�I don�t know, but I won�t be alone in my apartment until we find out,� Diane said.

�You said you had Hector,� Denby�s mind was racing now. �Where is he?�

�He�s been in a holding cell at the 15th for the last three days,� Diane said, �Why?�

�Well, because he failed in his guard duty at the warehouse and let himself be apprehended, they�re going to consider Hector an ignoramus. That could be a terminal disease in his community.�

Diane picked up the phone and called the station. �Hi, John. Denby�s up and talking. What�what�s up? � He what? �When?� Diane looked over at Denby, alarmed. She listened to John rant for a few minutes, then spoke to Danny to get the details. Harry stood and paced around the room, knowing that Hector was dead before she finished her conversation.

�Well, you�re right about the terminal disease,� Diane said as she hung up the phone. �They found Hector DOA in his cell when they brought his lunch. A single bullet wound to the head. No witnesses.�

Harry sat down on the bed next to Diane. She was shaking. Harry didn�t know what to do, what would be welcome comfort to her. He put his hand on her shoulders and rubbed gently.

�I can�t believe it. They seem to be able to go anywhere at any time of day,� Diane whispered. �I�m pretty sure that Bob will come for me. And I feel really exposed here.�

Denby continued listening quietly, still softly rubbing her shoulders. He turned to her and said, �Diane, even if Bob�s law practice is bogus, the promise I made to you was not. I said I�d be your partner and help you find Jill.�

�Yes, and you did help me find Jill.�

�And I almost sacrificed myself in the process, being your partner,� Harry continued.

�Yes, you almost did,� Diane said, wondering where Denby was heading with this line of thought.

�And, like a devoted and loyal partner that you are, you came through for me and got the squad to rescue me from that putrid container.�

�Right. It was the least I could do,� Diane was growing more suspicious, and Harry could see it in her eyes.

�My point is this: I would like to hug you, to thank you. May I have a hug?