Crawford DeLysle sat stunned, listening to the news. Rodney poured them each a drink and stood by his father, a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Don't jump to conclusions. It doesn't mean Portia is mixed up in any of this."

"Have you heard from her? What about Florence?"

Rodney waffled. "Uh- no I haven't but you know Portia-"

"All too well, Rodney." Crawford set his drink down and leaned forward, turning off the radio. "We need to find her, and fast."

"I did try Florence's number but there was no answer . . . it uh, it was the same at David Ashby's."

Crawford rubbed a shaking hand over his head. "I can't lose a daughter too."

"C'mon, father, it's not that serious. Portia is probably shopping or at one of her speakeasies again. She and Florence are always-"

"Getting in messes!" Crawford stood and went to the phone, dialling and frowning at the floor as he waited. He hung up and dialled again, repeating his frustration by slamming the phone down. "The Trevor businesses are both not answering."

Rodney led him back to his chair and handed him his drink. "I'll call some of my police friends."

Several minutes later he sat by his father and told him what he'd learned. Roland Royce had been kidnapped, beaten and dumped outside his office building. Police investigating at the apartment of Mildred Emanuel took him to the hospital. Two men, reputed to work for Karl Hagen were also found on the premises . . . both requiring medical attention as well.

"Royce's secretary described the man that did all the damage and took Roland away originally . . . he uh, fit the description of the man on the news, the one they found in the elevator shaft." Rodney reached out a steadying hand as his father hurled his drink across the office.

"She's in this. I know it. I know it in my bones!" Crawford wailed.

"Their blaming me!" Mildred began to panic and everyone started talking at once.

"No, it's just because it was your apartment." Portia said.

"Trust me," Kitty said, "the people we need to worry about know who we all are."

"Uh, excuse me . . . excuse me!" Florence waited for silence then dropped her bombshell. "They can trace Calvin's car. We've been driving it everywhere since our visit to the gallery and it's outside now."

"What were you at the gallery for?" Mildred piped up.

"That's not important." David said. "Flo's right, that car's a dead giveaway."

The squabble began again and the Portia stuck a couple of fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle.

"We can't keep running away from this, we need to go on the offensive."

"They're gangsters for Christ's sake . . . and police!" David flapped his arms.

"Same thing," Kitty murmured.

"I have an idea." There was a communal groan. "David gets the money from his desk at work and we take it to Hagen . . . problem solved."

"It's still in your desk?" Mildred again.

"I didn't want any part of it." David shook his head and replied to Portia. "I don't know . . . after all the trouble that's occurred that might not be enough. The cops will have Trevor Auction on their watch list. I'll bet Rolly gave me up in a heartbeat as the last person to have the money."

"All the more reason you should be the one to give it back."

Portia said eagerly. "We'll all go. There's safety in numbers - right?"

"That hasn't worked so well up to now." Flo reminded her friend.

"We'll all go together to David's office while he gets the money and then we'll go to Hagen's and return it. A united front." One of Portia's credos.

"It might be Dennis Creighton we have to worry about." Kitty put in. "He's the one Karl will crucify for all the trouble."

"Better him than us." Mildred opined.

"What I meant was we'll have to get past him safely to get to Karl."

Kitty's statement confirmed she was on board and the others all muttered doubtful agreements. Flo ran out and pulled the car into the alley beside Laska's store then joined the rest as they debated their options for the rest of the afternoon. As night approached, the scheme seemed to lose appeal, except for Portia, who swept to the door, and with the nerve of Dick Tracy, waved them forward.

Flo parked the crowded car a block away from David's office and they discussed whether or not he should go alone.

"You saw the police there. We can't go marching in like a platoon for God's sake. I'll go. I can get in through the rear service entrance."

"You hope. " Mildred said,

"Yes, I hope. I shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes."

"Be careful, David." Portia touched his arm.

"Now you worry about that." He took off like a fugitive down the block and around the corner.

David slipped inside the service entrance and stood still, listening and calming his breathing. He sensed nothing so took the stairs two at a time to his office floor. Another cautious peek out of the door and then a dramatic tiptoe run to his office. The money was where he left it and he stuffed it in his jacket then sneaked back the way he came.

"That was quick." Portia said.

"Police must have all been out the front and in Rolly's office where the damage was done." David squeezed back inside the car.

"Not all of them." Flo put the car in gear and sped away from the curb; a police car had turned the corner and was now in pursuit.

"What are you doing? We can't get away!" Mildred shouted, her voice bordering on panic.

"Hang on!" Calvin's car almost came up on two wheels as Flo made a sharp turn into a lane, leaving the police to jam on their car brakes and skid in a circle further down the street.

"Look at you!" Portia cheered, grinning ear to ear.

The grin vanished as they flew out of the lane right into the path of a black sedan, barely missing being clipped. Gunshots rang out and Flo screamed as bullets thudded into Calvin's car.

"Calvin will kill me!"

"I think he's the least of your worries." David watched out the rear window as the big sedan gained on them. Mildred screamed again and Kitty slapped her then hugged her close. Flo drove like a demon possessed, headlights barely finding the quick turns she kept making, trying to lose the chase car.

More shots and the rear window cracked with pieces flying into the rear seat. Mildred screamed again, burying her face in Kitty's arms. Portia felt David's hand squeeze her shoulder.

"Don't go any further out of town, we need crowds and witnesses. Head back into the city." David ordered. "If we can get a busier area they won't be as keen to shoot."

"We can't just keep driving!" Mildred pleaded.

"Well we sure can't stop right now." Portia shouted at her.

"Hold on!" Another warning from Flo and the car skidded into a one-eighty turn and shot back past the sedan before it could recover. They heard a squeal of brakes and a crash as Flo took another impossible turn onto a busy street.

"Wow! Who are you anyway, Flo Hyatt?" Portia was stunned at her friend's surprise skill at the wheel.

"I had an uncle who used to take my cousin and I on some of his uh . . . runs. He taught us both to drive."

"There's Frank's office," Kitty interrupted calmly and Flo pulled to the curb a little further down the street.