So this is the last of the two chapters posted today.

Harry knocked on the door of Doug's office, trying to run through in her head what she wanted to say to Dempsey once she could speak to him alone. She had gone there to find him because she needed to do this right away, and she knew at least for sure that he should be there then. However, to her dismay, the minutes passed and no one answered. Maybe they had arranged to meet somewhere else. Damn it, she needed to say what she was going to say there and then, or she'd never say it, and he'd be gone.

Then, just as she was about to turn and leave, to her surprise, the door opened and Dempsey appeared from behind it.

"Oh," Harry said with surprise, "Where's Doug?" she asked, peering around the door.

"Dunno," he replied, opening the door wider for her to enter. "Think I'm early."

She strolled into the office, glancing around as if she didn't believe Dempsey and she expected to find Doug hiding somewhere.

"How did you get in?" she asked.

He watched her carefully, walking over to Doug's desk and leaning against it as he observed her skittish behaviour. Now, why had she come to see him again? He knew instinctively that she'd come to see him, and not Doug.

"The cleaners let me in," he grinned.

Her head swung to his, sensing the humour in his tone. His eyes locked purposely onto hers.

What did he know about the cleaners? Or more to the point, what did he know about what had happened before the cleaners had arrived last time? Focus Harry; make sure you say what you wanted to say.

"Were you lookin' for Doug?" Dempsey asked, before she had a chance to say anything more. That threw her slightly. For one split second, she considered telling him that she was indeed looking for Doug and then getting out of there, pronto. But no, if she didn't do the goodbye properly this time, she'd always live to regret it.

"No," she said, moving towards him. "Actually, I was looking for you."

His eyes lit up with surprise that she'd admitted it. "Yeah?"

"Yes," she smiled, edging hesitantly closer until she found that she couldn't go any further past his knees, as his legs were stretched out in front of him whilst he leant back against the desk. Her heart thudded; as did his. She was standing pretty damn close to him and she rarely did that, not consciously anyway. "You announced your leaving so suddenly," she said, her voice softening, betraying her underlying emotions.

He felt his guard dropping then. He simply couldn't be so cold with her when she believed that he was leaving for good and that was upsetting her. In truth, he found himself feeling quite flattered.

"Yeah well, I never did like sayin' goodbye," he replied.

"No," she said, glancing downwards. "It's often difficult."

"Hmm," he confirmed, his eyes fixed onto her, waiting and wondering what she was going to say next.

She inhaled then and glanced up at him suddenly. "Look, last time, we didn't get a chance to say goodbye... and... " Where was she going from there? She had expected him to say something. She sighed then, losing a little of her previous energy. "I just… I didn't want…" He was watching her intently, unnerving her, and suddenly the words weren't coming out. Why didn't he say something? Oh well, she may as well just get down to it. "So, are we going to stay in touch, or what?" she asked.

He searched her eyes for a moment before answering. "Sure. You got my cell number, right?"

She nodded. Why didn't that make her feel any better?

"So, this is it then," she said.

"Yeah," he replied. He just had to push this to see where it would go, how she would react to the thought of him disappearing totally from her life.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?" she asked irrelevantly, delaying the final moment of leaving him.

"A little after two," he answered.

"How are you getting to the airport?" she questioned.

"In the hire car. Droppin' it off at the terminal," he informed her.

Of course. She should have known that.

"Well," she sighed, feeling acutely that she still hadn't achieved what she had set out to achieve by going to say a second goodbye.

"Well?" he echoed.

Damn it! "Well, can I have a hug or something?" she found herself asking.

A big, lopsided and annoyingly triumphant smile lit up his face then. "Well…think I could manage that," he replied, pushing himself away from the desk to stand in front of her.

She leant towards him and he reached out for her, one arm encircling her waist and pulling her closer, whist the other hand entwined its fingers through her hair, cradling her head as she rested her cheek against his chest. Her body felt so slight against his. He had practically encircled the whole of her middle with just one arm and, for some reason, her vulnerability hit him again.

