Corey returned to the bed just to think and calm himself. He heard Mattingly order their food, then make a phone call himself.

"Hello, Chief? . . . Yeah, we made it back to the hotel. The girl's in the Med Center being observed . . . Yeah, he's doing OK. Kinda tired. Resting now . . . Oh yeah, we saw it on CNN. . . Hold on, I'll get him."

Corey didn't wait for Bill to summon him. He was already off the bed on his way to the phone.

"Hey, Chief . . ."

"Jeffers . . . what you did on this case was remarkable. I really mean that, young man."

"Thank you, Sir."

"But now listen. The other reason I'm speaking to you is to warn you. About how this case has made a significant game change, since your work back there. I think you know what I mean."

"Yeah, it's all pretty crazy. I recognize the new difficulties."

"Look, Corey. I just got out of another meeting with the top brass around here. They were informed of the FBI's story around the same time the media got a hold of it. Thanx to our wonderful FBI partners. So look . . . The mayor and state officials have all bought into their official narrative of the rescue and motive behind the case."

"I was afraid that."

"Right. That the Marlow's case was just a ransom deal that went bust. The whole thing . . . as you, I and Mattingly only know, has become a major cover-up."

"Yeah. Terrific news, Chief."

"And that puts you and your partner back there . . . along with the girl, in a pretty precarious position."

"Yeah, we got that back here."

"Listen, Jeffers. You've got to play this up just the way it's going down in the press right now. Capiche? . . . Oh, I know you're not happy about that . . . and want to set the story straight. But listen, young man. This thing has the potential of being bigger than all of us. And that just can't happen right now. You got that, Corey?"

"Yeah, Chief. Message received."

"This whole thing you've uncovered, technically . . . and politically, is a time bomb. Which may not go off soon . . . or maybe ever, unfortunately. But that's not your or even my call right now. We've got to get the right support on where that leads to ever go forward with it. Understood?"

"OK. But Chief . . ."

"Lieutenant, you and Mattingly are majorly in the soup right now. Getting out of it all depends on keeping silent about what you found. Just keep your heads down until you get on that plane tomorrow. Is that clear, lieutenant?"

"Yeah Chief. It is."

"For now . . . we let those bastard Feds play the game their way. And we live to fight another day. I just want to see both your ugly faces in back Vegas again. Soon."

"Fine, Chief. But you've got to make sure the security detail you've arranged for Marlow keep to their jobs. And are hopefully independent of the Feds controlling her now. We'd like to see her own pretty face back in Vegas, too. ASAP."

"Alright, young man. I'll double check that. But for now, it's the plan."

"Alright. Mattingly and I should see you by tomorrow."

"Not should. Will!"

He heard the line shut off and handed the phone back to his partner.

Before either of them could speak, there was a knock on the hotel room door. Both men froze and looked at one another blankly.

Bill spoke first. "Hey, that's gotta be our food, man."

He got up to go to the door.

"Wait, Bil!. I love your confidence. Let them knock again, and we'll check the peephole."

Corey went over to the door and waited. He looked through the small portal and could see a young, uniformed Asian man with a tray.

"Room Service," the youthful voice said.

"Fine. Please leave the tray on the floor," Corey told him.

"I'm not allowed to do that, Sir . . ."

Corey looked back at Mattingly. His partner waited, then motioned for him to just relax and receive the tray. Cautiously, Corey opened the door and took the food in, nodding to the employee. As he closed the door and handed the heavy tray of Italian food to his partner, he noticed a small envelope between the plates and four tall bottles of beer.

"What the hell is this?"

Corey opened the small envelop and read aloud the handwritten message:

"The beer and food are on us, brothers. Well deserved. You are advised to proceed with this kidnap and ransom case when you return, entertaining no other theories or motives. To do so would be a grave miscalculation. Travel safe."

"Who the fuck is this!" Corey shouted.

Bill was at first silent. He also seemed in shock.

"Jesus, man. I don't know . . . New players? The same shits?"

"Look . . . they've underlined kidnap and ransom case."

"Like we don't get that."

"Who could that be, Bill?"

"Someone who's pretty serious we keep our mouths shut."

"Also sounds like . . .we behave, and we get on that plane a little safer tomorrow."

"That's what I got, pal. This whole damn thing is just too mysterious."

With that, Mattingly put the plates out on the table, opened one of the cold beers and sat before the food.

"At least we now know where we stand, partner."

