"Lizzie, what's our bottom line here? What exactly is going on? I'm usually pretty quick on the uptake, but I seem to be out in left field on what exactly is happening. I thought we came here to spring Marble Rose, which you did, and to make the casino assume liability, which you did. Then all of a sudden there is dirty work afoot, but I'm not clear on what it is. Suddenly the owner of the Babylon is here to attend the meeting we're about to have. The NGC is up to its eyeballs and is willing to pony up beaucoup bucks to have the vigilantes do something. A martial-arts exhibition is arranged on the fly, and suddenly Harry and Jack are en route but only after Elias Cummings, the outgoing director of the FBI, and Judge Cornelia Easter arrive here to get married. Helloooo.

"The Post is stirring up some kind of wasps' nest that's driven the presidential election to page three. Something I never would have believed could happen. Washington is the land of politics. By the way, Martine Connor is experiencing cash flow problems as they approach the finish line. She's in desperate straits."

Lizzie frowned. "How desperate?"

"Maggie said there's no money for the television blitz they planned for the last three weeks of the campaign. On Annie's orders, she's taking IOUs for full-page ad space every single day, and she's got Joe doing below-the-fold coverage. Millions, to answer your question."

"We can deal with that after we finish up today. Anything else?"

"Bert Navarro is on his way here. Seems the official explanation is that Elias Cummings wants him to be his best man. Maggie thinks otherwise. Hell, I think otherwise. So that makes a rather long list of Washingtonians who are in town. If you're counting, which I am, it's Cummings, Judge Easter, Jack, Harry, Bert, you, me, and—of course—all seven vigilantes. All heavy hitters except me. What are you all going to do, and why exactly are you doing it, whatever the hell it is?" Ted felt so frustrated he wanted to bang his head on the kitchen wall.

Lizzie sauntered over to the counter and hoisted herself onto one of the stools. Yep, she was wearing panties. Her legs were so long her feet rested on the floor. Ted tried not to look at the shimmering thighs. He swore to Maggie that Lizzie's thighs sparkled. Maggie responded by saying there was a sparkly something or other that came in a spray can that women sprayed on themselves. He rolled his eyes at this information. Who knew?