The closer Diane got to home, the more she dreaded it. Knowing Denby, he was sitting on her apartment, lying in wait to apologize for his behavior, for showing up drunk, for insulting her, for making a scene. Her heart was slamming in her chest, suffocating her. She turned the corner and scanned all the cars. No familiar faces. Finally able to exhale, Diane escaped from the street, slithered up her stoop and into the building. She drummed her fingers on the elevator as it delivered her to her floor. She peered out, looking both ways down the hallway to see if he was waiting for her here. All clear. She sidled over to her door, put her key in the lock, and turned. The door opened to her dark, quiet, apartment.

�Brrrr,� Diane said as she flipped on lights and turned on the central heat. She rubbed her arms while she huddled before the air vent, desperately awaiting he arrival of warm air. When the room was tolerable, she went into her bedroom and changed clothes. She felt dirty. And, surprisingly, disappointed. Denby was nowhere in sight.

�I can�t believe he gave up that easily,� she said to her coffeemaker as she inserted a fresh filter. �He owes me an apology,� she growled at the sink as she filled the carafe.

�I owe him an apology,� she whispered at the spoon as she measured coffee from the bag. �How did everything get so messed up?� she asked the coffeemaker as she switched it on, halfway hoping some genie inside would issue forth a paper slip, or a message in the configuration of the coffee grounds, anything. It merely started burbling contentedly, same as it did every other morning.

The coffee was bitter. Harry figured the diner brewed the pot three or four hours ago and left it on the burner, forgotten and scorching. He could see Diane�s building from his seat by the window.

�There she goes. Six a.m. She�s an early riser on the holiday.� Harry watched her study the street, her experienced cop�s eyes looking for any sign of danger. He knew she was looking for him. He thought she looked a little frightened as she ran up the stairs to her building, then turned and gave a few more furtive glances before disappearing within. He didn�t remember what he said. He felt miserable that whatever it was left her feeling this frightened to see him today.

�You want more coffee, mister?�

�No, my dear. I have had my daily limit of battery acid. Thanks all the same.�

Mildred shrugged and went back to scrubbing the counter. She offered her poison to the other early risers crouching over their runny eggs and limp bacon, none of whom made any effort to protest.

Harry tossed down two bucks and left the diner, crossed the street and entered Diane�s building as a jogger exited.