�What I can�t figure is why did Bob stay with you all evening when he had Don and Denby already,� Danny puzzled.

�I don�t know. I just don�t know. How about you work on that while I wash this evening off me?� Diane managed a weak smile. She had given up on the idea that it was because he was attracted to her and felt disappointed and foolish. She was so grateful for a devoted friend like Danny.

The mood at the 15th Precinct was dark. Andy was worried that his son, Theo, was still too pale, and the word �leukemia� was still threatening to materialize and make his world crash in on him. Fancy was having a shouting match with Martens in his thin-walled office about the abduction of Denby and Don the previous day. The only thing that encouraged anyone was the knowledge that Jill and her boys had made it safely to the airport.

�Fifteenth Precinct, Detectives Division,� John Irving answered the phone in an uncharacteristically subdued voice. �The weather report? Oh. Hurricane-force winds, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Bring your raincoat and umbrella, and hide under your desk in case of earthquakes, which are also on the horizon�You�re welcome�See you in a bit.�

Diane and Danny entered the squad room a few minutes later and nodded at Andy to get him to meet them in the coffee room. Fancy looked out from his office and noticed his detectives looking furtively at one another. For Martens�s benefit, he put on a blas� expression, which only served to make him angrier. Greg Medavoy noticed the little meeting in the coffee room, and rolled his eyes for Baldwin Jones� benefit.

�Here we go again. Don�t forget your secret decoder ring,� Medavoy mumbled.

When Andy arrived in the coffee room, Diane was already seated at the table, warming her hands on her cup. Danny was leaning against the counter, looking at her, his face twisted with concern.

�Hey, you were wearing that yesterday,� he said, examining Danny.

�Yeah, well,� Danny never took his eyes off Diane.

�Andy,� Diane said with a shaky voice, �I think Denby might still be alive, and I think we should go after him.�

�What are you talking about? That skel Denby is getting what�s coming to him.�

�Is he? I�m not so sure.� Diane fidgeted, then told Andy about the note and the previous night�s events.