�For starters,� Harry said, �Keep an eye out for Siquieros. He�s a phony DEA agent who is one of the Dominicans. They have decided that assassinating me and anyone I have worked with over the last year will be the best method for eliminating the Kirkendall loose ends. His minions decided a nice massacre and frame-up would wrap Lauren and me up in one nice tidy bow. Unfortunately, Wendy and Roger chose to celebrate Valentine�s Day in the same pub I chose for my annual grieving process. And as you know, Wendy is Lauren�s identical twin sister. And he must have used my steak knife to attack Claire.� Harry rubbed his face with his hand and sniffled, as if the rain and the chilly weather were bringing him to the brink of a cold.

Diane�s face was hard and angry, and Mary sensed a big fight was about to erupt. She lured Diane and Harry out of Claire�s room with offers of tea. Claire drifted off to sleep, although she desperately wanted to hear the next story. Her body, however, had more healing to do, and she decided not to fight any more.

Once they had entered the kitchen, Diane growled, �Mary, get out the crackers. Denby�s serving up a bunch of Swiss cheese.�

�What do you mean?� Harry looked innocent, shrugging disarmingly, and tugging on his itchy nose again. Diane couldn�t keep her eyes off the moist ringlets in his hair, and she cursed her body again for wanting him so badly even while she knew he was responsible for her partner�s grave injuries and the deaths of three people within the last week. He was obviously lying. She was determined to find out who the players were so she could prevent them from finishing off everyone in this apartment.

�Harry, the bullet was yours. The prints on the knife were yours. Only yours. And Lauren all but said you were responsible for poisoning her. The holes in your story are bigger than the holes in your head.�

�So, I take it you are ready to forgive me for not getting all gooey over Valentine�s Day, right?� Diane couldn�t believe the mischievous gleam in Harry�s eyes.

�I...I...I...am appalled. Incredulous, yes. Forgiving, no way.�

�Why did you stab Claire?� Mary blurted out, and Diane and Harry jumped because they had forgotten she was standing there.

�I didn�t,� Harry said.

�You fought in that bar. About drinking. She pissed you off, and you stabbed her with your steak knife. That�s what the bartender told the uniforms,� Mary said, punctuating each point by stabbing at Harry�s chest with her index finger. He grabbed her finger and twisted it until she sat down. �Let go!� she yelped, then rubbed her aching fingers when Harry finally freed them.