Jessica couldn't believe her bad luck. Parked outside Jeff's house was Ralph's car and it was empty, which meant Ralph or someone was inside with Jeff. She drove around the corner and parked behind a large van and then with sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled low over her forehead, she walked casually back to his street.

Inside, Jeff sat at his kitchen table with his hands taped together. Across from him, Orly, looking like something from an ancient tomb, pointed a gun at his head, held sideways like the current trend in Hollywood gang films. Ralph leaned against the sink and sipped from a bottle of beer that Jeff had just opened when they barged in.

"No point playin' dumb, Jeffy, I know you know Jessica and I'm suspicious that the two of you are tryin' to scam ole Ralphy."

"Lemme work him over, boss."

"What? What did you say? What did he say?"

Jeff shrugged.

"I said lemme work 'im over."

"Christ, Orly, it sounds like mu-mu-mu-muh-muh through that bandage. Speak up or shut up." Orly chose the latter-miffed.

"Okay, so Jeffy, the money. What happened to my money?"

Jeff just stared blankly at him. Ralph finished the beer and studied the empty. Jeff couldn't tell if what was happening was real or some kind of practical joke. Here he was, tied up in his own kitchen by a couple of clowns bandaged like something out of the road runner cartoons, and seriously threatened with, if not getting shot, at least a nasty beating.

Ralph cracked the bottle lightly on his head and he barked a painful response.

"My money, Jeffy. You know, the package you picked up at the hotel?"

"I don't have any package of money."

Ralph laid the bottle on his shoulder. "But you did pick one up from the hotel, right?"

He hesitated too long and he knew it was no use lying. The bottle cracked down on his collarbone and he groaned and sagged to one side.

"I said, right?"

"Yes. Yes, I picked up a package, but I didn't know what was in it 'till now."

"Really? Hear that, Orly. Jeffy didn't know the package contained money. Half a million dollars, pal." The bottle hit his collarbone again.

"Hold it! Jesus, I told you I picked it up, okay? I don't have it any more." The half million remark was a trap and Jeff knew enough not to bite.

"So where is it?"

"Some guy named Carver collected it, much the same way you're trying to now."

Ralph straightened up in surprise. Carver? What the hell's going on? "Wadda ya mean Carver collected it?"

"He came and took it off me the same way as this, with a gun." He nodded at Orly who tried a menacing look between the strips of gauze but instead resembled a peeping Tom looking through a blind.

"When was this?" Ralph pointed the bottle at him.

"Day before yesterday."

Outside the front door, with her ear to the mail slot, Jessica cheered silently for Jeff's responses. The guy was stand up after all and she debated whether or not to cut him in. First, of course, he had to get out of this predicament with Ralph.

"This Carver guy, describe him." Jeff did, accurately and he could tell that Ralph was really confused about the situation. "Did he say anything?"

"Yeah, he said gimme the package or I'll blow your head off." The bottle cracked him again.

"Smart bastard. I meant did he say anything else?"

"Only that I'd better keep my mouth shut, which of course is too late."

Ralph set the bottle on the counter and nodded to Orly to lower the gun. "I'm gonna give you benefit here, Jeffy and I'm gonna get hold of Carver. If you've been runnin' me around, pal, you will be one sorry mother." He slapped Orly on the shoulder as he left; causing the man to cringed and grunt in pain.

"There's some aspirin in the cupboard . . . just so it won't be a total waste." Jeff offered.

Orly snarled something and whacked him with the barrel of the gun. Big mouth, he thought as they both left, slamming the door.

Shortly after they left, Jessica hurried in and helped him get the tape off his hands then cleaned the gash on his forehead and put a gauze patch on it.

"How come you're here? Did they see you? They just left."

"I know, I was outside the door while they- sorry, Jeff. No, they didn't see me. I'm so sorry, Jeff. I don't know how they found you; I swear it wasn't through me. Don't forget," she added afterwards. "I had a name to work with when I was looking for you. All anyone else knew was the name you gave Carver and trust me, he wouldn't give Ralph the time of day."

He gave her a patient look and stopped short of disagreeing.

"Well, I hope I've stalled for a while anyway."

"Giving them Carver was a stroke of genius."

"Carver was the only name I could think of."

"Gee, I thought I made a better impression than that."

He frowned. "You know what I mean. Did you see them, the bandages and all? What the hell happened to them anyway?"

"I think Carver decorated Ralph but Orly was my doing." She explained what had happened at her house and why she had decided to try and shift the blame for the missing money to give her time to make a plan

Jeff got some water and took a couple of the aspirin he'd offered Orly. "Now what?"

"There's eight hundred thousand in that package, Jeff, it could take two people a long way away . . . someplace warm and safe." She examined her hands innocently.

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at her as if she was off. "You think you can hide somewhere safe with that much mob money?"

"I can try."

"Not good enough, Jessica. I don't see myself flitting around the world like some James Bond type, dodging baddies even if I did have a beautiful woman on my arm."

Her head came up at his statement and she found his eyes searching her face for a reaction. "Was that a compliment or just a segment of your analogy?"

"Definitely a compliment . . . and it wasn't an analogy, it was a fantasy."

Jessica blushed and for the first time she felt completely at a loss. Here was this guy she'd used and abused, a guy who'd stuck out his neck for her and taken a beating as a result, making an actual pass- and in his kitchen! She walked over to where he stood and speared him with her laser intense eyes.

"It doesn't have to be a fantasy, Jeff." The voice resonated up and down his spine and he licked his lips and blinked. "Or, it can be something fantastic." Her hand came up and burned on his cheek and he sagged against the counter as she pressed against him, a soft warm mouth enveloping his. The kiss was brief but Jeff couldn't shake the feeling that their lips were still engaged and he nervously wiped his with his fingers to make sure.

"What do you say?"

"Under-" His voice cracked. "Under any other circumstances I think I would jump at the chance. This- this is just a little out of my league. Not only that, you're young enough to be my daughter."

She backed away, her blush returning only this time from embarrassment. Not many men ever turned down Jessica Stroud after being in her wheelhouse. They both stood awkwardly for a few minutes, casting about for a new approach and failing. Finally Jeff made a move, announcing that he would get the money and she could do as she pleased.

"Last chance, Jeff, and age is irrelevant," she said, accepting the bundle.

"That's me, Last Chance Jeff," he smiled. Good luck, Jessica and be careful." He saw her out the door quickly to hide the frustration and desire he felt to grab her back and hold her close.