She slid her hands from his sides, around to his back, and held herself to him, the cotton of his shirt moving as a thin barrier between his skin, her palms and her cheek. She could feel the warmth of his body through the material. She wanted to bottle it; keep it for another time when she was alone and missing him. She so wanted to weep then, but then again, she reminded herself that she was used to missing him. She'd deal with it. She had before. Still, tears threatened. She forced them back.

"Don't go and get yourself killed or anything, will you?" she said, trying her hardest to keep the emotion from her voice.

He laughed. "It aint on my 'to do' list."

"And if you need me, I'm here," she went on, reminded of another moment around seven years ago when he needed her.

He tightened his hold on her then. "I know," he said.

But did he? Would he ask for her help or go headlong into something far too dangerous on his own?

"Dempsey," she began, pulling back slightly from him so that she could look at his face. He loosened his arms, but kept contact with her by linking his hands behind her back. Her hands fell from his back to rest on his forearms. "Can't you move somewhere else back there other than New York?" she asked. "Somewhere safer?"

"I gotta go back to New York," he replied simply.

"But why?" she frowned. "You'll be a sitting target there."

"Don't worry," he smiled, "I've got a plan."

"Really?" she mocked.

"Hey look, I'm gonna be okay," he assured her. She didn't look convinced. "Trust me," he added.

What choice did she have? She couldn't very well run to New York to protect him.

She looked so deflated. "Hey," he said, prompting her to lift her downturned head, "it's good to know ya care for me, Harry."

She tutted. "Of course I do. After all this time, I know you too well Dempsey. Someone has to worry about you."

He smiled. "Well, I'm glad to know it's you."

She wasn't smiling though and the look on her face told him that she wasn't going to leave this alone. It niggled at his sense of guilt that she didn't know he wasn't moving back to New York at all, and this made him even less keen to go on discussing it with her.

"But you still won't…" she began, stopping abruptly when he touched a finger to her lips to silence her. The mood abruptly changed then by that small but significant physical contact.

"Shhh," he said, his eyes focused on the place where his own finger lay. He removed it slowly and she seemed as mesmerised by the movement as he did. Time seemed to have slowed. His expression had softened as his gaze made a dreamy appraisal of her face. His eyes were deep velvety pools in which suddenly Harry could quite easily drown. Then she registered a slight movement of his head, slowly drifting closer to hers, and she instinctively edged back.

"No?" he asked, questioning her withdrawal.

She lowered her gaze and focused on the third button of his shirt. "You're leaving for New York tomorrow," she reminded him. "Let's not…" she paused, "complicate things."

"Hmm." He considered that.

He leant closer to her to speak in almost a whisper, increasing the intimacy of the moment as his lips hovered at the side of her face.

"Ya see, here's the thing, Harry. There are no complications," he said, simply. "I gotto go back. You came to say goodbye. So let's say goodbye properly. I aint gonna be here tomorrow, so what ya got to lose?" he reasoned softly. It was the 'I aint gonna be here tomorrow' that affected her the most. But he was still there; right in front of her. He hadn't left yet. So he was right; she should make the most of the last few moments with him, shouldn't she?

He glanced sideways and watched his words playing on her mind, her eyes closing... opening... lowering... flitting restlessly as the effect of what he was saying battled against her restraint.

His mouth moved to the sensitive receptors of her ear to whisper, "C'mon Harry, just let down your guard ... just this once … eh, Harry... c'mon. I think we could be pretty good at this kissin' thing, you an' me," he coaxed, moving slowly then from her cheek to gaze down at her lips.

Those lips, glossy, pink and so exquisitely shaped. He'd contemplated them a thousand times, fantasised about them, seen them raging anger at him, smiling joy, laughing amusement, agape with astonishment, and on one fantastic night years ago, he'd even seen them offered to him, soft and so appealing that he'd had to fight against every instinct inside himself in the hope that being the gentleman would lead to something more between them.

