Sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter, I got a bit stuck and wrote myself into a cul-de-sac lol. Now I know I said this was going to along the lines of 'the Burning', but I'm having so much fun with the Robert/Harry/Pipa/Maddy/leroy/Monica angle that the Burning bit will come later...if that's ok?

Chapter 9

Dempsey was sat at his desk barefooted, newspaper spread out before him, trainer in one hand, screwdriver in the other. He was attempting to chisel off the now dried on gunk from the ridges of his trainer soles.

"Do you have to do that here?" Harry frowned watching him.

"Where else am I gonna do it?"

"Outside, where you can make a mess to your heart's content...God that stuff stinks." She wrinkled her nose up as she grabbed hold of the other trainer which Dempsey, for some reason, had dumped on her desk.

Harry's brow creased as she inspected the trainer sole. "Don't think there's much point in cleaning them up. Think these might be heading for the bin." She held the trainer up for Dempsey to see.

"What the..? That's real nasty." They both stared at the sole of the trainer...the rubber had melted. "Did I say solvent? That aint like anything I've ever seen...it's gotta be toxic. We'll know for sure when they start pulling two-headed fish outta the Thames."

Harry put down the trainer and pulled out an evidence bag from a draw. She then took the trainer Dempsey was holding and popped it in the clear plastic bag, shortly followed by the other. "One for the lab I think."

Maddy let out a long huffy sigh as she dragged a hair clip out of her hair. It had already taken her forever to decide what she going to wear to dinner with Leroy. She had settled for a plain black skirt with a pink blouse, not exactly fashionable, but pleasant. After she had scoured her dowdy wardrobe, she had made a mental note to go shopping for some new clothes at some point.

Now she sat miserably in front of her dressing table mirror despairing at her lank, dull, mousy hair. No matter what she tried to do with it, it just flopped back into its normal place. 'Awful' Maddy muttered to herself 'Trip to the hairdressers then.'

She had no idea why she was treating her evening with Leroy as a date, truthfully it was just a meeting to come with a plan of action to help Harry and Dempsey, but to Maddy it felt like one. She couldn't remember the last time she went out to dinner with a man and never had she been out with a hunky, sexy American cop! Maddy checked herself 'Hunky? Sexy? Oh lord' her stomach felt like a flock of butterflies had been released as nerves started to make themselves known.

She quickly made a hairstyle decision and deftly French-plaited her hair, securing it with a little clip at the end of the tail. Next was makeup. Maddy very rarely wore makeup and if she did it was a hint of eye shadow. She leant close into the mirror, blinking short-sightedly at her reflection. Without her glasses she was practically blind. She half considered leaving her glasses at home, but as she nearly poked her eye out with the shadow brush with a 'Blast!' she begrudgingly put them on again. 'Note to self; book appointment with the optician.' She huffed. She then inspected her teeth in the mirror and added 'And the dentist'. Never had Maddy felt so dowdy and unattractive...and never before had it bothered her.

Thomas having returned from Jeremy's flat with Monica's effects, was sorting through various reel to reel tapes. Nothing was labelled; the Spanish police had dumped all the tapes and the electrical devices into one box. Thomas studied the mass of wires and plastic with baffled curiosity. The listening equipment, Monica had put together, was of the highest technological standard of which MI6 would be proud of. He was amazed to find that the bugs were voice activated so that every time Dempsey and Makepeace had entered a room and were talking it triggered the tape recorder. Thomas wondered why Monica would have gone to such great lengths as to spy on the SI10 officers. To his mind this simply wasn't a case of fact finding, more like twisted voyeurism.

Thomas lifted up the cover of the tape machine to find that a tape had been left in place. He clicked the silver lever, re-wound the tape to its starting point, clicked play and listened intently.

There was the sound of a door being slammed shut, muffled voices and shuffling noises. Harry's voice became clearer 'Gosh you're heavy!' It was Harry and a drunk Dempsey returning to their Spanish holiday apartment. Harry was struggling to keep Dempsey upright. 'Whoa,whoa...steady.' There was a sound of someone walking into something and then more shuffling.

