White stood by the office door, its proximity a modicum of comfort. His partner leaned against the wall at the end of their Captain's desk. They both stood silently watching the wedge of a man behind the desk reading their report. He dropped the paper and settled back, giving his desk blotter a drum roll with the eraser on his pencil.

"Over four weeks and you have eliminated everybody who could have done it except the victim. Are you suggesting it was suicide?"

"Couldn't have been, sir, the vic was a southpaw." White stiffened at the glare and rested his hand on the doorknob.

"Humour is good, Detective White, but sorely misplaced in this case. Please explain to me how none of the people present at the party committed the crime."

"We can't, sir." Art's shrug was so massive it pushed him off the wall and he tentatively leaned a hand on the corner of the desk, pointing to the report. "Everything we know is in there. We've gone over the statements, we've had men searching the cul-de-sac for a weapon and we've put their clothing through the lab. There is just nothing."

"You're telling me that this is the perfect crime?" The pencil began drumming again.

"As close as we've ever seen." White eased his escape posture slightly. "Unless we've got something like, Murder on the Orient Express, where everyone was involved, there is just no scenario that matches the times."

The captain centered himself at his desk and gripped the pencil in two hands. "I disagree, detective. There is a scenario that fits... somehow. And I know this is a fact, because WE HAVE A DEAD BODY!" The pencil snapped sending particle showering onto the rug. White jumped and partially opened the door.

"Sir," Art tried for calm even though his shirt was becoming damp and sticky. "We will revisit every aspect and- and—"

"And you will get back to me with a solution by the end of this week!" His hand shot out with a sausage finger aiming at the door.

White and Washington left.

*****

Cheryl waved to a surprised looking Geena across the hospital lobby.

"What are you doing here?" Geena shifted her purse and held Cheryl's hand as they spoke.

"I came to see how Gary- your husband was doing, I brought a card." She pulled a blue envelope from her purse and handed it to Geena.

"Cheryl... that's so thoughtful I- I don't know- thankyou. Thanks very much. That was really sweet of you." She turned the envelope over in her hand, her eyes brimming.

"I guess you can take it up next time you're in," Cheryl said. "How is he anyway?"

"He's coming. It'll be a long process. Apparently he suffered some kind of psychogenesis and it's affected him physically." Geena lifted her head and took a deep breath. "It could be years, Cheryl."

"Oh my god! Geena, I'm so sorry." She put an awkward arm around her shoulder and they stood that way in the middle of the lobby as the endless swarm of sick and able flowed past unheeding.

The bus swerved into the roundabout at the subway station depot and rocked to a halt in its assigned slot. Cheryl and Geena stepped out and stood on the platform, letting the mob of commuters disperse.

"I usually walk from here." Cheryl said. "But if you want, we can split a cab."

"A walk would be nice." Geena smiled and took her arm and they crossed the drive to the pedestrian walk leading to the ravine bridge.

Cheryl tried some happy chatter but soon fell silent when she heard herself babbling about she and Stanley.

"Sorry, I guess I'm not much comfort."

Geena squeezed her arm. "You're a great comfort, Cheryl, you have no idea." They stepped carefully down the stone path and onto the tiny wooden bridge. "This is beautiful, I never even knew it was here. Gary and I rarely walked anywhere."

"I always come this way except when it gets too dark and then I wait for Stan and Haggis to meet me." She looked up and slowed, pointing. "Isn't that Darlene up ahead?" Without waiting for an answer, Cheryl called her name and squealed delightedly when the woman turned around, proving her right. They converged and greeted one another, Darlene inquiring after Gary, Geena's stilted explanations and finally Cheryl's quasi-obtrusive curiosity as to Darlene's presence.

"I'm going over to see Brenda." She looked quickly away from Geena's face.

"Something special?" Geena inquired.

"Something I didn't want to discuss on the phone." Darlene replied abruptly. The chill of private business settled on them and they carried on in silence, save a few chatty remarks by the unflappable Cheryl.

When they arrived at the building, Geena and Darlene hesitated on the steps, reluctant to insist on right of way. Cheryl saw the hesitation and invited Geena in to see her apartment while Darlene spoke to Brenda; they all agreed it was a nice gesture and Darlene promised to drop in before she left.

