She finished her third martini and was beginning to feel a little more relaxed. The alcohol was dulling the realization that she could be in some serious trouble, and at least this would take her mind off the problem for the moment.

"Are you going to be all right if I leave you here," Al asked. "I don't think we'd better be seen talking together in view of what Joe just told me. If he sees us I doubt that I will get any more information from him and it could make things worse!"

"No… no… that's okay, I'll be just fine. You go ahead, I'm just going to sit here for a moment and finish my last drink and then head for home. I don't think that I'll say anything to Frankie about this just at the moment, it might make him more nervous and he doesn't need anymore problems at the moment."

"I think that that would be wise, sweetheart. Just keep what I've told you to yourself and wait and see what happens. Don't get depressed. If anything happens you can bet that I'll be right there to see what I can do."

"Thanks Al, thanks so much, you're a real friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She watched him leave and she wanted to cry, but she knew that she would have to face whatever came along. She didn't want to risk losing Frankie, especially now that they had just rediscovered each other again, she couldn't take that.

She finished her drink and sat there for a minute, smoking a cigarette and debating whether or not she would risk calling Harris. It seemed that he always had the answers and what could they possibly prove by a phone call.

She snuffed out her cigarette, put on her coat and walked outside into the chilling air of the Chicago Loop.

CHAPTER SIX

The streets were fairly crowded and she couldn't find a taxi so she began walking, trying to decide what she should do.