The next morning, the family was gathered in the entrance hall, James and Harry were about to leave Winfield Hall. Watson was leaning on a wall in a corner. He didn't want to intrude on their privacy, but still didn't want to give the teens any chance to give him the slip, so he was watching their farewell from a distance.
Dempsey kissed them both and stepped backwards, grabbing his bag. "I already told you not to worry! It's gonna be alright, we'll be back in no time." He tried to cheer them up.
Thomas was silently hugging his mother. He wondered if his parents had talked this gun thing through yet, but didn't dare to bring back the subject. He was worried and drained, and glancing at his sister he saw she had to be feeling just the same, if not worst. After all, Maggie had been her best friend.
Harry was doing everything she could to be strong and not to show any sign of weakness, but it was harder than she would have thought to leave them behind. She hugged them together.
"I love you." She said kissing them.
"I love you too mummy. I love you..." Jessica sobbed over and over again. Thomas had a big lump in his throat, he wouldn't have been able to utter a single word.
Dempsey observed his wife kissing their children's forehead for the umpteenth time with a frown, they seemed to never want to let go.
"Come on, let's go!" Dempsey urged. They should already be gone. She was making it worse by lengthening the good-byes. He put an arm around her waist to direct her out of the room and waved cheerfully as he closed the door behind them. Watson gave him a quick nod; that was all Dempsey needed. From now on, his kids were in safety and he wouldn't think about it.
"Don't look back." He advised his wife as they descended the front stairs. When they reached the bottom, he let go of her and they entered the car.
"You know you can still change your mind." He glanced in her direction. She was rubbing the corner of her eyes, fighting back the tears. "You can stay here if you want."
She turned to face him. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears but her voice was resolute. "No, I've made a decision, I'm coming with you. It's just hard to leave them when they're so scared. But you can start the car, I am coming."
He observed her a few more seconds, just to make sure she really meant it and when he was satisfied, he turned the key. "Let's go then."
...
They drove in silence all the way back to London, both lost in their own thoughts. Chas had insisted on a car to follow them, even if they were sure nobody had tailed them to Winfield hall. It was mid-morning as they reached London.
The agitation and noise of the SI10 brought them back to reality and they settled at a desk to look through the clues with Thompson. He was a good officer with great perspicacity, but Dempsey thought he would never be as shrewd as Harry. No matter what were their difficulties, he was glad to have her by his side. Fry arrived with some documents for Thompson and sat with them. The sergeant filled them in about the last developments.
"The lab ran more specific tests on the newspaper cuttings note but they didn't found anything relevant. No prints, no DNA trace, no textile fibre, nothing. The photo has most likely been printed with a personal laser printer. So it's leading us nowhere." He paused, feeling he had to find something positive to say. "But the scientific team is currently studying it again. They've scanned the picture and enhanced its quality on computer." he explained. "Maybe they'll be able to find something, a clue as to where the shot was taken or anything…"
Harry nodded sympathetically. She knew he was doing the best he could. Dempsey was running a hand through his hair.
"Right, so you continue to check names connected to Coltrane or even Mara Giardino, old friends, accomplices, neighbours, everyone!" He was taking things in his hands without realizing it, but after all a leopard cannot change its spots. "What about the people who visited him when he was in prison? You found anyone suspect?"
"I called the prison yesterday, but it seems the visitors weren't listed on computer at the time. They said it would take them time to send us the list." Thompson snorted, shaking his head.
"Take time? They think we can wait till next week maybe!"
"Look I did what I could but they..." Thompson stopped as Dempsey stood up unexpectedly, grumbling. He picked up a phone and dialled a number. Thompson looked at Harry enquiringly but she merely shrugged. Dempsey was already talking "Tony? Dempsey here. Listen, I need you to do me a favour..."
Ten minutes later, Dempsey sat back "He's going to send us the list in the afternoon."
"Good." Thompson was a bit bothered that it was Dempsey making progress for the case. After all he was in charge of the enquiry and felt that he should be the one doing progress. True, Dempsey had the advantage of knowing people related to the case being personally involved, but it was frustrating to see him doing what was supposed to be his job. To cap it all, Superintendant Jarvis had said that in his time the 'lieutenant Dempsey' used to be one of the best cop he ever worked with, and DS Thompson felt like he had to prove he came up to scratch.
Ten minutes later, the sergeant declared he was off to check a list of men who used to be related to Coltrane, feeling that at least, he would be the only one in control of the case once he would be far from the Dempseys.