Razor Sharp by Fern Michaels Page B

supposed to do? What do Lizzie and Maggie want us to do?”
    “I think for the moment we’re in a holding pattern. Until the authorities can come up with the madam or her working girls, there is no case. Which means we are not needed. That’s just my opinion. Maggie has her ear to the ground. So far there are just whispers, nothing has been made public. All of this,” Annie said, pointing to the papers in Myra’s hand, “is sort of like being preemptive. So we can hit the ground running if need be.”
    “So we have to come up with a plan?”
    “Good Lord, I hope so this time around. I for one do not like to fly blind. We didn’t even have a semblance of a plan when we all left for Utah. But we made it work somehow. Jack will have you believe his truckload of pumpkins was the plan. He was delusional. We had no plan. I think if we all put our heads together and get everyone in place, we can do just as good a job as Charles did. What do you think, Myra?”
    “We’re women, aren’t we? That means we can do whatever we set our minds to. If we need a plan, then we’ll come up with one. I have to warn you, though, getting in and out of Washington makes me nervous. We’ve been pushing our luck. I don’t want to be a pessimist, but I have to wonder how much longer our luck can hold.”
    “It will hold as long as we want it to, Myra. Careful planning, dedication to detail, and a positive attitude will see us through. We have excellent backup with Lizzie, Bert, Maggie, and the Post. Negativity will get us nowhere, so don’t even go there.”
    Myra suddenly let out a yelp of surprise. “Annie, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
    “What?”
    “This!” Myra said, waving papers under Annie’s nose. “Lizzie got married! The president offered her the job of White House counsel, and Lizzie hung up on her. Then the president called Cosmo Cricket and he didn’t take the call and threw his cell phone in the fire! Did you hear me? Our Lizzie got married! To Cosmo Cricket! Someone is going to send us a video or something so we can see the wedding. Oh, Annie, how sad this is. Lizzie got married without any of us there to wish her well.”
    Annie sat down with a thump as she scanned the papers Myra had just shoved into her hands. “How wonderful for Lizzie. I’m sure she realized we couldn’t be there. Maybe she wanted privacy. I don’t think we should be offended, Myra. As for the president, I’m sure that call was made to ensure Lizzie’s silence. The same thing would apply to Cosmo Cricket. I wonder what that will mean for our pardon.”
    Myra’s shoulders stiffened. “I think we can kiss that pardon good-bye.”
    “According to this e-mail, President Connor threatened Lizzie with the Secret Service, the IRS, and the FBI. As you well know, no one threatens our Lizzie.”
    “I can’t see the president threatening Lizzie!” Myra said, her voice so shocked she was actually sputtering.
    “Well, I can. The president will be a joke the world over. Lizzie is not an alarmist. If she said she was threatened, then she was threatened. The girls are not going to like this. Not one little bit.”
    “This can’t be good, Annie.”
    “What was your first clue, Myra?” Annie snapped.
    Myra flipped through the pages in her hands, her eyes popping at the names she was seeing. She shook her head from side to side, disgust written all over her features. “Men are such cads.”
    “Cads? The word you’re looking for is ‘pervert,’ Myra. Those men have power, wealth, prestige, and with their eyes wide-open chose to throw it all away for a roll in the hay.”
    “But Ambassador Kierson? I sat on so many committees with his wife, Julia. She’s a lovely person, and they have four wonderful children. I’m sure there are some grandchildren in the mix by now. Harvey was…so distinguished. But he was…is the consummate politician. I always thought he was a nice man. Poor Julia, I don’t know how she will weather this if