Audrey's calm demeanour bothered Wendell more than the woman at Max's had. He held up his hands, trying to explain what happened and when he finished, he looked at his friends questioningly. Jerome blew out a warning sigh and sidled to the window. Audrey remained still, arms crossed, face set . . . and a toe tapping ominously.

"What?" He looked from one to the other.

"It's your unwelcome house guest, Wendell." Jerome cast a nervous smile at Audrey.

"Oh, crap - I forgot . . ." His eyes flew to the dull red stain on the sofa upholstery. "Where is he?"

"Your room." The words snapped like dead branches.

"Aud, I'm really sorry. Things just got mixed up and I forgot. I'll think of something to do with him, I promise - and I won't forget another thing you tell me."

"Where are the groceries you were going to get?"

His world inside collapsed.

******

"This is the dumbest idea I have ever heard." Jerome slammed his hand on the desk. "You can't be serious, Wendell. This is the same as kidnapping!"

"Don't be ridiculous, we're just- we're just keeping him here until we can decide what to do."

"Right! Kidnapping!"

Wendell looked at the frightened man tied to the office chair. "Do you feel kidnapped, Jesús?"

"Si . . . I think . . . maybe not."

"How's the leg, we fixed that didn't we?"

"Si. It just throbs now."

"See, Jerome!" Wendell turned on his partner. "He's fine with it. We'll take turns being here until we decide what to do."

"You mean you'll take turns, I'm not sleeping here when I'm payin' for a comfortable bed at home."

"You realize that the money you pay for that comfortable bed comes from the coffers of Dankworth and Weeble - stressing, and Weeble." Jerome didn't reply, just pulled a face and glared out the window.

"What do you think we should do, Jesús?" Wendell looked down at the man.

"Release me?"

"Yes, but what do we get out of that? What can you give us?"

For the next while Jesús delivered a non-stop description of his boss, the workings of the cartel in Colombia, and the plan to come to this city and take over the criminal enterprises. Even Jerome was drawn into the story when they learned that Don Parco's father was just a figurehead, and she was the real head of the cartel snake, and their prisoner's aunt.

"You met her?" Jerome looked at his partner.

"I did. I told you and Aud, things got mixed up. Max Shine, Undergrove, Fletcher and the Don Parco dame are joining forces to do exactly what he just said - take over crime in our city. So, Jesús, where did she plan on setting up in our city? She must have had plans for all that if a big takeover was her goal."

******

Don Parco did a circuit of the room, pausing momentarily to touch an ornament or straighten a picture. Her retinue stood patiently, awaiting her approval - or not.

"The purchase was arranged through a bank in Colombia," she said as she walked about. "It is registered to an elderly man . . ." She stopped and looked at Benjamin. "I believe you met him."

His mouth opened and closed, and he nodded, smiling. The mask. "Yes, I remember."

"I believe you gentlemen met him as well."

Max laughed and nudged Fletcher. "The mask we sent down to Colombia."

Fletcher chuckled approvingly. "Very clever. You still have it I presume."

"Of course. It may be needed if we ever have visitors." She stopped and took a last look around. "This will do nicely. My luggage in the trunk of my car, Benjamin."

There was an awkward moment of silence as the realization of rank sank in to each of them, then Benjamin just turned and left the room.

"Mr. Fletcher, you said you and those private detectives rescued my nephew from the Metro Club. Where is he now?"

"We took him to a house they were renting - along with another woman. I imagine he's still there. He was shot in the leg - not too seriously."

"Can you contact them?"

"Not at the house, but I think I have a card Wendell gave me." He fiddled with his jacket pockets and came up with the card, handing to her.

"Dankworth and Weeble. Sounds like something Menken would have eaten, from what I heard." She stared at the men until they realized she'd made a joke, and they both laughed.

Benjamin came in carrying two bags. "Something funny?"

"We were just talking about the gumshoes. Say," Fletcher snapped his fingers, "you were at the house with us. Do you know how to contact them there?"

"I know where it is, but I don't have a number. Look it up." He held the bags questioningly, looking at Don Parco.

"Upstairs, third room on the left." She loaded her cigarette holder and fired up.

******

Wendell went in first and found Audrey in the kitchen. He adopted a cheery smile and greeted her accordingly, setting the oft forgotten bag of groceries on the table.

"Promise made. Promise kept." He beamed.

"Whose that with you?"

"Uh, Jerome . . . and uh- Jesús." Her look was one of hurt, morphing rapidly into volatile. "Audrey, there's a good reason, if you'll just let me--"

"You brought him back HERE?"

"I told you." Jerome called from the living room, wrestling with a frightened, struggling Jesús.

Wendell was dancing in front of Audrey with frantic arm and hand gestures, trying to calm her.

"Aud, listen to me, please. This is our chance to finish what we started."

She froze. Her face set in stubborn silence, eyes barely patient death rays. He let out a thankful breath and pointed to a chair. When she ignored the gesture, he sat instead. A careful, precise explanation of his actions, and his expectations followed.

"He knows where she's setting up her headquarters. We know everyone that's involved. We can move in and arrest the lot . . ." The death rays ignited again and he quickly acquiesced. "Or we can call the police! Probably calling the police would be better."

Jerome pushed Jesús into the kitchen ahead of himself, round eyes darting from Wendell to Audrey. "Are we okay in here?"

"It's all good. We're going to call the police and give them everything we have." He saw the fear rise on the nephew's face, and Jerome had to tighten his grip.

"Please, señor, she will kill me."

"You'll be fine. You'll have police protection."

Wendell said he wanted to get all their files from the office, everything they had learned should be handed over.

"Why didn't you bring them with you?" Audrey asked, suspiciously.

"I didn't know how you might react - well, I knew, but I wasn't sure, and I didn't want them sitting in the car." He stood and clapped his hands. "Okay. Won't be long. Maybe a last supper when I get back?"

Jerome closed his eyes and lowered his head. Jesús whimpered, and Audrey just stared.

"Right. Okay, I'm off."