“Okay,” Durell said, standing straight and rubbing his hands together with relish. “Here’s what I’ve found.”

Before he could continue, the front door slammed shut in the distance hard enough not only to be heard but also to rattle Cal’s espresso cup in its saucer on his desk. The two men shared a look. “What the hell?” Cal questioned.

“Somebody wants us to know they are home,” Durell said. He looked at his watch. It was almost four-thirty. “Must be one of the nurses who have had a bad day.”

No sooner had the words escaped Durell’s lips than Veena and Samira came through the library door. Both started talking at once.

“Hey!” Cal called out, motioning with both hands for them to calm down. “One at a time, and this better be important. You’ve just interrupted Durell.”

Veena and Samira exchanged glances. Veena spoke. “There’s a possible problem at the Queen Victoria—”

“A possible problem?” Cal questioned, interrupting her.

Veena nodded excitedly.

“Then I think you should show some consideration. Durell was speaking.”

“We can go over this later,” Durell said, gathering up the car photos.

Cal grabbed his wrist to restrain him and made eye contact. “No, continue! They can wait.”

“Are you sure?” Durell said, leaning over to speak directly in Cal’s ear. “I thought this escape stuff was privileged information.”

“It’s okay. If Armageddon arrives, I want them with us anyway. Let them hear. They could help.”

Durell flashed a thumbs-up sign and stood back up.

“Listen up,” Cal said. “Durell has been working on what is called a contingency plan for a worst-case scenario. But it’s privileged information. No telling the others.”

Their curiosity piqued, the women crowded in against the table, looking at the maps.

“I hope you realize that including them will add a new level of complexity to get us all hooked up if and when the plan is activated,” Durell told Cal.

“You can work that out at a later date,” Cal said. “Let’s hear the pitch!”

Durell went back to setting out the photos of the vehicles. While he did so, he explained to the women that he’d come up with an idea of how to get out of the country if the need arose.

Veena and Samira exchanged a nervous stare. This was a subject related to what they had come to talk about.

“First, these are a few potential vehicles to buy and store in that fortress garage we have on the property. The idea would be to have it fueled, packed, and ready to go. I believe it should be four-wheel drive because the roads on my proposed route are not in the best of shape.”

“What’s the route you are recommending?” Cal asked.