Flying back to London was like coming home which was weird. Dempsey'd spent months in the U.S. assisting with the review of the NYPD to clean out the poison that had been left behind. He'd taken over from O'Grady and been given a Captain's role so that was cool and they couldn't apologise enough for his exile because of a 'few bad apples,' in the force. So, his career was going well but he missed SI10 and he missed his partner, Harry Makepeace. Those blue eyes of hers haunted his dreams and the transatlantic phone calls where they were both polite didn't really work for him.

He had a meet with Spikings and the Police Commissioner on opportunities he might like to pursue as the British seemed to have imported American style crime and he was there 'go to' guy on that. Makepeace had been partnered with a guy called Bradshaw, yeah Steve Bradshaw and she'd been very non-committal about him which irked the former Lieutenant. He didn't like the idea of Harry spending all that time with another guy, he'd asked Chas about him and D.I. Jarvis had been his usual self which meant he kept his thoughts to himself. 'New to SI10, finding his feet,' was the brusque response. 'Finding his feet,' what the hell did that mean?

Dempsey had told Harry when he was getting in to Heathrow and she said she'd arrange his transport from the airport. He was hoping that meant she'd be there at the meet and greet but technically she hadn't actually said that. It had been two weeks since their last call and after that she'd never been home when he'd rang which was weird because he'd varied the times he'd rang to try and catch her in.

A stranger with a board with his name on was there to meet him and he was duly transported by the chauffeur to his apartment or flat as they called it over here. His meeting with Spikings wasn't until the following day but he felt uneasy about Harry so he ignored the jet lag and got in his car and drove over to SI10 with a feeling of anticipation as well as concern.

Spikings was in a meeting with Chas and another officer when he entered the familiar home of SI10 and he looked at Harry's office, no Harry in there. Fry, Watson and Morrison all gathered round and asked him a million questions but he wasn't there for that. 'Where's Makepeace?' He looked from one face to another.

'Not sure,' Watson replied. 'Bradshaw's in there with Spikings and Chas, guess he's getting the third degree because he doesn't seem to know where she is. They were working on a case with some Mafia connection, some of Giardino's mob maybe.' That's as far as he got as Dempsey ignored protocol and stormed into Spikings office.

'What's going on, where's Harry,' he thundered. He could see Spikings was looking apoplectic but that didn't seem to be aimed at him.

Bradshaw shrugged. 'She's always following hunches on her own, she doesn't keep me informed and last time I saw her she was working a hotel dressed as a high-class hooker.'

'What do you mean she don't keep you informed? You're her partner, right?' Dempsey's tone should have warned the newbie that he was on dangerous ground.

'Well I was assigned as her control but she won't follow my direction, thinks she knows it all and now whatever she knows has disappeared with her.' Bradshaw didn't look too concerned about that because he felt ridiculous having a female boss and especially a snooty stuck up bitch who didn't know a woman's place was on her back.

'You didn't check on her, you didn't arrange any kind of communication?' The Yank didn't like Bradshaw's lax manner and had started to look dangerous.

'Dempsey,' Spikings tried to calm the situation down. 'Sergeant Bradshaw was acting as D.I. Makepeace's control. She was supposed to call him at 6 p.m. in the evening and that hasn't happened for the last two weeks so…

'Two weeks and now you're concerned,' the decibel level was ear shattering. He grabbed Bradshaw by the shirt. 'When did you raise the alarm, numb nuts?'

Bradshaw pushed the Yank off and looked aggressive. 'I raised the alarm yesterday because it seemed to me that I should have heard something from her even if she's maintaining deep cover,' he shrugged. 'Went up west a couple of times to try and spot her but no sign.'

'Two weeks?' Dempsey glowered at the other detective.

'To be fair you've been out of contact longer,' Spikings intervened. 'He got out the file and displayed photographs of the bunch Harry had been monitoring. 'This man Angelo Fiorelli runs the girls in the West End, he's a kind of super pimp if you will. If Harry's in trouble his lot may have something to do with it.'

