Having spent monday doing a location tour of London, I now have a better idea of the land of D&M...very helpful when writing fanfic. Thanks for the reviews, please keep them coming ;)

Chapter 3

Leroy didn't want to talk to anyone. He was sat in a quiet part of Luigi's immersed in his own thoughts, running his finger around the neck of his bottle of Bud. Occasionally he was disturbed by the laughter of the other members of CID, raising his head to look, but soon he'd drop his gaze back to his drink. Without Gene and Alex he felt totally alone, an alien in an unfamiliar grey country. He had nothing in common with his fellow officers and he was feeling homesick.

In a way he was jealous of Dempsey, he couldn't understand how his NYPD colleague had managed to 'just get on with it'. Dempsey was a picture of a man who was comfortable being who he was and what he was and not giving a damn. From what he had seen, his fellow American cop seemed to be thriving in his new environment, lapping up all that England had to offer. But then, Dempsey had the privilege of working in the SI10 department where stuffy English protocol didn't appear to apply on a day to day basis. It was only when Dempsey ran into top brass the problems started to arise...and then he had Makepeace. It was quite clear to Leroy from his observations that the 'chalk and cheese' pair had a unique bond and he didn't have the damndest clue what it was.

Leroy was struggling with Shaz, not that they didn't get a long, quite the opposite, it was more he didn't know how to work with a woman. He was having a hard time accepting Shaz as an equal. Leroy had been brought up to take the role as protector, to be the tough man in all situations, shielding the females from the cruel world. This was affecting his judgement, in situations where he would normally bowl in guns a blazing, he found he would check himself, hesitate..always thinking of Shaz's safety first...and that was another thing to be jealous about...how the hell did loudmouth, chauvinist, irreverent Dempsey work with a woman! It baffled him how Dempsey could work with Makepeace every day as partners, have one the best clean up rates in the Met and not kill each other...if he knew Dempsey well, which he thought he did, this just didn't make sense. Then again, very little in this crazy world was making sense and it was about to get weirder.

Thomas walked confidently into the restaurant, he quickly scanned the customers and found his target, Leroy.

"Good evening lieutenant...Leroy isn't it?" Thomas smiled.

Leroy looked Thomas up and down with disdain, he really didn't want to be disturbed, especially by a toffee nosed, sharp suited Brit "Who wants to know?"

Thomas gave a half hearted placating chuckle "Thomas Lyons, pleased to meet you. Do you mind?" he gestured to the empty chair opposite Leroy.

Leroy growled "Do I have a choice?" who is this guy?

Thomas chuckled again and took his seat. "You're from New York, correct?"

'Jeez, this guy's quick off the mark' Leroy said sarcastically in his head "So what?"

Thomas was finding Leroy hard work. "I am a friend of a friend of Lieutenant Dempsey, do you know him?"

"You ain't no friend of Dempsey's, he don't make friends with slick suited assholes." He stated.

Thomas coughed uncomfortably, he had never met a black American before, he only had the TV and Movies to give him an impression and so far Leroy was everything he had assumed. "I will take that as yes then."

"What do ya want, I ain't in the mood for rapping." snapped Leroy suspiciously.

Thomas ignored him and carried on "Leroy I am a lawyer."

"See, told ya, slick suited asshole. I had ya down right. What the hell do ya want with me brother? I've only bin in this dump a coupla' months...I know nuthin'" Leroy's mood was darkening.

"I'm not interested in the now, I'm interested in the then."

Leroy's brow furrowed in puzzlement "Will ya quit talkin' in riddles, I'm warning ya I ain't got no patience for riddles."

Thomas suddenly took on a serious demeanour "Is Dempsey a good cop to work with?"

Alarm bells started ringing in Leroy's suspicious mind. He didn't like suits questioning him at the best of times let alone a lawyer. "Why do ya wanna know for?"

Thomas smiled again "Nothing serious, I'm just curious. You and Dempsey are novelties to us Brits in the legal system. We are trying to work out what you are doing working for our police. The other American police officer, McPherson, is in the drugs squad, but he was brought over specially because of his skills in that particular area...but you and Dempsey...There doesn't appear to be a paper trail explaining."

"Oh I geddit, you're an immigration lawyer, you want to know if our visas check out. Well you know what you can go and do...speak to my chief, Hunt. He'll tell ya I'm cosher."

Thomas shook his head chuckling "No, no Leroy, I'm not with the immigration department. I am investigating the death of a suspect, I have been asked to do some back ground checks on all who are involved. It's really nothing to worry about, but with Dempsey, because he's not that well known in this country, I'm struggling to find people to vouch for his character. Hence, wanting to talk to you."

"Why didn't ya say that in the first place?"

"Is Dempsey a good cop?" Thomas asked again, his patience too was starting to wear a bit thin.

"Hell yeah!" barked Leroy "One of the best."

