�Danny, I appreciate you looking out for me, I do.�

Danny�s mobile phone rang.

�Sorenson�When?�Where?� Danny yanked out a pen and scribbled addresses on a napkin. �Okay, Diane and I are on it. We�re taking Denby with us.�

Harry and Bob returned to the table, and Diane and Danny rose to leave.

�What�s all the excitement?� Bob looked from Diane to Danny and back.

�Calls to Jill�s apartment and to Sandra�s house have been traced to a pay phone on 14th Avenue. We�re outta here. Denby, you�re with us.� Danny reached out to shake Bob�s hand, and their mutual tension charged the room. Diane rolled her eyes when it became obvious they were both squeezing a bit too hard.

�C�mon, Danny. Let�s go,� Diane said with a loud sigh, shaking her head.

Bob reached out and grabbed Diane�s hand. With a flourish, he raised the back of her hand to his lips, never taking his eyes off hers. �Until tomorrow, Diane. I look forward to our next meeting.� She smiled for a second, then Danny pulled her out the door.

Danny stuffed Harry in the back seat of the Buick and opened the front door for Diane, then ran around to jump in his side. Diane waved at Bob, who had stepped outside the restaurant to see them off. He blew her a kiss. She smiled back.

�Denby, you�re awfully quiet back there,� Danny said.

�Not much to say with this soap opera playing out right in front of us,� Harry nearly growled, �I�d hate to upstage the knight in shining armor.�

�Not a chance of that happening,� Diane retorted.

�Well, don�t be shy, Diane. Let me know where I really stand,� Denby�s words dripped with sarcasm. Even so, he stared longingly at the curls on back of her head. He wanted to reach out and touch them; they looked so soft. His hand even started toward her head. He fought the urge, because he knew very well that move would not be welcomed at that particular moment. In the rearview mirror, he caught Danny watching him with a warning look on his face. His arm, poised in mid-air, fell back to his side.

They rode in silence the seven blocks to where their quarry was last spotted, eyes on the sidewalks and alleys. They didn�t have to search long.

�There�s our boy,� Harry whispered, �eleven o�clock.