Dempsey looked at the other photographs and spotted some familiar faces. Some of these gentlemen are known to my contacts, I'll make some enquiries. 'Boss, you covering me for this, I need a weapon for dealing with these guys.'

'Only if you team up with Bradshaw to find Harry,' Spikings knew what Dempsey was like when Harry was threatened and didn't want any kind of difficulty ensuing and at least Bradshaw played it by the rules which was probably why he didn't get on particularly well with Makepeace. Makepeace had been tutored by the former Lieutenant now Captain so she was a little more flexible with the rulebook than her new partner.

'Okay well let's establish who's giving the orders here boss, I outrank the Sergeant and I know the territory better so if we want to get Makepeace back I'd suggest you put me in charge of this.'

Much to Bradshaw's annoyance the Chief Inspector nodded in agreement, 'an officer's safety is at stake here and we've got to put any ego issues aside and find D.I. Makepeace. Dempsey I'd like a word,' Spikings dismissed the other men.

Bradshaw was outraged that he'd been put under the Yank, 'he's NYPD, he doesn't even work here?' He exploded with annoyance to Chas as the office door closed.

'He's Harry's best chance, he knows how she thinks and likely outcomes,' D.I. Jarvis said in his usual calm tones. 'Partners for three years, successful team and Dempsey knows all about the Giardino's just been cleansing the NYPD of their influence. Expert on the mafia so he's always been Spikings number one for this type of operation.' Chas made an appointment with the Super because the boss would near clearance to re-assign Dempsey and then he made a quick call to Lord Winfield as he was known to pull a few strings from time to time and would do everything in his power to protect his daughter.

The American found his SI10 I.D. and gun authorised in a very short period of time as Lord Winfield had used his contacts and they in turn had used their influence with the Home Office.

Dempsey looked at Spikings, 'I'm not impressed with your recruiting process that guy's a waste of space,' he put his re-issued identification in his breast pocket and checked his gun. 'I'll go talk to the girls see what they know, they like me,' he smirked. 'And I'll talk to Sergeant numb nuts to see what he's got,' he growled.

'Do what you have to, Dempsey. Find out where Makepeace is and call her in, it's not like Harry to stay out of contact. I know you're very blasé about protocol but the Detective Inspector is not despite her partnership with you.'

'Yeah it ain't like Harry,' the American agreed. 'Don't' worry I'll find her boss even if I have to tear this town apart, I'll find her.'

The Chief Inspector was absolutely sure he would tear the town apart and that was a matter of concern but he was more concerned about his female recruit. She was brave and loyal and he owed her and Spikings always looked out for his team. 'Tread carefully,' Spikings warned him with a dart of a glance. 'Harry may be in grave danger and we don't want to make certain people nervous; scared people make bad decisions,' he growled.

-oOo—

Bradshaw regarded Dempsey with hostility as the Yank sat down opposite him and stared at him without saying a word.

'If this is an NYPD interrogation technique it won't wash here,' Bradshaw sneered as he folded his arms and glared back at the American.

'Tell me what you know, which girls was Makepeace talking to when you last saw her, what were their names?'

'Do they have names? Slag one, two and three as far as I'm concerned,' the Sergeant muttered.

'Yes, they have names you idiot jerk and if you knew the names we'd be in a better position to find the Detective Inspector.' The American officer was annoyed with the way Bradshaw dismissed the hookers, people were people, and sometimes life didn't turn out like you expected or wanted.

Bradshaw lit a cigarette and smirked eyeing Dempsey through the smoke. 'You seem very upset about Makepeace going A.W.O.L. was she one of your birds then? I hear you have quite a reputation with the ladies, well done if you got into the Ice Maiden's knickers; I salute you,' he'd hardly got the words out before Dempsey had him up against the wall gasping for breath as the cigarette fell out of his mouth.