Dempsey slurred 'I'm okay, I'm okay...I jusss need to sistdown.'

'No, no, you don't, I'm taking you straight to bed.'

'You can take me to bed anytime babe.'

Thomas raised his eyebrows, well; a drunk Dempsey suggested unprofessionalism, that was fodder for the inquest. He carried on listening as Harry dragged Dempsey into the bedroom. There was a loud springy thud as Dempsey hit the bed.

'Come on, let's get this jacket off...and these shoes.' Thomas got the idea Harry was undressing Dempsey. 'Night night, I'll see you in the morning'. Thomas couldn't help but smile, he somehow found it quite cute that Harry was looking after him. Then his expression changed when he heard Dempsey's words 'Harry, I think I could use a hug.'

Harry replied softly 'So could I...come here then. That's it snuggle down and go to sleep.' There was a brief silence on the tape followed by two sets of snoring.

Thomas was left in no doubt that Dempsey and Makepeace had a relationship of sorts, but whether it had ever been consummated, he couldn't tell from the tapes. One thing was for certain, the SI10 officers had a very close working relationship.

He clicked off the recorder and settled back onto his sofa to think. He was in quandary, did he tell Robert about the tapes? Dempsey being drunk working a case added much needed fuel to the fire, but was the fact they had shared a bed in Spain really in the public's interest? He wasn't convinced it was even in Robert's interest. So much could be read into from hearing the tapes, but Thomas had to admit that if Harriet Makepeace had a man, her partner Lt Dempsey was a strong candidate. He stared at the tape machine in complete indecision.

One thing Thomas didn't get to hear, because the tape had run out, was the utter panic and chaos which happened the following morning when Harry awoke to find Dempsey unconscious.

Alex hummed quietly to herself as she was busily folding up clothes to be packed. She had had, apart from her mystery stomach bug, a blissful five days on Jersey with Gene. She couldn't remember ever being happier. She was sad to be leaving the tranquil island, however, she was looking forward to going home and back to relative normality. She was also desperate to catch up with Harry and find out if she and Dempsey were as blissfully happy as her and Gene. Alex hoped that her two new friends had managed to get past their 'wedding situation' and move forward. Alex had decided that if the would-be SI10 lovers needed more encouragement she would gladly step in and knock their heads together.

Alex opened up a suitcase and placed it on the bed. She absentmindedly started to fill the suitcase while she continued thinking. Her life in a space of a week had completely changed, she was Mrs Hunt...a wife again to a man she adored with all her heart. Alex smiled as she thought about him, Gene had no idea how much things had changed for her...and how things were about to change.

Gene came out of the bathroom "Come on Bolls, leave that now, you can finish it off in the morning. Let's go and enjoy our last night of our holiday. There's a thirty year old malt with my name on it sat behind the bar."

"Do we have to go out drinking?" Alex sighed.

Gene looked at her incredulously "Do my ears deceive me?" He clapped his hands on his ears "Don't I think heard that right. You, turn down a drinking session?"

"I'm not stopping you from drinking, I just don't feel like it." She tried to explain.

"You're tummy still jippy?" Gene looked concerned again.

She smiled "It's better, but don't want to feel rough for the journey home...that's all."

"Hmmph!" he grunted "Starting to wonder if yer going a bit soft...now that you're a wifey."

"Would that be a bad thing?" she fished "Me being a bit more feminine?"

He considered her odd comment for a few moments then pouted "You're woman enough for me Bolls...especially in yer stockings and yer heels." He suddenly looked worried "Yer not going to start wearing beige knitted cardys are ye? Not thinking of taking up knitting and listening to 'Women's Hour'...I'll tell ye now, I don't do Christmas jumpers and I can't stand Radio Four."

Alex chuckled "No danger there, I am completely useless at knitting and I hate beige. I can't even thread a needle...what's wrong with Radio Four?" she quizzed.

