Connor never came home that late again, but that didn't mean that he stopped being with Diana. He followed her to school again the next day, though it could hardly be called following anymore. When she caught sight of him on the bus she smiled, and walked to the back to sit next to him. She took off his glasses and folded up his newspaper and grabbed his hand. He grinned like an idiot and they talked the whole way.
And then after fencing was done they hung around and drank coffee, and he helped her with her grocery shopping. They laughed like morons, dragging back to Diana's apartment everything that she decided she needed for Christmas.
"Where'd ye learn to cook?"
"My mother." Diana hefted the bag onto her shoulder. "She was a freak about cooking her own food, mostly because the sodium and cholesterol count in convenience food is so high. When she died I ate like.. frozen pizza and boxed macaroni and cheese till I went to college. But I couldn't fence with a diet like that and I definitely couldn't get a part in a show with the energy that comes from a frozen pizza."
"So I'm guessing you don't drink either."
"Sometimes. Special occasions. Like anyone else when I'm really upset."
"And what do you drink?"
"Wine," Diana sighed. "But only red. I hate the white."
"Fair enough."
"You're a beer drinker aren't you?"
"How can you tell?"
"The first night I was here you were drunk."
"Was I?"
"Yes, yes you were," Diana started to laugh.
"How do you know?"
"Because I was trying to read and you and your friends came home and started yelling and laughing like you'd stumbled up the stairs and through the door. Honestly" Diana scoffed.
"Hey. There's something to be said for spending quality time at the bar." Said Connor defensively. "When I worked at the meat packing plant that was the only time I ever saw my friends."
"When did you stop working at the meat packing plant?"
"Last year," said Connor, but he didn't elaborate. His demeanor seemed to become more serious, so Diana didn't press the matter.
When she walked through her door and started putting away all of the food there was a message from David.
"Come on Diana. I've been getting shit messages from you for weeks. Are you getting anywhere? They need an update. I need an update."
Diana picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
"Jesus.. where the fuck have you been?" Same old David.
"Could you not swear at me?"
"Could you tell me what the…. What's going on?"
"I'm on my own. This takes time."
"I know. But the death toll is rising. We don't have a lot of time. What do you know?"
"I've got a few possible names of Boston police who seem unethical where the Saints are concerned."
"What else?"
"No sign of them. They're never working when I can find them it seems. I've stopped in at the latest crime scenes, but their pattern is so random that I can't keep tabs on them like I wish I could."
"So basically you aren't getting anywhere."
Diana sighed.
"Oh my God!"
"What?"
"How could I be so stupid? I could keep tabs on them!"
"What do you mean?"
"I need phone taps on all of the detectives of the Boston Police, and I need one on Agent Paul Smecker's home phone. Can you get that for me?" David paused for a minute.
"I think so. Just hang tight and I'll be able to get it for you… at the latest right after Christmas."
"I know it's a long shot but they've been flying free for so long that they might get careless."
"Especially after the holidays."
"You have no heart."
"That's why I'm telling YOU what to do."
"Whatever David. I have to go."
"Why? Got a hot date?"
"Yeah. With my bed."
"Goodnight Diana."
"Goodnight David."
