The next morning at eight o'clock, Jeffers and Mattingly sat in the stuffy office of their superior. He had obviously been feeling the heat from the press to make a statement regarding the Marlow case. News media camera trucks were rolling up outside the precinct office from nationally and affiliated TV stations. The Las Vegas Mayor's Office had arranged for the Chief of Police, along with a spokesperson from the FBI to brief the media as the disappearance of the beauty contestant was now three days on. An official statement and questions were expected to be asked about the developing story.

The Chief sat in front of the two and looked haggard. "Alright you two . . . Now what do we got so far on this thing? I need something. Something to give to the press."

Corey and Bill had their scant notes in front of them. They were sure to be hard pressed for more details, which had just not materialized around the missing Henley Marlow.

"Look guys. I know we're all scraping for anything that might shine a light on this thing."

Mattingly spoke up first.

"It's basically a matter of simple facts, Chief. With no explanation yet. The girl walked out on her own . . . and for whatever reason, climbed into that limo . . . then into oblivion . . . Full stop."

"Yeah, that's pretty solid," Corey added. "But where she went is only secondary to trying to figure out the reason she left that hotel in the first place. The whole late night, limousine thing just doesn't figure with this victim. She had a motive for climbing into that vehicle."

"So you guys didn't get anything out of that roommate? Or anyone else who knew her, now three days after the pageant activities? Jesus, guys!"

"For now, not much else, Chief, "Corey said somberly.

"Great. So, I'll just tell the press we got nothing . . . cause we've been sitting on our hands until now!"

Mattingly tried to bring the temperature down. "Chief, until we get a decent lead, the press will just have to deal with that."

"OK so . . . what about this pervert?" The Chief looked down at a large file on his desk. "This . . . Dempsey with the hidden cam character?"

"That's pretty much a stretch," Corey interjected. "At least until he's willing to talk. Says he didn't know any of the girls. My guess is he was selling those vids and images to a porn site. But right now . . . he's just worried about his ass going back to jail."

The Chief looked again at his watch. "Well, it just so happens, gentlemen, I got a hungry public out there that wants to know much, much more. At least that we're out, combing the deserts for that girl!"

Jeffers and Mattingly just looked at each other blankly.

"At eleven o'clock, you guys . . . I've got to do a colossal rug dance out there for the likes of CNN and MSNBC. Fox News and the BBC . . . And you've got nothing for me?"

The two continued to hang their heads.

"Not that you need to mention this to the press, Chief," Corey finely said, "But something did catch my attention about Miss Henley's behavior."

"Yeah? What?"

"Her coursework. Some online studies at a university back East. That's according to Dawson, the roommate."

"Yeah? Tell me."

"Well, the FBI has her laptop, some books and so far . . . nothing from them on that."

The Chief strangely smiled. "Look junior "You think those guys will share that info with us right now? If there's anything of interest in there . . . they're already onto it like a dog on a bone. Just don't expect them to share any glory during these press events. If they've got anything in that laptop of interest to this case . . . and it can be shared with the public, they'll come out with it today. Like they're the goddamn heroes."

"Beauty queens," Mattingly said, almost to himself. "This thing's gonna just keep spiraling into a feeding frenzy."

"That's right, you two. And If we don't get something good out in front of this by tomorrow, those reporters out there are gonna be eating us all for breakfast."

Corey unexpectedly took out his cell phone and began to dial a number from his notes.

"What's this now?" the Chief asked. "You got a hot date?"

Mattingly tried not to laugh.

"No. Hold on, Jeffers said."

The Chief and Corey's partner paused a moment to see what the call was about.

"Hello Jim? . . . Jim Stuval?"

"F. . B . . I guy," Mattingly mouthed out.

"Jeffers here . . . Vegas investigations? . . . Yeah, good! You guys? Yeah, we did the interview . . . No, not really."

"So listen Jim, what have you got on the girl's laptop . . .. Have you gone through it?"

Yeah? . . . Johns Hopkins, right? . . .So can we get a transcription of those emails? More details about her studies? Like pronto?"

"When do you think? . . . . Why not?

Corey exhaled loudly.

"Hey Jim. That's bullshit, man! We need that information too."

Both Mattingly and the Chief stared at him.

"No! . . .Tell me what that reason is . . . Why?"

Again, anticipation from the other two.

Well, I'll be waiting, man . . .. Call us!"

Corey clicked off his phone and just stared at the wall.

"What the hell was that young man?" The Chief seemed genuinely surprised.

"I kinda figured something was up with that?" Corey answered, still not making eye contact with either the Chief or his partner.

"What, Corey?" Bill asked softly. "What have they got in the computer?"

"Whatever it is in that laptop . . . Sache, their director's not willing to share it. At least not yet Stuval says. I just called their hand. And that's how they're playing it."

