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light switch next to the sliding glass doors and flicking it on and off with no effect.
    "Or maybe they have a generator too," Mortimer suggested.
    He'd barely spoken the suggestion when the air was filled with the very loud sound of an engine roaring to life. The generator, Mortimer realized, and glanced toward Bricker. He immediately flicked the light switch again, grinning when this time it turned on.
    They were both silent for a moment, and then Bricker asked hopefully, "Do you think it's got enough current to run the air conditioner as well as the lights?"
    "No," Decker answered as he stepped off the stairs and moved to rejoin them. "This generator came with the cottage when I bought it. It's old and not very powerful despite how noisy it is. I've been meaning to replace it, but haven't got around to it. I'll have to look into it, I guess. In the meantime, this one will run the refrigerator and some lights, but I wouldn't tax it more than that."
    Bricker looked truly disappointed at this news, which made Mortimer wonder just how hot it was upstairs.
    "Look," Bricker said suddenly. "It would seem the noise has caught the attention of your neighbors."
    Mortimer and Decker followed his gaze out the window. Sure enough, all three women stood stock-still, their gazes focused on this cottage.
    "How the hell did they hear the generator over the sound of their music?" Decker muttered.
    "The generator is pretty loud," Mortimer pointed out, and then fell silent as the women began to move as one, crossing their yard toward the border of trees that separated the properties.
    "Damn," Decker muttered.
    "This is easily resolved," Mortimer said calmly. "We'll just convince them that they don't want to come over here. I'll take the clumsy one."
    "Which one's that?" Bricker asked with confusion.
    "The one with long hair."
    "Right." He nodded. "I'll take the one with the ponytail."
    "I guess I'll take the other one then," Decker said dryly.
    Mortimer smiled faintly and then concentrated on Sam, sending his thoughts out to find hers and take control of them. He was vaguely aware of first one sister stopping and then the other as he worked, but Sam continued happily forward, oblivious of his struggles to get into her thoughts and take control. Something he seemed to be having difficulties with. Frowning, he redoubled his efforts.
    "Um, Mortimer," Decker said with concern as Sam continued along the trail. Leading the way, she hadn't yet noticed that her sisters had both stopped and were no longer following. "What's happening?"
    "Nothing, just give me a minute," he muttered unhappily and redoubled his efforts. Another moment of silence passed, but he still couldn't seem to get into her thoughts.
    "Are you going to stop her or not?" Decker asked with exasperation. The two other sisters stood like frozen dolls, waiting for the men to put a thought in their heads and release the control they had over them. But the men were waiting for Mortimer to get control of Sam. Only he didn't appear to be able to do that. "Mortimer?"
    "I'm trying," he snapped with frustration.
    " Trying ?" Bricker asked.
    Something about the tone of his voice made Mortimer give up on the woman and turn a reluctant gaze to the other men.
    They were both staring at him wide-eyed.
    "Can't you get into her thoughts?" Bricker asked.
    "Of course I can," he said quickly, irritation making his voice short.
    "Then what's the problem. Stop her," Decker insisted.
    Mortimer turned back and tried once more.
    "You can't, can you? You can't get into her thoughts," Bricker said with what sounded like mounting excitement.
    It wasn't shared by Mortimer. He scowled, but finally admitted, "No, I can't."
    "I'll handle it," Decker murmured.
    The moment she was under control and still like the others, Bricker slapped Mortimer on the shoulder. "Woowoo! Congratulations, Mort, my man!! You've found your life mate."
    "Shut up, Bricker," he growled furiously.
    "You're not looking happy," Decker said