August 16, 2100h

	"Grayson residence."
 	That clipped British voice again-Alfred.
 	"Hey, yeah, this is Graham Filbert, uh, Dick's partner."  Filb paused, not 
sure he wanted to ask further.  He might find out something he didn't want to 
hear.
 	"Of course Officer.  Miss Dinah will be taking your call, if that would be 
satisfactory.  Miss Barbara is sitting with Master Dick."
 	"Sure thing."
 	Filb waited barely a moment before he heard the next voice.
 	"Filb?  This is Dinah Lance-Wayne.  We met at Spud's hearing."
 	Normally, Filb wasn't impressed with women who hyphenated their names. 
Keep it or change it, he figured.  No point in having a 27-letter last name. He 
liked Dinah Lance-Wayne, though.  She was probably a bigger celebrity than her 
husband.  Adding his last name seemed more an acknowledgement of love than an 
attempt to maintain her own sense of self.
 	But all that would have been moot anyway, since she was the chosen bearer 
of important news.  And from the friendly tone of her voice is sounded like the 
news wasn't all bad.  If things were well, the worst, she would have come right 
out with it.
 	"'Course I r'member you," Filb assured her.  "Wish we were talking under 
better circumstances.
 	"Me  too," Dinah agreed wholeheartedly.  "I'm guessing you're calling for 
an update?  Barbara said to expect you."
 	"Yeah.  Me and some of the guys-and Amy," Filb added, remembering that 
Dinah was also a woman in a male-dominated profession, "whenever I say 'the 
guy', I mean Amy too.  Anyways, we said a few prayers for Grayson and lifted a 
drink for him.  Hope he's doing better."
 	"Well, keep doing what you're doing," Dinah said, sounding slightly 
relieved.  "Dick's stabilized for now.  It's still bad," she warned.  "He's had 
two surgeries already and they had to resuscitate him a few times."
 	"Resuscitate?" Filb asked sharply.
 	"His heart stopped four times," Dinah told him soberly.  "It was really 
touch and go there for a while."
 	Filb exhaled and shook his head.  "That kid is damn lucky," he proclaimed.
 	"And he's had some damn good doctors," Dinah added.  "He's still at the 
hospital but you're number one on our list when he can have visitors."
 	"I appreciate that," Filb told her gruffly.  "Give Barbara my love, will 
you?"
 	"Of course I will.  Hang in there, Filb, and thanks for calling."
 	"You take care," Filb replied and replaced the receiver in the cradle.  He sat in his armchair for a moment and 
thought about Dick and Barbara and Marina.  He coughed roughly into his hand and rose.  Must be the AC, he decided.  
Must be drying out the air.  A walk would do him some good.  He stepped into the muggy summer heat, locking the 
door behind him.  He stuck his hands in his pockets and started out down the street, wandering vaguely in the direction 
of St. Anthonio's.