They were silent as they left the building until they reached the car when Makepeace turned to Dempsey. "That was strange."

"Hmm." He said thoughtfully. "He wasn't exactly what I'd figured on. What was all that about bein' busy with his father's affairs? He's an MI5 agent and he aint dealin' with that? He aint so bothered about protection either, makes me wonder why."

"Yes and all that about Piers and my father being long term friends, it's the first I've heard his name mentioned."

"Maybe he just has a 'thing' for you Sergeant." Dempsey continued mocking Lock. "'I have so long wanted to meet you.' Tryin' to impress you with his immense fortune."

"No, I don't buy that either."

"Why not? You two seem to have a lot in common." He studied her out of the corner of his eyes. "What! Me and Lock, I hardly think so." She looked affronted. "Well, he obviously thinks you do."

That day seemed to fly by and Makepeace found herself at home with thirty minutes before she was due to be picked up again to be taken to the boat. They had left the MI5 building and gone back to the office to brief Spikings, where they had spent many hours studying the files on the case. She glanced at the clock beside her bed and flung open her wardrobe, frowning. In truth, she wished that Dempsey hadn't accepted the invitation, alright they may learn some more about the case, but it was unlikely and she wasn't in the mood to have to exchange pleasantries with a group of strangers, or Lock himself. She was a little unsure of what to wear but she didn't have enough time to think too much about it so she grabbed the first dress she could find. It was a long, gold satin dress, which didn't have to be decorated or fussed with to be eye-catching. It simply took the shape of her body as the material followed her curves, and the simple neckline ran to her shoulders where the satin scooped and fell to half way down her back. She was ready early so she stood in her lounge, looking at her watch and fiddling with some papers on her table. If Dempsey was late she had a good mind not to go at all. Unfortunately he wasn't late, and she had to resign herself to the fact that there was no avoiding going to the party that evening.

When she opened the door to him, he breezed into her house. "Hiya gorgeous, ready for the Thames?"

"Hmm." She strolled past him to get her bag and gather her keys and other belongings. A slight frown crossed his face then but he simply shrugged to himself. With her bag in her hand she sat on the sofa arm and pulled back the curtains to look for the car out of the window. He watched her, trying to figure out her mood, deciding to stay quiet for the time being.

The limousine pulled up minutes later and they were let into the back by the chauffer. Dempsey turned to her then, "You okay Harry? You aint said nothin' so far."

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that... do you really think it was necessary for us to accept his invitation?" He looked surprised. "Well, I'd kinda like to get some background on this guy, and besides why turn down an evening on the Thames, right?"

"I suppose, but we do have a lot to do tomorrow and..." He stopped her in mid flow. "Hey, what's up with you lately Harry, you forgotten how to have fun?" She glanced downwards and he lifted her chin, forcing her to look up. "Relax." She gave a small smile. "You want some champagne," he paused, "courtesy of Lock." He grinned, lifting an eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, go on then." His smile broadened. "Good girl." He poured two glasses of champagne and gave her one, clinking her glass with his. "Here's to the high life, eh Harry." She smiled." Cheers." Dempsey took a sip and relaxed back into the seat. "This Lock guy must have some bucks, considerin' his 'newly acquired' boat." He said mocking locks own words. "Must be part of his inheritance I assume." Makepeace replied. "Wonder what 'Piers' did to accumulate such wealth?"

"I've no idea, that reminds me, I must ask my father about him. It may shed some light on Lock's background."

"You think that has a bearing on the case?"

"I think, perhaps." Dempsey looked thoughtful. "Me too."

They arrived at the boat and were escorted on board where they made their way to a top deck. The sound of people chatting and laughing mixed with the gentle rhythm of some background music. They grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and stood not far from the entrance, scanning the people for Lock. "Can't see Lock anywhere." Makepeace said, shrugging. "He'll turn up, once he knows that you're here I bet." She looked at him with a frown and moved across the deck. "Shall we see who's here?"

He followed her to the far end of the deck where most people were gathered in a small bar area. A few people looked up and smiled as they approached but nobody spoke to them. Dempsey leant against the bar and gave Makepeace a quizzical look. Then a lady looking to be in her late sixties noticed them and walked over from the other side of the bar to chat. "Hello, I haven't seen you two before." She held out her hand. "My name is Madelyn." They shook her hand and introduced themselves. "Such a lovely crowd here tonight." The lady said, looking around with a smile. Dempsey glanced at Makepeace with a doubtful look on his face. She turned away, trying not to laugh. The lady continued. "I was just saying to Jack over there that the last time I enjoyed myself so much was at crufts last month, my little Billy won an award you know." Makepeace was finding it hard now not to laugh out loud and Dempsey watched her, grinning. "Really." He said with mock interest. "Yes, I've got seven award winning dogs and I was quite the envy of crufts this year." Makepeace turned away from the woman, whose attention was now on Dempsey, and leant with her arms on the bar, looking down and shaking with laughter. She bit her lip and glanced back up at him, he was grinning at her and nodding at the lady at all the appropriate times. Makepeace mouthed to Dempsey, 'shall we escape?' He nodded. The woman was engrossed in her own conversation. He mouthed back, 'wait for the signal.' She giggled.

