"All of the time," Maggie said.

The huge oak door of the main house opened wide, and the little group barreled through. Myra and Annie held out fluffy yellow towels as Nikki led the little parade to the back end of the house, where dry clothes waited for all of them.

Twenty minutes later they were assembled in the huge family room, a roaring fire crackling in the fieldstone fireplace. Everyone started talking at once.

"Why the command performance?"

"What was going on?"

"Did anyone see the news?"

"What is the press saying?"

"What's the big secret about this 'command performance'?"

Charles, Myra, and Annie simply smiled as they handed out yellow slickers for a walk across the compound to the huge dining room, where a celebratory dinner awaited them.

Maggie's eyes were full of questions for the others, who simply shrugged, which meant that they knew as much as the guests.

Jack and Nikki were holding hands, as were Harry and Yoko. Kathryn simply looked lost, her brashness and sharp tongue buried somewhere.

Jack let go of Nikki's hand and walked over to where the former truck driver stood next to Isabelle. "He's okay, Kathryn. Trust me. It was all a plan. Bert knows that. It had to go down the way it did, so Bert would react just the way he did. He's fine, and he'll be calling you in short order. I guarantee it."

Thinking he had allayed Kathryn's fears and wanting to prove to Harry he really had it under control, he offered up a smirk in Harry's direction. Jack turned when he heard Kathryn call his name. He pivoted on one foot, and in the time it took his heart to beat twice, he had sailed through the air and landed hard on his butt. He saw stars, heard bells, and felt like he was going to toss his cookies. "What the hell. . .?"

"That's for not telling me first. . .you. . .you. . .scoundrel!"

Scoundrel? Jack's mind raced as he grappled with the pain in his rear end. "I wanted to tell you, but Harry said not to." He knew he could die on the spot for such blasphemy, but Yoko stepped forward before Kathryn could lay hands on her beloved.

"Enough of this boyish tomfoolery," she said, using one of Myra's pet phrases.

"She's right," Charles said. "We'll discuss all of this after dinner. Right now I want everyone to put on their festive faces, don your slickers for this momentous moment in time. Follow me," he said, buttoning up his slicker.

Jack was the first one through the door because he didn't want either Kathryn, Yoko, or Harry anywhere near him. Nikki made soothing sounds as she ran after him.

Jack stumbled when he heard Yoko say, "No, darling Harry, you will not kill Jack. I will do it for you."

"Aw, shit!" Jack groaned.

Chapter 5