Yoko laughed. “No you wouldn’t. First of all, you would never have let what happened to Mrs. Moss happen to you. Nor would I. Therein lies the difference. Sad to say, some women just do not have it in them to fight back. I could understand if there were children involved, but the Mosses had no children. Why didn’t she just walk out and ask for help?”

“Because of who she’s married to. I assume she thought, because he probably drilled it into her head, that she couldn’t run without being caught because he would find her with all his contacts and who he is. Fear is a terrible thing, Yoko.”

“It’s also a powerful motivator to get out from under. Maybe we’ll never know.”

“Where is everyone?” Nikki said, looking around the kitchen. “Look outside, Yoko. Are they on the terrace?”

Yoko laughed. “I see my dear sweet husband sitting next to your dear sweet husband. I guess they got a few hours’ sleep. They appear to be drinking lemonade. Shall we join them and let them wait on us hand and foot?”

Nikki giggled. “Absolutely!”

The dogs appeared out of nowhere and bounded up the steps to the terrace, where they stopped and waited, panting, for belly tickles and treats. Behind them were Myra, Annie, and their two new guests, Amalie Moss and Rosalee Muno.

“We were just walking around the property,” Myra said. “Let me introduce you to our new guests.” Heads nodded, hands were shaken, and everyone sat down while Jack poured lemonade into frosty glasses. “We’re just going to socialize for the moment until all the others get here. We don’t want our guests to have to repeat their story over and over again. How is our . . . um . . . other guest doing?”

Nikki laughed out loud. “She wants a lawyer. She called us terrorists. If there’s a way to dig herself out of that cell, she’ll probably find it.”

“Is that the young woman who is responsible for putting my picture in that tabloid?” Amalie Moss asked. Everyone at the table nodded. The sudden silence was interrupted by the arrival of Alexis and Isabelle, followed by Ted, Maggie, Dennis, and Espinosa.

“Where is Abner?” Jack said, stretching his neck to see past a flowering hibiscus on the terrace.

“Abner is in his lair chasing down Mr. Moss’s money trail. He said he’s onto something and will be out later and wanted to know what was for dinner. Charles said he’s making Cornish game hens with chestnut dressing. He also said we are dining out here on the terrace by candlelight,” Annie said.

The gang clapped their hands in approval, even their two new guests.

Myra disappeared into the house, followed by Annie, to fetch more lemonade and some sweet apple tea. Charles was already at the stove along with Fergus, starting preparations for their dinner.