He ushered the woman over to a buffet table to the side of the bar and she continued chatting on the way. Makepeace glanced around at them. Dempsey picked up a plate and she placed some food onto it. He turned to another woman next to them and the crufts lady was soon in conversation with her, giving Dempsey his chance to escape. He strode towards Makepeace, grabbing her hand and rushing past the bar, towards some steps leading to a lower deck. "Quick, before she notices." Makepeace laughed out loud then as he almost pulled her down the steps. She struggled to keep up in her shoes. "C'mon Sergeant, before we're busted." Then he turned and picked her up bodily to carry her down the last few steps, where he grabbed her hand again and made a dash for the nearest corridor, hiding behind a wall. They stood flat against its surface, laughing and catching their breaths. "D'ya think she noticed?" Makepeace gave him an amused look. "I think they've called off the dogs now Dempsey, excuse the pun." He laughed. "Unusual company lock keeps Eh? You wanna explore the boat?"

Dempsey lead her through the lower deck, down a corridor and past a series of rooms, a lounge, dining room, and finally lower into the boat down a second set of steps. They followed a network of passageways leading to the back of the boat where a staircase led them up again to the higher decks at the far end. "Wonder what's up here?" Dempsey said, walking up another set of smaller steps, which led to an individual room at the very top of the boat.

Makepeace followed Dempsey into the room and closed the door behind her. There were two red, leather sofas in the centre of the room and a number of glass cabinets lining the walls, displaying leather bound books, cognacs and cigars. "I'll give him this, he aint got bad taste." Dempsey said, surveying the range of liqueurs and cigars. Makepeace glanced at the books, trailing her fingers along the cabinets as she walked past them. She paused at a table at the end, on which was placed a chess set with intricately carved wooden pieces. She picked a piece up to study it in more detail. "You play that game?" She jumped slightly, not realising that he was standing behind her. He had taken a glass from the shelf and poured himself some cognac. "Yes, I was just admiring these pieces though."

"Some kid at school made me play chess once, game dragged on for hours, never played again." She gave him a wry smile. "Well Dempsey, I'm not surprised, patience is hardly your strong point."

"Harry, you wound me with your words." Dempsey said, mocking her and placing a hand across his heart. "Besides, I aint got no choice but to be patient sometimes, eh." He gave her an amused look and she grinned back. "I'm sure you'll survive, you've got broad shoulders." He watched her eyes move to the shoulders in question and he raised an eyebrow at her. She turned away then and strolled towards another door at the far end of the room which led out onto another small deck at the very top of the boat. She let herself out into the night and Dempsey followed her.

Music could be heard in the background, from the far end of the boat, and the mild breeze and scent of the evening air created a warm and relaxing atmosphere. They were both instinctively drawn to the wooden railing at the edge of the boat, where they looked out onto the water. A network of small, white lights was spread out before them in the distance. "Beautiful view." Makepeace said with a sigh. "Hmm." Dempsey replied, but he wasn't looking at the water anymore. "You wanna dance?" Makepeace turned to him in surprise. "What here?"

"Yeah, why not? We've got the music, the setting, the moonlight." He said gesturing to the sky. Makepeace hesitated. "Shouldn't we be getting back, we haven't even spoken to Lock yet. So far we have learnt nothing."

"Makepeace, life isn't all about work, sometimes you just gotta go with the moment. C'mon, dance with me." He took her glass and placed it on the floor with his, then holding her hand he lead her into the middle of the deck. She put her hand on his shoulder but he pulled her closer into him, putting his hands around her waist and leaving her no choice but to move her free hand to the back of his neck, where she clasped her other arm behind his head. They moved to the music. "You're so tense. You know the best way to completely relax?" She looked at him warily. "Do tell."

"Let your mind wander and see where it ends up."

"What?"

"Well if I said for instance 'sky', what would you say?"

"I don't follow."

"What does your mind come up with when I say the word 'sky'? And no cheatin', just say what first comes into your head." She sighed. "Err, moon."

"Okay, now you've got it. Night."

"Sleep." she closed her eyes. "Dreams."

"Fantasy."

"Ooh, I like that one. Excitement." She gave him a suspicious look. "Control." He began trailing his fingers over the exposed skin of her back. "Lack of it." She pulled back slightly. "Brazen."

"Lips." He was gazing at hers. "Breath." He put his lips near to her ear. "Whispers." She turned her head to whisper back. "Secrets." She looked up at him with intense eyes then. "When does this game end James?" His eyes caressed her face. "When you gonna let me end it?" There was a tense silence then as they stared at each other. The moment stretched on, then Makepeace broke eye contact, looking down with a slight frown. He reacted by moving his hands from her back, gently up her body to the back of her neck, where they slid forward to cup her face. He coaxed her head upwards, forcing her eyes to meet his. Her blue eyes softened as they met his warm brown ones. Then he moved his head so that his lips were hovering by her cheekbone. She could feel his warm breath on her skin. He turned his head slightly to stroke his lips against the side of her face. 'When is she going to pull away?' He wondered. She knew this was madness but she felt so warm and utterly unable to move at that moment. He slowly inched his lips down the side of her face, nearing her lips. She held her breath, 'I've got to pull away' she thought. He moved back slightly but his lips were now directly in front of hers. 'God I want to feel your lips, taste you Harry.' He thought. He watched her close her eyes and her lips opened slightly, allowing her to breath out. They stood there, their dancing stopped, as they shared each other's breath, so close to closing the gap.