"Full of over-educated, corduroy wearing, patronising weirdy-beardys with their heads stuck up their arses. The only thing radio four is good for is the shipping forecast."

Alex frowned puzzled "Why would you need to listen to the shipping forecast? Can't imagine you would need it on the Manchester canals"

"I like the funny names."

"Right...I'll remember that..no weirdy-beardys, but the shipping forecast is okay because of the funny names. Gene Hunt, you are a strange man."

"Not strange...just unique." He smiled "and you love me for it."

"For my sins I do. I think it's dinner time...I'm starving." She patted her belly "need food now."

Gene scooped up the hotel key and opened the door "After you lady stocking tops."

"Thank you kind sir." She grinned and headed towards dinner.

Maddy sat nervously in Luigis. She couldn't help but play with her necklace as Leroy continued to quiz her on the whole inquest episode. She knew she was on dangerous ground, could she really trust Leroy? With his friendly chat, beaming smile and warm demeanour, she was finding it hard to doubt him. Leroy was first class at putting a woman at ease. Maddy's mind kept flitting from the serious talk about inquest to musings about Leroy the person, Leroy the man! Every so often she would get lost in his brown eyes and the deep timbre of his voice.

This wasn't lost on the American, he would catch her focusing on him in a curious way. He was charmed by her attention, her sweet coyness, her nervous laugh, and the cute way she played with her necklace. But, underneath Leroy knew he was dealing with a highly intelligent, smart woman with a heart of gold. Leroy returned his attention to the serious matter.

"Ye see Maddy, I figure Makepeace has a few skeletons in his closet, you get me? Just because he's married to a cop don't make him a saint. I've seen this type of thing before in New York, this has gotten nothing to do with justice for this Grey broad, something don't sit right. In my experience, cold hard cash is the motive. Who's paying him? This Chapman guy don't seem to be the type to be rolling in it"

Maddy gave him a wry smile, he was smart. "That's just it, Robert can't stand Jeremy. They came to blows over Monica and then Jeremy swung a case which got him struck off nearly taking Robert down with him. It's all very complicated."

Leroy frowned "Hang on a minute, why would they argue over Monica? Robert married Harry?"

"Monica was Robert's girlfriend before Harry, Jeremy hated the way Robert treated her...I said it was complicated." Maddy's expression changed to one of disgust "And then Robert did exactly the same to Harry with Pipa."

"Pipa?"

"The poor cow who's been lumbered with him" Maddy explained. "He got her pregnant."

"Oh I see...so we got ourselves a right little love triangle here. I was right, this aint a straight forward inquiry board... I guess Harry dumped him faster than a quarter back with a grenade in his hand...it's a grudge match...so where does the money fit into it?"

Maddy looked sheepish, she wasn't sure whether she should be telling Leroy so much information. "The money is in the Winfield estate, Harry's family home. Robert refuses to grant Harry a divorce until she signs over her stake to him."

"Sheesh, this guys a real asshole, this don't sound good for Dempsey."

Maddy suddenly jinked her head upwards in surprise "Why would Harry's problems affect Dempsey?...apart from him being investigated as well?"

Leroy checked himself and tried to fob her off "Oh, it's nuthin, really."

Maddy leaned forward "No go on, why would Robert affect Dempsey, is there something you know and we don't?"

Leroy grinned sheepishly "Forget I said anything, it's, it's just a joke we have running."

Maddy cocked an eyebrow "A joke? Excuse me if I'm not finding it funny..."

'Damn!' Leroy said in his head "It's silly really, but the guys reckon there's something going on between those two...y'know, they're kinda close." 'Damn!' he said again, cursing himself "But no- one knows for sure. It's just hearsay, so don't you go running to Robert."

She bridled "I wouldn't dream of going 'running' to Robert thank you very much. I wouldn't help Robert if he was drowning in lake! He's, he's a despicable human being who has no right to be walking this earth!"

"Whoaaaah!" Leroy was taken aback by Maddy's outburst. "I guess he's hurt you as well." Maddy's face suddenly sunk and she peered down into her drink. If only Leroy knew how much hurt Robert had caused her and her father, not to mention her mother when she was dying.

