Sunday night, precisely at ten p.m., Claire and Diane knocked on Danny�s door.

�What�s the secret password?�

Diane and Claire looked at each other for answers and shrugged.

Claire ventured, �The Entertainment has arrived.�

The door swung open, and a laughing Danny pulled the ladies into the room, giving each a happy embrace. A mug of hot apple cider found its way into Diane�s hand, and the party was in full swing. Danny was drinking champagne, and he was in a jovial mood. Greg Medavoy and Baldwin Jones were swigging beers and swapping war stories. Baldwin�s date was so beautiful, Diane was fairly certain she could be a model.

Everyone appeared so relaxed and happy. Diane was jealous. She had been riding on a week of tension, capped off by having to conceal her New Year�s adventure from Harry. Harry, however, was a good cop, and he had guessed easily what was going on.

�Diane? This is Harry Denby,� he said when she answered her phone the previous day.

�Oh, hi, Harry.�

�Listen, I�m sorry I didn�t make it to the hospital last night. I was�I was out of town.�

�Yeah, Claire told me she tried to reach you.�

�I�m sorry I didn�t make it over there.�

�It�s okay. I was in and out. No serious damage.�

�Are you okay? Any lingering pain?�

�I�m fine, Harry. Listen, about New Year�s eve�� Diane needed to get this off her chest.

�That�s why I was calling. I was thinking of the Rainbow Room. You, me, a bottle of champagne�� Harry stopped himself. He wasn�t ready for Diane to know he�d resumed drinking. Harry didn�t do anything mildly. He didn�t fall off the wagon. No, not Harry. He had dived off with the gusto and reckless abandon of a BASE jumper. But Harry didn�t have a parachute on him at the moment.

�Very funny, Harry,� Diane said. �Martinelli�s for me, if you don�t mind.�

�So, what do you say?�

�Harry, I have to go to this work thing. And I�m not ready to introduce you to my squad as my date just yet.