Kathryn Lucas drove the white van, with Nikki riding shotgun and the other women sitting secure and buckled up in the rows of seats in the back. A mile down the road and past Little Fish's spread, she pulled over to the side of the road. The girls hopped out and removed the Red Cross decal and license plate. The new decal, a decorative bouquet of brilliant-colored balloons, graced each side of the van. Matching three-inch letters raced across the top of the balloons and spelled out the words THE PARTY STORE. The current license plate was replaced with an Arizona plate. "Make sure the paperwork matches the plate," Kathryn said as she slipped behind the wheel again.

"Where are we going? I think we'll all feel better if we have a destination in mind," Myra said.

Nikki turned around and said, "I think until Charles locates a nest for us, we should check out the Babylon. All we have to do is put on our padding, our serviceable shoes and wigs, and hit the ground running. We'll park somewhere on the Strip, get out and, one by one, walk up to the Babylon. We can all use the exercise. We'll meet back at the van at a designated time. If anyone has a better idea, let's hear it."

Alexis spoke for the others when she said she agreed. She immediately started to dig into her Red Bag.

Fifteen minutes into their drive, Kathryn broke into their chatter. "I can't be sure, but I think we picked up a tail. Either that, or whoever is driving that big SUV is just out for a joyride."

"Oh, it's probably that Fish person," Annie said airily as she plopped a Shirley Temple wig on her head and gave it a good tug. "I think you should pull over, pretend you're having engine problems, and when he stops, we take him out."

Myra's hands flew to her pearls, and she grasped at them like a lifeline.

"Good idea," Yoko, who now looked like a dumpy little Chinese lady with short black hair and bangs, said. She looked over the top of her granny glasses and winked at Annie.

Kathryn yanked at a baseball cap that said she was an Atlanta Braves fan. She appeared to be twenty pounds heavier, almost as dumpy-looking as Yoko. "Okay, let's do it!" For five seconds the van swerved, then swerved again, before it slid to the side of the blistering road. She said, "That was a tire-blowout simulation. How'd I do?"

"Just perfect," Annie said, as though she were an expert on driving an obstacle course.

"Okay, I'm going to be looking at the right-front tire. Yoko, Nikki, get out and start waving your arms all around. Let's see if the SUV stops to help three women."

"What if there are more than three people in that SUV?" Myra asked anxiously.