and his superior, this time without even realizing it. Her slightly agitated voice instantly caught both men's full attention.

"What is it, Harry?" Spikings asked concerned.

"Looks like it was a false alarm, Sir. The car we thought was following me, is gone. The driver is a bloody maniac though. He zoomed past me on this narrow street, and almost collided with an oncoming vehicle. I'm still a bit shaky! Anyway, I am no longer followed, except by one of our teams. What should I do now? Over."

"Control to Charlie 5. Message received. Continue your way to your destination. We will evaluate the operation when you get here. Over."

Now that the threat was gone, the tension in the kitchen also diminished. Dempsey settled back in a chair, feet on the table. With a smug smile, he turned to Spikings. "Well, guess I'll better stay here then. You're the boss, after all."

In order to avoid a new escalation, Chas hastened to address the Chief Superintendent. "What are your orders for the other teams, Guv?"

"Everyone stay in position. We continue as planned until Sergeant Makepeace arrives."

Just a few minutes later, the radio crackled again. This time Sergeant Johnson's voice came through. He sounded very nervous. "Charlie 4 to Control, I'm afraid we've lost Sergeant Makepeace."

Dempsey jumped up from his chair, while Spikings grabbed the RT. "You what?"

Everyone fell silent with the news that followed.

"We were held up by a slow-moving van, Sir. From the moment we were able to get passed it, we tried to catch up with the Sergeant as fast as possible. We found her car at the roadside, …empty."

Before Spikings had the chance to reply, Dempsey snatched the radio out of his hands. "How the hell could you be so stupid to lose sight of her? She trusted you to watch her back, damn it!" He shouted in the mouthpiece, beside himself with anger. "Better make sure you find her, or you're gonna need a whole fuckin' army to protect you!"

Dempsey slammed down the radio, trying to control his breathing. Glaring at him but without saying a word, Spikings picked up the mouthpiece again. "Control to Charlie 4. Where exactly did you find the Sergeant's car?"

"After a sharp turn, about a mile further down the road, Sir. For some reason, she got off the road and bumped into a tree."

"And no sign of Sergeant Makepeace, in or in the vicinity of the car?" Spikings queried.

"Negative, sir. The door was open, and her handbag is still on the passenger seat, as well as the black holdall. Fry and me, we've searched the area, but..."

"No other car in sight?"

"No, Sir. And no traces of a struggle or a gunfight."

From the corner of his eye, Spikings saw Dempsey staring at the radio, both hands in his hair. The terrified look in the Yank's eyes reflected his own fear. Had he underestimated this? Had he made a mistake letting Sergeant Makepeace play for bait, after all?

Sergeant Hargreaves turned pale when she heard the news over the RT. "Oh, my God!"

Watson didn't say anything, but pushed on the accelerator. They had done the first shift following Swallow, and were now driving to the agreed destination at a leisurely pace. But after hearing Johnson's news, they couldn't be on the spot quickly enough.

After a while, Watson broke the silence. "Dempsey's there too? I thought he was supposed to stay on the estate?"

Joyce nodded. "Yes, that's what I thought too." She let out a dry chuckle. "It doesn't surprise me though. We all know what he's like. Maybe he managed to escape, or he persuaded Spikings to let him come along?"

"Wouldn't like to be in Johnson or Fry's shoes right now…"

"I wouldn't like to be in Harry's shoes right now!" Joyce corrected her male partner. "Who knows where they've taken her, or what they'll do to her!"

"We'll find her. They can't be far away." Watson tried to reassure her.

As they sped along the highway, Joyce thought about everything they'd heard over the radio. "Which car was following Makepeace up to here?"

"A black BMW. But then he drove past her and disappeared." Watson slowed down and took the exit.

"What if he turned around a little further down the road, and then waited for her?"

"Possible. Look, there's Harry's car! Johnson and Fry are looking for traces." Watson pointed to the side of the road. "Let's see if they found something." He parked his car behind Fry's, after which they both got out and joined their colleagues.

"C'mon, Chas, gimme those keys!" Dempsey held out his hand, anxiously gesturing his colleague to hurry.

"Forget it, Dempsey. I'm not giving you Spikings' car keys. He'd skin me alive."

At that moment the boss entered the living room. "What's going on here? Didn't I made myself clear you had to stay here?" he asked the American sharply.

"My partner is in the hands of those lunatics out there, while it's me they want. I've gotta find her!"

