1-3:Harem Scare ‘em

‘Sir,’ said the Maitre’d bowing slightly to Panix, then to Donnie. ‘Madam.’

Donnie made a snap decision to just go with it, and besides, the euphoria of the fans outside had given him quite a rush.

‘Table for two,’ he said with a grin and snatched his elbow out of Panix’s hand.

‘Madam is obviously engaging in humour,’ said the Maitre’d. ‘Very droll.’

He turned to Panix.

‘Colonel Panix, you have some…’ the Maitre’d cleared his throat of something obviously unpleasant, then continued, nodding just over to one-side, ‘guests who are not on the invitation list.’

Donnie glanced up and saw a party of four BSD guards standing over in one of the wings. They were slightly the worse for wear, marginally scruffy and definitely out-of-place.

‘You go in,’ said Panix. ‘I have things to do.’

Suits. Me Fine. thought Donnie and wandered nonchalantly past the doorman.

The place was packed; waiters were carrying around the usual fermented fruit products, red, white and sparkling. The guests looked vaguely familiar, but Donnie wasn’t concentrating on them at the moment. He needed a drink.

A nagging issue jumped up for attention: how was he going to get out of here when the time came?

Donnie reached out and snatched a glass of bubbly from one of the passing waiters, and decided to avoid this line of thought for a while.