Ann had been dispatched to the hospital in an ambulance, having lost consciousness from the pain. The staff of mercenaries had been paid off and dismissed from their duties. Robert, Kenann, and Danny Mac now found themselves sitting on the stairs, feeling a little shell-shocked. They had hardly regained their wits when from behind them came a sultry voice.
“Don’t move, darlin’. I would hate to put a hole in that gorgeous body of yours.”
Danny Mac and Kenann whirled around to find Bridget on the stairs above them, pointing a pistol at Robert’s back.
Danny Mac laughed. “Stand down, Soldier. He is on our side.”
Robert turned his head slightly and smiled. “Really, I am.”
Bridget lowered the weapon, but only slightly, and looked at Danny Mac. “What are you, the Pied Piper of bad guys now?”
Kenann laughed, knowing she was referring to the change Danny Mac had wrought in Angelo. “No, it’s more like the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“Oh, I see,” Bridget replied. “Had some defection among the ranks, huh?”
Danny Mac responded, “You could say that.”
Bridget sat on the stairs, too, but out of reach of Robert, just in case. This did not go unnoticed by him. “I did a brief recon and couldn’t find anyone else except you three. What happened here?”
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Robert was the first to say, “We have absolutely no idea.”
Danny Mac added, “One minute she had the gun aimed right between my eyes, the next she was doubled over in pain.” He paused, then said, “I would imagine I was saved by God.”
Bridget slapped her leg and rose. “Well, whatever it was, it worked. What do you say we get out of here? Anybody got wheels?”
Robert asked, “Where are we going?”
Bridget smiled her dazzling smile. “Why, to join the Merry Band of Misfits, of course.”
* * * *
Robert stepped into the foyer of Mrs. Gage’s villa, assessing the surroundings for threats. Old habits. He marveled once again at the comradery of these people. He turned to look back toward Danny Mac and was stunned. “Angelo?”
“Robert?”
Everyone stopped at this. Mrs. Gage walked between the men, turning to each of them a look of pure steel in her eyes. “Does someone want to explain?”
Angelo shook his head as if to clear it. “Robert and I worked together for a few years.” He focused his attention on him. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I could ask you the same question, my friend.” They eyed each other like competing alpha dogs.
“Long story,” Angelo finally said. “Who are you working for?”
“I was assigned to that she-devil—well, actually sold out to her. I refused the assignment but she was not to be denied. They found my kid and, well, you can guess the rest.”
“Who assigned you?” Mrs. Gage still held the reigns of the interrogation.
“Pierre.”
Angelo interjected, “You left his team before Alexandria?”
“Yeah. What happened there? I heard someone killed him.”
No one moved or blinked an eye.
Mrs. Gage asked, “You’ve had no contact with the Order since going with Ann?”
“No, that was part of the deal. I was to keep her safe until they were ready for her. But she called all the shots. I was her lapdog. I’d have killed her myself if it hadn’t been for my kid.”
Mrs. Gage turned to Andy and CJ. “Take him with you. Find and secure the child. CJ, you know how to activate my people in the States.” She turned to Robert. “Assuming he is in the States?”
Robert nodded, stunned that these people should jump to help him so easily.
Mrs. Gage saw it in his eyes—the gratitude. She smiled. “Go on now. First things first.”
Robert nodded and joined the growing ranks of undying devotion to this little spitfire of a woman.
At that moment, Rough trotted down the stairs from keeping vigil over Adam. He ran to Kenann and leaned into her as she ruffled his fur and kissed his face. When she finished, to everyone’s amazement, Rough went to Robert, sat down, and held out a paw in greeting.
“Sorry, buddy, all out of treats.” Robert saw the looks and explained. “I was keeping tabs on you as a stage hand. Me and my little buddy here had an arrangement.” He bent down and rubbed Rough’s ears as he had done many times before.
This, more than anything, solidified their acceptance of Robert. Rough was never wrong.
When the three men left, Mrs. Gage indicated with her hand that they should move into the sitting room. Carter was so accustomed by this point that he didn’t give her leadership a second thought.
Adam had fallen into an exhausted sleep where he remained. Mrs. Gage, with the unspoken agreement of the others, did not tell Kenann he was there. She had enough shocks to deal with at the moment. One thing at a time.
She continued as soon as everyone had settled. “We have to get to Ann. Make sure she doesn’t talk. Bridget?” She turned to her friend.
“On it. Doting sister and medical power of attorney at your service. Well, that and an injection of valium if she wakes up too soon.”
“I knew I could count on you.” They smiled at each other, remembering past adventures. Bridget left the group. Mrs. Gage asked Danny Mac and Kenann to flesh out the picture of what occurred.
When they finished, Mrs. Gage said, “We have been given a possible gift. Maybe a way into the inner circle. Let’s not waste it. We don’t know who Ann’s guests will be tomorrow, but we have to be prepared that one of them is Magda. Who of our group was not seen by her at the party?”
CJ spoke up. “Well, for sure Leticia and myself. We were here with Blade.”
Mrs. Gage grinned at him. “Think you can pull off a butler?”
CJ cringed. “If I have to.”
She turned to Leticia. “Since the original staff has been dismissed, can I prevail upon you to be the cook?”
Leticia nodded.
“We have no idea what Ann has told these people who are coming so, Danny Mac, we will get you and Kenann back over there with a believable cover story of Ann’s absence. Robert should lend some credence to whatever story we develop.”
Jake said, “Then what?”
“Then we see what tomorrow brings. But thinking on their feet is what these two kids do best.” She winked at Danny Mac and Kenann, who smiled at each other.