Still visible on the exterior surfaces of the soon-to-be-replaced O'Brien company car was the mural created by a group of Caydance's students, who had -- the day before she and Griff were married -- airbrushed a color-laden hyperreal mural of seductive football equipment and suggestive art supplies on the exterior. At the wheel was her brother Jack.

He handed her a shopping bag from the French Deli. "If you take this inside while I park this picturesque vehicle, I'll be with you soon." Inside the bag were Quiche Loraine, pate de campagne, salade verte a la francaise, and a just-baked baguette. In the refrigerator was a bottle of Pinot Grigio, a modest table wine from an established Napa Valley vineyard. Caydance set the table. Jack appeared. "I had to postpone my trip home." He meant back to France. "There is something I need to tell you."

Jack made no comment about the wine. This was a bad sign. "I have been informed that late last night Mackie Alarie escaped from prison", he said. "No details of how this occurred have been forthcoming. Alarie has been a model prisoner and was not under heavy security. The likelihood is that he is in Mexico by now, but this is not a certainty."