"Did he get on well with his colleagues, for instance, did he work well with his partner?"

Leroy scowled at Thomas, did the lawyer know something about the Coltrane case? Was Joey's death going to be dragged into the investigation?

"Did he?" Thomas pressed "Seems a bit odd, Dempsey just upping and leaving, just as you have done? Are there any issues which initiated your secondments? In this country officers get sudden transfers due to mitigating circumstances, take your Guvnor, Hunt, for instance, he couldn't cope with the death of his DI Tyler, that's how he ended up in London, transferred from Manchester."

Leroy retorted in a low menacing growl "It's none of your God-damn business."

"Hmmph!" said Thomas triumphantly "So there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe I should make a phone call to New York and ask Dempsey's partner or maybe yours, or should I say ex-partners."

"Both Joey and Micky are dead. You will leave well alone if you know what's good for ya." Leroy was sincere in his warning, if Thomas started digging around in New York, he could ruin the case on Coltrane and get him and Dempsey killed. Thomas at this stage was completely oblivious as to what he would be getting involved in.

Thomas gave a broad smug smile, he knew he had just hit a raw nerve. He rose from his seat and pulled out a business card from his jacket pocket. "Here's my card, call me if you feel the need to talk."

"Don't think so Pal." 'Jerk!'

Dempsey and Makepeace, having failed once again to find Jimmy, found themselves clutching at straws and entering Jimmy's local boozer 'The Grapes'. It was a long shot as Jimmy was proving very capable of giving them the slip no matter what they did.

Reluctantly they wandered up to the bar trying not to look like police officers...they failed in that too as the landlord clocked them instantly and gave them a withering look "Not again, can't you lot leave me alone? I've had more fuzz in 'ere than customers this week."

"We're looking for Jimmy MacKintosh." Harry said politely.

"Join the bleeding queue luv, he's done a bunk owing punters money."

"Business goin' down the tubes then?" asked Dempsey.

"Hmmph, Jimmy's been on the edge for years, What does he expect selling wrecks and doing shoddy work on motors? I'm amazed he's lasted this long...wouldn't surprise me if he's had a little sideline keeping him a float..y'know a nice little earner, cash in hand."

"Hmmm, far from the tax man's grasp?" asked Harry

"You got it."

Dempsey asked "What sort of sideline?"

"Who knows" shrugged the landlord "I wouldn't put anything passed Jimmy. By-the-way, I'm only telling you this cos I don't give a monkeys bout 'im, he owes me fifty nicker on the slate."

"Slate?" Dempsey questioned Harry.

"Tab." She replied translating for him.

"We appreciate it."Dempsey pondered for a few moments "What about the garage? Does he own that?"

"Bin in the family for years, was a successful business till Jimmy got his hands on it."

"Thank you, you have been most helpful." said Harry, bringing the conversation to a close. They turned to leave.

"Oi!" the landlord called after them "Information don't come cheap...least you can do is buy a drink. I don't do this job for the bleedin' fun of it!"

Dempsey and Harry turned round wearily, it had been a long day, they looked at each other, shrugged and headed back to the bar.

"I'll have a beer." Said Dempsey

"Vodka and tonic for me." Harry smiled.

"I'll bring ye second round over when you've finished that one." grinned the Landlord.

They chose a secluded table in the corner of the pub and sat down.

"How much do we have to drink until we've paid our dues?" asked Dempsey, taking a long, well-earned slug of beer.

"Dunno, keep drinking until last orders I suppose. Not long now then we can go to bed. I can't wait to get my head down."

Dempsey's face suddenly lit up with expectation "Yeah!"

"Dempsey." Harry gave him a withered, tired look "You promised."

"I know...it's...it's just..." Dempsey couldn't find the words. He had promised that they would have a proper talk at some point, but there never seem to be an appropriate moment. He wanted to say so much to her, but now they had fallen into an awkward silence.

Since the wedding she had filled his dreams night and day, she was all he could think of. Every night when he closed his eyes, he would replay the night in her room, the sight of her naked, the touch of her soft pale skin, the scent of her expensive perfume, the feel of her kisses... one night of lustful passion was not enough for him, he wanted more, much more. He wanted to take her home back to his place there and then, and wrap himself around her under the sheets. Dempsey had finally admitted to himself he had become totally besotted with Harriet Makepeace. He didn't want any other girl, he wanted her, she was all he needed and he just couldn't tell her that.

Harry looked everywhere bar at him, she couldn't look into the greeny, brown eyes for fear of unravelling before him, the urge to reach over the table and kiss him would be become too much. Dempsey had stirred feelings within her which no other man ever had. She thought she had loved Robert, in fact she had at some point, but he had left her heartbroken and humiliated by sleeping with her best friend, would, could Dempsey do the same? Harry had come to the conclusion she had fallen hook, line and sinker in love with James, but she didn't know how to tell him without sounding like an over dramatic lovesick teenager. One thing was for sure, she needed him more than any man on earth...only he would do.

