Evie took one look at her former boss's lifeless body and the gun in her best friend's hand. "My God, Dee! What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," Deedee protested. She pointed between herself and Vince. "We saved his ass."

"He's not saved yet," Vince declared. "He needs CPR. Evie, get me the first aid kit from the back room."

When she returned, they had Sinclair stretched out on the kitchen table between the sea bass and lemon rice. "Shouldn't we call the ambulance? He's turning purple."

"Nuh-uh." Vince shook his head. "If he goes into a hospital, those operatives'll finish what they started. He'll never come out alive."

Evie fished out an aspirin. Her hand shook as she handed it to Vince. "Will this help?"

Ripping open the CEO's shirt, Deedee started giving him the breath of life. Pinching his nose, she alternated between blowing into his mouth and administering chest compressions. "Come on, baby, breathe for Deedee." Evie watched horrified as Sinclair's limp form failed to respond.

"Get out of the way!" The long-haired hippie from the alley burst into the kitchen. Pulling the cap off a hypodermic needle with his teeth, he lifted it up, squirting excess air out of the barrel, then jammed the needle's shaft into Sinclair's heart. Evie placed her hand over her mouth as he depressed the plunger, smoothly injecting a clear liquid into Ray's lifeless body.

"What are you doing? Oh my God —is he a doctor?" Prince emitted a high-pitched squeal.

Like Lazarus, coming back from the dead, Ray sputtered, then took deep, gasping breaths as his lungs expanded with air.

DeeDee grabbed the hippie by the arm. "Who in hell. No. What in the hell are you?"

"I'm with the NSA." The disheveled hippie pulled an official-looking badge from his fringed, suede jacket. "Special Agent, Bob Mercer." The stranger eyed Deedee's bandaged arm. "You should get that looked at before it gets infected."

Vince raised his eyebrows. "Where'd you get that shot of adrenaline, Bob?"

Mercer placed a medical kit on the table. "This fell out of the truck. The agency had a wire tap on the van. He pulled out a set of sophisticated ear plugs. I heard everything...the spooks accidentally induced a heart attack during their half-assed interrogation. When they fled, all their shit flew out the back of the truck. I grabbed Dr. Mengala's bag off the street."

"Dr. Mengala? What in the hell you talkin' bout?" Prince demanded.

"The CIA sadist torturing your friend takes real pleasure in his work. Karl Dreka, a.k.a The Angel of Pain. That's the nickname we gave him at the agency."

"Well that pain in the ass's dead now," Deedee declared. "After hearing all this, I'm glad I shot him. I should get a medal."

Evie gently placed a folded towel under Sinclair's head. "How do you feel, Mr. Sinclair?"

"Are you an angel?" he murmured, looking up into her face.

Evie blushed. "Relax. You've had a heart attack." She disinfected the injection site on his chest, then applied a bandage.

Awareness seeped back into Ray's eyes. "I was abducted by two madmen. You and your friends saved my life, Oompa Loompa." His eyes shined as he gazed at Evie. "My God, I love you." She frowned at the backhanded endearment.

"I'm the one who got shot. Can I get some triage here?" Deedee complained.

"It's the drugs talking," Mercer said. "They gave him a truth serum."

"Never mind." Deedee grabbed the alcohol out of the first aid kit. "I'll do it myself."

"Then he's telling the truth," Prince said, excitedly. "I knew it Evie, your asshole boss is in love with you."

"That's enough, Purple Rain." Vince frowned. "I'll be damned if this nitwit thinks he's good enough for Evie." He turned to the white hat. "What in hell's goin' on here? Why are they after Sinclair?"

Before Mercer could respond, Prince interrupted, waving his phone. "I'll tell you what's happenin'. All hell's breakin' loose. Look at this." He held up his screen so everyone could see.

BREAKING NEWS

CENTIEN Corporation's Financial Officer, Denis Lear has just been shot. The suspect at this time is CENTIEN's, CEO, Raymond Sinclair. Stay tuned for more details...

An aerial video, clearly showing Raymond walking up and shooting Lear in the chest in CENTIEN's parking lot, looped nonstop on social media.

Evie, Deedee and Vince looked at Sinclair, their faces a mixture of astonishment and horror.