But at this moment, seven years down the line, this was his chance. This was the time he would finally kiss her, and she would kiss him back. No more quick surprises, catching her off-guard for a fleeting meeting of lips before being wrenched apart without knowing what her response would be like. This time she would respond, he instinctively knew it, watching those lips as her eyelids floated downwards and she took in a small breath, as though there wasn't enough air.

How would she respond, that was the ultimate question, and how would their kiss progress? The thought built his excitement and anticipation to fever pitch as he gradually began closing the gap between their lips, inch by inch, watching and wondering how she was going to react to the fact that their mouths were edging ever closer.

He was going to kiss her; she just knew it. Or at least he was going to try, depending what she did about it. What was she going to do about it? He was too close for her to think properly; the smell and heat of him, his overwhelming presence and sensual whispers were all driving rational thought out of her head. She'd known long ago deep down that she wanted such intimacy with him but wanting and doing were two very different things! But now, with him leaving, possibly for good, and the aching for him that she had experienced that day, even before he had gone, had left her feeling... damn it, almost desperate to be close to him. To feel all that excitement he aroused in her, to let it take over. To soar with it.

He was edging closer and closer, until their breaths mingled in heated vapour between their parted lips that ached to be joined. He tilted his head, so ready to take her, so close to it, and yet needing to see that her desire for this kiss matched his own.

The tension was torturing her, like an elastic band stretched between the two of them. Dempsey, just do it! Her mind cried out.

Then, to Dempsey's utter astonishment, it was Harry whose will broke first. Maybe it was because she had believed that this was to be their one and only kiss, because Dempsey couldn't conceive of anyone feeling more desire, and less control over it, than he did for her. But in an instant, she'd seized his shirt with her fists and pulled him hard against her, searing her lips onto his, imprinting herself onto him and ripping his essence onto her… taking it, claiming it... it was hers to hold onto for the short time that their lips clashed in that moment.

He groaned, low in his throat. It felt like every inch of her was pressed tight against him; he could feel her stomach trembling against his. Then, just as suddenly, they were apart, gasping for breath. He gaped at her in shocked surprise. Nothing could have prepared him for that, for the raw need he'd felt in her. But now his need was racing ahead of him; he'd been unleashed now.

She hadn't even really known she would do that, it had just happened. And at the time, she had needed it so badly. But now she realised what she had instigated, and anxiety flooded her once more… anxiety for her own sanity! She knew with every fibre of her being that Dempsey wasn't going to leave it at that, he was going to kiss her… soundly and thoroughly…it was inevitable. But she wasn't ready just yet, she needed to think what to do, how to react, to know how it would be so that she could retain some kind of control. But Dempsey was urgent for more intimacy with her and, holding her face in his hands, he dipped his head...

'James, wait, I…"

He cut off her words with another kiss, but this one was more devastating in its intensity, and she was more acutely aware of the feel and sensation of his mouth against hers. She whimpered, it was a panicked sound at first, but this swiftly melted into a moan of unchecked pleasure she was helpless to hold back as he claimed her lips with his again and again, teasing and tempting them to respond. That small, unintentional sound, the betrayal of his effect on her, pushed his control and she knew it, she felt it in the sudden urgency his body transmitted to her. Breaking contact with his mouth abruptly was both her attempt to gather her wits for a second, and a chance to take a much needed breath of air.

Damn it, if she stopped this now, he really believed that he would not be able to take it! He needed more, much more! Feeling her returning tension, and pre-empting her readiness to withdraw, he needed to renew the kiss and somehow hold back a little until she became as swept away with the moment as he was.