"Yeah. For now . . . but who the hell are our . . . brothers?" Corey took one of the beers, remained standing and drank from the bottle.

"Hey Jeffers . . . You not going to join me in this feast?" Mattingly expected no answer as he dug into a heaping plate of spaghetti.

"No man. Right now . . . food's the last thing on my mind."

As Corey watched his partner devour the meals, he went over to the closet and began putting on the clothing Mattingly had brought for him.

"Hey Buddy," Bill asked with a mouth full of French bread. "You got a hot date or something? Where you going?"

"There's something I've still got to do before we blow out of here tomorrow."

"Yeah? And what's that, Sherlock?"

"I've got to go back to where I was ferried onto the Morpheus. To get my cell phone, clothes and luggage."

"OK. But don't you think that's a little crazy . . . leaving our room in broad daylight?"

"You saw the note, man. It's more less an acknowledgement of where we are. Even a green light for our exit. But whatever it is, I got too much stuff in that cell phone, Bill. And one of the numbers is that bastard Alan Sache. You remember I called him once before. When he started dissing us off the case?"

"Yeah, but that's ancient history now, Corey. We totally know where he stands on this thing And he's guarding the girl."

"Exactly! That's why I need to talk to him."

"Hey, Buddy. Don't be stupid now . . . You heard the Chief. Mum's the word on this case. To anyone out there. You don't think Sache and his Fed boys weren't in on that attempt to run you down on the street . . . or weren't stalking you here in the city?"

"Yeah. But I've got to get to Henley. Let her know not to talk about the experiment. To anyone. For her own good . . . and ours. Right? You and I'll stay silent on this thing. Along with the Chief. But so should Henley right now. We both know as soon as she's able, the press will be hounding her for interviews. To the military . . . and even the Feds, Bill, that girl' totally expendable."

"You think Sache's going to let her speak publicly?"

"No. And it's too obvious how he might not let that happen."

"Come on, Junior. He's got to show the world his department brought her home safe. Getting her in plain view for publicity and then home is his second objective for the cover-up."

"Right. And after that?

"I don't know after that, man."

"Look, Bill. I think I can make a deal with him. About convincing Henley not to talk. She trusts me. She'll listen. I need to convince her of her grave situation, while she's free or not."

But look, man. You got nowhere trying to reach him today at the Med Center. He's got the girl and the whole case under wraps. It's his game now, Buddy. Whoever he's working for, he's not taking messages from anyone at that Med Center."

"When I get my phone, I'm calling him direct. Trust me. I think it's in everyone's interest to let Henley know the score right now . . . for her own protection. To preserve the false narrative."

Mattingly thought a moment, then got up from the table and wiped his mouth with a hotel napkin. He reached over and picked up his holstered weapon and put it back over his shoulder.

"OK, you crazy bastard, I'm in with you on this . . . but the Chief will know nothing of it. Got that? Not at least until we get back to Vegas."

"You got it, pal. Belt Warf Landing."

"What?"

"That's where were headed. My clothes and phone are across the bay there. A yacht club. And I'm sure my friend Terry is still holding them."

"OK partner, let's roll then."

* * *

Corey had on the Hawaiian shirt and pair kaki dockers as the two boldly left the room and passed through the hotel lobby to the frontage boulevard below.

As they haled a taxi, Bill looked behind them casually. "You know these boy scouts will be on our tail wherever we go, Corey."

"I'm getting used to it, man."

In no time a cab rolled up and Corey gave the driver their destination. During the fifteen-minute ride the young lieutenant kept looking out at the massive blue bay rolling by. He tried to think of how he would approach Alan Sache at the Medical Center. It was exactly this man during the whole investigative case who had been their nemesis. Considering Henley's predicament, he knew there was little compromise for what he wanted, protecting her life and wellbeing. And in addition, his and Mattingly's.

As the taxi entered the parking lot of the familiar yacht club, Bill gave the driver a credit card to hold and wait. Corey looked but could see no other car behind them. He and his partner walked into the bar, and as twice before, Terry was in charge of the midday customers. There were again only a few, and to both men's relief none looked to be of any physical threat.

As Corey approached the bar, Terry broadly smiled and walked from behind it to greet him with a handshake.

"Hey partner! I saw it on the news today! . . . What you were up to out there on the Morpheus. Man, you didn't tell me you were FBI."

Corey looked furtively at Bill.

"Well, it was a difficult case, Terry. And I appreciate your help getting me onboard."