"There are enough detectives looking for her as we speak. Besides, you don't even know where to start searching."

"That black car…" Dempsey tapped his nose. "I'm tellin' you, that car has somethin' to do with this."

"I agree. That's why I've already spread its description. There's no need for you to go out there as well. In this state, you'd only make things worse."

"Make things worse? Hey, it's not my fault things didn't go as planned! I told you it was a stupid idea in the first place! You should never 've allowed Makepeace to go through with this! I swear, if something happens to her…!"

"Don't you threaten me, Leftenant!" The Chief Superintendent barked, countering the hot-tempered Yank. So far, he'd tolerated the aggressive tone of his subordinate, since he felt slightly guilty about what had happened, and he realised how hard it had hit Dempsey. But he could and would never tolerate threats. Not from anyone, and certainly not from that bloody Yank! Dempsey's pained expression, made him soften his tone. "Don't underestimate your partner, Dempsey! Harry's smart, she will lead them here. And then we'll have to be ready to give them a warm welcome."

Realising he'd crossed a line, Dempsey paused, considering the boss's words. He decided to obey… for now. Something else was still troubling him though. In a calmer tone, he addressed his superior. "Chief, I've been thinking 'bout that van. What if it wasn't there by coincidence?"

"An accomplice, you mean?" Spikings rubbed his chin as he gave it some thought. "Strange that none of the teams had noticed him before, but I guess you could be right. Chas, you keep an eye on that driveway and keep me posted if you see any movement. Dempsey, with me!" he beckoned the Yank to follow him to the kitchen.

As he took a seat, the boss picked up the radio and began making inquiries about the van. Refusing to sit down, Dempsey remained standing on the other side of the table, following the conversation attentively.

"What do you mean, you have no further information about that van? You were driving right behind it for almost a mile, at a bloody snail's pace!" Spikings shouted through the RT.

"I'm sorry, Sir. It hadn't been noticed before, so we didn't think the van was suspicious.

We assumed the driver was looking for an address, and therefore drove slowly." Johnson answered apologetically.

"So all we know, is that it was a white Ford Transit, with a big scratch on its back door. Marvellous, bloody marvellous! That's searching for a needle in a haystack!" The boss sighed and stroked his short grey hair from back to front.

Suddenly Hargreaves' voice came through. "Sir, we haven't found Harry's microphone. Maybe she's still wearing it?" Her suggestion made Dempsey and Spikings look up hopeful again. A ray of hope!

"Good thinking, Sergeant. Assuming they'll show up here sooner or later, I suggest you and Watson drive closer to the house. Find a good spot out of sight, and let me know the moment you have a signal."

"Understood, Control. We're coming your way. Over."

Seconds later Watson and Hargreaves were on their way to the house, while Johnson and Fry were to stay with Harry's car until their uniformed colleagues arrived. They didn't mind. Both detectives had no desire to come face to face with Spikings or Dempsey just yet.

"Sir, a black car is turning up the driveway!" Chas called from the living room. "It's a BMW!"

Dempsey and Spikings hurried to the window, making sure to stay out of sight. They saw the black car standing at the end of the driveway.

"Why doesn't he come closer?" Dempsey narrowed his eyes, trying to distinguish the passengers.

"Probably inspecting the place first." Spikings mumbled. "Chas, can you tell if Harry's in it?"

"Yes, She's in the driver's seat. There's a man sitting behind her." Jarvis peered through his binoculars. "He's aiming a gun at her!"

"Shit!" Dempsey ran a hand through his hair. This was not good, this was absolutely not good! An ambush, yeah. A hostage situation, however, was a serious setback. The place was surrounded by detectives, all ready to intervene. But as long as Harry was in that bastard's hands, they couldn't make any move.

The minutes passed by very slowly. There was still no movement in the car. Dempsey was losing his patience. "What the hell's he waiting for?"

"I don't know. Perhaps he's hoping you'll storm outside to save Harry? Which would be a stupid thing to do!" The boss warned, glaring at the tenacious Yank.

"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Dempsey snapped.

At that moment, the radio came back to life. "Charlie 6 to Control. Good news! The microphone is still operational. We heard the Sergeant's voice. She was talking to a man with an American accent. Over."

"This is Control. Very well, Charlie 6. Could you understand them? Did he say what they're waiting for?"

