Dust to Dust by Heather Graham

women, about fifty yards away, near a memorial statue marking the grave of one of the Ramones.
    â€œHey, Mel. I think we have a few minutes. Let’s go see a few graves,” Lucien said. “Maggie, Sean, you want to come?”
    â€œI can show you around,” Blake offered.
    â€œI know the cemetery,” Melanie said hastily. “I’ll show them around.”
    The four of them got up and started walking, moving casually, just as if they didn’t have a specific destination very much in mind.
    Â 
    Scott didn’t know what it was about the foursome that suddenly made him think of a shoot-out in the old West. It wasn’t as if they were decked out in long railway coats or wore holsters slung low on their hips. Still, “posse” was the word that came to his mind.
    In fact, at least from a distance, they looked like everybody else in L.A. One man looked to be several years older than the others—maybe mid forties. He was graying, but straight and powerful, and the woman at his side moved with grace, and her face held a timeless beauty. But it was the other two who held his attention. The first was the dark-haired man he’d metearlier—in person and in his dreams—and the other was the platinum blond beauty he’d fought beside right here in this cemetery.
    As they drew closer, it was the dark-haired man—who hailed him—not by name, of course, but with a friendly wave.
    â€œFriends of yours?” Zach asked, tearing his attention away from Suki for a moment.
    â€œAcquaintances,” Scott responded.
    The blonde looked embarrassed to be there, but the dark-haired man with the strength to equal his own said, “Out to prove nothing can keep a good Californian down, huh?” he asked.
    Scott introduced Zach, Suki and her friends, and then the dark-haired man followed suit.
    Scott felt awkward, but apparently no one noticed. As the others talked like old friends, only Melanie Regan stood as silently as he did.
    Then, to Scott’s astonishment, someone he did know walked over—Officer Blake Reynaldo. “Hey, here’s where you all got to! Guess this really is a small world. Zach, Scott, nice to see you again.”
    â€œOfficer Reynaldo,” Zach said, surprised to see the cop in a social setting. As big as he was, Zach looked uneasy. But then, Scott knew that Zach was remembering the same thing he was: the night they had been witnesses to murder—and the night when Scott had become someone—or some thing —very strange.
    The fact that Blake Reynaldo knew him seemed to be of interest to Melanie Regan. She stared at him, frowning curiously.
    â€œWhat are you out here for, Zach?” Blake asked. “It can’t be the case, because that’s still a couple of months down the line. But they didn’t get parole, so at least they’re not out on the street.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Melanie asked, frowning more deeply but finding her voice at last.
    â€œThese guys tried to stop an assault and murder,” Blake said grimly.
    â€œWe didn’t succeed,” Scott said, not looking at her.
    â€œNo, but think of the other people who might have met the same end if you and your friends hadn’t been around,” Blake said. “Well, looks like the show is about to begin.” He turned to Melanie and her friends. “We’d better get going.”
    â€œSure, thanks,” Lucien said. “Hey, Scott, we’ll catch up soon.”
    Scott kept silent, but Zach answered for him. “You guys may not get a chance to see each other again. Scott’s taking off on vacation tomorrow.”
    â€œOh?” Lucien said.
    It had all been so deceptively casual, Scott thought. Friends out for the evening, just happening to run into a casual acquaintance. But everything had suddenly changed. And now Lucien was staring at him very oddly. “What a coincidence. Melanie is heading for Rome