“I’m afraid you didn’t have any choice,” Warren said. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now how about some hoops? You still want to run?”

“I think I need it more now than I did before,” Jack said. He got up on wobbly legs. “I can’t promise how effective I’ll be. I feel shell-shocked even though no shells have gone off.”

Warren preceded Jack out into the hall carrying the guns. Jack locked his door and caught up to him.

“Thanks for being there when I needed you,” Jack said. “Since you’ve done it before, I think it’s my turn next.” Warren laughed in spite of himself. “That’ll be the day!”

Jack rang Laurie’s bell and then turned to wave hello to Debra Engler. The nosy neighbor responded by slamming her door, which was a feat since it had only been open by slightly more than an inch. Jack turned back to Laurie’s and heard the little click that sounded when Laurie opened her peephole. Jack waved. Then he heard all the locks being opened.

Laurie was in a buoyant mood despite the scene she’d had with Paul. She gave Jack an enthusiastic hug before disappearing into her bedroom for her watch and jewelry. Tom-2 rubbed affectionately against Jack’s leg. Jack bent down to pet the cat.

“I trust you came in a cab like you promised,” Laurie called out from the other room.

“No, I didn’t,” Jack answered.

Laurie’s head appeared around the corner. She eyed Jack accusatively. “But you promised,” she said.

“Warren brought me,” Jack said. “And I hope you don’t mind, I invited him to eat with us.”

“Of course not,” Laurie said. “Is Natalie coming, too?”

“No, just Warren,” Jack said. “In fact, to be honest, he kinda invited himself. You see, I ran into a rather serious inconvenience this afternoon right after I spoke with you on the phone.”

“What happened?” Laurie questioned. She came out from her bedroom. Her voice reflected her sudden concern. Knowing Jack as well as she did, she sensed that whatever happened was a lot more than an inconvenience.

“In Warren’s vernacular, I was almost iced by the People’s Aryan Army,” Jack said.

Laurie’s lower jaw dropped. “What on earth are you talking about?”

Jack gave Laurie a quick rundown of the events that took place in his apartment. When he described the guns, and Warren’s timely arrival, she clamped a hand over her mouth.

“My God,” she said. “What in heaven’s name could have prompted such an ambush. I mean, I was the one who posted Brad Cassidy, if that was somehow involved. He’s the only connection I know of with this People’s Aryan Army.”