"Negative, Sir. He only instructed Makepeace to stop the car and wait. We figured she tried to get out of the car, but that bastard…" Watson stopped mid-sentence. They heard some mumbling in the background, after which Hargreave's voice took over. "The abductor made it clear that she had to stay in the car, Sir. Over."

Dempsey's expression turned hard. He rushed back to the window. "What did he do, Chas?" Since Chas didn't respond quickly enough, he grabbed the binoculars and looked outside himself.

"He only prevented her from leaving the car, albeit rather harshly. She's alright, Dempsey." Chas tried to reassure him.

But the Lieutenant didn't listen. Blinded by rage, he threw down the binoculars and rushed to the kitchen. He'd almost reached the back door, when suddenly a pair of strong arms smacked him against the wall, holding his right arm in an iron grip on his back.

"Now you listen to me, you bloody cowboy! You've got a good set of brains, use them for a change! What do you think they'll do to her, after they shoot you? If you're so keen on risking your life, that's your choice. But I will never, EVER, allow you to take Sergeant Makepeace down with you! Do you hear me?" The Chief Superintendent pushed the Yank firmer against the wall as if to reinforce his words. He usually didn't like the use of physical violence, but was willing to make an exception when it came to the safety of his most favourite detective.

"Alright, alright, I got it." Dempsey's face twisted in pain as he tried to free his arm. He knew Spikings was right, but the thought that that bastard had hurt Harry, had made him lose control. "There must be something we can do to help her!"

"Not at the moment. We haven't got a clear shot at him. We might hurt Harry." Feeling that Dempsey came back to his senses, Spikings slowly released his grip. "Patience, Lieutenant. Our time will come. Meanwhile, we must stay calm and keep ourselves in check. For Harry's sake!"

A single nod was enough for the Chief Superintendent to let go of the Yank. Dempsey massaged his sore shoulder as he watched Spikings go back to the radio, where a new message came in. "Charlie 6 to Control. We heard another male voice saying 'he's in position'. Right now the American is about to leave the car, with Sergeant Makepeace. Over!

Spikings grabbed the mouthpiece of the RT. "Control to all units. Attention everyone! Suspect is about to leave the vehicle, together with Sergeant Makepeace. If anyone has a clear shot at him…"

"No, wait!" Dempsey interrupted the Chief. "That second voice… It could be a sniper!" He recalled the night when he'd been attacked.

A brief silence, then the boss's quick reaction. "Wait! Hold your positions, everyone! Don't do anything, I repeat DO NOT DO ANYTHING! We have reason to believe there's a sniper out there. FIND ME THAT BLOODY SNIPER FIRST! Over."

With a bang, Spikings slammed down the radio. "Damn!" He headed to the living room, where Chas was scanning the area in search of the sniper while Dempsey held his gaze on the car.

Dempsey's eyes widened when the right doors of the BMW opened. He saw Makepeace stepping out of the car, immediately followed by a man. His arm hooked around her neck, her abductor held her tightly in front of him. Gun aimed at her temple. Tall, strong built man, dressed in black. Short shaved hair. Dempsey tried to recognize him, but he was too far away. His focus turned to Harry. With both hands she tried to pull the arm away from her throat. But she was no match for the muscular man. Boiling inside, Dempsey clenched his fists.

"Jim Dempsey! I know you're in there. You got five minutes to come outside, unarmed! Or your girlfriend's gonna foot the bill!" the American shouted from outside. Using Harry as a shield, he stood in front of the car.

Glancing sideways, the Lieutenant saw Spiking shake his head. "We have to find his accomplice first."

"Four minutes!" The voice resounded again after a short silence. "How 'bout it, Dempsey? You want another dead girlfriend on your conscience?"

Chas turned to his colleague. "What's he talking about?"

A fierce look in his eyes, Dempsey didn't answer the question. Instead, he pointed at the high-rise apartment building on the right. "If I was the sniper, I'd be in that building, either on the rooftop or in one of the upper rooms. Sun in the back and good view of the area."

"Isn't that too far away?" Chas had his doubts.

"It's the same distance as when he shot me. He only had some street lighting then, yet he managed to hit me twice."

Spikings nodded in assent. He went to the kitchen to instruct his men, while Chas started scanning the designated building. As no one paid attention to him, Dempsey saw his chance to sneak out the back door.

