Dempsey had made an appointment with the Prime Minister's son through the Home Office Minister and Junior was now sat in one of the interrogation rooms. The Chief Inspector let him kick his heels for fifteen minutes and then went to meet him with D.I. Jarvis in attendance.

'Chief Inspector James Dempsey,' he sat down and didn't bother to offer his hand to Junior as they'd all got used to calling him. 'I guess you're wondering why you're here.'

'I can't imagine why I'm here or why you were late for the appointment,' the younger man seethed. 'I'm a busy man and I don't have time to sit around and wait for some copper.'

'You will address me as Chief Inspector or sir,' Dempsey's expression darkened and his jaw squared and he could see the other man look somewhat taken aback. 'My job is to deal with serious crime, terrorists, psychopath's and mafia. I'm kind of annoyed that I have to waste my time and the taxpayers' money to warn you about getting your name and the Prime Minister's name mixed up in a Ponzi scheme. Get me the file,' he looked over at Chas.

Jarvis went outside the room and brought in a number of buff folders on Mason and Steers. Dempsey selected two photos, 'you know these gentlemen.'

'They are business associates, Junior blustered as his colour heightened. He'd been aware for some time that making ridiculous amounts of money from a business venture must be more than just good fortune.

'Answer the question yes or no,' Dempsey slammed back.

'Yes, I know them what of it?' The P.M.s son looked distinctly uncomfortable as he hadn't liked the way Mason and Steers had identified him as a shareholder and his parents hadn't liked it either.

'They are persons of interest to SI10, the Met's Fraud Squad, the Home and Foreign Office, do you know what a person of interest means.' Dempsey steady gaze was somewhat intimidating.

'I'm not aware of the term,' the P.M.s son looked rattled and he didn't find the Chief Inspector's manner very pleasant most people were deferential to him because of his parents.

'He's not aware of the term,' Dempsey remarked to D.I. Jarvis in a conversational tone. 'D.I. Jarvis inform the gentleman what a person of interest is.'

'It means that we suspect the person of wrongdoing but they have as yet not been charged with an offence. It also means they are being monitored by the police.' Chas indicated the files.

'It means we've got our eyes on them,' the Chief Inspector responded. 'This business deal, with your face fronting it is a Ponzi scheme and that means that the shares are worth nothing once confidence in the company wanes. So, that means a lot of people are going to lose money and you're the face they're going to be gunning for. That don't matter to me much other than it will look bad for the Prime Minister of this country.' The last part of the sentence was yelled at the Prime Minister's son.

'It's not illegal,' Junior blustered trying to recover ground as he was beginning to feel humiliated.

'Actually, it is,' Dempsey responded tersely, 'but we'll leave that to the Fraud Office cos that's their job. 'Now, as I understand it, the Home Office have got an option for you that will save your reputation and make you look like one of the good guys. I suggest you take it and then I can spend my time on the day job.

He got up and glared at the P.M.s son, 'I've got serious threats to this country to deal with so I don't want to waste my time on a greedy, little punk like you, you got that. If I have to see you again next time I won't be so nice.' The disparaging tone that the American officer used showed how much he despised the man in front of him.

'How dare you try and intimidate me,' the Prime Minister's son blustered getting out of his seat. 'The Prime Minister will hear of this and you'd better watch your step.'

'The Prime Minister will definitely hear about this; the Prime Minister will hear that the son and heir has enhanced the reputation of the family and been a credit to his parents.' He turned to Jarvis. 'D.I. Jarvis escort the gentleman to his next appointment and bring him back to me if he has any questions.'

Both officers knew that Junior wouldn't have any further questions because it was very unlikely he would want to meet the Chief Inspector again.

Makepeace strolled into Dempsey's office a couple of hours later looking rather amused. 'I watched the interview and I think you were rather harsh to poor Rupert. The Home Office has been on the phone to Spikings and Junior has accepted their recommendation.'

'Your recommendation,' James smiled at her. 'I wasn't that tough on him just jerked him around a little, all's well that ends well as they say. Your pop called; wants me to go down to Winfield Hall for a man to man chat.'

'Oh, that's probably about the pre-nuptial agreement and any children we have will have to be Winfield's not Dempsey's. Well I suppose we can get your name in somewhere,' she demurred.

'Nice of you,' he growled. 'I ain't changing my name angel, and if we have kids then they'll be Dempsey's as far as I'm concerned. You can call them what you like on the family tree.'

'I know it must all seem strange to you,' she sympathised, 'it's just family traditions are important to Freddie and to me.'

James got up and came towards her putting his arm around her shoulder. 'If something's important to you sweetheart, then it's important to me too. Let me take you to dinner and you can tell me all about it.' He picked up his jacket and guided her out of his office. He could see the staff watching them both but ignored it, everyone liked to gossip it was a fact of life and he guessed there was some level of fascination because they were both senior officers.

'I've a strong desire to put my hand on your ass,' he grinned at her. 'That would give them something to chew on.'

'It certainly would but I strongly recommend against it as it wouldn't be good for your health or well-being,' Harry quipped back.

'It wouldn't huh,' a smile tugged at his mouth as they rounded a corner and were out of the general view. At that point he ran his hand over her rear. 'I don't know that feels great,' he laughed as she grabbed his hand and glared at him. 'Okay sorry, nobody saw what are you worried about.'

'It's not funny Dempsey, I'm a senior officer and I don't want people talking about me in that way. We keep our private life, private and that's my last word on the subject.'

'Yes Ma'am,' she was so uptight about work but he guessed the guys did tend to be on the chauvinistic side. 'As long as we can get somewhere private soon cos you look really hot in that prim little suit. Just want to slide my hand up your thigh….

'That's enough James,' Harry's colour heightened and she flashed him a warning look.

Dempsey laughed and put his arm around her waist and hugged her to him. He loved being around Makepeace and he was only teasing her. 'How hungry are you?'

'You offered to take me to dinner,' she flashed him a knowing look. 'And I accepted so we are going to dinner James because I know exactly how hungry you are.'

'Yeah, you got me there.' He opened the car door for her and felt a deep satisfaction that he knew how this evening was going to end and he could wait cos Harry was worth waiting for.

The end.