Rena's condo, while spacious, was suddenly overcrowded as Lizzie, Ted, and all seven vigilantes moved about. Myra was on the phone with Charles, explaining what was needed to complete the mission. Nikki was talking to Jack, who was growling that she and her Sisters were out of their minds, while Yoko and Harry did a little billing and cooing, the offensive Mama San comment in the holding corral, waiting to be trotted out at another time. Annie was doing her best to track down her rhinestone cowgirl boots. Kathryn was breathless as she spoke to Bert, congratulating him on his appointment as director of the FBI. She did her best to allay his fears where she was concerned by telling him she and the girls knew exactly what they were doing.

Alexis and Isabelle were poring over diagrams on Alexis's laptop from her Red Bag. "As long as we have a rough outline of what we're planning, no one will know the difference. We can make it up as we go along. Do you agree?"

Isabelle laughed. Her thoughts were far away, in the Cayman Islands. She wondered if she'd ever get a chance to make the trip. In all probability, no. But a girl could dream, couldn't she?

In the kitchen, Lizzie and Ted were discussing their departure and waiting for Maggie to tell them what time wheels up would be. Ted looked down at the incoming message, and said, "Two hours and thirty minutes. Looks like we're going to miss all the fun."

"Not really. I'll dictate your story to you on the plane. Trust me, it will be the same as if you were there. I can even tell you who's going to win the exhibition. Harry will feed you the terminology when it's time to write up the match."

Ted nodded. "You're looking kind of. . .I don't know, sad, maybe. Is anything wrong, Lizzie?"

Lizzie forced a smile. "What could be wrong? My world is right side up. I just picked up a client who guaranteed my old-age security, and I met some very nice, interesting people along the way. I have no doubt Marble Rose and her mother will make peace with each other at some point in the very near future. I can brag that I actually won forty dollars in a slot machine. I don't think it gets any better than that, do you?"

Ted shrugged just as Lizzie's cell phone rang. She looked down at the caller ID, and a smile to rival the sun split her features. She turned away to take the call. Ted actually stopped tapping his BlackBerry to try to listen.