Please don't shout at me lol.

Chapter 34

"Go home sergeant." Spikings ordered Harry. He was sat at his desk cigarette in one hand and tumbler of Scotch in the other. He was too tired to be thinking at this time of the day and his patience was waning. He was now regretting not going home when the last officer left the office in favour of savouring a Scotch in peace and quiet. His little piece of tranquillity had been disturbed by a very upset Sergeant Makepeace racing unapologetically into his den.

"Don't you see? It's all down to bloody Leroy!" she protested , her voice verging on a screech. "Leroy has lead Coltrane to Dempsey – you have to do something."

"And what do you expect me to do Sergeant? Huh? Since you seem intent on telling me my job." Spikings remained poker faced, only the tone of his voice hinted at his displeasure.

"I, I don't know, but we can't just sit here twiddling our thumbs."

"Who's twiddling their thumbs? I've got 3 murders, a gangland feud , 2 robberies and an illegal gambling racket on my hands – and you want me to drop everything to scour London for an awol American( who is out of my jurisdiction by the way) who may or may not be pursuing the American who is under my command?..."

"For heavens sake Sir…"

"Makepeace! See, I feared this would happen with you two becoming , shall we say.. intimate.."

"What?" said Harry, aghast.

"Your judgement has become clouded."

"How can you say that? Our relationship has nothing to do with it." Her eyes flashed with anger.

"Really Sergeant? From where I'm sitting that is exactly what has happened." Spikings stood his ground , but he couldn't help but feel a little for Harry. "Look, Harry, I have limited resources and I have to justify how I deploy those resources. Yes, you have a point, it does look like a strong coincidence and possibly the two things are connected.."

"Of course they are connected!" snapped Harry "You don't see Leroy arriving here under the same circumstances as Dempsey then disappearing two weeks before Coltrane rears his ugly head as being connected? Ludicrous!" She threw her hands in the air to emphasise the point.

"I didn't say that. I agree with you to an extent. And yes it needs investigating…but you girl need to step back, take a breath and view the situation as a police officer and not through your emotional attachment to your partner."

Harry planted her hands on hips in defiance. How dare he even suggest that she was letting her relationship with Dempsey affect her judgement?

Spikings sighed "I hear what you are saying and it stinks like a week old haddock, but we have to tread carefully – understand? We don't know if Leroy is the villain here, all we know is that he's in as much danger as Dempsey – that's if he is still alive."

Harry's eyes widened in alarm "You're not seriously suggesting Dempsey may be dead?"

Spikings frowned. "No, Leroy. They may have bumped off Leroy first, that's why we can't charge off in all directions trying to find him – our priority is Dempsey, not Leroy. Leroy is Hunt's priority. Geddit?"

Harry softened her stance a little.

Spikings continued "I can understand why you are upset and believe me I am not happy that Hunt has chosen not to inform me about Leroy's disappearance, especially since he knows all about Dempsey's problem…"

"So Hunt and Drake did know the whole saga yet they didn't say anything to me – charming." She huffed.

"Harry, they were both under strict instructions from the NYPD not to say anything to anybody – there is too much at stake both sides of the Atlantic." Spikings got to his feet and shrugged on his jacket, " Now, go home and get some rest, I will have strong words with Hunt in the morning and you and I will have a proper talk then, when you have calmed down. That's an order."

"I will do no such thing – Dempsey may be dead by the morning." With that Harry stormed out of his office.

Furious, Spikings yelled after her "I'm warning you Makepeace, DON'T BLOW HIS COVER."

Leroy, dressed immaculately in his designer suit, his long braids neatly tied back in a pony tail, sat opposite the American who had joined him for dinner at the Chessington Hotel. His senses on high alert, he thought very carefully and precisely about what he was saying. He'd never met Carl before either in London or in New York and being so far away from the NYPD he hadn't been able to do his usually thorough research on the guy. Leroy, before meeting a contact, would always meticulously find as many facts and information about the person before arranging such a meeting, but in this case he hadn't had the opportunity. He was used to working on his own under cover, setting up his own contacts, arranging meetings on his own terms, but he was now under the employ of Coltrane and it was he, the Assistant Commissioner of the NYPD , who called the shots and barked the orders. Leroy had no choice but to toe the line. It had been made perfectly clear to him that he would be dead if he deviated from the plan. Although, he was acutely aware he was probably a dead man walking in any case, it was only a matter of time before he had served his purpose and became surplus to requirements. That in mind, it was his plan to keep as much distance between Carl and Dempsey as possible and for the longest amount of time possible. However, with each new day it was becoming clear he was trying to do the impossible. The outcome was inevitable, as soon as Dempsey was dead, so was he.

Leroy attempted to keep the conversation polite and business-like as he chased micro nouvelle cuisine vegetables around his oversized plate. "I don't mind telling you, I think Coltrane has under-estimated how many guys on the ground you need. Hey, these Brits aint the pushovers you think they are – you're gonna need more muscle. And these Irish guys, don't trust them, the kingpin may be in the slammer, but he's got some of the guards in his pocket – y'know whadda mean, they sure are bent and these dudes know exactly how to play it."

"Screw the Irish. They are no longer important to us." smirked Carl.

Leroy afforded himself a little smile. Not much had changed, here he was working undercover, negotiating with another lackey. Different city, different country, same old shit. Where did they find these people? You try and tell them how it is and the take you for a know nothing schmuck.

"I don't think Daly sees it like that, he still wants his cut." insisted Leroy.

"He's outta the game. Mara has seen to it – he gets zilch."

Leroy tried again. "Don't piss these guys off, they are more than capable of blowing your ass to Timbuctoo."

