"I just thought I should call, Mrs. B. The light flashed for Mr. B's radio and I answered but there's no response. I can hear voices over the mike though."

"Who is it? What are they saying?"

"Hang on a sec, we record all calls; I'll play it back." Catlin fidgeted from foot to foot until Willy came back on the line. "It's Dylan's voice, and he said the name, Peyton. Mrs. Peyton. Sounded surprised. Mrs. B.? You there?"

Catlin was yelling out loud to herself as she dialled Peter's number and when he answered she fairly blew the words right through his ear.

"Jesus, Catlin, take it easy! What was that about Peyton?" He listened carefully as she told him what had happened, and he immediately told her he would take care of it; she was not to worry. Peter hung up on her protests and called Dylan's company.

"Willy? Peter Rabb. Don't talk, just listen and do what I say. Dylan has GPS remotes on his vehicles, right? Right? Willy, you can answer me for Christ's sake."

"Yes, he does."

"Locate Dylan's limo right now and tell me where it is and where you think it's headed." Peter tapped his cheek with his thumb and waited, silently urging Willy to speed it up. "What's that?" He said when Willy spoke. "The expressway and now turning off toward the airport? Okay, thanks, Willy." His next call was to Harv, giving him the short, sharp version of events.

"Clever broad. I'm on it, Peter. I've got a pal does airport security; I can get him to watch for Dylan's limo. Meanwhile you be outside on the street and ready to jump into a moving car; I'm comin' by."

******

Peter had driven with Harv before but his run to the airport made Steve McQueen's, Bullet look like a kid's pedal car ride. The big car slid seamlessly through traffic, prompting a few pursuers, who soon learned the hard way that going up against Harv was at the very least, suicidal.

Peter gripped his seat belt strap with steel fingers, and he closed his eyes, opening them only to respond to Willy on Harv's cell phone.

"He says they've gone into the lane for Terminal Three parking. I had no idea that GPS could be so accu-holy shit, Harv!" The big car tilted on the soft springs as Harv wrestled it into a ninety-degree turn and Peter made a siren wail matching the squeal of rubber as it bounced precariously over a speed bump and down into the underground parking garage.

The ticket machine loomed up beside Harv and he hastily tore one off, barely waiting for the gate to rise before squealing past and into the central parking area where he slowed to a steady crawl.

The man that stepped from behind the large pillar was almost the same size and the sharply pressed uniform with the badges and belts made him look bigger still. Peter glanced at Harv who braked to a halt and climbed out, waving to Peter to follow.

"Hey Terence, how they hangin? This is my pal, Peter Rabb. Peter, my security pal, Terence Dolly."

Terence took Peter's hand and ground it to dust. "Pleasure, man. You gonna get me canned, comin' into the garage like that, Harv."

"Worry later. Where's the limo?"

"Down one level back in the corner. Two people still inside."

"What are we doing?" Peter asked as they ran on toes across the concrete floor to a stairwell. He felt silly, as if anyone could hear them through several feet of cement.

"Rescuing, Dylan." Harv panted, hopping down the stairs three at a time.

"Yeah, but how?" Peter felt the hot breath of Terence on his neck and he tried copying Harv's three-step descent.

"Right over there," They exited the stairwell and Terence pulled them behind another pillar as he pointed to the limo in the corner of the garage.

"That's Dylan's all right." Peter strained to see inside from too great a distance. "Now what?"

"Terence is going to go over and tell him he can't park a business limousine in the garage." Harv slapped the big man on the back. She knows us, we'd be dead." He smiled at his friend. "She must have a gun, Terence, so be very aware."

Julia pushed the barrel of the gun into Dylan's neck and grinned at his discomfort. "That was a masterful piece of deception you and your friends pulled off. I am grudgingly impressed."

"I don't know what--"

"Please, Dylan, I'm not stupid. What I am, however, is extremely upset and angry over being conned and blamed by some very dangerous people for conning them." She sat forward and Dylan felt a warm breath on his neck. "It's unlikely now that I'll be able to convince them otherwise but at least I can extract a measure of satisfaction by making your little group pay - one by one - beginning with you."

He heard the click of the gun being cocked and suddenly Catlin and the kids flooded his mind. The sharp rap on the passenger window startled them both and Julia sat back quickly, hiding the gun as Dylan thankfully rolled down the window.

