Chapter 3 - Strangers in the Night

The magic of the moment didn't last as long as Harry would have liked. Diane's slender frame was positively limp but delightful to hold. It wasn't every day you have a lovely woman swoon into your arms, and he was still in the process of enjoying the sensation when she stirred. Her head lolled over to one side and she murmured, "No." He was gallantly carrying her over to the couch when she stiffened and began to fight him.

"No! Stop it!" Diane screamed as she struck out at him. In her fog she was still in bed, grappling with the killer hands of the intruder. Kicking and flailing wildly, she called out for help, "Harry!"

Dodging her blows, Harry struggled to keep from dropping her as he staggered over to the edge of the couch. "Diane, it's all right. Wait...Diane!" She reached up and dug her fingernails into his face and raked them down in a fiery row.

He drew in his breath and grimaced in pain as he set her down, and looked up just in time to see Andy Sipowicz flying over the back of the couch like some sort of rabid, pit bull terrier. He had Harry by the throat before they both hit the floor. "You bastard!" he spat as swung hard and connected with Harry's jaw in a sickening smack. The impact caused the blood to flow freely from the fresh wound Diane had left on his cheek. Harry managed to raise his arms to block the next round of Andy's fury. He landed one or two punches of his own before other voices and hands arrived to break them apart.

"Hold it, Sipowicz!" Lt. Fancy ordered.

Andy, still pinning Denby to the floor with his knee, shot back at him, "I come runnin in here, hearing Diane's screamin his name, and, and and... they're fighting tooth and nail. What d'ya expect me to do?" Andy released the fist full of shirt that he had clenched tightly in his hand, and shoved Harry down as he rose. "You bastard!"

"Denby, get up. What's' going on in here?" Fancy was the one getting angry now. Harry sat up slowly, catching his breath, and glanced at the faces glaring down on him. Danny had arrived with Baldwin and both stared incredulously at the oozing fingernail scratches on his face. Fancy pointed over to the body near the hall. "Would somebody like to explain that?"

Diane was fully awake now and standing near the couch, pale and serious. The men noticed the blood near the corner of her mouth and all of them seemed to take a step closer to the spot where Harry sat. She put up her hand to stop them and stepped forward toward Fancy. "I can explain, Lieutenant, it's not what you think."

Fancy took her by the elbow and walked with her over to the body on the floor as she talked. "This guy here broke in while I was sleeping. I think he's one of the Dominicans that Don was scamming and he was here looking for Don's stash." She leaned one hand on the wall. "He was tying me up, trying to force me to talk, when Denby came in. He fired two rounds at Harry and missed, but Harry got him in the chest."