"It's not the same!" She practically had her hands over her ears to keep him out of her head.

"LOOK AT ME!" he demanded, shaking her with his volume. "It's worse! You don't believe it, but it's worse than losing out to something like a random accident or an act of fate. I was NOT about to let a low life, waste of flesh like Don get Jill or Robin, OR you, blown away because of his great schemes.

Diane froze. "Harry, you just said Jill or... Robin."

"Shit," he threw his hands up, and stomped ahead at full speed.

It was truly amazing that a master of words like Harry Denby could slip up. Diane chased after him. As he picked up speed she called out "Please...stop, Harry." He did, with a flourish of disgust, and stood with his hands on his hips while she caught up, a little breathless. "I need... nnnn-need to know why. Help me make sense of this past year with Jill, and Don and, and... you. Tell me."

He waited for a couple of joggers with dogs to pass them before answering. "I was out of it a couple of times, Diane, but I still knew when I was committing a crime and when I wasn't. Did YOU?"

"I was helping my partner out of a bad situation," she replied defensively.

"What did you think I was doing when I let Don go? That was her chance AND yours to turn that bastard in and show IAB that you were willing to give him up, no matter what."

"You staged the blackout at the motel?"

"And it would have worked. I never thought you would help her keep that worthless prick on the run. Next thing I know, Don's got cash, a ring connected to you, and he's knocked off some bum to use as a body double."

"Great, that's great. Why didn't you just turn him in? You knew where he was the whole time."

Harry shook his head. "How many times have you asked yourself the same question, Detective?"

She knew he was right. Each of them had screwed up and had taken matters into their own hands. If they had worked together from the start instead of trying to outplay the other, things might have been different for everyone.