"No man. It was your brilliant work. So . . . is that girl you guys rescued gonna be alright? See, I always knew those guys out there were up to something dirty with money."

"Yeah, I remember you had your suspicions."

"Wow, man. Had no idea you were on some . . . undercover job with the government."

"Well, hopefully that'll stay a secret. With both you and George."

"Oh yeah. Man. I'd never tell a soul you're FBI. And hey. . . wait . . . "

Terry reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet.

"Here. It's the hundred you gave me. Take it back. You were on a mission, man. I'm just glad I helped you get it done . . . I couldn't take your money for that."

Corey smiled sentimentally. "No, Terry. You deserve every bit of that. You helped me keep my cover. It's yours. Fair and square."

"Well thanks . . . I guess I shouldn't know your real name . . . but thanks."

"Look. I'm here to thank you . . . and George . . . and to get my things."

"Oh yeah. They're in the back room. Your clothes, a travel bag and cell phone. Right?"

"That's it."

Corey reached into a hotel plastic bag he'd been carrying and took out the uniform he wore on the yacht. "Good thing we're the same size, huh? It's gonna need a good washing."

"No man. But yeah, that worked out pretty good for everyone."

As the young barman went back to get Corey's belongings, Corey looked out to where the Morpheus had been anchored so long just offshore. He figured it would now be brought back to the harbor and impounded for investigations—something the Feds who were in charge of the case would obviously not thoroughly carry out. Corey well-knew now that the crimes committed onboard that vessel would forever be considered merely a kidnap and ransom attempt. And he also knew, without his bold intervention, there would never be exposed the Barbaric attempts to change a young woman's sexuality—all under the supervision and sanction of the U.S. Government.

As Terry returned and handed over his belongings, Corey could see there was still a small charge on the phone's battery, enough to make the critical call to Allan Sache.

"Well thanks again, for your help, young man," Corey said. "You can be proud you contributed to something good."

"Yeah, I'll never forget hearing those headlines this morning . . . about the Morpheus and the rescue you guys with the Coast Guard pulled off. It was like a movie, man!"

The two Las Vegas investigators smiled, nodded, shook the barman's hand, and walked back up to the waiting taxi.

When the fare was paid and the two were let out in front of their hotel, Corey wasted no time on the street dialing Sache on his cell phone.

"Hello? Allan Sache?"

There was a pause.

"Yes. Who is this?

"Corey Jeffers. Lieutenant. Las Vegas PD."

Again, a pause.

"Hello Mr. Jeffers . . . I'm actually quite surprised to be hearing from you today."

"I can understand that. So let me be brief. I'm fully aware of the situation both my partner and I find ourselves in. And you and I both know that's very contingent upon what we say we know . . . about this case."

"That's correct."

"And that goes the same for the young woman you currently have under your control."

"Yes, that is also correct, Mr. Jeffers."

"As you may not know, I had been in communication with Miss Marlow on several occasions. During her incarceration. The most recent . . . very early this morning aboard the yacht while personally orchestrating her rescue."

"That I am aware of."

"And so, in your best interest, my best interest, the girl's . . . as well as the organization you are working for . . . I'm willing to persuade Miss Marlow not to tell her story to the press or anyone else. That is, other than the shock of her abduction in the process of what you are now calling a kidnap and ransom case."

Corey could tell Sache was processing his offer. Considering his own interests in it.

"And . . . what makes you think she will . . ."

"My rapport with her, Allan. Contrary to your involvement, she has established trust in me."

Once again silence.

"Exactly what are you proposing then, Mr. Jeffers?"

"That you let me meet with Henley . . . First to calm her. Reassure her that she will be allowed to go home. Be reunited with her mother and lover . . . And second, that she'll be fully protected from any further incarceration by either your agency . . . or the entity you are working for."

"It's an interesting offer, Lieutenant."

"And for this . . . you'll have our silence about the complete story behind Miss Marlow's disappearance."

There were several more moments of silence.

"The only reason I will consider your proposal, Mr. Jeffers, is because our subject has continually asked for you since her being admitted into the Med Center."

Corey could feel his mouth dry with anticipation.

"At what time could you be here for that discussion with her?" Sache finally asked.

"Within thirty minutes?"

"Granted. I'll tell the officers now to allow you into the area where she's under guarded observation. See you then, Lieutenant."

Corey heard the phoneline close and quickly waved his arm to flag down another taxi.

* * *