"You know you can't park in this garage, pal," Terence said in his booming voice as he leaned in the window and glanced at Julia. "Are you an airline passenger, ma'am?"

"Uh, yes I am. We uh, we were just killing time here instead of inside. My driver will take me up now." Julia lifted her chin. "Dylan, let's go then."

"Hang on a sec there, Dylan. Lemme see your certificate for airport drop off privileges."

"Oh really, officer. Is this necessary? We just parked for a moment or two. What's the harm?"

The back door opened and Harv leaped in, pinning her hands tight to her lap while Peter entered from the other side and wrestled the gun free.

"End of game, Miss Peyton." Harv said.

"You think so?" She spat, trying to free her hands.

"I kinda think you and Austin might want to reconsider your situation."

Julia looked at him with curiosity. "What do mean, reconsider?"

"Miss Peyton we've been monitoring all the players for some time now and frankly you have exhibited some questionable behaviour, shall we say?"

"I don't know what you're--"

"Listen, you got your money. Not what you expected maybe but nothing to sneeze at either. So I think to save all concerned a lot of discomfort and unnecessary legal problems, we call the whole thing square, and leave one another alone."

"Hey wait a minute, Harv. She was about to--"

"Don't say it, Peter." Harv tilted his head toward Terence. "Trust me, this is the best way for everybody." He let go of Julia's hands. "What do you say? If you insist, we can all go down the legal road. Some of us will fare a lot better than others. And a little something to think about in making your decision, we have located where you and Austin are staying and we can keep you under permanent surveillance."

She smiled. "Nice try but I don't believe you."

"No? How do you think we found you here?" Julia's complexion paled as she looked at the four men surrounding her. "It wasn't hard, Miss Peyton. Just take my advice and we'll all be much happier."

She gave him a shrewd look and then glanced down at her hands. "I suppose, under the circumstances, your offer would be the wiser choice."

"Definitely."

******

The group sat comfortably on the Brewer back deck sipping beer and patting full stomachs after a meal of barbecued steak and vegetables. The sun filtered through the pines at the back of the garden, surrendering slowly to the day. Catlin excused herself and after mushy kisses all around, ushered the children inside for bed.

"Talk about a ballsy ultimatum." Peter pointed his bottle at Harv. "You should have heard this guy."

"Hey, she bought it didn't she?"

"That bit about how you found her with me really made her stop and think." Dylan agreed.

"You really think we can trust her?" Cheryl asked as Catlin rejoined the group.

"I'd never trust her," Peter said. "Particularly after the item in the paper the other day."

"What item?" Several voices asked at once.

"I was going to see if any of you learned about it but not before we had this sensational dinner and the kids were in bed."

"Learned about what?" Mary prodded him in the ribs.

"It was in the paper in one of those small articles that run down the side of the page next to major stor--"

"What was it, Peter?" Mary poked him again.

"The bodies of two men were found in a downtown hotel room last week. They'd been murdered. One was a Harold Feldman and the other an Efrom Bleeker. Cops have no witnesses or clues to help with the solving of the crime."

"That's our Harry, right?" Freddy said. Peter nodded.

"Who's the other guy?" Catlin asked.

"He was a security specialist for Ralston Hughes." Harv said.

The group sat silently mulling the news and the possible ramifications. Dylan opened some more beer and passed it around trying to regain the earlier cheerfulness.

"Are you thinking Peyton?" Peter looked at Harv and he shrugged with his eyebrows.

"In that case it probably shouldn't matter then," Cheryl stated. "If she thinks we know about her, and you guys seem to feel she did, then she has to think we know about that."

"Absolutely," Freddy agreed.

"We can always drop the hint if she should resurface," Catlin added.

"You're right. Odds are she would never take the risk." Peter said. He raised his beer for another toast. "To, Guns Across the Rio Grande." Everyone joined in.

"I'm just glad we're finished doing all this stuff." Mary stretched her legs out on the lounge and closed her eyes.

Peter waved a warning hand when Dylan was about to speak. No good pointing out that Mary had done very little in the end for her part, nor had she yet committed herself to Peter, in spite of his awarding her a full share.

He gave an elaborate shrug and slipped his arm about her shoulders, mouthing to the others, I love her.

He pulled her close, and grinned at the mocking groans. "I'm glad too, Mare."

The End

Thank you to all who waded through this seemingly endless tale.

My gratitude is also endless.