"What the hell is that? the Chief asked, more emphatically.

"Stuval says the information might be . . . sensitive . . . "

"Sensitive? How sensitive? . . . What the fuck are they pulling on us?" Bill asked.

Corey was still visibly angry. "This director, Sache? . . . The tall agent we met, yesterday? Claims through Stuval that the laptop may be . . . key evidence . . . but won't say why. He's stalling. Trying to bullshit about it. They've got something, Chief. Something they can't . . . or won't discuss right now,' he told me.'"

"What kind of horseshit is that!" The chief shouted.

At that moment, a uniformed officer opened the translucent door slowly and informed the Chief the Mayor was in the station.

"He wants to discuss how your briefing to the press should go, Chief."

"Alright you two," the Chief said to his investigators. He stood up and straightened his disheveled tie. "We'll pick up on this development later. Right now, I've got to go out and meet with his majesty . . . and then put on a dog and pony show."

"What are you going to tell them, Chief," Mattingly asked. "The press, right now?"

"The truth, guys . . . That after preliminary exhaustive investigations, we still don't know shit! Now go out and get that lead we need . . . And you can tell the Feds to go to hell!"

* * *

(The countryside outside Scottsdale, Arizona: Two months before the Las Vegas pageant)

The summer sun was streaming through the forest in bars of gold as Henley and her partner Jaelyn arrived at a small, secluded cove at the river's edge. They had brought backpacks with food for a picnic and a large Native American blanket with geometric patens in red and blue to recline on.

"So how's the group out in California taking your decision to enter Las Vegas," Jaelyn asked, unbuttoning her blouse in the warm sun. "I remember some of your biggest fans are out there. From San Diego to San Francisco."

"Yeah, our girls are being cool about it . . . But some keep telling me I owe it to our society . . . to just come out during the contest. Show my true colors to the media."

"Wow. Big step, lover."

"And I can understand them. To give the whole rainbow cause a boost. You know . . . Even beauty queens can be gay."

"So have you seriously thought about it?'

"Of course, I have. I'm just not sure I could handle the attention it would cause."

Henley reached over and placed a finger under Jaelyn's chin.

"I just see our relationship as a private thing, Jae. It's always been. And even though we support the movement . . . our online society and rights to love who we wish, taking that stand during the pageant would just, I don't know . . . inflame the crazies out there. I don't want this contest to be devastating for either of us."

Jaylyn took Henley's hand and squeezed it in an affirmative response. They continued to lay out their food and a large thermos of iced tea while striping down to their bras and panties. They had each carefully looked to see they were truly alone. There was a good chance they were as they had come to that secluded spot along the river often. It was only a short drive from the city and had become one of their favorite meeting places to relax and make love.

As they took their towels with them to the edge of the river and laid them on the sandy bank, they made one more glance around before stripping off their underclothes and gingerly walking naked into the cool river.

"God, I miss this place," Henley said, before diving down below the surface. She came up and squirted water through her lips at her partner. "All that studying this month had me forget the simple pleasures of this place."

"Well for me . . . it's been the pleasures of you I've missed" Jaylyn said, reaching over playfully and dunking Henley's head down under the surface with hers.

When they both emerged and combed back their soaked hair, they smiled and came together in a naked embrace.

"Promise you won't let this damn pageant change me, Jae," Henley told her, bringing their faces closer together.

"That's never gonna happen, my love," she answered, kissing her with resolve. "Our pact as lovers is as strong as when we first made it. When we were still teens in that silly treehouse my brother made."

"A lot's happened since then," Henley continued in a melancholy tone. "But not my feelings for what we have." She then gently took Jaelyn's face in her hands and kissed her passionately again on the lips. The two moved their bodies under the surface until one's legs were wrapped around the torso of the other. Their hands moved along each other's contours, hips and thighs. They pressed their bodies together during another kiss, feeling the sensation of breasts touching breasts, and hands upon buttocks.

"For some reason I think our lunch can wait a while," Jaelyn said, taking a deep breath.

"Who said anything about lunch today?" Henley asked, smiling and taking her lover's hand to lead her out of the water and back to their towels.

Drying off, the two returned to the softness of their blanket and the warmth of the sun. In the midst of their discussion, Jaelyn playfully pushed Henley back into a prone position She held her wrists down pseudo-forcefully while beginning to tease her breasts with her tongue. At first Henley squealed, feigning helplessness. But only until the sensations of Jaelyn's mouth turned her vocalization to those of arousal. In a quick and agile move, Henley turned Jaelyn's body over and she became the loving aggressor, kissing from breasts down to the hips and thighs of her eager partner. Soon the two of them were fully aroused by the practiced and well-expected movements of fingers and tongues. There on the blanket and in the undulating shade of the riverbank trees, they unashamedly made love in the fresh air—and to the solitary sound of little waves lapping the shore.

* * *