Two cars started up and pulled away -- a boring blue Accord and some Japanese-looking sports car. Jairam sighed.Lacey Chabert glowered.  Ale... let Chester lead. Mom's Cookies wasn't hard to spot -- a cut-out of the familiar freakish balloon-head logo peeked over the top of the building, as if some giant Raggedy-Ann body was crouched behind the wall, ready to leap out and crush passing cars.Em shook her head. "You'd think a cookie company wouldn't choose a logo that would scare. I groaned in despair, but nodded my head in agreement. She got up, dug around in her bag, and pulled out several bottles of essential oils. The scent of roses, honeysuckle, and passionflower assaulted my nose, as she anointed me with some of the traditional scents of Mabon. An ivy crown adorned with brilliant sapphires was placed on my head, and my white sheath was draped over my shoulders, left open in the front. Silver led me to the place where the Great Ritual would take place. Long tables. And we were normal, to all outward appearance; that was the greatest perversion of all."He's coming," I was looking over my mom's shoulder at the waiter approaching with our lunch balanced carefully on his tray."Mistress, I..." Mom began to protest."You'll do as I say, Slave-Mommy," I said simply.There was no reason to threaten her, no coercion or blackmail was required. There was only the surety in my voice, a sound, an inflection of dominance my mother had been longing to hear since I was. ”“Okay,” Ali said. “However, Kim tells us there may be a problem because of your husband. She says he was an Army Ranger in Vietnam. Is that true?”Forgetting what she had learned about the firm on Saturday, Carol drew herself up straight in her chair and declared, “Yes, it’s true. He was a lieutenant and platoon leader in Alpha Company, First Ranger Battalion—”“Second Lieutenant William Baker Christian,” Kathy breathed softly.“But how could you know that?” Carol exclaimed.“Because my husband is.