Denis sat at his desk staring at his phone. Another call, another cock-up, he was beginning to think his quarry would make a better gang than the bunglers he hired. Karl hadn't bothered him, but it was only a matter of time and time wasn't on his side.

He dialled his contact and listened how they had made fools of the police as well.

"Captain, I think it's time you stopped fooling around and earned that monthly envelope. I want them found and I want them taken care of - do you follow?"

"I just had a report that their car was spotted in your vicinity. I've dispatched four men to track it down."

Dennis put a knuckle on his nose and thought a moment. "Arkady, have your men just watch them when they find them. I have an idea what they might try."

"You sure?"

"Yes . . . make sure they find them then just sit on them so we don't lose them again, Captain, and call me when they do. I'll let you know what to do then."

Kitty and David stepped out of the car to stretch their legs for a moment. Mildred took advantage of the extra space and shakily lit up a cigarette.

"Calvin doesn't allow smoking in his car." Flo said.

"I bet Calvin likes bullet holes a lot less. Wind down your window."

Kitty leaned back on the car. "David and I are going in alone. We agree it's a better idea."

"What about our united front and bullying the bully?" Portia complained.

"I'm not going in there no matter what you decide." Mildred said through puffs of smoke.

"Kitty knows Hagen and can talk to him better without all of us getting in his face." David added. "She'll explain and I'll hand over the money. If there is any trouble at least it won't be all of us in danger."

There was no debating; David just gave Portia a stern look and pointed a cautionary finger then he and Kitty walked back up the street to Hagen's building. Portia looked grim, her mind spinning with ideas and she grabbed her purse and jumped out of the car.

"Dee, where are you going?" Flo called.

"To find a telephone, I'll be right back."

"Her parents must have turned grey the day she was born." Mildred lit a second cigarette and blew a blast of smoke out the window.

Portia found a public telephone a block away and immediately dialled her brother's number.

"Hello, Rodney . . .?"

"Portia! Where the devil-?"

"Not now, Rodney. Just listen.

Crawford was beside himself as he listened to his son on the phone with the police. Portia had spelled out everything that had happened and what they were doing, including the hair-raising recount of Hagen's paid for police and his own men chasing after them.

Rodney hung up and explained what he had done. His own police contacts were more than aware of their Captain's corrupt behaviour and his fealty to Karl Hagen and were eager to take action. With a surprising strength of will, he overrode his father's objections to his next move, which was going to the scene himself. Crawford was to stand by the telephone. Period.

A police car pulled up in front of the building and a moment later another car with three gun-bearing gangsters. The women watched as there was a noisy argument on the sidewalk then the four policemen joined the others and raced into the building.

Kitty had stopped the elevator the floor below Karl's office and suggested David take the stairs the rest of the way just in case they were expected. If they were waiting he could still get away down the stairs. Their plan had lost some gloss, he thought.

Out on the street, Rodney arrived the same time as another pair of police cars and was talking with them when Portia called to him. He slapped his arms against his legs and ran across too Calvin's car. Meanwhile the police stormed into the building.

"What in heaven's name have you got yourself into this time?" His eyes fell on the short line of bullet holes in the car and he groaned, bracing himself on the roof.

"It's alright, Rodney, nobody was hurt but David and Mildred's friend are inside returning Hagen's money from the auction house. Also there are some of Hagen's men and his crooked police in there as well."

Rodney groaned louder.

David stepped out of the stairwell at Kitty's signal, just as the elevator doors opened again and the group burst out, waving guns and threatening her. David hesitated then followed the plan and headed back to the stairs. Shots rang out, chiselling gouges in the plaster wall near the door and he heard angry shouting as he leaped down the stairs several at a time.

At the sound of shots from the building, Portia started out of the car but her brother wrestled her back inside, with a stern warning to stay put. Rodney then went to one of the police cars where an officer he knew was on the radio to his Sergeant inside.

"What's happening, Ben?"

