The front door opened with a bang. In walked Denby, drunk, sweaty, wrinkled, disheveled, and angry. He scanned the room and saw Danny and Diane kissing in the corner. Diane pulled away, embarrassed.

�Get your filthy paws off my girlfriend!� Denby yelled at Danny, then peeled Danny off Diane, who was still in his arms.

�Oh, God, Denby. You�re drunk,� Diane said, her face dark.

�Why yes, my dear. Very observant. You might make a fine cop one day. Besides, I�d hate to disappoint you now, after our little phone conversation yesterday.�

�Harry, back off,� Claire said under her breath, pulling at Denby�s arm to get him to leave.

�Tell me, Diane,� Harry was on a roll now. �Do you sleep with all of Andy�s partners, or do you just sleep with anyone who says hello and has information for you? Did you flirt and ask for it when you were a teenager? I bet you asked for it. You have been a worthless whore your whole life, and this cop gig just makes it look like legitimate undercover work. You�re so ignorant you took the word undercover literally.�>{? �Harry! Get out of this apartment!� Claire yelled at him. Harry waved her off, never taking his eyes off Diane. She was shrinking as if he was melting her with laser beams.

�Where�s my New Year�s kiss, you little whore?�

�Denby, you better leave. Now!� Claire said, holding Danny back and noticing that Jones, Medavoy and Sipowicz were approaching with violence in their eyes. There was entirely too much alcohol-enhanced testosterone flying around the room for Claire�s comfort, and she didn�t want the neighbors calling the cops to break up a drunken brawl among detectives.

Denby had noticed the impending violence, too, so he grabbed Diane and roughly kissed her. She pulled away from him, their separating lips making a loud, wet smacking sound. Diane leaned back and slapped Harry in the face. �You prick! Get off me!�

Jones and Sipowicz lifted Harry by the arms, and Medavoy opened the door as the struggling rabble approached. They tossed Harry into the hallway and slammed the door behind him.

Diane sank into the couch, and Claire sat next to her. She held Diane, rubbing her back and rocking her. �I�m so sorry, Diane. He�s just like his father sometimes. He�s such a prick.�

Andy turned and went over to Diane, his eyes still burning with anger, the rage making him take a breath after each word. �Don�t�tell�me�you�hooked up�with that� SCUMBAG!�

�It was during a moment of recovery.�

�Well, I haven�t seen him at any meetings,� Andy said, more calmly.