�Yeah, John, I�ll be back soon. I�m at Lauren�s apartment. I have no idea why anyone would leave a kid with this skel...she�s wasted, as usual...I�ll be in as soon as CPS gets here to pick up the kids...yeah. Bye.�

Diane washed up the little boy as well as she could, then she figured the kids would be hungry. She took the kids with her into the living room, which was in a minimal state of squalor when compared with the bedroom. Lauren was passed out on the couch, so Diane took the kids into the kitchen in hopes of finding something edible. No luck. Empty cupboards, empty fridge.

�Okay, let�s see what I have in my purse,� she said to the little boy. Diane dug into the bottom of the central compartment and found an energy bar. �Well, this ought to be a guilt-free snack. I hope you like it.� She broke off a piece for the baby to gnaw on, and broke off a piece for the little boy. While they were busy working on their energy bar, Diane took another look at Lauren. She looked like she was drooling. Profusely. And foamy. That�s not good. Diane leaned over Lauren and shook her.

�Lauren? Lauren? Lauren!�

No response.

Greg held Diane�s hand as they watched the EMT cover Lauren�s lifeless face with the sheet and lift her gurney into the van. Crime scene investigators crawled all over the apartment, picking through Lauren�s mess with gloved hands, jumping back when the occasional unearthed cockroach charged toward their feet.

�He chased someone out of the bar?�

�That�s what the bartender said,� Greg said, patting her hand. Diane rubbed her temples, trying to coax an idea about Harry�s next move from her tired brain.

�Come with me to my place?� Diane looked up at Greg.

�I don�t know, Diane. I have a ... well, okay. Sure. I just need to make a call.�

�You have a what?�

�No, it�s okay. I�ll just make a call.�

�You have a date, Greg? Who with?�

�Aw. Nah. Not really.�

�Greg! I bet it�s that computer girl. What�s her name?�

�Let�s get going to your place now, Diane.� Greg looked really embarrassed. Diane grinned and followed him out of Lauren�s apartment, happy to knock the dust of that place off her shoes.