"Two minutes, Dempsey! What's it gonna be?" The voice sounded louder now he was outside. Standing close to the house, Dempsey made sure to stay out of sight. Final check of his gun. Then he took a deep breath.

"I'm right here, scumbag! Let the girl go!"

"Well, seems like your boyfriend does care 'bout you." The American spoke in a low voice near the ear of a clearly shocked Harry. A satisfied grin on his face.

"Sure. After you took her place!" he shouted back in Dempsey's direction.

"No way! Let her go first. She's got nothin' to do with this. This is between you and me!"

The American laughed bitterly. "Nice try, but I ain't stupid. I might as well kill her first, and then come after you! How 'bout that?" To reinforce his words, he pulled Makepeace closer and pressed the gun harder against her temple. Harry let out a cry at the unexpected manoeuvre.

Her cry worked like a red flag to a bull. Dempsey barely managed to restrain himself from storming to the American. Just in time, the boss's words echoed in his head. What do you think they'll do to her, after they shoot you?

"No, don't!" he cried out instead. "Look, I've got a suggestion. Let's cross at the same time. You let her go while I come to you. We'll meet half way. You got nothing to lose!"

The man gave it some thought, casting a glance around. "Alright, but first throw away your weapon where I can see it. And no tricks, or the broad's dead!"

A moment of doubt. Then Dempsey did what was asked. "I'm coming. Let her go!" This is it. Life is hard… He tossed his gun as far as he could, and started walking alongside the house towards the driveway.

On his turn the American let go of Harry, giving her a shove in the right direction. His gun aimed at her back. Hesitantly, Makepeace walked further, her gaze focused on the side of the house. Her heart beat faster with every step she took. Surely, James wouldn't...?

"What are you doing? You shouldn't even be here!" Makepeace exclaimed shocked, when she saw her partner coming towards her on a calm and steady pace.

"Sorry babe, Didn't wanna miss all the fun." He answered with a smile. His face became serious as she got closer. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He saw a deep cut above her right eyebrow. "That looks pretty nasty."

Step by step they closed the gap between them. "I'm fine. But you won't be, if you go any further. I'm serious, Dempsey. There's another guy…"

"Don't worry, we know 'bout the sniper." He spoke in a muffled voice so the American wouldn't hear him. "Our guys are on their way to him right now. Listen to me, Harry. Spikings sent me to buy some time. He's waiting for you in the house. No matter what happens, keep walking and don't look back. Trust me, baby, everything's gonna be alright." It was a white lie, but her safety was the only thing that mattered to him right now.

At the corner of the house, they crossed each other. At this point, they were both an easy target. Then everything happened very quickly. Unexpectedly, Dempsey gave Harry a hard push, so she ended up behind the corner of the house. "Run, Harry! Get in the house!" he shouted. Half stumbling, Harry barely managed to keep her balance. Then two shots resounded, one from in the distance and the other from closer by. Startled, she turned around. She could just see how Dempsey grabbed his chest before he fell down. The next moment, he was lying face down on the ground.

"Noooo!" Harry cried out. Out of the blue, someone jumped in front of her. Two arms prevented her from running to her partner. She looked up and recognized Chas, his eyes full of concern. Holding her tightly, he pressed her against the wall for shelter. There was a lot of commotion on the background. More shots resounded. Men were shouting. Harry didn't register any of it. The only thing she could think of was Dempsey.

"Stay here, Harry, it's not safe yet. That sniper is still out there, somewhere." Chas's words seemed to come from far away, even though he was close by.

"I don't get it. Dempsey said…" she stammered. But then something dawned her. "He lied, didn't he? You guys didn't know where that sniper was?" It wasn't really a question as she already knew the answer.

She felt her knees go weak and leaned against her colleague. "Oh my God, and I let him walk straight into the hands of those murderers. I should have stopped him. That bloody idiot… He shouldn't even be here! How on earth did he get here anyway?"

"You know what he's like. There's no way we could've stopped him."

Her eyes wandered back to the corner of the house. "Please Chas, let me go to him. Maybe he's not…" she couldn't get the words over her lips. "He might be injured." She said instead. But Chas shook his head. "I'm sorry, Harry. It's too dangerous."

It wasn't until they heard a voice shouting 'The coast is clear!', that Chas released his grip.

Harry quickly ran to her partner. He was still lying motionless on the ground. She sank to her knees beside him, her vision blurred. "No, James. Please, no!"

(TBC)