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a head start. Please, all of you, drive carefully, and check in when you’re home safe and sound.”
    Everyone promised to do so.
    Nellie and Elias were the last to leave. Myra hugged her old friend and whispered in her ear. “I know you won’t forget, Nellie, but if you can’t find it, call me. I want to get married in my daughter’s wedding dress. I think…I think she might like to know I’m getting married in her dress. At least I hope so. It was so beautiful, Nellie. All those seed pearls that were hand-sewn.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Myra. When I come up next weekend, I will have it with me.”
    â€œNellie, if I’m not here, just hang it in your room. We might be…Well, we might be off the mountain, working . I don’t want Charles to know. It’s a surprise.”
    â€œUnderstood. Thanks for a wonderful weekend. Elias and I will treasure the memory. Stay warm, my friend.”
    â€œYou too.”
    A last round of hugs and kisses followed. The two dogs slept through the departure. By the time the door closed behind their guests, the girls were making a mad scramble to the living room, where they snatched at pillows and comforters to make nests for themselves.
    The moment the table was cleared of the cake plates and cups, the girls were sound asleep.
    â€œThe fire will last a good three hours, so I suggest we adjourn to the command center, where I can brief you on our agenda. If we’re to accomplish our goal, we’ll need to stay on a very tight schedule,” Charles told Myra and Annie.
    The trio bundled up, then checked on the girls one last time before they left the building. The first thing Charles did was rebuild the dying fire in the main room of the command center.
    â€œMyra, I don’t know if I should feel special right now or if I should feel dismayed that you and I are the only two at this orientation,” Annie grumbled. “So much can be lost when we translate for the girls.”
    â€œNot to worry, Annie. I think the two of us are articulate enough to make it happen where the girls are concerned. If not, oh, well,” Myra said, throwing her hands in the air in a devil-may-care gesture. “And, may I say you are looking particularly…sparkly this evening, Annie. Did something happen I don’t know about?”
    â€œWhatever in the world are you talking about, Myra Rutledge? What could have happened up here on this damn mountain that you wouldn’t know about?”
    Annie’s face was so pink, and she was so flustered, Myra knew she was onto something. “You have a point, dear, but you do look…uh…guilty.”
    â€œI do, do I?”
    â€œYes, dear, you do.” Myra did her best not to laugh at her friend’s discomfort.
    Annie was saved from having to make whatever comment she could have come up with when Charles took a seat at the round table. Three stacks of folders had mysteriously appeared while Annie and Myra were talking.
    â€œSo, Charles, who is the mysterious guest who is to arrive in the morning? What happens if the cable car is frozen? Then what do we do?” Myra asked.
    â€œWe’ll deice it and spray some hydraulic oil. Our guest is Tobias Tyson, also known as Tee or, as his…uh…colleagues like to call him, MF. For Magic Fingers. Mr. Tyson is a…safe-cracker. Top of his field. Two stretches in the federal pen for his expertise. He very graciously agreed to my invitation to join us here and to teach one of you the tricks of his trade.”
    â€œWhich one of us? Whose safe are we going to crack?” the two women asked at the same time.
    â€œThat’s up to Mr. Tyson. But to answer your question, it will be Baron Bell’s safe that you are going to crack. My intel tells me the safe is like the man himself, or the self he portrays to the public—benevolent and old-fashioned. I have here many articles and pictures of the man, and the safe is