�He�s gone.� Diane studied Harry�s face as she continued at a clipped pace, �They had him in a holding cell in the 1-5, and this morning, they went to pick him up for his arraignment, and he�d vanished.�

The heart monitor by Harry�s head started beating faster, faster. Diane stole another glance at the door to see if this had attracted the nurse�s attention. Safe so far. Harry�s face was calm. She had a new respect for that monitor. For a moment, she wished she could have had one when she interviewed some of the skels back at the station.

�Denby, do you have any idea how Don could disappear from a precinct holding cell overnight?� Diane�s eyes narrowed as she looked directly into Harry�s. Harry looked�well, unless he was playing games with her again, she was almost certain he looked stunned by what she had just said.

�Just vanished?� Denby looked out the window. Diane saw a distressed expression in his reflection.

�Gone. No paperwork. No sign of any kind of breakout, no struggles. Just gone. What do you make of that?�

�The odds he�s still among the living have just dropped to 25 percent.� Denby�s hoarse voice was barely a whisper.

�And?� Diane was losing patience with his cocky attitude.

�Some highly influential members of our South American and Caribbean associates are likely to have arranged a transfer.�

�Why 25 percent?�

Harry hesitated. There was no way he was going to give up any information on her partner�s ex-husband right now. Not while his own ass was still on the line. He thought fast.

�I�ll share that theory with you if you would be so kind as to free me of these restraints.�

�Here we go,� Diane sighed. �Denby, I�m not playing these games with you. Now, are you going to tell me what you know about Don�s whereabouts or not?�

�Diane, you know the drill.� That wicked gleam was back in his eyes. Even restrained, his hands still moved animatedly when he spoke.

�You are in no position to negotiate.�

�You un-strap one leg, I shed light.