The four woman were sitting around the coffee table talking when they looked up and saw Rhea come in with the champagne. It was still a surprise to them that she managed to get several nice bottles. While her husband was well-off, she was normally not noted as a big spender when it came to food or drink. So this was quite a nice surprise.

The tray was sat down and each of them grabbed a drink, with Beatrice, a cute twenty-seven year old woman who had just married, grabbed not just hers, but Rhea's as well. The tray was then taken away and they sipped talking.

Her return was quick and she sat down, taking her glass and sipping it softly, smiling as they all chatted and made small talk. One subject that did not come up, despite its obvious presence, was the injury Rhea had sustained a few days prior. While all were very curious, none considered it polite to pry about such a thing and while it was hinted discreetly at, Rhea made no response to those hints.

It was Beatrice who realized first that she didn't feel right. She thought at first it might just be the champagne, but she did mention she felt tired, but just a slight bit. She went to stand up, but found herself a little wobbly and sat back down. This alarmed the rest, but their alarm shifted from her to themselves as all of them started to feel this way.

Except Rhea, who was ever so polite and concerned about their rapidly deteriorating situation. In rapid succession they went from being wobbly to not being able to stand at all, and then to not being able to speak louder than a whisper. All the while Rhea seemed unaffected, smiling and helpful until each of them closed their eyes.

Patrick, once the last one closed her eyes, finally broke the facade and smiled a dark and knowing smile. This had been too easy. All it took was some cheap sparkling wine dressed up in a fake fancy label and whatever that concoction his partners added to make them pass out. He barely even had to speak, much less pretend to be Rhea.

Oh Rhea. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time, and now your brain is gone and my brain in it's place. Now it's their turn. All I have to do is make a phone call the doctor and his team will be here, them and their vehicles disguised. Plumbers, I'll say to the neighbors tomorrow. Quite a scary thing, the plumbing backing up like that, scarier still when a pipe burst when my friends were over! It is okay, they're fine now, just a scratch on their heads, nothing to be concerned about.

He smiled as he stood up, smoothing out Rhea's nice dress and checking to be sure his stockings weren't bunched up or had any runs. After all, one must look their best when company comes over, even when they are here for quite a dirty task!