Max belted out a laugh. “Oh, my dear Bennett, when are you going to learn that all’s fair in war and in love,” he said, offering Bennett his hand. “Your Lisa has more than proven herself, so don’t be a sore loser. It’s boring.”

Bennett got to her feet and stared at Lisa as she approached.

“Are you all right?” Lisa said, humor dancing in her eyes.

“I’m fine,” Bennett said, putting the sofa back on its feet. “But where in the hell did you learn to fight like that?”

“From me,” Polly said, waving her hand. “I’ve been teaching her for years. She’s frightfully good.”

“Yes, I just discovered that,” Bennett said, her crow’s feet coming into view.

“Which means I can take care of myself,” Lisa said, touching Bennett’s hand.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t still worry.”

“I know, but it’s no different from me worrying about you…or is it?”

Bennett’s frame drooped. “No, I suppose it isn’t. I just love you so much.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Lisa said, giving Bennett’s hand a squeeze.

“Yes, well, now that you ladies have solved your differences, we have things to do,” Max said before turning to the others in the room. “Polly, Angelique, please take Lisa upstairs and find her something more appropriate to wear. Gus, I’ll need you and Fallon to join Bennett, Ruby, and me in the office so we can fill them in on what we’ve come up with.”

“Why are you including them?” Bennett said. “They have nothing to do with this.”

Max kept the straightest face he could. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

***

The silence in the room was as deafening as it was threatening, and all eyes were on Bennett. Her face was flushed. Her nostrils were flaring, and if there’d been a red cape in the room, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind, Bennett would have charged it.

Gus and Fallon had spent over an hour near Napoleon’s estate, and in that hour, Fallon had videotaped the entire property from front to back. She had followed the main road to the house, circled the structure from far and near, and zoomed in on anything she believed pertinent. The fruits of Fallon’s labor were now spread across Max’s desk, dozens of photos printed from the video she’d taken, but Bennett had yet to glimpse at them. She was fixed solely on Max.

“I cannot believe you would put them in danger, Max,” Bennett bellowed. “They are mortals, for God’s sake, and Fallon is a child.”

“I am not a child,” Fallon said, taking a step. “I may not be as old as you, because seriously, who is, so—”

“Fallon, mind your manners,” Gus said, resting his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Bennett cares about us. That’s all.”