He gave Diane a look of concern. "You're not goin' back to that cheap hotel are you? Might not be safe, considering..."

"No. No, I'm not. Danny's got the number where I'll be for a few nights. I'll check in again tomorrow."

Diane rose to leave and said, "You guys be careful, too. Watch your backs."

All Harry would say was that his mother's house was outside of the city, so Diane had no idea where they were going. Although she had brought her car down to the station, she had accepted his offer to do the driving because it she was too tired to follow a lengthy list of directions.

He was busy filling her in on his conversations at the station as they made their way through the heavy city traffic. She couldn't help but notice how animated he was as he explained all the details, gesturing and talking with his hands as if he were conducting a orchestra. Harry obviously had traveled this route often because he never skipped a beat while turning, or changing lanes.

Diane leaned back on the headrest and watched him in fascination.

She quietly studied his movements and expressions, taking note of all the little eccentricities; His strange eyes that changed color, and were now glowing like Chinese jade. The deep laugh lines that were evidence of some past joy. His bizarre collection of words that hinted at an eclectic education. He was a mystery, and she had to admit to herself that part of the attraction she felt for him was her innate need to investigate.

Out into the suburbs, the steady hum of the road, and the bright autumn sunlight soon lulled her to sleep. Harry knew he only had another mile to go, but he looped around several times giving her a chance to rest a while longer, and him a chance to watch her.

Diane awoke to the sound of barking as Harry pulled the car into a long driveway. The road was strewn with colorful leaves and ended at a modest brick house with a beautiful peaked roof. The old Airedale that had sounded their arrival was hopping as best as he could next to Diane's window to see inside the car. Harry saw Diane's amused but surprised expression and explained, "What can I say? He loves his job."

"Look at him! How old is that dog? He's so gray he looks like tall sheep!"

Harry turned off the car, and undid his seatbelt, "Um, let me see. Mom got him just after Dad died, so he's about eighty-four...in dog years. His name's Leo."

They approached the house with Leo dancing circles around them. Harry opened it and called out, "Mom?" as he set down Diane's bag on a small bench just inside the door.