Catch As Cat Can

                Liberally lubricated by the open bar, the conversation flowed, the volume rising with the courses of wine attending dinner. The nymph and satyrs in the fountain, having sampled drinks offered them by admirers, became friskier than intended, the satyrs most particularly. It wouldn't be long before they took their mythology literally.

                After dinner, liqueurs were served along with a staggering array of desserts, fruits, cheeses, and sherbets.

                Sated, the guests sat, eyes glazed with happiness.

                As the tables were cleared, Sean stood up."Excuse me, folks, I'm going outside for a smoke."

                "I didn't know you smoked." Lottie stood up, too.

                "I didn't until now. They can say what they want about nicotine, it really does soothe the nerves." He smiled wanly.

                "I guess a little puff can't hurt you too much." Lottie smiled indulgently.

                Other people filtered out. Thomas, chest pocket filled with divine Cuban cigars, trailed men behind him. They resembled penguins following the Big Penguin.

                Lottie ducked off into the lathes' room before joining the smokers. Harry was in there brushing her teeth.

                "Harry, I can't believe anyone is that obsessed with their teeth." Lottie turned up her nose in disgust.

                Harry rinsed out her mouth."Those nuts on the chocolate cake got stuck in my teeth. It drives me crazy."

                "H-mmph." Lottie marched off.

                As Harry emerged she bumped into Aunt Tally."Isn't he divine?"

                "Who, Aunt Tally?"

                "The Marine." She indicated with her eyes a fit man in early middle age wearing his Marine uniform for just this occasion, a carryover from the nineteenth century and one that delighted lathes. His short waist-length tunic fit him tightly, his medal ribbons, four rows deep, bedecked his left chest. His blue-black closely fitted trousers carried a thin red stripe on the outside. His patent leather dancing shoes gleamed.

                "What happened to your date?"

                "Harry, too old. I can't stand old men."Tally flicked up her cane.

                "Well, what about that other guy?" Harry hadn't met the lawyer.

                "Uh." She shrugged."Dull. But now this one, he's a man all right." She covered her mouth with her gloved hand and looked exactly as she must have looked at seventeen at her coming-out debutante ball-minus the wrinkles, of course.

                Harry lowered her voice conspiratorially."I know you can't be good but go slow."

                "At my age, sugar, there is no slow. Get it while you can! And I will, I will!" Tally giggled, then hurried into the lathes' room.

                Rick, dying for a smoke, had been waylaid by Jim Sanburne. As they were talking Rick's beeper went off.

                "Excuse me. I'd better take this." A little printout read DON. Rick's face registered no emotion."Jim, I've got to go." He briskly walked to Coop, herself walking outside for a smoke."Come with me."

                Hoping not to call attention to themselves they walked fast but not frantically to Rick's car.

                "Something's up, " Mrs. Murphy noted.

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 Pulling into Don Clatterbuck's, they grabbed their guns and opened the car doors, crouching behind them. Coop dearly wished she weren't in a ball gown.

                Rick moved away from the door, running low. He stood outside the shop door, reached over, and opened it. He flattened himself against the building. Nothing.

                Coop, keeping as low as her dress would allow, joined him on the other side of the door.

                Rick reached in, flicking on the light switch.

                No sound. No movement. He ran inside, diving for the workbench. Nothing.

                "Coop, come on." He scrambled to his feet, brushing off his tuxedo.

                The door to the safe hung wide open. It was empty.

                "Our birdie can't be too far away." Coop grabbed a chair, placing it under the camera. She turned off the camera, removing the tape inside.

                Yancy had set it up, locking the tiny TV playback box in Don's broom closet. Coop hiked her long skirt up, stepped down as Rick opened the closet. They quickly plugged in the small monitor.

                "Dammit!" Rick exploded.

                A masked figure. A black cloth covering the face, slits for eyes

                and mouth, wrapped in what could be a black bedsheet or long cloak, it stopped in front of the camera after emptying out the safe to give them the finger.

                "I'd like to see his face when he discovers the moneys no good."

                "Won't discover that until he gets it in a bright light." Rick slipped his gun back in his chest holster."Whoever did this knew we'd be at the ball tonight."

                "Boss, that's no surprise. Everyone's at the ball tonight."

                "Maybe, but we know this-he knows that we're here. I think we've just been suckered." He sprinted for the car, Coop right behind him. She turned out the lights as she ran out.

                "Boss, Boss, I can't run as fast as you."

                He waited the extra twenty seconds it took for her to fold herself into the car."Coop, I wouldn't give you a nickel right now for Sean's life or Lottie's."

                "We'll nab them."

                "That's not what I mean. One of them is going to be dead." He peeled out, spewing stones everywhere.

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