Maggie, Ted, Espinosa, Jack, and Harry formed a cordon around Jane Petrie as they led her to the Post van. Maggie gave her a shove, and she sprawled across the seat. “I want a lawyer! Do you hear me, I want a damn lawyer! You kidnapped me! Kidnapping is against the law!”

“And what you did isn’t against the law?” Maggie shot back. “Buckle up and shut up, or I’ll pull out your teeth with my bare hands.”

“You’re terrorists! This is terrorism! You’re holding me against my will,” Petrie screamed shrilly.

“Will someone shut her up so I can concentrate on my driving,” Ted said.

Harry leaned over, and before Petrie could take a deep breath, she was out cold, thanks to Harry’s thumb finding and pressing oh so lightly on just the right spot below her left ear.

“How long will she be out, Harry?” Jack asked.

Harry shrugged. “An hour, maybe a little more.”

“Good, because the next step would have been to put a bag over her head so she doesn’t see where we’re going. I suppose if we went with the bag deal, it might be construed as terrorism. Not that any of us cares.”

“Talk to us, Jack. Tell us everything. And don’t leave anything out,” Ted said.

Jack rattled away nonstop, Harry filling in the blanks.

Jack ended up with, “This chick doesn’t think she did anything wrong. She thinks of herself as an entrepreneur. Survival of the fittest, that kind of thing. The funny thing is, she’s scared, but I don’t think she knows exactly what she’s scared of. My personal opinion is of losing her money. Not that Moss is gunning for her. Or us, for that matter.”

“Hey, I got an incoming text from Dennis, guys,” Maggie said. “Oooh, he locked it down, the ladies are safe now out at Pinewood. And he’s just left the Home Builders Depot. He says the two kids are okay. He’s on his way to Pinewood. We’re lookin’ good, people.” Maggie chortled. “Two down, meaning Petrie and the ladies, one to go, meaning Lincoln Moss.”

“How’s the contest going?” Harry asked.

“We have six serious contenders of which Moss is one. And we have nineteen applicants who can’t even pass the sniff test.”

“Any news on the First Lady’s shindig on Saturday?” Harry asked.

“Not that I know of. I’m sure Myra and Annie will give us an update when we get to the farm. Three days away. I’m actually looking forward to getting all gussied up and dancing the night away. Half of Hollywood’s music people are performing.”

“With whom?” Ted asked sourly.

“Why, Mr. Robinson, with whoever asks me.” Maggie giggled. She just loved jerking Ted’s chain.