"Hey, Mr. DeLysle. Don't know yet, they're still on the elevator going up. Must be the ones that arrived ahead of us doing the shooting."

"That would be Hagen's men and- and your other officers."

"That Captain Arkady is a bad-" The radio crackled and a voice came through calling for more back up; they were forced to go down a floor to exit because of the shooting.

Ben immediately switched channels and Rodney went back to Calvin's car.

"Where is Portia?" Rodney glared at the two women.

"She left." Mildred snapped. "So don't give me your evil eye."

"Florence?"

"She wouldn't listen . . . you know Portia."

"Where did she go? What the hell does she think she's doing?" Rodney pounded the roof of the car and immediately regretted it.

Dennis ran out of his office at the sound of gunfire and saw the elevator dial descending to his floor. As he rushed back to his office, he saw a man step out of the stairwell and run toward him.

"What the hell's going on? What's all the shooting?

Davis skidded to a halt and bent over, gasping for breath. "Karl Hagen's men . . . trying to see him . . . money . . ."

"What!" Dennis pulled David inside his office. "Tell me that again!"

Catching his breath, David asked who Dennis was, learning with relief and dismay that it was Hagen's right-hand man.

"Look, I came with Kitty O'Halloran-"

"Kitty! She's here too?"

"Yes. We were going to see Hagen. I have his sixty thousand dollars and I was returning it - or hoped to, then all these others arrived and started shooting."

"You're Ashby!" David looked uncertain. "Where's Kitty now?"

David explained what they did, him using the stairs then having to escape; he didn't know where Kitty was now. Another gabble of voices and noise sounded in the hall and Dennis peeked out of his door to see uniformed police pouring out of the elevator and heading for the stairs.

Dennis swore under his breath. Arkady must have met his own men and the whole lot went up to Karl's floor and found these two. The shooting, he knew, would be the idiots working for him; Arkady would now have to follow the law or tip his own crooked hand.

What a complete cock up!

He turned to David, hand out. "Give me the money."

"What, no! I want to hand it to Hagen myself. I want him to know I was giving it back and why."

I said give me the money." The gun punctuated the statement.

"Why? Just take me up to see him and explain." David's heart thumping drowned his words out in his own ears and he heard a voice inside ask what the hell, David!

"Let me explain something to you. You give me the money or-"

The office door opened and Portia stepped in, halting with a startled yelp.

"Portia!"

"You again! What is this?" Dennis waved the gun between them.

"Portia, for God's sake-"

"I had to see if you were alright, David." She stared at Dennis. "What's the meaning of this?" She scowled, indicating the gun.

"The better to rid my life of your meddling, my dear." Dennis snarled back. "Now get over there, and you give me that money if you don't want to see her hurt."

"There are police all over the building, you won't be shooting anyone, Mr. Creighton." She stated boldly. "Don't give him anything, David."

Before Dennis could respond, the office door opened again and Kitty slipped inside, eyes widening at the scene in front of her.

"What . . . David . . . Portia?"

"What's going on up there, Kitty?" Dennis moved to the door, locking it.

She looked at Dennis and the gun. "What's going on here is a better question?"

"Don't you start giving me grief too, just answer me."

"One of your men was shot and an army of police arrested the other two . . . your friend Arkady is part of the arresting army."

He glared at her, catching the smirk over dropping the police Captain's name.

"What about Karl?"

"Never got to see him. I scooted down the stairs as soon as I had the chance."

"And you came here."

"Well I thought it would be a little safer than trying to leave the building since it's surrounded now. The real police called for backup."

"Alright. Enough of your innuendo. I guess you'll just have to join your friends here."

Dennis jerked around as his phone rang, and he hesitated, deciding whether or not to answer.

"Could be the police telling you, you'd better come out," Portia said.

"Or maybe it's Karl, Dennis." Kitty added.

He glared at the women and then at the phone, which kept ringing and finally picked it up. It was Karl.