"He's also very rich, and he got that way by playing poker. These days he plays just to get enough money to buy water that he trucks in from Arizona to water all that grass. The casinos go crazy when he comes to town. That might be more than you need to know, but Charles did say I was to apprise you of any and all details. Just to be certain we're all on the same page, we will be leaving one of these vans for you. There are assorted decals in the back along with four different license plates."

Then they were alone staring at one another.

"I knew it! Just crackers and cheese and bottled water," Kathryn said.

"Are we just supposed to sit here and wait?" Alexis grumbled.

"This is the most depressing place we've ever been in," Isabelle said.

Nikki stared at Annie, and said, "Do not even think about suggesting we play word games. This place gives me the creeps. I can't believe Charles had us dumped here with no plan of action."

"I'm sure Charles has his reasons, dear. As you know, and as you point out to us on a regular basis, the devil is in the details."

Nikki flounced over to where there stood a long line of hard blue plastic chairs stacked up against the wall. She yanked at one and sat down. "Will someone please open the door so we can get some fresh air in here before we all die of suffocation?"

Yoko ran to the door and opened it. She hated it, absolutely hated it, when any of the Sisters was unhappy. Not that she was exactly happy, she wasn't. But they'd always worked together to overcome discomfort. She turned around when Annie started to bellow.

"Little Fish! Ladies, we are slipping, and that is not a good thing! Am I the only one who knows who our neighbor is? Charles told us before we left about a man Rena told Lizzie about in case we. . .uh. . .needed help. Rena even gave Lizzie his phone number."

The women looked at Annie as though she'd sprouted a second head, each of them running Charles's last words over in her mind.

"Annie's right. We are slipping. How did that get by us?" Kathryn demanded.

No one answered.

Nikki was off the chair a moment later. "I hear a car. A car means we have company. Scatter, ladies!"

"Myra and I will stay here, dear. Go, hurry, and stay out of sight."

"Is the car stopping?" someone shouted.

"Yes, and whoever it is knows we're here since the door is wide-open. It's a man, and he's walking up to the door. Everyone relax, I can handle this," Annie said, confidence ringing in her voice.

Annie walked to the door and stood in the center, her eyes bright and curious. Myra stood to her side, both hands on her pearls.