'You don't talk about her that way capiche, she's a fellow officer and nobody talks about her like that,' he let go of the other guy but still looked dangerous. 'Now, we're going for a little trip to the Dorchester, Ritz etcetera and you will look very closely at the girls and tell me who Makepeace was talking to; you got that. YOU GOT THAT!' The decibel level made the other guys wince and they watched with something approaching cynical amusement as Bradshaw follow in Dempsey's wake.

Fry looked awe struck, 'I don't like Steve that much but I almost feel sorry for him,' Morrison and Watson nodded in empathy.

'If anything's happened to Harry, Dempsey will go loco, I know that much,' Watson looked from one to the other. 'Don't exactly know what they have going on with the engagement business but whatever it is I wouldn't be in Bradshaw's shoes right now.'

'No but then Steve's sore because he tried it on with Harry and she told him to get lost and he's never forgiven her for that,' Morrison added more to the internal tension they all felt at Harry's absence. 'And I don't care what Bradshaw says two weeks is too long to leave it if you're the control, he should have raised the alarm earlier.'

Spikings was furious with Bradshaw too but didn't think throwing the book at him at this particular juncture would really help the situation they were in. He was relieved that the Yank had turned up as it was Harry's best chance. Dempsey was a very successful officer and he also took the role of partner very seriously as Bradshaw was about to find out.

-oOo—

'So, which of the girls looks familiar,' Dempsey sat in the bar and noted a couple of the ladies present as potential, being a cop you got a feel for these things.

Bradshaw shrugged, 'not sure the red head might have been one of them. If she is a redhead; probably a wig. They change their look to refresh the scene for the punters and reduce the chances of being thrown out by the hotel management.'

'Yeah well, it's called making a living,' Dempsey growled and got up. 'Stay here,' he grated as he went towards the girl Bradshaw had pointed out.

He smiled as he came up to the young woman, 'Evening angel. 'Looking for a girl, course I'm looking for a girl, thought you might know her she's in the same line of business.' He took out a photo of Harry from some ball they'd been to way back. 'You seen her?'

'She looks familiar but I have a remarkably short memory?' The girl wasn't stupid and time was money. It was a pity he wasn't interested in her services; he was an attractive man.

Dempsey got out a fifty, 'more where this came from if you tell me where she is; she ran out on me and I'm eager to be reacquainted.' His charming smile took away any threat to the blonde that might have been implied.

The redhead smiled but her gaze mocked him, in truth she envied the other woman's conquest, there was something about the posh tart that seemed to reel in the punters. 'Well I'm afraid you've got competition darling, Angelo likes your Sharon and he's taken her away from all this and offered her some cushy number in one of his clubs, private clubs you understand.'

'Oh, I understand honey, well it's been real nice talking to you. If you see her don't say anything; want it to be a surprise when we meet up.' He re-joined Bradshaw at the bar and glanced across at the jerk Harry'd been partnered with. 'So, she's working in one of the clubs, I know a couple of them, what do you know?'

'It's in the files back at the office, Hargreaves had them all mapped out, can't remember off the top of my head to be honest.'

'Right well let's get back there and then we can send officers undercover to each one simultaneously, that sound like a plan to you Bradshaw or you got something else figured out? Harry won't be giving Angelo any so sooner or later he'll get fed up of getting a no and then she's in trouble, so we need to know which club and make sure she can get assistance. That was your job Sergeant Numbnuts but you don't seem to have quite got the hang of it.'

Bradshaw's temper fired at the Yank's way of addressing him, he was a competent officer with a number or years in the force and two of them in C.I.D. 'I told you, Makepeace didn't discuss her game plan with me, she kept it to herself and now she's in trouble, big surprise. If you don't play by the rules then you lose big time, it's her own fault.'

'Yeurgh,' Dempsey's tone of disgust didn't need translation as he took the wheel and drove them full speed back to SI10 to organise the retrieve.

-oOo—