"That's right," Charles added with a touch of nervousness showing.

"Hey look…" Ed said, "who wants anybody else getting in on the act? Broads, okay, but not guys. The next thing you know you're competing. And I say we've got a good thing going – so let them get their own ass."

The others agreed wholeheartedly.

They were sitting on mattresses they had positioned around the walls of the store. Tom got up to get another beer and added, for emphasis, "Then don't go bragging to anybody or you'll blow the whole thing."

He returned with bottles for everyone, amazing them with his sudden generosity and thoughtfulness. Then they realized they had all changed. Each one had become friendlier, more cooperative, with a much happier outlook.

"Are you going to invite Margaret Leche again?" Ed asked. "She gives me the creeps."

"I wasn't going to. I figured I'd drop her and her sister after the first meeting – Lillian too, but they were the first to pay their dues for this week. What could I say?"

"Who cares?" Jay defended the action. "The more broads the better. You've got to have a few in the bullpen just in case."

That made sense to Ed, noticing the change in Jay had been for the better too. Jay was getting smarter, he decided.

"There's a few things you should know, Tom," said Charles. "In a Black Mass ritual, the Lord's Prayer is not only said with words backwards; the entire prayer is reversed. You start with 'Amen' – or 'Nema' – and end with 'Our'. I've been reading up on it."

"Who gives a shit!" Tom exploded.

"Well, I… just thought you'd like to know."

"What do I look like, the Pope?" Tom cut him off. "We're only doing this to get laid – not to have a spiritual experience!"

"I know, but…" Charles tried to cover his need for perfection, while still trying to make his point, "… I just figured it would be more realistic."