"Don't stop, Harry," he whispered against her lips. "Let me kiss you," he implored. She closed her eyes in torment. It was so hard to deny him when he appealed to her like that, and she wanted him so much. "Just let it happen. I just wanna lose myself in a kiss with you," he murmured, opening his mouth slightly to catch her lips with his in a deeper kiss, enjoying the soft sensation immensely for a second before inching back with great restraint to watch for her response. Her eyes were still closed but her face was warm and very flushed, and she seemed to have lost some of the previous tension from her body, which spurred him on. "And this," he continued, teasing her lips apart and coaxing a reaction out of her in a rush of adrenalin and excitement for what she was now allowing.

Before she could stop him, or herself, her lips had opened and, oh God, she knew she was in trouble! His mouth was warm and moist and confident, and he seemed to know exactly what to do with it to drive out any further thoughts of protest from her. She couldn't focus on anything but the feel of his lips and tongue, and the flashes of pure excitement that were shooting through her veins, making her heart race uncontrollably.

"No!" he gasped, drawing in unsteady breaths of air as his lips disappeared suddenly, leaving hers bereft and confused. He swore profusely then, prompting her to open her eyes. It was then that she registered noises coming from beyond the office door and panic set in. Doug! "C'mon," he said, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her across the office, refusing to let any resistance stop him.

"What are you doing?" she asked, the alarm clear in her voice.

"We're goin' in here," he replied, ushering her into the inner office and closing the door behind him. "He'll think I'm not comin' to meet him and leave," he said, leading her to stand against the wall to the side of the door.

"Are you mad?" she came back. "What if he comes in here and finds us?"

"I don't give a damn if he does!" he replied forcefully. "I've waited longer than any man on earth for this, and you've gotto be outa your mind if you think I'm gonna let Doug get in the way now!"

She stared at him for a moment and then, to her own surprise, she found a bubble of laughter surfacing. A smile sprung to his face in response.

She glanced at the door anxiously though and ran a shaky hand through her hair. Someone, almost definitely Doug, was clearly in the room next door.

"Well, we can hardly carry on where we left off now," she whispered to him.

"Wanna bet," he replied, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he leant towards her, trapping her against the wall by placing a hand on it. She watched him move in, surprising herself at how much she wanted to resume their kissing.

The last thing she registered before everything became fuzzy again was the way that Dempsey's eyes dropped to her lips as he swooped in for the kiss. Then his mouth was on hers again, tasting and exploring, and she found herself just as lost in his onslaught as the last time.

Very quickly, she was becoming intoxicated by the kiss as their lips met and parted in a dreamy, delicious rhythm, building, slowly gathering momentum and heat. More and more, the flames began to ignite between them.

Her hands were in his hair and down the back of his neck, then all over his chest. He groaned, never knowing such intense sexual desire and pleasure and torture all at the same time. It wasn't enough, and at that moment, he doubted that it would ever be enough. He wanted her so much; he was never going to be able to get enough of her!

His lips and mouth were so warm and soft and so sensual that her treacherous mind was already imagining more and more. It was a craving to discover how far these sensations could go, so much so that she just couldn't hold back, and she found herself wanting to push him, instinctively using her hands to build his desire as she explored with growing boldness. This broke his control; in the back of her mind, she had known it would, and his hands slid hungrily down her sides and onto her hips, before regaining a little control as they moved up the slender line of her spine in a purposefully slow, delicious caress, pressing her closer against him. This drew from her what he had wanted, some indication that she was as affected as he was, in the form of a cross between a murmur and a sigh. The sound communicated itself to him between their open lips.

He loved how he had the power to make her yield to him, even when her precious Doug was possibly going to find them… a big part of him wanted Doug to find them, to see them kissing frantically… sizzling and steamy, to know how damn hot and sexy and passionate Harry and him were together!

Unfortunately, Dempsey was about to have his wish. However, the sound of Doug at the door, turning the handle, brought Harry abruptly back to earth and she pushed Dempsey from her in a panic, stepping away from him just as Doug walked into the room.

"Harriet," he said with surprise, turning from her to Dempsey questioningly.

