WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH GET GOING. To rough-riding Lieutenant James Dempsey and his alluring and aristocratic partner, Detective Sergeant Harry Makepeace, it seemed like just another case - a fraudulent cement firm bending the rules. But when Dempsey gets framed for murder he has to go underground. He must find the real killer before the police find him. The situation is bleak; he has precious little time and few leads - but he does have Makepeace on his side.