Owens watched as Stu Franklin approached a row of slots where one of the old ladies was hitting the SPIN button with a vengeance. Owens turned up the volume on Franklin's mike but could hear only a rustling sound as Franklin leaned over and said something to the woman. Owens fiddled with the volume again, then started to curse.

Isabelle looked up in alarm at the man standing next to her. Her hand froze in midair. From across the aisle, Nikki stopped playing long enough to rummage in her purse for money, as she watched the byplay out of the corner of her eye.

"Lady, listen to me carefully, I don't have time to say this twice. I think I know who you are, and I don't care. Upstairs, there's a bunch of guys watching the two of us. One of them is convinced of who you are because you all screwed up and aren't wearing sweaters. I don't have time to go into detail. Get up, slap my face, and storm out of here and pray to God your friends follow you. Someday when this is all over, take a vacation in the Caymans and look me up. I'll be on the beach. By the way, my name is Stu Franklin. Now, do it and make it look good."

Kathryn was off her stool and ambling around the minute she saw Nikki move toward the exit, where a large group of men were standing as they eyed the casino floor. Her eyes behind her tinted glasses popped when she saw Isabelle wind up like she was going to throw a fastball and sock the guy standing near her smack in the nose. "Shit!" Kathryn muttered. She moved then, as fast as the heavy, ugly-ass shoes covering her feet would allow.

Alexis rounded a corner, took in what was happening to Isabelle, and started to beat on Franklin. She then grabbed Isabelle and dragged her toward the exit as she stroked her back and made soothing comments.

Sensing a commotion and seeing the sudden influx of security, Annie and Myra slid off their stools and started jabbering to one another as they tried to head to the entrance. Yoko was left standing in the middle of the aisle when Harry and his group of martial-arts friends started down the aisle.

"Something's going on," Jack said, as his gaze swept the swarming groups of security personnel.

"No shit!" Harry said. He looked down the aisle and saw the little Japanese lady, who looked like she was going to faint. He squared his shoulders, looked over to his buddies, and started to babble in all eight of his languages. He reached the little lady just as two bruisers who looked like they could move mountains reached for Yoko's arms. In the blink of an eye they were flat on the ground. Harry looked down, and asked, "Are you okay, Mama San?"