Harry was excruciatingly aware of how suspect they both looked, and how flushed and flustered she must have appeared. I mean, she was still throbbing from the passion Dempsey and she had shared. How could she not be? It had been so...

"Doug," she replied, forcing her mind to function through the desire still thumping through her. She plumped for avoiding all but the minimal conversation and making a run for it. She really had no choice. "Dempsey has been waiting for you; I'll leave you two... err, I have to go," she said, with a little too much uncertainty for her own liking.

"Harry," Doug said before she had the opportunity to disappear out of the room. She turned and smiled at him, attempting to appear calm and casual. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Of course." She risked a glance at Dempsey then. He was watching her. All she could do was to mouth, 'goodbye'. Then she turned away and left the room.

As she walked down the corridor towards the lifts, she was aware that it was going to hit her at some point that day that she had just said a final goodbye to Dempsey. But at that moment, she was still completely preoccupied with the adrenalin and sexual excitement that still had a firm hold on her. Damn it; what was she going to do now? She was going to be utterly and positively frustrated for the rest of her entire life!

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Harry drove back to her house, simply because she had no idea what else to do. She felt so lost suddenly, as though she hadn't even had a life before Dempsey had appeared back into it. That was ridiculous, of course she had. But now nothing seemed the same. Everything seemed so dull and uninspiring. What was she going to do? Pacing restlessly around her lounge, thoughts flitted though her head as she tried to find something to preoccupy her; if only for the rest of that day, but preferably for the rest of her life if Dempsey was leaving. She needed something to replace him. There was only one thing that would come close; work. More specifically, SI-10.

As Harry walked into the office of SI-10 she was hit by a bitter sweet feeling; the sense of purpose and importance that the job had always given her, and the stark reminder of who was no longer there. She had the feeling however that wherever she went for a while there would be reminders of Dempsey. For the time being though, she just needed to keep herself occupied.

When Harry entered Spikings's office, he was on the telephone but looked up and, on noticing her, he appeared to be pleased to see her as he gestured enthusiastically for her to take a seat while he finished his phone call.

"Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. I will ask her..." he said, glancing purposely at Harry, "today and get back to you. Alright... mmm... yes..." Spikings was clearly becoming impatient with the caller and keen to end the call. "Right," he said, finally hanging up abruptly. "You're just the person I wanted to see," Spikings said to her. "I'm assuming you're here after talking to Dempsey."

"Err, talking to Dempsey, Sir?" she questioned.

"About the new unit. He's mentioned it to you I assume; he's not the most discrete person. I thought I'd let him get on with it and blurt it out in his usual, brash American way. Not much point in trying to stop him," he said.

She shook her head in confusion. "Sorry, can we start again? There's a new unit?"

"Oh, he didn't mention it then?" he said with surprise. "Look, the only reason I involved Dempsey in it before speaking to you was because them upstairs wanted to ensure Dempsey would be on-board, and not do his usual disappearing act," he explained, almost apologetically to her. What had been going on? "It was essential for us to know that he wasn't going to go charging back to New York on a vengeance mission with all guns blazing. The success of the new unit will rely on carefully planned, well organised operations to systematically disperse the Mafia units that have spread here... as I'm sure you can appreciate," he said, gesturing to her.

She sat opposite him, a slight frown across her brow as his words raced back through her head whilst she attempted to make sense of them. She had a horrible feeling that she did know what he was talking about and that she'd been played for a complete fool.

"Sir," she began slowly and as calmly as possible, "could you please just answer me one question. Is he, or is he not, going back to New York tomorrow?"

Spikings searched her face for a moment, a little confusion also filling him, whilst at the back of his head he had an inkling as to what might have happened. "Oh yes, he is going back... for a couple of days... to sort things out with the NYPD before he moves back here and..." he petered off when he saw the fury flood her face. Damn it, whatever that infuriating Yankee had done wasn't helping him at that moment. He didn't need her to be fuming with Dempsey, considering that he wanted her to agree to working with him again.

