David slipped the money from Rolly into his desk drawer and locked it. He sat for a moment and gathered his thoughts. He was done being a part of the scheme even if it meant his job. With shaky confidence he left his office and headed for home, focusing on cleaning up the mess left by the break-in.

When he arrived he couldn't believe his phone was ringing. Had Rolly found out already? He found the phone under some papers and hesitated, rehearsing briefly what he might say, then he answered.

"David! Why are you home and not at work?"

"Why did you call me here then? I'm making some life decisions, Portia. And I don't have time for lunches or dinners or whatever you had in mind."

"David you have to get out of there and come to Flo's! You can stay here."

'I'm staying with Ellie . . ."

"What? Staying? Ellie?"

"Yes, I told her about the break-in and she's letting me bunk there until I get sorted, and right now that's what I have to do."

He heard raised voices in the background as was about to hang up when Flo came on the line.

"David this isn't about you staying here, it's about you getting out of your apartment fast and getting over here."

"Why?" He sighed.

In a few short sentences, Flo told him what they had done and the disastrous outcome, and David slammed down the phone, grabbing everything he felt he needed before bolting out the door.

Karl Hagen stood behind his desk scowling at his number one confidant. Kitty reclined in a chair across the room, nursing a drink and silently observing the drama as it unfolded. Sanford sat on his legs as if ready to jump up, an evil eye intermittently swivelling up to his master and back to Dennis.

"Just how do you explain this cluster-" Karl glanced at Kitty, "this dog's breakfast, Creighton?"

Sanford snarled softly.

"Kitty set up a meeting for me with Emanuel, like you and I discussed.

"And?"

"And then this Portia dame and her friends turn up outta the blue. I brought her up to meet you, remember?"

"Turn up? I understood this Yogurt man of yours dragged them all here."

"Yegor–"

"I don't give a-" another glance at Kitty.

Dennis began again. "He was doing what you asked. Finding out what those dames knew about Garber and the money. He tracked down one, and with the brother in tow, they followed her here. They bumped into Emanuel when she got off the elevator."

"Why the brother?"

"That's just how the tracking down went . . ."

"And?"

"When I got off the elevator with the Portia dame after leaving you they were all in the hallway outside my office. We didn't meet that way intentionally."

"And then you lost them all!" Hagen pounded the desk and jumped back as Sanford stood up. He moved around to the far side and continued. "Now you tell me this, Mildred-" Karl closed his eyes. "You tell me she says they aren't doing business anymore!"

"As soon as . . . my man gets his hand looked at he'll be all over them. It was caught in the elevator doors." Dennis shrugged.

The room seemed to turn steamy as Karl digested Dennis's excuse. Sanford ambled over to Kitty for a pet.

"Royce has sixty thousand of my dollars waiting to be washed and you are telling me your man has a sore hand?"

"I'll get things rolling myself, Karl."

"What you'll do is get a cheque, for the full amount, to cover my inconvenience, and you'll get it TODAY! Now get out of here both of you."

Kitty stood and went to the door. Sanford stood up and growled.

"GRRR yourself you mangy mutt!"

Sanford sat back down.

********

David accepted the gin and tonic from Flo and took a sip before addressing the two women.

"What in God's name did you think you were doing? After what you've seen happen, you blithely go to beard the lion in his den! And how did that work for you?"

"Quite well, actually," Portia said. "Mildred was convinced, and she told Hagen's mug that Trevor wouldn't be doing any more business with them."

David lurched forward, spilling his drink. "She what!"

Relax, David, everything's jake. The money laundering is over."

Flo handed him a towel and he dabbed angrily at his trousers. "Jake! Are you crazy?"

"You're such a worry wart, David. Mildred made it quite clear."

"Portia, I don't know if you are naive or just plain stupid! I left the office with sixty thousand dollars locked in my desk that Rolly thinks I've deposited. What do you suppose will happen when he can't cover Hagen's cheque?"

"Why is it in your desk?" Her voice said his insult hurt.

"Because I was getting out. I didn't want any more to do with any of it. My God they even have the bank in on it now. I was going to get organized then phone Rolly and tell him where the money was and that I was finished."

Portia waved her hand in the air. "You can still do that."

"Oh, yeah! And what do you think he'll say when they get to his office, if they haven't already. I gave the money to Ashby to deposit, he must have run off with it. And he'll deep six Mildred too the minute he learns what she did."

"Are we in danger?" Flo asked, handing him a fresh drink.

"Is whatshisname catholic? Yes, we're in danger - all of us!"

"You should warn your brother, Dee . . . and your dad." Flo said softly.

Portia ambled about the room, loading her cigarette holder and leaving it unlit while she gazed worriedly into a distance only she could see.

"I don't believe we're first on their list. My family have nothing to do with the money. They know they gave it to Rolly so you're right, David, they'll go to him first - he's the one they made the deal with. We should tell Mildred where the money is so she has some leverage if they go after her."

"I just told you what Rolly would say, that puts me next on the list not Mildred."

"But you could say she has it then." Portia increased her pacing, waving the holder about like a baton.

"I would have to be in their clutches to tell them that wouldn't I? Portia you're talking nonsense.""

"Why don't you just phone Rolly now and tell him where the money is? Like you said," Flo argued, "if he wants to save his skin he'll give it to them right away, I doubt he'll fool around blaming you."

"Well - yes, I could do that, I suppose . . . you're probably right."

"Do it right away, David," Portia said. "And let's hope we're in time."

David grabbed the phone and dialled.

"Mr. Royce's office, whom may I say is calling?"

"Angela, it's David. I need to speak to him right away. It's urgent."

"He has someone with him at the moment, David but I'll tell him you called."

"NO! No wait. I must speak to him, Angela. It's a matter of life and death!"

"Really, David. Life and death?" She started to laugh and then gave a startled yelp.

"Angela? Angela, what's wrong?"

"Oh my God–" The line went dead.

David shouted her name a few times then hung up. "Dial tone."

"What happened?"

"There was something going on that scared the wits out of her and then the line went dead."

"You don't think . . ."

"I'm afraid to think."

"We need to call the police." Flo said nervously.

"That just puts us in the middle of whatever happened!"

"I'll call Mildred. She can act somehow" Portia grabbed the phone and dialled the gallery.

"We need to be doing something, David." Flo urged, watching Portia tell Mildred what was happening.

"I am open to all suggestions, Florence. That's because I have none of my own."

"Mildred said she would try calling." Portia sank into a chair and looked at her friends.