Dennis ushered his group into Karl's office, annoyed and surprised to see Captain Akardy. Karl started in right away about the incompetence of the people Dennis hired and how the Captain had saved the day and then posted men outside while he stayed behind as a safety measure.

Dennis swore a protest and the exchange became a shouting match.

"Hey! Excuse me! If I may, Mr. Hagen." David stepped forward. "My name is David Ashby-"

Karl's expression changed and he zeroed in on David. "The little prick that stole my money!" Karl roared and Sanford growled.

"As I was saying," David continued in a louder voice. "I was coming here with the assistance of Miss O'Halloran, to return your money when your friend there and some other men started shooting at us in the hallway."

"That's not what-" Sanford's growl turned uglier and Akardy moved behind a chair.

"It's exactly what happened, Captain." Kitty said. "We were lucky enough to escape down the stairs to Dennis's office. David was going to give him the money so he could see you got it back safely." She smiled at Dennis who was torn between embarrassment and reluctant gratitude.

"Where did Miss Mouthy come in?" Karl scowled at Portia.

"I came looking for David because I knew you and your lot would be nothing but trouble." Portia sniffed loudly, eyes closed.

"That right, Creighton?"

"It's the way it all happened." He was losing sense of the entire scene.

Karl sat back down and scratched Sanford's head, pulling his hand back hearing the snarl.

"Okay, Captain, you can call your men off and see that mine get released ASAP."

"That might not be so easy. My crew was rounded up with his, there could be talk."

"I don't pay you to make it easy for you, Captain. Just get it done."

Akardy bolted from the room, red-faced.

Karl turned back to David. "So, my money. Who's got it."

"I have it right here." David dropped the envelope of money on the desk. "This ends our business with you and your people."

Kitty's reaction was a rueful murmur, and she moved away to the other side of the room. Karl opened the envelope, riffled through the bills and tossed it aside.

"I'm the one who says when business ends." He spoke with a menacing voice. Sanford raised his head.

"You've already kidnapped and beaten poor Mr. Royce, terrorized his partner Miss Emanuel, probably cost David his job-"

"Portia . . ." David groaned as she stepped forward, hands on hips defiantly.

Karl started around his desk then changed direction at Sanford's snarl.

"I warned you about that nose of yours and what would happen." He delivered a wicked slap to her face and she fell to one knee.

David jumped forward, grabbing Karl by the lapels of his suit and punching him square on the jaw. Dennis pulled out his gun again and yelled for them to stop as Karl was shouting for Sanford to kill. Kitty immediately moved to the desk and grabbed Sanford's collar. With each desperate shout from Karl, he uttered a short growl but stayed with Kitty.

Dennis grabbed Portia from behind, trapping her arms, and held the gun to her side as he continued shouting threats. David was on top of Karl on the floor, pummelling him with body and head blows. Portia, dazed from the smack, her cheek red and swelling, regained enough clarity to recognize the danger and she brought a sharp heel down on the bridge of Dennis's foot.

He let out a howl and hopped away. Kitty lost her grip on Sanford and the hound launched itself at Dennis, barking and snarling viciously. Portia sprawled on the floor as sharp teeth clamped on Dennis's gun arm and instantly he screamed, pulling the trigger a number of times.

The noise and the gunshots brought the three police left on guard, on the run. They crashed through the office door, tripping over the struggling Dennis and the hound.

David flinched, falling off of Karl onto the floor, a sharp pain burned in the back of his arm. Karl got up and scrambled to his desk, to get his own gun. Blood from the battering to his mouth and nose dripped into the drawer and onto the revolver and it slipped from his hand as he hurriedly tried to aim it at David.

Portia scrambled on her knees and beat Karl to the fallen weapon, rolling onto her back and firing blindly, eyes squeezed shut. There were more shots and some painful cries then the office went silent except for Sanford's snarls and Kitty's calming voice.

Dennis crouched against the wall, a policeman holding him by his good arm, the other arm a bloody mess through the ripped jacket sleeve. A second policeman angrily shoved Portia and a groggy David toward the door. They had to step over the body of his comrade who had been hit during the wild shooting.

Kitty tied Sanford to a table leg and then went to Karl, offering a handkerchief from her purse.

"I think you should make yourself scarce, Karl, Akardy won't talk his way out of this for you."

"Tell Dennis to get my car" He dabbed at the blood on his face.

"Dennis won't be doing anything but going to the hospital. Sanford ate his arm."

"Then you get it, dammit!"

"That hanky is the last thing you're getting from me, Karl." She tilted her head in a goodbye gesture and left the office, followed by threats and insults.

Outside in the corridor, Rodney and the police he had called, had Captain Akardy and his remaining men under arrest. Dennis was being rushed off to hospital and Portia was leading David onto the elevator, surprised when Kitty followed them on, helping to support David.

"Is he hurt badly?"

"It's his arm. I think the bullet may have gone right through the fatty part."

"I don't have a fatty part." David complained, wincing as he straightened up.

"Sure you do, it's that bit with the hole in it." Portia gave him one of her trademark, innocent smiles.

"Speaking of fatty parts, that cheek looks pretty swollen."

"Still hurts too," she admitted. "I'll have them look at it when we get to the hospital."

"What about Karl?" He asked Kitty.

"I just left him. Told him we were through. I'm surprised you didn't hear him."

Rodney jumped into the elevator just as the doors closed. He looked at David then a Portia and just shook his head, words wouldn't come.

"That sling looks rather dashing."

"The doctor said it was a flesh wound."

"Right. In the fatty part of the arm."

"He didn't say-"

"Oh, David, simmer down, I'm teasing you. I think you are my hero for taking on that gangster like you did."

"What did he say about your cheek?"

"He thought I was very polite, David."

"Portia . . ."

"Oh, David. He said it would be about two weeks before all the bruising is gone, otherwise I'm fine."

"Not that fine, sister dear." Rodney met them in the hospital lobby, looking stern and ready to brook no nonsense.

Portia looked beyond her brother to her father, standing in his lawyerly pose with several policemen. She raised her eyebrows at Rodney and he just slowly closed his eyes. Trouble . . . big trouble.

"Father-"

"Not a word, Portia." He stepped aside as the police took her by the arms and led her out.

David protested but was silenced as he was next to be removed by the police.

"What's this about? What's going on?"

"You are both suspects in the recent incidents . . . several killings."

"What! We never killed anyone!"

"Best to remain silent for now, David." Crawford advised, as he was marched away.