She stood slowly, almost beside herself with anger as what Dempsey had done sank in. "Of all the low down, dirty tricks!" she said, thumping the desk angrily. She shook her head in disbelief and began to pace the office, running restless hands through her hair.

Okay, the only thing Spikings could do right then was to use her anger to his advantage.

He stood hesitantly, reaching out an appealing hand towards her. "Now hold on, take a breather for a moment Makepeace," he said.

It was funny; he'd never really seen Makepeace fuming to that extent. It reminded him of his Mrs. He could deal with men's tempers, but seething women; that was a whole different kettle of fish!

"Makepeace?" he called, trying to break through her fury. Finally, she stopped placing and turned to him. He almost recoiled at her expression. He suddenly had the crazy vision of snakes growing out of her head.

"Listen," he said firmly. "I don't know what he's done, but there is one thing I do know."

"Oh yes, and what's that," she grated out.

"Under these circumstances, there's only one thing to do. Don't get mad; get even," he advised. This at least registered a little interest from her. "Sit down now, my girl," he coaxed nervously, "and I'll explain."

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Spikings greeted Dempsey later that afternoon in the bustle of the outer office and pulled him to one side, commandeering a desk from one of the other officers and telling him to 'scoot'; this was theirs for the time being. Spikings needed to talk briefly to Dempsey before taking him into his own office. He didn't even get the chance to say much at all however, before Dempsey began rambling on in an excited rush.

"I been thinkin'," he began, "and I've been making lists, ya know of contacts, suspects, that kinda stuff. Goin' back for a few days is gonna work out good for us Boss, 'cause I can get more stuff for the files. We're gonna have lots of files on these guys. I've been workin' day an' night on this… ya know, before, when I was in New York…"

Spikings finally cut in. "That's all very good lieutenant. You keep compiling those files, but that's not why I called you in here today."

Something in the tone of Spikings's voice made Dempsey sit up and listen. "No?" he said.

"No," Spikings confirmed. "I wanted you to meet your new Chief Inspector before you leave tomorrow…so that everything is in place for when you arrive back," he explained.

"Wait, new Chief Inspector? What's this all about? Aint you gonna be my boss?" he frowned. "'Cause if it's all the same to you, Id' rather stick with the devil I know."

"Dempsey," Spikings began in a warning tone, allowing for no resistance. "In case you hadn't noticed, I have SI-10 to keep me busy. No, although I'll be here as a point of reference, or to offer assistance if need be, the Chief Inspector will be heading the new unit."

"Hey, this aint what I signed up for," Dempsey came back indignantly.

"Dempsey! These are the terms. Take them, or go back to New York with no back up, no support, and no chance of catching these men…without it ending in circumstances which I guarantee will not be favourable for you," Spikings stressed.

Dempsey sighed moodily.

"Now, would you be so kind as to find some cordiality so that we can go into my office and do the introductions?" Spikings went on.

Dempsey frowned. "He's in there now?"

"Come with me," Spikings said, heading to his office, followed by a distinctly unenthusiastic Dempsey.

Dempsey entered the office and scanned the room immediately, eager to make a judgement about this new guy he was going to be forced to work under. At first, there appeared to be nobody in the room, but that was until he noticed the slightest sign of a head above the back of Spikings's swivel chair.

"Lieutenant Dempsey, I'd like you to meet Chief Inspector…"

As Spikings spoke, the chair swivelled around ominously and it was in the split second between the person sitting on it being revealed, and the time it took for Spikings to do the introductions, that Dempsey realised who the person was.

"Harry!" he exclaimed with astonishment.

"… Makepeace," Spikings finished.

"Lieutenant," she smiled, holding out her hand for him to shake it. He glared at her and avoided the hand.

"So," Spikings grinned, glancing from one to the other, "I take it that we are all happy with this situation."

Dempsey pondered that for a moment before smiling. "Sure, it aint as if me and Harry don't get on well together." His gaze intensified on her for a moment as the memory of their earlier encounter came back to him.

