As soon as I turned the corner I knew something was wrong. The two guys in the car in the driveway were watching a third opening Audrey's front door. I drove on and stopped further up the street.

"You passed it!" Alice exclaimed, looking back.

"Yeah, I just want to make a call first." I held up a hand for patience while I asked Meadows about the random checks on Mrs. Comfort. He checked and discovered someone upstairs had called them off. I told him what was going on and asked him to send a car anyway.

Alice gave me a nasty look. "Is my mother in danger? Who are those men?"

"I only know who they aren't." I spent a few seconds procrastinating then told her to stay put I was going to go back and find out. It definitely wasn't a car the Feds would use. I took the cement walk to the steps and hopped up to the porch, ringing the bell. The car door shut behind me and I turned just enough to catch sight of the one from the passenger side heading my way.

Nobody answered the bell so I grabbed the door handle and let myself in, slamming and locking it behind me. The broom handle cracked my shoulder and I yelped, turning to see Audrey winding up for another strike.

"Audrey, it's me, Richard Hart! I came to help." I took the broom and lowered it, leaving it in her hands then she dropped it and began to sob. Where was the other guy? The doorknob was rattling angrily and I peered cautiously around into the living room.

Sprawled on the carpet long with shards from a broken tea service and tray was the answer to my question. I helped Audrey to a seat and calmed her down enough to quickly hear what happened. I had to admit, these Comfort women were made of pretty stern stuff.

The knob rattled again and I pulled out my gun and went to the door, opening it quickly and shoving the barrel right into the man's chest. The other car door slammed and I pointed at the driver, shaking my head.

"Just sit down on the step like a good boy and call your friend over to do the same."

"In your dreams, Gumshoe."

Actually it was my hopes and prayers. That and the wished for car Meadows was supposed to be sending.

The sound of Alice's voice made all three of us look up in surprise as she appeared on the lawn holding a rather large silver revolver.

"You won't find me as accommodating as Mr. Hart. Now sit." They sat.

"Alice where did that com--"

"Where's my mother?"

"Inside, she's fine. A little shaken but really she's fine."

Alice stepped past the men and went inside.

"You boys don't know how lucky you are. If I hadn't come along you might be in the same shape as your buddy inside."

They shared a puzzled look then groaned as a cruiser pulled up behind their car and three officers jumped out.

********

"I'm telling you, you should have been there, Verna. Audrey apparently pretended to be the welcoming hostess, lulling this mug into dropping his guard then she bonked him with her tea tray and he went stone cold. On top of that, doesn't Alice come riding in like Clint Eastwood with the biggest damn pistol you ever saw."

"So what did you do?"

"Well after getting a crack on the shoulder from a broom, I took charge and got the two outside covered."

"So what did Alice and her pistol do then?"

"She uh- she sort of got them to uh, listen."

"And Meadows?"

"He wasn't there but he sent some uniforms after I called him."

"So you are a hero again."

"All in a day's work, Babe."

"You should know, your plainclothes watchers are gone and Harry is nervous and very angry."

"Shit. I bet it's the same call that stopped the checks on Audrey."

"Can you call Meadows again?"

I pulled the car over in front of her place and shut the engine off. Verna smirked.

"His hands are tied, it came from the top, which means the Feds put some pressure on the Commissioner."

"Well maybe it doesn't matter now that you caught those guys. Thanks for the ride, Hart." She started out of the car.

"Hey! What about-- what about me-- us? You just going to say good night?"

"Yep."

I sagged. "Well at least do you love me again?"

"I'll think about it." The door shut and I watched her all the way into her apartment, my mouth hanging open and drying up.

********

My office was cleaned up thankfully so that's where I headed. A wash, a shave and a good night's sleep - thanks to Verna. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, switching on the office light. At the same time my light went out. The blow to my jaw sent me ass over teakettle into the corner by my coat rack and I thought I may never be able to chew Thai Bites again.

"We had a deal, Hart."

"You had a deal," I mumbled.

"I told you all I wanted to do was soft peddle the Riders."

"Alice didn't care. And If I wanted anything it was her way or the highway." I risked getting up and going into the washroom for a cold cloth. "And I wasn't going to lose Reagan."

"Yeah, well that could still be a problem. Those weren't Riders at her mother's house."

"I think I knew that, they weren't wearing boots and bandanas " My mouth was swelling and I was really pissed.

"They were Regan's clients. You messed with some very bad people, Hart. They don't just walk away."

"So what about you?"

"Me? I'm out of it, you saw to that." Dysart gave me a mock salute and left the office.

********

Meadows joked about people thinking we were having an affair.

"My wife doesn't call me as much as you, Hart."

"She doesn't have my problems."

"Are you eating?"

"No," I mumbled and went on to explain what happened.

"Morris Dysart popped you and then just waved goodbye!"

"I believe I said that already. What I would like to know is what the guys you pinched have to say."

"Not a lot. Just foot soldiers in a big underground army. They're strictly muscle."

"Well you have Alice's material and that names some of the Generals in that army, right?"

"We're working on it, sir."

The sarcasm was ultra heavy and I bit back a retort. "I'm concerned about the others in this. It had to be Reagan responsible for removing surveillance. They are vulnerable, Meadows."

"I've worked around that and don't ask how 'cause I won't say. Just keep you own nose clean and for God's sake put some ice on that jaw, you sound like a plugged vacuum cleaner."

Oh, well wasn't that a colourful analogy. Jerk. I took the advice though and got some ice from the restaurant across the street and at the same time felt lifted by his work around comment. Now what to do? I had absolutely no idea.

One thing I did do was get my car back and return the rental. I had the driver's door window repaired and then fixed the bullet holes with body filler and touch-up paint. The colour was close enough. Coincidentally similar to my jaw.

Alice had called and left a message thanking me for all I had done and that she had put a cheque in the mail for my services. It sounded like a final contact message so I didn't call back but I did wonder how she put a price on said services. I'll wait for the mail.