The Threats woman, enlivened by the adrenaline she could smell coursing through Blake's system, grew more colorful, a peach tint suffusing the coffee-light suppleness of her molded cheekbones. She drew strength from Blake's racing pulse as he viewed the vignette beyond, and withdrew to watch what he would do next. She chuckled again as she noticed poor Thorn had not yet seen her in the shadows.

But she knew Glory had seen her, and Glory was no fool.

She slipped off her red and silver stiletto come-see-me pumps and tucked them into her purse, in case quick flight was called for. Then she relaxed, idly honing her one silver-tipped nail on the tightly-stretched hipseam of her leather jumpsuit. "Wal," she thought to herself, "this sure do beat stayin' on that rattletrap tour bus Ah lef' parked 'cross town. Wonder what the band is up to though.... and the Monkey oughtta be showin' up soon if Ah knows him. Then we see us some action, hoo-eee!"