Okay, so he'd been made a bit of a fool of by both of them, but he did want to work with Harry; it was a hell of a lot better than working for some new boss. And anyway, he knew how to get round her, even if she was she was going to be outranking him.

"Good," Spikings nodded.

Harry rested her elbows on the desk and studied Dempsey who was standing opposite her. She pressed the fingers of both hands together in front of her. "I can imagine that this has come as somewhat of a surprise to you, Lieutenant," she said.

Dempsey shook his head. "Nah, not so much. It's alright with me," he smiled.

"Oh good, because that's one thing I want to put an end to from the start," she replied.

"Yeah, what's that?" he asked.

"Oh, surprises, keeping little secrets, such as… oh I don't know, where one is going to be. If one is planning on leaving, and how long for."

Dempsey was well aware of where she was going with this, and he didn't expect to get off scot free. Still, it had been so very much worth it. His body was reminding him at that moment how worth it, it had been.

"You wanna keep tabs on me?" he grinned. "No problem. You're the boss now."

"Hmm, I think there's one thing we need to get straight, right here, right now Dempsey…"

This was it; she was gonna lay into him.

"… because it's funny, I was under the impression that you can't have accepted any position in this unit, as you were moving back to New York."

He held up his hands, "Hey, I am goin' back to New York; I never said for how long."

"Oh, I think you were very clear on how long you were going back for," she replied angrily, standing up and leaning towards him to say under her breath, "Of all the dirty tricks, you've really surpassed yourself this time, Dempsey." And then, just when he thought she was going to really go to town on him, she suddenly changed her tone and smiled, saying, "But I'm digressing. Oh actually, that reminds me. I have something for you," she said, moving from the desk and walking towards the storage cupboard.

Dempsey glanced across to Spikings, who was watching the proceedings. Then he turned his attention back to Harry.

"Here, this is for you," she smiled, passing him… of all things, a shovel.

He studied it, but refrained from taking it from her. "What's this?" he asked.

She tilted her head. "I call a spade a spade, Dempsey… It's a spade."

Spikings chuckled.

"Yeah, I know that, but what's it for?"

Dempsey was playing right into her hands. "It's for digging Dempsey. You remember, you took it from my shed and did some digging of your own."

He gave a nervous laugh. "Right, but, wadda I want with it now?"

Harry turned to Spikings for him to explain.

"This is the second mess I've got you out of in so much as a couple of days, Dempsey. First was the old hot air balloon stunt, and secondly, the small matter of a missing corpse," Spikings said rather worryingly. "Even I have limits to my influence," he warned Dempsey, "let alone, my patience. This is the last time I get you out of something like this. I've got you a reprieve, but on one condition. The local mortuary is expecting a body by the end of the day," he informed Dempsey.

Harry handed him the spade again.

Dempsey laughed. "You're kiddin', right?"

Both Spikings's and Harry's faces were deadpan.

"Can't we just leave it there?" he implored.

"What, and let some unsuspecting person find it?" Spikings said.

"Some poor old lady walking her dog… some poor old dog, digging for a bone," Harry added, cringing.

Spikings cringed too and shook his head seriously. "Chief Inspector Makepeace, a word," Spikings said, walking towards the door.

Makepeace pushed the spade into Dempsey's hand and followed Spikings, to the sounds of Dempsey pleas from Spikings's office.

"C'mon you guys. You are kiddin', right? You gotto be kiddin', c'mon…"

Just outside the door, Harry turned to Spikings and whispered. "When should we put him out of his misery, Sir?"

"Oh, I think we can let him stew for a while longer, eh," he grinned.

Harry laughed. "True. It might even do him some good," she smiled back.

This is the end of 'Point Blank'. Finally I managed to finish it! I'm moving on to finish other writing projects now I'm on a roll! Thanks to everyone who followed the story; I hope you liked it.