�Well, what a wonderful coincidence meeting you here. Care to join me?�

Diane looked at his table to survey the beverages. The deciding factor for her would be if he had returned to indulging, even though she didn�t believe he had entered any kind of rehab program. There was no room in her life for a close friendship with someone who was constantly trying to get her to drink. She sighed with a smile when she noticed he was drinking mineral water. Diane turned to ask Jill if it was okay with her, since Jill had not previously enjoyed hearing Denby�s name come up.

Jill had vanished.

�You caught me,� Harry said, looking out at her from under his eyebrows like a mischievous puppy that had just chewed her favorite shoes and enjoyed itself immensely. �This was a total setup. I wanted a way to talk to you that would be safe for us, away from the risk of hanging out together back home.�

�How did you know I was here? Who else knows?�

�Don�t worry. John Irving called me. He owed me a favor after he had to testify to all the events that led up to my suspension. He witnessed all the conversations inside the squad, and Martens really turned the screws on him.�

�I didn�t know,� Diane said, settling into the seat opposite Harry and relaxing. �I�m sorry about that.�

�How can I hold anything against the woman who saved my life with a bowling ball?�

Harry and Diane enjoyed a wonderful dinner, talked easily and warmly about everything and nothing. Afterward, they decided to walk on Moonlight Beach. The East Coast natives walked along enjoying the crashing surf and full moon soaring above, neither feeling the chilly 55-degree night air. A steady ocean breeze swept the salty smell of the ocean all around them, then shooed the air inland to the beach houses perched precariously over the brown, sandy cliffs one hundred feet above them. Mounds of juicy ice plant spilled over the cliffs, clinging desperately to the last remnants of pebbly soil the ocean had, for the time being, been unable to rip away from them. Pebbles had been dumped at the base of the cliffs in an effort to deter the powerful ocean from destroying the valuable real estate overhead. The beach was covered with soft white sand that was almost as fine as moon dust. Harry and Diane sauntered as quietly as cats across the narrow beach. It was theirs alone, and they enjoyed it quietly.

Harry reached for Diane�s hand, and she interlocked her fingers with his. Sensing this was his opportunity, Harry stopped, pulling Diane around to face him.

�Diane, would you like to go to Mexico with me? We could take a cruise, or go fishing, or anything. I just want us to go off and spend some time together.�

Diane looked suspicious. �This isn�t you running off to a foreign country with ill-gotten gains, is it, Denby?