A word in Spanish
The car pulled up on an unlit road as Harry felt the cold metal of the gun push its way into her ribs. She felt sick. The metal cold against her skin as she swallowed hard.
"Ok Sally?"
"Yeah." Her voice faulted slightly. She knew she was alone. There was no chance Dempsey and the others could know where she was. It was the Nightclub killer all over again, only this time the feeling she was going to die was overwhelming. She glanced at the floor for a moment as the car door opened.
"Out."
She did as she was told. Her senses working overtime. If she could work out where she was then she had a chance. Slim as it maybe. The gun remained nestled in her ribs as she glared at the man holding it.
"Now what? Why are you doing this?"
"Walk."
Harry glared at him but the look in his eyes had no room to argue. She stepped forward, knowing she had no other choice.
Xxxxxx
Chas stared at the gun in his hand. A million thoughts rushing through his head but none of them with the right outcome. Harry was going to get herself killed. Dempsey probably was too and he was stuck with Dave, Spikings and the lads in the back of a 1982 transit. It didn't seem real.
"Chas." Spikings glared at him. "Keep it together. Harry can take care of herself."
Chas nodded once. He knew Spikings was right. He didn't doubt that Harry Makepeace knew what she was doing - he doubted she could get through it without a bullet hitting her. He avoided Spikings eye as he thought about what SI10 could be like without the mismatched pair.
Xxxxxx
The car park was shrouded in darkness as Harry reached the far corner she was directed to. Harrington stood next to a shorter man. Her arms folded as she watched them approach.
"Señor, this is Sally. An employee of mine."
Harry glanced from one to the other, adrenaline building in her gut. She knew this was it. This was the deal they had been working to stop. The man smirked at her, running his eyes over her frame.
"Hola, Señorita." He smirked.
"what is this?"
"You worked in Spain. You know the market." Harrington glared. "Sally now is the time to prove your loyalty. Señor Diaz here doesn't speak English well. We need you to translate."
"I worked in a bar. An English speaking bar. My ex is English. I never learned proper Spanish."
"You underestimate yourself."
"Ok. I." She took the paper from the Spaniard.
"Its got today's date on it. Er, cocaine? I. I can't make head nor tail of it. Sorry."
Harringtom glared at her. "Not good enough."
Harry glared at her. She held her gaze. "Deal with her."
xxxxx
Dempsey pushed his foot to the accelerator as he followed the car Harry had got into. He felt his pulse quicken but knew he had to keep a clear head. He knew the drug deal was imminent and that his colleagues were following. What worried him was the way the loon had gripped Harry's arm as he bundled her into the car.
"Hold on Harry." He whispered as he slammed on the breaks. Minutes later he was following the sound of voices as he heard Harry scream. He ran towards the commotion, gun in hand.
Xxxxx
"You knew I don speak Spanish." Harry snapped. Grant shook his head. The grass slippery underfoot as he pushed her forward.
"I knew you were a liar. Sorry, Sally. You're a pretty girl. A decent barmaid but you are a liability."
"What!?" Harry yelled.
"That deal - worth millions it is. You might be the one thing that scuppers it. Can't have that." He pointed the gun directly at her forehead. Harry bit her lip, the adrenaline pumping through her quickly replaced by disappointment. She hadn't stopped the drug deal and she was going to die anyway. Closing her eyes she resigned herself to her fate.
"Nothing personal, luv."
"Yeah. Whatever. Following orders. I get it." She stepped towards him.
"Turn around. On your knees."
"No."
"Wasn't a request."
"No. You gonna kill me. You look at my face while you do it." She stood to her full height, defiant as he faltered slightly. "Pull that trigger with me looking at you."
A rustle in the trees behind him caught her attention. Raised voices and gunfire rang out as Grant was barrelled to the ground by Dempsey as Harry picked up the gun. Shaking slightly she held the gun on the brawling men.
"You took your time!"
"Sorry Princess." Dempsey smiled. She rolled her eyes as Dave and Chas appeared. "Oh, Spikings and the guys got the drugs and Harrington locked up."
Grant swore as Chas helped Dempsey pull the heavy set man to his feet. As Chas formally arrested him and took him away Harry slipped off her heels.
"You ok?"
Dempsey stepped towards her. Harry sighed.
"Yeah."
"Really?" He watched as she avoided his gaze. "Coz I ain't."
"Dempsey."
"I thought you were going to get killed, I." He wiped a hand over his face as Harry realised he had been scared. She stepped into his arms, letting him hold her.
"I can do my job."
"I know."
"I don't know what I was thinking." Dempsey paused. "Just. I."
"I'm fine. We did our job." She kissed his cheek before stepping back. "I can't wait to have a very long bath and get my jeans and jumper back on. Glamour might be attractive but I'm all for comfort." She wriggled her toes. "My poor feet."
"Who said you aren't glamorous?" He led her back to his car.
"No one. But compared to Harrington, women like her."
"Are fake." He stopped walking. "Harry? You think that's what's attractive? Are you crazy?" He kissed her gently on the lips. "You are ten times the woman any of them think they are. I'm sorry if I made you think anything else."
Harry rested a hand on his chest.
"Take me home."
"Thought you'd never ask." He wrapped ab arm around her shoulder before leading her back to his car.
Xxxxxx