Brenda curled up on the windowsill and painted imaginary pictures on the glass with her fingernail while Darlene complained about her behaviour. She even accused her of trying to corrupt Geena while she was emotionally damaged. Brenda took it all in calmly, letting her rant on without argument and when she was done she asked her. "Are you done?"

"Until I hear your explanation." Darlene countered.

"First of all, Geena is a big girl. She doesn't need you holding her hand. That's my aim now," Brenda giggled slightly. "Actually, I don't have to give you an explanation for anything. In fact, you owe me one." Brenda adopted a superior air.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You and I had more than just a passing friendship, Darlene. I introduce you to Alec and in a wink I'm forgotten."

"Don't be absurd." Darlene paced the room, arms tightly crossed. "I told you before, our- our experience together that way was just not my cup of tea. And I certainly did not forget you."

Brenda smiled and returned her attention to the window. "Well I didn't forget you either. All I did, was let Alec know that."

"Which was a mean and spiteful thing to do. Each time we got together that came up at some point and frankly Brenda, that's not a reputation I enjoy."

"Mean and spiteful! Reputation!" Brenda swung her legs down from the window seat and braced her arms on the sill. "That's a major laugh, that is. In case you don't know it, girl, I'm the one that defended your precious reputation the other night when Wally saw you with me."

"What do you mean?" Darlene stopped mid-stride and dropped her arms.

"I mean after you and Alec blithely skipped away with your drinks, Wally and I went nose to nose about you, me and all the other women at the party. I did defend you, Darlene... more than you know." She let her hands slide off the sill and folded them around her knees, staring at the floor.

The door opened, following a short knock, and Geena entered hesitantly. "Sorry, I just have to get my day timer." She hurried over to the nightstand and took the book from the drawer.

"It's all right, Geena, I'm leaving."

"Oh, well are you coming over to uh..." She glanced at Brenda.

"Not yet. I want to see Alec if he's home."

"Okay. See you later then." Geena waited as Darlene left. "Everything okay, Bren?" Brenda looked up, shaking her head no; tears filled her eyes and she began to sob. "What is it, hon, what happened?" Geena put down her book and squatted in front of the window seat.

"Do have any feelings for me, Geena?" Brenda's voice was thick and froggy from crying.

"Feelings? Of course I have feelings. You're a good friend, Brenda."

"Friend..." She hiccupped a rueful laugh. "I meant, feelings beyond friendship."

"Brenda what- ooh... oh Brenda..." Geena stood, one knee cracking loudly. "Is that what this is all about? Is Darlene jealous of me staying with you?"

Brenda stopped sniffling and looked up, an uncontrollable laugh beginning in her stomach. "Jealous! Darlene jealous! That's rich, Geena. That's really rich!"

Alec opened the door and stepped back to let Darlene march in, which she did without invitation. As the door closed, they heard Brenda's noisy laugh.

"Come in." He said, moving to the only chair considered comfortable and removing the pile of books and laundry. "Sit."

"I'll stand thank you." She chewed at her lip and toed the carpet while Alec found a comfortable place to lean as he awaited the reason for her visit. "I spoke to Brenda just now." He nodded. "I- she told me what she did and why." He nodded again. "I came to- I came to- dammit, Alec! Is that all you can do? Nod your head?" He shook his head, and smiled as her eyes became warning slits.

"What would you like me to do?"

"Acknowledge what I've told you! Tell me you understand!"

"But I don't." She clasped her fists and hunched her shoulders. "Whoah! Be fair here. I come to you and apologize and you as much as toss me on my ear—" she rolled her head with exaggerated disagreement— "and then you come here, do my routine and expect hearts and flowers."

"I don't want your hearts and flowers! I just want- I want- oh what do I want?" She sagged into the chair and plunked her head on her fist.

Alec watched her wrestle with her emotions. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, kiss her, tell her how he felt—so why the hell don't I, he scolded himself. Just as he reached down to her, she moved to get up and they collided, his hand bumping her breast, her head butting his chin. They yelped, fell apart and sat stupidly staring at one another.

"I guess we just had our first bout." He joked, pulling himself up first and then Darlene.

"Who do you think won?" She studied his face closely.

"I hope we both did." The kiss only began tenderly, in less than a second it was fiercely passionate and they stumbled across the room and into the kitchen, locked in a fiery embrace.

"Wrong room" She sputtered through his lips.

"Mumph." He replied.