Leroy read her painful expression and instantly felt uncomfortable "Sawry, I didn't mean pry...I can see it's personal."

Maddy felt the tears welling up in the corner of her eyes as memories came flooding back. Leroy felt the need to take hold of her hands "Hey, honey, I can help. Don't you go worrying, we will sort this, I aint gonna let him hurt you anymore...you get me?"

Maddy was now sniffling as the tears cascaded down her face. Leroy let go of her hands had reached up to remove her glasses. He peered earnestly into her wet green eyes "Now, I don't want to see tears in those pretty eyes of yours." He smiled.

Maddy blinked back at him, although his face was a blur, she could still make out his honest, determined expression.

"You believe me? You trust me?"

A small smile flickered across her face as she nodded her answer with conviction "Yes, yes I do."

"Good girl, you stick with me kiddo."

"Dempsey what are we doing here? I would really like to go home sometime today." complained Harry as they crept around the back of Jimmy's car dealership.

"Shhhsh!" Dempsey hissed back "I just want to see if that goo has wound up here. Five minutes, thass all I need babe."

"This is crazy." Harry shook her head as she shone the torch beam around the perimeter fence. "Couldn't it have waited until morning? You know Dempsey, do things properly...with a search warrant."

"That would take too long, if my hunch is right, that goo is right here burning its way towards China." Dempsey was studying the chain link fence which ran along the back of the property, looking for a weak point.

"Australia, we say Australia...not China, wrong continent." She corrected somewhat facetiously.

Dempsey ignored her and set to on the fence with a pair of bolt cutters.

Harry huffed "Is that really necessary? You do remember we are already being investigated for not following procedure?...let's just add breaking and entering to the list shall we? Why not go the whole hog and do a bank job while we're at it?"

Dempsey beamed at her, he loved it when she was being sarcastic. "Five minutes Harry then we can steal a getaway car...there's plenty to choose from. Look Makepeace..." He brushed his hand through his hair "If we don't get a result on this case fast, Spikings will put us on traffic duty for the next year.."

"And if we get caught...our careers will be finished forever. Suddenly traffic duty sounds more appealing."

Dempsey bent down to the neatly cut fence and started peeling up the wire. "Bank job, now that's an idea, we could be the new Bonny and Clyde."

"Yes, and what happened to them?"

"Five minutes, it's you watching my back babe." He grinned.

"What's new? Get on with it." She hissed.

Dempsey disappeared into the dark murkiness leaving Harry to keep an eye out for anyone who may rumble them. He moved fast but stealthily, scanning the dark objects which littered the site as he went. He worked methodically, checking the most obvious places first; however he wasn't prepared for the sight which greeted him. He had smelt it at first; the acidic acrid stench hit his nostrils and the back of his throat with an alarming punch. 'Jeezzuz!' he grimaced covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve. He flicked the torch beam to the corner of the plot, and there it was...60 barrels of unknown goo. Dempsey marvelled at the stack which towered over him 'Jeezuz!' he exclaimed again. His eyes widened in alarm as he noted the haphazard way the cargo had been stacked 'Lousy amateurs'. This was evidence enough, it was health hazard if anything else. Satisfied he had enough to go back to Spikings with to gain a proper search warrant; he wasted no time and raced back to Harry.

"Well?" she enquired with genuine curiosity as Dempsey emerged from the hole in the fence.

"Sixty barrels of the stuff" he said breathlessly, "stacked up on pallets...an accident waiting happen.."

"Whaaa? Sixty?"

"Yup, I dunno what the hell they're doin' with it...beats me. But, we're sure dealing with amateurs. One sneeze and the whole lot will come down."

"Okay, let's get onto Spikings in the morning, and then we can get this thing cleaned up once and for all."

"Yeah." he sighed "Let's call it a night partner...I'm bushed."

The goo thickens...Galex come home in the next chaper...what will they find?

Please keep the reviews coming :-))