Folding her hands in front of her to make sure they were visible to the security detail outside the door, she approached the senator’s table. She was careful to stand a good foot and a half away. “Good evening, Senator Wyne, or should I say, good evening Douglas Cosmo Rainford, III? My party over there,” she said, pointing to her table, “wondered if you would like to join us for an espresso. That would be your former ‘wives,’ Senator. And even Martina Crystal, the one that got away, is here. People are watching, so I suggest that you smile, Senator, as if I just said something witty. It is witty, don’t you think? Imagine the field day the Post will have with this. Or, if you don’t care for that scenario, you could invite us to your palatial digs at the Watergate. We’d love to have an espresso there with you. In addition, Senator, be aware that we know who you were dining with this evening; Kollar, better known as Pappy, Havapopulas, and his father Kyros. What’s it going to be?”

Senator Wyne placed his spoon carefully in his dessert bowl, turned, and looked at the long table full of nuns and the two priests. The women waved and smiled. Even from this distance, Slick thought she could see dollar signs flashing in the ex-wives’ eyes. Joey and Hawkins nodded as both made sloppy signs of the cross.

Struggling with his voice, the senator finally was able to manage, “I’d be honored if you and your…ah, fellow sisters would join me at my home for…espresso.”

“Good choice, Dougie. Call your security detail in here and tell them we will be following you back to your home. Make sure you sound jovial and believable. On the ride home you can think about all of this. Any funny stuff, and you’ll be seeing and reading about your exciting double life in all the papers tomorrow. Are we clear?”

“Crystal, Sister.”

The two old men shuffled down the street, their heads bowed. It was totally dark, the June evening warm, almost sultry.

“That was a bit nerve-wracking,” Kyros said. “We need to get you back to the mountain, son.”

“Not yet. I still have something to do. Pop, did you think there was anything peculiar about what just happened?”

Kyros sounded perplexed when he responded. “Peculiar, how?”

An ambulance, its siren screaming, roared down Connecticut Avenue, three patrol cars right behind, their red-and-blue lights flashing. Instinctively, Pappy slammed himself against a doorway. His father looked at him, his eyes sad. It was time to go back to the mountain.