"The person you wanted to see. Please, I have a table over here." When they arrived Lizzie said, "This is my assistant," deliberately not mentioning Ted's name. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No. Thank you for asking. I'd like to get right to business."

"Do you think this location is a wise choice?" Lizzie asked quietly.

"Probably not. There are eyes and ears everywhere in this town. One place is as good as any other, I guess. That's just my opinion, of course. I wasn't sure if they would send someone. You're from. . ."

Lizzie interrupted her. "In a manner of speaking."

The dowager looked around. "Yes, yes, I understand."

Lizzie sized up the older woman within seconds. Rich but understated. Well groomed, pampered. Several face-lifts. One artificial hairpiece that was almost undetectable. Thin. She was probably into Pilates. She looked the type.

"Are you a. . .?"

Lizzie interrupted again, and said, "Yes." She looked over at Ted, who had his cell phone in his hand. He mumbled something that sounded like sorry, as he turned away to take his fake call. Lizzie knew that he was actually taking a picture of Ms. Preston.

Beatrice-with-eight-other-names Preston was nervous. Suddenly her head snapped back, and she said, "I see you're almost finished with your drinks. I've changed my mind about staying here. My car and driver are outside circling. I'll call him to meet us at the entrance, and we can talk in the car if that's all right with you."

Lizzie shrugged, finished her drink with one swallow, then slipped on the gold suede jacket as Beatrice Preston made her phone call. Ted set his beer bottle back on the napkin and got up. Neither looked surprised at the change in plans.

Beatrice moved quickly as she led the way through the maze of people and rows of machines and tables. "They're everywhere. They don't look like security. See that person with the dreadlocks? He's security."

"How do you know that?" Lizzie asked as she trailed alongside the older woman.

"I see things. They know you're here. Now they know you're with me. We're already on video. Right now they're running facial recognition checks on the two of you. They already know who I am. Meeting here was a mistake. I should have known better," Beatrice Preston said fretfully. "I'm sorry, I'm usually more in control. This place, these people, they unnerve me."