Flo steered Calvin's car to the curb and the two women sat looking at the apartment tower.

"Are you sure it's here?"

"This is his address, Flo. C'mon, and remember . . . confidence." Portia stepped out of the car and strode boldly to the front entrance, pausing and turning to wait for her friend.

"Flo . . .? She stared as Flo and Rodney marched timidly ahead of the thug that had come to David's apartment.

"How nice. You save me trouble." Yegor's smile was frightening.

"Rodney?"

"I- he came to my office and threatened me, Portia. When we got to Florence's we saw you both leave in that car."

"Get inside, all of you." Yegor shoved the group toward the door.

"Just what do you want anyway." Portia scowled, resisting the shove.

"You want hurt, I give hurt. Move."

"Do as he says, Portia. You're not helping anything by being belligerent."

"Me belligerent!"

"Elevators, everybody, now." Another push and they huddled toward the elevator banks.

Dennis looked up and his face turned to thunder. "What the hell is this?"

"That's what we would like to know," Portia immediately directed her temper at Dennis. "This gorilla forced us into this building and up here–"

"Shut up! I wasn't talking to you." He aimed a finger at Yegor.

"She is one who met Garber . . . and this one." Yegor shoved Flo forward.

"Who's he?"

"He is my lawyer and you better get ready to have your–"

"I told you to shut up." Dennis glowered. "What's he doing here?"

"He is brother."

Yegor explained in painful English what had happened and how they all arrived together.

"Okay, Tomato you can talk now. Why were you coming here and make it fast, I've got someone coming?"

"I'm not sure I care for your tone, Mr. . . .?"

"Maybe you'd like him to tighten the screws on the lip."

Rodney gaped at Yegor who stood placidly, watching.

"You keep your hands off my brother! And he is a respectable lawyer, not a lip as you so crudely put it."

"Okay that's it. Talk now or you and your chippy friend–-

"Say- who are you calling a chippy, Buster?" Flo leaned onto the desk, bracing Dennis.

Up came the pistol and all talking stopped as Dennis stood and came around his desk.

"Take the loud mouth and the lip outta here, I'll introduce our Miss DeLysle to the boss."

Karl sat fuming behind his desk as Sanford stood complacently enjoying Portia's gentle scratching under his chin. He had listened while she expounded on her disapproval of the business with the money, the threats from an ill-mannered goon and the shameless trashing of her friend's home.

"Are you all through?" Karl spoke through tight lips.

"I believe I've made my points quite clearly." She ruffled Sanford's ears and he licked her gloved hand.

Karl leaned forward and glared. "Get this dame out of here, Dennis and tell her if she sticks her nose in any more of my business she's gonna get it chopped off!"

He led Portia out by the arm. Sanford growled and stared at Karl. Dennis directed the elevator back down to his floor and studied Portia with a grim respect.

"You know you put your old man in a tight spot don't you?"

"I don't know what you mean" Her eyes widened slightly.

"Hagen isn't afraid of you sweetheart, but lawyers make him very edgy."

"You're threatening my father because of me."

"You're a bright dame, figure it out."

Mildred stepped out of the cab in front of Karl Hagen's building, gave a final pat to her nose and closed her compact. Kitty had assured her that Dennis Creighton was the man to speak with, Karl never actually did anything, just delegated.

Dennis Creighton's office was right across from the elevator and as Mildred reached to open the door, Flo stepped out with Rodney and another, rough looking man. Mildred made a small sound of surprise.

"Out of way, lady." Yegor pushed the others forward but Mildred, one hand clutching her purse and the other a fist on her hip, stood her ground.

"Miss Emmanuel, I'm Rodney DeLysle, I believe you know of my father."

"What I want to know is just what you and this other rude cretin think you are doing."

"You want move, lady or get hurt."

The elevator doors opened again and Dennis led Portia out, stuttering to a halt when he saw the group outside his office door. Portia ran to Flo and they hugged with relief then watched as Mildred stepped forward and introduced herself.

"Miss Emanuel!" Dennis rolled his eyes.

"Would you care to explain what's going on here?"

Dennis groaned. "Everybody, back inside. Let's not conduct business in the hallway."

He returned to his desk. Yegor stood in front of the door and the rest found their places to stand.

"I'm waiting." Mildred glared at Dennis, then at Flo and Portia, who were still holding one another.

Portia took a breath and lifted her chin. "Miss Emanuel if I could explain - I talked my friend Flo into helping with a crazy idea I had of exposing the money laundering scheme at Trevor Art and Auction."

Mildred shot a glance at Dennis, who was slumped in his chair, eyes closed. He was having fifth, sixth and seventh thoughts about the deal they had set up.

"And just why are you here, Miss Emanuel?" Portia asked pointedly.

"I don't believe that's any of your concern."

Rodney gave Mildred an appraising look, wondering just what she might have been meeting a mobster's henchman about. Had his sister been correct about his father's client and Trevor Gallery after all?

"In fairness," he said. "Your presence here does raise questions." He gave her a conciliatory smile.

Mildred sniffed and adjusted her clothes, ignoring both brother and sister. "You have a great deal of explaining to do, Mr. Creighton."

"Me! I don't have to explain anything to anybody. This dame," he waved a hand at Portia, "came barging in here demanding-"

"Excuse me," Portia snapped. "Your goon here dragged us in so if anyone barged, it was him."

"He also kidnapped me from my office." Rodney put in huffily.

"He grabbed us right off the street." Flo added.

"Alright! Alright! Alright!" Dennis shouted, leaning his knuckles on his desk. "Are we done here with this mob's days of our lives story?" Dennis slapped his desk hard.

"This mob has brought several important facts to my attention that has led to my decision now to sever any connection with the Trevor companies and your criminal operation." Mildred announced with authority.

"You don't say when our business is done, lady, we'll tell you." Dennis squared his shoulders and looked at the group. "You think you can tell Karl Hagen when he does business? You and- and father time here and his two biscuits! You got a lesson coming, lady."

He came around to the front of his desk, sneering at the women and Rodney then snapped his fingers at Yegor.

"Show these tomatoes what I mean."

"Tomatoes! You dare to threaten and insult us, you- you–!" Flo charged Dennis and started throwing wild punches.

Rodney squeaked, "Oh my!" And Portia's jaw dropped.

Dennis bobbed and weaved, startled by the sudden fury and yelled for Yegor.

Mildred swung her beaded handbag face high at Yegor, sending him sprawling across the desk.

"Get them out of here, quickly!" She shouted to Rodney.

They scrambled out of the office, dragging a flailing Flo, and slammed the door. Portia and Rodney held it closed until the elevator came then they all rushed in, anxiously waiting for its doors to shut.

Yegor burst from the office and reached through the closing doors. There was a frightened yelp from Mildred and an angry shout from Yegor as the door closed and caught his hand. The car moved down and the hand disappeared.

"You were there to do business with Creighton?" Portia said accusingly.

"Our companies were already doing business." Mildred huffed.

"So why were you there?"

"That really is none-"

Rodney raised his hands. "Could we debate this at another time, we still have that gangster to worry about, Portia."

Once out on the street they all ran for Calvin's car.

"Where are we going?" Flo asked, nervously steering into traffic.

"The Art House."

"My office."

"Your place."

"Please, someone make a decision!"

"All three." Portia said, filling her cigarette holder and blowing a satisfied cloud out the window.