Carl laughed "Yeah right, like I'm scared of a couple of washed up terrorists from an insignificant country. "

"Do you have any idea the sort of shit the likes of these guys cause in this country? Do ya? It's not all about little green Leprechauns and clog dancing y'know. Not so long ago they blew up two police officers with a car bomb and attempted to knee cap another, he nearly bled to death, just a normal day at the office for these guys. They crazy nasty, you put a horse's head in a bed, they just blow the fuck outta it –get me?"

"Don't you worry, we know all about them – we can handle it, thank you for your concern. Now, you are just broker, don't you forget that. You supply the money, we supply the guys, we do the heist, buy the product, everyone gets paid, everyone's happy – a part from the Irish and the British police."

"All right, have it your way. I still say you need more muscle and quick. Did you check out that snooker club yet?"

"No not yet, but I will tonight after we finish up here."

Leroy inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, on the one hand he was trying to play the role of broker, concerned that things weren't moving fast enough…on the other he was Leroy the cop trying to delay and stall to buy some time until he could figure out a way out of this. Although he didn't know for sure, he had only heard rumours on the street, there was an American hood looking for a job and he hung out in the snooker club….and Leroy had a hunch it was Dempsey.

Harry hammered on the front door of The Andrew's modest semi-detached house. She was determined to get to the bottom of the story. Somebody somewhere knew where Leroy was and it was odds on it was Maddy Andrews.

"All right, I'm coming." Shouted Maddy as she ran down the stairs. They didn't often get visitors normally, but since Maddy's father, Max Andrews, had been arrested for contempt of court, there had been even less. Maddy opened the door suspiciously, leaving it on the chain.

"Maddy, open the door I need to talk to you urgently" Harry yelled through the crack.

"Oh it's you Harry." Maddy replied perplexed. She let Harry in. "What on earth has happened."

"Don't give me that, you know exactly why I'm here." Harry barged passed her and made her way into the sitting room.

"Is it about Robert?" asked Maddy confused.

Harry ignoring her question jabbed a finger at Maddy "Your boyfriend has got a lot to answer for – where is he?"

Shocked Maddy stammered "Leroy? I have absolutely no idea."

Harry glared at the baffled Maddy, her eyes drilling into her as she spoke. "Rubbish, you expect me to believe that load of flannel. Don't try and tell me he hasn't contacted you because it won't wash – where is he?"

"Harry, I have no idea what the hell you are going on about. Please could you enlighten me?" said Maddy sarcastically, she may have respected Harry on a personal level but she was damned if she was going to be interrogated by her in her own home. And this was the third police officer to barge their way into house to grill her on the whereabouts of Leroy.

"Cobblers! Tell me where he is or I swear I….I…" She was shaking with pure rage.

Maddy wasn't having any of it. First Hunt and Drake , then the police had imprisoned her father and now Harry. It was safe to say she had had more than enough of aggressive police officers of late "Do what? You charge in here, my home, throwing accusations around giving orders? Who the hell do you think you are? And for your information, I haven't seen or heard from Leroy for over eight weeks If you won't speak to me in a civilised manner you can bloody well leave now..

Harry was still at full volume "I haven't seen Dempsey for six weeks! I don't know whether he is a live or….or…" Harry's anger suddenly dissipated and was replaced a weak, quivering voice "Dead." Her accusing finger flopped back down to her side and her head dropped – all her fight had deserted her.

"What? Dead? I'm sorry Harry I don't understand – Harry?" Maddy cocked her head trying to look Harry in the face, but Harry averted her eyes in an attempt to hide the tears that were now filling her eyes.

"Harry? What's the matter, what's happened?" asked Maddy concerned. Harry didn't answer, instead she burst into tears and sobbed on the spot. "Oh no, come here." Maddy rushed over to her and scooped in her arms to comfort her. "Shhhh, why don't you sit down, I'll crack open a bottle and you can tell me all about it."

Harry had no idea where all the emotion had come from. She was adept at keeping her emotions in check, but even she could no longer hold back the tide. Never had she felt so alone, never had she felt so out of control. Once she had composed herself and Maddy had handed her a glass of wine, she told Maddy everything.

"Harry, It can't be Leroy, I know I haven't known him long, but he's a good guy. He's got into trouble for doing the right thing, just like Dempsey. You and I are in the same position. We both love our men and they have both gone missing because they've had to run from this Coltrane bastard…except you're in a slightly better position because you can help with the investigation as I have to sit and wait."

Harry shook her head. "I hear what you are saying, but I can't help thinking that Coltrane has only found Dempsey because Leroy has come over here…and Gene and Alex are responsible for him coming here in the first place. I feel so betrayed…..God alone knows how Dempsey would feel if he knew they were involved."

"From what Leroy has told me, Gene and Alex were accidental victims of a set up in New York, it's not their fault either."

"So why didn't they say something? I expected Alex would have said something at least…it seems everyone knew about Dempsey's contract except me."

"I can't answer that." Maddy thought for a while. "Does Dempsey know why Leroy is here…Leroy knows about Dempsey? Have the two of them ever talked about it?"

"You know, I've never asked him- I don't know, may be. Why? What are you thinking?"

Maddy thought harder, "Well, rather than thinking Leroy is working for Coltrane, what if both Dempsey and Leroy were working undercover together? They know how each other work because they are from the same department – dunno, just turning a negative into a potential positive. Maybe your James isn't out there on his own after all."

Harry suddenly brightened with Maddy's small glimpse of hope. "I hadn't even considered that! Ha! That means we could have two officers on the inside. Maddy have you ever thought about a career in the police?" Harry smiled warmly at her "Genius!"

Don't think Harry is coping at the moment...I seriously wonder if she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown