�In a way, yes.�

�Poor Mary. There was only one way to read that embrace. Way too much hip action to mistake it. So, did you sleep with him?�

Diane�s guard was up. �Once, yes.�

�When?� Claire�s voice had a tension that Diane had not heard before. Alarm bells were going off in her head, and she responded as calmly as possible.

�Oh, a while back.�

�Before Harry?� Claire pushed.

Diane pulled on her tap shoes, and answered as literally as possible, �Yes, before Harry.� In her mind, she finished the sentence with ...on New Year�s Day. Diane worried about Claire�s intense curiosity, and she suddenly became aware that she had to watch herself around her partner.

The day was busy, and Diane felt it was a blessing. She and Claire solved a murder in the morning, tracking down a record number of skels. She enjoyed Claire�s method of skewering suspects on their own poles. One particularly delusional Dumpster-diver flirted so overtly that Diane was unable to mask her revulsion. Claire jumped in and flirted right back at the odiferous gentleman. The guy was so charmed he rolled over on his brother in hopes he would be able to have a date with Claire when this was all over. It never ceased to amaze Diane that these bottom-dwellers thought they had a real chance with a classy lady like Claire. She admired Claire�s ability to stay in and toy with the guy long after her own distaste had made her unable to continue. Claire could be rough with sleazebags, gentle and maternal with females, and sweet and caring with children. She was a darn good detective, and a fantastic friend. Diane suspected she was also a loyal cousin to Harry.

�You have been watching me like a hawk all day. What gives?� Claire demanded when they had stuffed the last guy in the pokey.

�I have?�

�Diane, c�mon,� Claire said, tipping her head and giving her a look that told Diane she knew what was going on inside Diane�s head. Claire had used that same look on witnesses who were at the brink of spilling their guts. The look said...I already know, so you might as well tell me. Harry had used that look on her before. Diane surprised herself by talking.

�Okay, Claire, yes I have.�

�And?