"I put everything into a wastebasket, except his money that I pointed to. Before I let him take it I did use the wand to check it out. He put his mone... away."What do you think? Should we take the wand back or leave it up here?" I'll give it back to them before we leave. I'll unbutton a couple of buttons and lean over. They'll forget everything except that I gave it back to them." Okay, Babe, I saw a board of vehicle keys when we left the offices. I didn't let the door shut, so it should still. I glanced back, in the direction of his gaze, and remarked, in a tone as nonchalant as I could muster, something to the effect that I too "was dealing with a slight domestic problem"."That's what they get upstairs when they get out of line" he observed. "My wife is always needing to be kept in line. And the girl was a lot of trouble when she was 11 or 12. So lippy! She's better now, but still gets the taste of the strap from time to time." What do you do? The same as to the boy?"He nodded.. She stopped a quizzical look on her face. I made a twirly motion with my right hand, indicating to Mel to spin around. She did, but only after giving me a sexy pout.“Wow,” I said, stunned. “You look incredible! Let me guess, Nordstrom Rack?” I knew perfectly well she was wearing an Ann Taylor or Armani or some other designer suit that cost well over a grand. Sometimes I try and diffuse the tension with humor. It’s stupid, but that’s what I do.“Oh, you’re funny, mister!” Mel looked at her. The ship was about one hundred feet long and had the name SS Dalriada painted on its bow.A series of huge metal chains attached to large stone blocks had been constructed to act as a drag factor once the ship was allowed to slide down the launch-way towards the bay.In a nod towards the custom in his own time, Scott had arranged for Tara to launch the ship by swinging a bottle of wine so that it smashed against the ship's side."I name this ship the Scottish Ship Dalriada, " she said loudly, "God.