Dr Max Andrews had trudged his weary way home. His evening with Robert Makepeace, although disguised under a thin veneer of cordiality was anything but pleasant for him. His demeanour sagged under the weight of worry as he let himself into to his plain suburban semi. His daughter, Maddy, a bland looking woman in her late twenties with her mousy hair scrapped back into a tight pony tail, greeted him as he entered the hall.

"I was about to send out a search party." She relieved him of his brief case and helped him out of his coat.

"You didn't have to wait up on my account."

"Daddy, I was worried. You look so tired."

"I feel it sweetheart...very tired." He agreed slumping down on a leather couch, he indeed looked shattered.

"How did it go?" she asked concerned "I hope you didn't agree to go through with this farce?"

Dr Andrews looked at her resignedly "I had no choice, he's got me over a barrel."

"Oh Daddy!" she cried "That wretched man..."

"I know...he knows all about the Chapman fiasco."

"That was years ago and he got struck off because of it!" she blustered.

Dr Andrews shook his head in defeat "Chapman has told Robert everything, even down to me omitting evidence on the pathologist report. If it gets out that I was responsible for that criminal getting away with murder, I will go to prison myself. Deliberately tampering with evidence and purgery carry hefty sentences."

"Why did you do it in the first place?" Maddy looked on the verge of tears.

"Your mother and I needed the money. I couldn't refuse Chapman's cash, medical treatment in Switzerland is very expensive...not that it did your mother much good in the end." He said sadly "I wish to God she was still here."

Maddy moved across to the couch and put a comforting hand on her father's shoulder. "So do I."

She sat down next to him "Is there anything I can do to help? I mean, does Harriet Makepeace know that she is being set up...that is why Robert's doing this ...isn't it?"

Dr Andrews nodded "He has this crazy idea he can claim half of the Winfield estate." He scoffed "Thing is, he'll probably succeed...who knows how many more people he is blackmailing...poor Harriet, poor Lord Winfield. They are innocent parties in this."

"We have to do something Daddy, we can't let Robert ruin their lives like this...we can't let him ruin ours." Maddy thought for a while "I could tell Harriet.."

"No!" barked her Father in alarm, Robert would be sure to find out it was them who told Harry.

"But...Daddy..."

"I said NO! I need time to think how the hell we can get out of this...there must be a way.

Maddy took her father's hand in hers. "Okay, but we will work something out together. We may have to play just as dirty as Robert, he can't be squeaky clean...can he? I have a half day tomorrow, my students are in exams, I will go to the records office and start looking."

Dr Andrews affectionately stroked her hand "You're a good girl Madeleine, but please be careful."

"I will Daddy." She smiled "I'm going to turn in, early start in the morning." With that she kissed him on the cheek and headed towards bed.

Dempsey pulled the Merc up outside Harry's flat in Camberwell Grove. It had been a very quiet journey with neither of them knowing what to say, it had been uncomfortable to say the least. They both knew that each other were thinking back to the weekend, but neither dared speak about it. It was almost as if, if they kept it safely locked in their heads they could be forgiven for thinking it was some sort of over imagined hot fantasy which had no business in being played out for real. By talking about it out loud, they would be forced to confront the fact that it did happen; they played it out for real in the heat of a barmy alcohol fuelled June night. The memory of that night both excited and shamed them, it wasn't the 'done' thing for two people to enjoy themselves so much with such frivolous hormone-driven abandon. Dempsey had experienced many things in his dubious past, but even he thought he had crossed an invisible line this time.

Finally Dempsey broke the silence. "Home sweet home."

"Thank you." Replied Harry opening the car door "Well...I suppose I will see you tomorrow." She twirled her hair in her fingers nervously.

"Harry?" Dempsey was going to say something to her, but suddenly words failed him and he gave up.

She bent down to look at him through the passenger door and found him staring at her with a pained expression on his face. "What?"

"Er...nuthin'...it was nuthin' See ya in the morning." He dismissed.

"Right, in the morning." Harry frowned, she could have sworn Dempsey had something important to say, she could see it in his eyes.

She stopped halfway up the steps leading to the front door, she felt compelled to turn round, he was staring again.

Dempsey gave her a little wave goodbye, started the car then drove out of the drive, he gunned the engine and then he was gone. Harry was left standing on the steps staring after him, her heart sank, why didn't she invite him in, he was clearly waiting for an invitation. Harry sighed and headed up the remaining steps to the door, she was not looking forward to another night sleeping alone.

Dempsey drove along the London Streets on auto-pilot, there he was again, thinking of her...always thinking of her.

Please keep reviewing, I promise Gene and Alex make a return in the next chapter...I couldn't ignore their honeymoon.