Dempsey and Makepeace drove in what was a companionable silence; both nursing foul hangovers Harry concentrated on the road whilst Dempsey concentrated on nothing, not even trying to force his memory. They pulled up in the police car park at the same time as Inspector O'Malley.
"Well I see you seem to have found each other again" he observed. "I want you inside for a briefing" he noticed Makepeace about to ask for some time to go home and change "NOW" he thundered. The noise made both Dempsey and Makepeace wince as their fragile heads failed to cope; nothing escaped O'Malley's attention.
At the briefing he detailed how he wanted 24 hour observation on Hickey, Sheahan and Tierney. He would lend three of his men to the project… Harry scanned the room to see who he had brought with him, she recognised Quinn, but noted the absence of Clarissa and heaved a sigh of relief. Dempsey did likewise; he didn't need any complications now.
Dempsey spoke up "I thought this was our project"
"Combined with our co-operation and local knowledge Lieutenant." The inspector raised himself up to full stature and continued "I want you watching Hickey tonight and your partner", he looked at Harry "watching Sheahan"
"With all due respect Sir" Harry spoke up and O'Malley glared but she continued "Hickey is known to Dempsey and Sheahan knows me"
"Well you can swap Sergeant, but you can't back out just because you have a hang over" O'Malley cut in, then added "News travels fast around here"
O'Malley continued with his instructions and finally released them all.
Dempsey was grumbling to Harry about O'Malley.
"Just shut up" she interjected. "I think we need to go and get my stuff and get it all to that suite you've got booked"
Dempsey looked confused
"Currently we're not cutting much ice with O'Malley" Harry explained her reasoning "I think we need to match our original undercover role, show him that we can do good police work and work as a team"
"I'll sleep on the sofa" Dempsey offered
"I rather think we're sleeping rough tonight around Klonakilty" Harry pointed out
"Unfortunately" Dempsey mumbled to himself; he turned to Makepeace "Let's go and collect your stuff, then we can finally get a shower and some clean clothes."
"And some more headache pills" Harry added noting also that Dempsey had made no suggestive inference regarding the shower.
"Hey Dempsey!" Fry finally had found Dempsey and came running up "Where do you suggest I stay?"
"I know just the place" Harry smiled at him. Fry loved it when Makepeace was kind to him. He was always a bit unsure about Dempsey, sometimes Dempsey brought him a pint and was fine then another time he was taking the mick, and now Spikings had told him not to keep tabs on Dempsey at all times, but not why.
Harry explained where the hotel was that she was vacating and suggested Fry to get a lift there with Quinn. She thought they were very alike. There would be enough time for her to clear out of there and move in with Dempsey before Fry attempted to book in.
Back at the Rochestown Park Hotel she looked around the suite Dempsey had taken. As she hung some of her clothes she was left wondering about the previous night and if they both so obviously wanted the same would it be so wrong? She tried to remember kissing Dempsey but without Fry's description she would still be clueless so instead she sat on the bed and waited for Dempsey to come out of the shower and tried to work out where Tierney, Hickey and Sheahan connected.
"Let's get dinner here before we go back to the station" Dempsey shouted to Harry as she showered. "Who you working with tonight?"
"Some guy called Tommy Horgan, he's from round here"
"Maybe he'll bring some moonshine with him to keep you warm?"
"May be I drank too much of that last night, my head is still throbbing"
"Just don't go doing anything I wouldn't babe"
"I've told you before about that word"
"What word"
"You know" she paused, this was just winding her up "Who you with?"
"Fry"
She came out wearing a robe and towelling her hair before she dried it. She noticed the frustration on his face. "O come on, he's not that bad, in fact he comes up with some good solutions sometimes."
"He frustrates me Harry"
"Well be the bigger man and look for the good work he does"
"That's all very well for you to say"
"And for you to do" she switched the hairdryer on and pretended she could no longer hear him.
They ate and made their way to the Police Station, then set off in pairs to their watch. The night was uneventful and each pair slept in turns as the other tracked the comings and goings of their suspects.
Harry confessed to her partner about her overindulgence the previous night but given that she was so charming and complimentary about Ireland, its people and drink Horgan took the larger part of the shift allowing Harry some respite. Dempsey had no such fortune with Fry who at his worst asked what Dempsey thought were amazing questions along the lines of 'if he (Dempsey) always opened his mouth that wide when kissing' or if he (Fry) did Mr and Mrs undercover with Makepeace 'would he have to touch the Sergeant in those places too? Words literally failed Dempsey who pretended either to sleep or become so focused in on the observation that he couldn't afford to be distracted by conversation. In fact when Fry took his turn to sleep Dempsey didn't bother to wake him.
The three teams met up next morning in the town centre and compared notes, and briefed the teams taking over. O'Malley was not there so Dempsey and Makepeace took charge and left the other four to check on a couple of vehicles before they too made their way back.