“Then perhaps I’ll shoot first,” said Virtue, a tiny section of her mind wondering how Cain would handle the situation and deciding he wouldn’t have gotten into it in the first place. “And then who will be left to take care of your husband?”

“There is that to consider,” agreed the old woman regretfully. “We’re really getting a little old for this.”

“Have you done it often?”

“Twelve times,” she said, not without a touch of pride. “People always expect assassins to look like they do on the videos—mean and powerful. We’ve made quite a substantial living from it.” She lowered her voice confidentially. “Black Orpheus even wanted to write us up, but we explained that the only thing we really had on our side was the element of surprise, and that publicity could drive us out of business.” She smiled. “He respected our wishes—but then, he was always a gentleman.”

The old man tried to roll over, moaned in agony, and passed out.

“All right, my dear,” said the old woman with a sigh. “You get your truce. I really must find a doctor.”

“Not quite so fast,” said Virtue. “Who’s the third member of your team?”

“I can’t jeopardize his life by telling you that,” she said primly. “Besides, if he doesn’t kill you, I’ll have to come after you again once I get Henry to a doctor.”

Virtue considered the problem, then nodded in agreement.

“All right—we’ve got a truce.”

“Then please put your weapon away,” said the old woman.

Virtue smiled. “You first.”

“I’m counting on your being an honorable woman,” said the old woman, opening the top of her basket and tossing her gun into it.

Virtue tucked her pistol back into her belt and quickly disarmed the old man. “If I were you,” she said. “I’d get Henry to the house and stay there. The next time I see you I’ll have to kill you.”

“Help me move him into the shade, won’t you?” said the woman, indicating a tree some twenty feet away. “It may take me some time to find a doctor and bring him back out here, and I don’t want to leave poor Henry out in the sun.”

“You’re kidding, right?” said Virtue unbelievingly.

“If we leave him here, he may die. He’s a very old man.”

“He’s a very old man who just tried to kill me.”

“That was business,” said the old woman. “And as you can see, he’s quite unable to present any threat to you in his present condition.”

Virtue shrugged and nodded her head, struck by the lunacy of helping one of her potential murderers drag another of them to shelter. “All right—but leave your basket on the ground.”

“Certainly.” said the old woman, placing the basket down.