Lunch was held at the large round table in the sun room. Crystal loved the sun room. Plants and flowers in rows on some kind of terraced display, hanging baskets of trailing vines, and even trees potted in large containers strategically placed throughout the very large glass walled rooom. A small but very attractive fountain provided the soothing sound of water running over rocks. Through the walls one could see the long expanse of manicured lawns with trees and shrubs that provided a sense of privacy. All designed to make you feel as if you are outside.
Yet, without the attendant heat and humidity. All in all a very comfortable and attractive room. The table was white wicker, rather large, yet light and airy in keeping with it's surroundings. Crystal wold not have suspected that this room was the design of the very cold business like woman seated across from her. Neither Lila nor Crystal had had a chance to eat yet, so both were doing justice to a very flavorful chicken salad.

Billy's seating arrangement provided Crystal with the best view of the room and grounds. This was an intentional move on her part. "Let the gal see what money could buy" was Billy's thought. "Maybe she can be bought." Nothing during the library conversation had given Billy any indication which direction Crystal intended on taking. She did agree to Bily's suggestion that she try the escort service only, of course, she would require some finishing before that could tke place. Lila had offered to let Crystal live with her, but Billy had decided that Crystal would live in the guest house on the property, ostensibly to keep her safe from Jeff. The community was secure, Billy had the latest alarm system installed and Crystal felt that this would insure her safety so she agreed. Lila was extremely disappointed and it showed.

Zack and Mr. Smith were having a quiet conversation regarding the afternoons plans. Zack had reminded him that the limo neded to be garaged for some work, and he had planned on taking care of it that afternoon if Mr. Smith wasn't planning on going anywhere. Zack planned on contacting his Lieutenant and handing over the tape made from this mornings eavesdropping session. The sooner he turns over the tape the faster a plan of action can be put into effect, and Zack did not want to waste any time. Crystal was surreptitiously studying Zack, and wondering exactly how he fit into all this. What part did he play? During a trip to the bathroom, Crystal had looked at the little button behind the lapel of Zacks jacket. She wasn't sure what it was, but having spent as much of her spare time as she could afford to, at the movies, she thought it was a bug. A tiny microphone. What would a chauffuer need one of those for? Maybe she would ask him, but caution told her that she needed to be alone with him before she did.

Crystal wasn't sure what happened next. Did she hear the sound of the shot? Was it the glass shattering? All she knew was that the quiet of the luncheon was interrupted by the staccato sound of gunfire, although, she didn't know that it was gunfire. She sat frozen while glass shattered and fell all around, slicing tender flesh. Lila and Billy slumped forward onto their plates. Was that blood? Zack jumped up shouting for Crystal to get down, and pulled her down beside him. She was aware of more gunfire, and of a spreading warmth from her left shoulder. She put her hand up to see what it was and she discovered blood. Surprisingly she didn't feel any pain. A large shard of glass had sliced deeply into her forehead and was beginning to bleed into her eyes. She could hear what sounded like Jeff screaming. She didn't know he could feel pain, she thought before slipping into unconsciousness.

She regained conciousness just once that night. She thought she heard her Daddy talking to her, but that couldn't be possible. She just knew that someone was holding her hand, and she was in bed somewhere. She didn't know where, or how she got there. She just knew she had to sleep some more, she was so tired. Daddy kept calling to her, but she couldn't see him and she had no strength with which to answer. She needed to sleep, and that is what she did. Lieutenant David Lynn sat by her bedside, holding her hand. With him was one of the finest undercover police officers he'd ever had the pleasure to work with. "Zack,do you think she'll testify against Lila and Jeff? With Billy dead, the only case we have is against Mr. Smith and those two." asked the Lieutenant.
"I don't know Dave, I only got to meet her this morning, now yesterday morning, come to think of it. I do believe she found the bug in my jacket, and she didn't say anything." responded Zack. "I guess we won't know until she wakes up. Are you sure this is your daughter? You haven't seen her in almost 10 years, how can you be sure,,,, people change?" "She had ID on her, Zack. Also a picture of her Mother, my ex- wife. She's my daughter all right, but she may not want her Father. She believes I abandoned her when she was 7. That was 10 years ago. I am positive that her Mother never told her that I supported them all these years. The doctor said that she would fully recover, and I will help her any way I can, any way she will allow, at any rate. She's going to need a place to live, or maybe she'll want to go home to her mom. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

During their conversation, Crystal had begun to stir, she was awake enought to hear, but not yet able to respond. She had been listening, and now she knew that her Daddy had not abandoned her, that she had been taken care of all these years, financially , by the one man that she thought she had lost. Yes, she would testify against Jeff and Lila, although Lila had been kind to her at a time when she needed someone to be kind. Still, she did take her to Billy. "Thank God it's over, " she thought as she opened her eyes and found her voice. "Daddy, is that really you?" she asked. "Yes Crystal, it's me, and I'm so glad to see you."

"Will you stay with me?" she asked. "Yes," he answered, "as long as you want me to"