"I'm telling you, Verna, this Forrester guy is big trouble." Hart swallowed a large amount of the drink he made from the room bar.

"Is that how you're going to solve it?" Verna wrapped her dressing gown tightly around her and sat.

His look was bleak, and he set the glass down. "You're right. I'm just so- after all we went through with that blasted necklace and now it's haunting us again."

"Is he really the boss of all crime?"

"It seems like it. You know, when I was wandering around today I found another house on the property and there were guys there."

"Guys."

"Yeah, I didn't see them but I heard voices. Three anyway."

"Maybe they work here."

"Maybe but I just had a funny feeling then, and now it's funnier- well not funnier, but you know what I mean."

"Your famous gut?"

"Joke if you like but I have found it very reliable."

"How does he know all this about us?" Verna became frustrated. "I really wish I had a turkey wrap."

"Wish I could get you one, Babe. It isn't just us, and there are only six couples. Either the hurt we put on him was more than any he previously felt or . . ."

"Or what?"

"Not sure . . . something he can learn? Something he needs from us?"

"What could he possibly need from you and me?"

"I don't know, Vern . . . maybe those turkey wraps?" Hart smiled at her worried features.

"Or Thai Bites." She tried a nervous reply.

"What! Never! He'd have to pry them from my cold, stainless steel fork"

****

Billy sat on the patio watching the sky change colours as the sun set. She hadn't spoken to Miller since the session in the library, and he was tiptoeing around breaking into her reverie.

"Sit down, Miller, you're making me nervous."

"Ah, you are awake." He settled on the lounge beside her.

"Awake and damned angry."

"Not at me I hope, this latest development is stressful enough. What the hell can this creep be up to anyway?"

"I've been trying to figure that out. He's a multi-billionaire, Miller, how could that timeshare deal or for that matter what those other couples did possibly be so upsetting to his empire?"

"Maybe because we did it and got away with it. It pissed him right off."

Miller turned on his side and looked at her. "That Gretta woman certainly must have put a dent in his enterprises. Christ did you hear the litany of - of adventures she had?"

"Adventures?"

"Well I couldn't think of a better word. I mean, all over the world and she's a killer, Billy!"

"I saw you ogling her."

"What! No, I mean a real killer. Someone who has killed people. A lot of people!"

"People trying to kill her, Miller. Hired assassins."

"Oh well then, that makes me feel so much better. Shall we have them over for a drink?

"Don't be an ass. You're right, it was the damage she did to Forrester's business that got up his nose. Mind you, considering what she's done, she looks darn good for her age."

"Her age? How do you know how old she is?"

"Women just know, Miller, accept it."

"Did you know how old I was when we met?"

"Twelve."

"Thanks, Billy." He stood and she grabbed his hand.

"A mature twelve though." She smiled and pulled him back down beside her, nuzzling his neck.

****

"Arny, will you settle down. All you've done since dinner is fuss and agitate. What do you think I can do here?"

"Where the hell is the almighty Congress when you need them?"

"This has nothing to do with the Congress, lover, and even if it did there's no way to contact them. The phone signals are all jammed."

"So, MacGyver something! Beer cans and bed springs, I dunno!"

"Lover," she wrapped her arms around his neck and joined foreheads, "if I could do something like that I would, but really, beer cans and bed springs?"

Arny sagged and let her lead him to the bed. "Sit and relax, Arny, all is not lost."

"Yeah? You found something?"

"No but we have five other, apparently very resourceful, couples on our team so look on the bright side."

"Team? This isn't capture the flag, Gretta. This guy has an agenda and it's one that doesn't look good for any of us."

She put her arms around him and whispered in his ear. "I know, that's why in a few minutes when the sun is right down I'm going exploring."

"Huh? What? Gretta . . ."

"Shhh, relax, lover, I'm just going to look around."

"You showed me maps, what do you have to look at!"

"Arny, have a warm bath. I won't be long, and remember, the video is blocked but the audio isn't."

****

Forrester sat in his electronics room sipping his cognac and watching the small video screens. Two were blank and he credited that to the intelligence of the two women, Jessica Stroud and Gretta Lawrence. It would have been natural for them to police the villas under the circumstances. Problem was, the audio was attached to the cameras and now it was muffled by the covering.

He was surprised to find only mild concern among the others. Yes there had been some worried remarks but on the whole they didn't show the fear he had expected. He thought there would be arguments. Fractures in the relationships. The Lawrence woman needed watching, he thought, as suddenly the muffled voices became more so.

It certainly made for an interesting few days ahead, he thought, switching off the videos and finishing his drink.

Very interesting.

****

With Arny safely soaking in the tub, Gretta unpacked some things from her shoulder bag that she had kept with her at all times. Travelling on Congress business she had no difficulties transporting certain items; travelling personally was quite different.

From under the liner of the bag she removed several plastic components, assembling them into a very sophisticated, hi-tech plastic gun. The two plastic bullets were loaded in and she tucked it into her waistband. The other 3D printed item was a replica of her UK Special Air Service Fairburn-Sykes knife. That also went into her waistband.

Dark shirt. Dark pants and a toque to cover her hair, Gretta slipped out of the villa and moved silently and quickly across the grounds.

****

Malcolm looked at the material he planned to leave with his guests one last time, before putting it in the envelopes. No direct threats; everything just implied. He believed the women to be more vulnerable to the implications in the material. The Scott woman would be first, but he had a phone call in mind for her.