Jen had been amused to learn that Mags had expected her to object to the use of the gun. As the wife of a cop, she was used to the idea of a gun in her house, and Theo had even taken her to a local range for a couple of quick lessons "Just in case," as he had put it. Now as Mags stepped gracefully to the small attached bathroom, Jen felt a little thrill of fear, like the anticipation before a ride on the big coaster at Six Flags. It had nothing to do with the gun.

Mags was dressed in a skin tight black catsuit, shinny black,...