Beautiful Girls (19 page)

^{David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal's men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”}

 

^{The clue read:}

^{Dear David,}

^{Has God kept me from hurting you and the twins?}

^{What will happen at the end?}

^{What are you willing to do?}

^{We will see tomorrow. Now, head to the Big Apple and search the bridge to nowhere for your next clue.}

^Nabal

 

 

^{When we left Paris, night had fallen over The Strip. It seemed more than seventeen hours had passed since I last saw these incredible lights. It was obvious that Rob meant the New York, New York casino in his latest clue.}

^{We decided to walk there because it was only a mile south of Paris. It was a beautiful evening and the Saturday night crowd was just building. There were lots of people walking on the Boulevard.}

^{We didn't talk more about the events at the Eiffel Tower. Harmony had regained her composure and seemed content to hold my hand as we walked along to our next stop on this long chase.}

^{Harmony also knew that the bridge to nowhere was the replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge runs along the front of the hotel casino and is really the sidewalk. It is parallel to The Strip and shows off a large roller coaster and a copy of the New York skyline behind it.}

^{These skyline buildings, which include replicas of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, are the New York, New York hotel. Each of these landmarks is a different tower of guest rooms. Various New York street scenes are captured inside and out of the hotel lobby.}

^{Even though the bridge is only a one-fifth replica of the original, it is still a block long. Rob's clue gave us no specifics where in this stretch we would find the next one. The bridge had scores of people walking over it.}

^{Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which was a tourist destination, the Brooklyn Bridge was also a thoroughfare; people didn't stop to look around much.}

^{When we reached the north end of the bridge, Harmony said, “Wow, Stevie, look at all these people. We need a plan.”}

^{“I agree. Let's think for a second.”}

^{We moved to the right side of the bridge and let people pass us by.}

^{I said, “OK, we can see the clue can't be on the roadway. And, it wouldn't be on the suspension cables. It has to be somewhere else, like on the side rails.”}

^{“I agree. I think we need to walk slowly and look carefully.”}

^{“Yes, why don't you walk in front of me and we'll both look to the right.”}

^{“Let us be patient.”}

^{So, we were. The roadbed was made of paving stones. The sides of the walkway had a raised concrete base, metal uprights and a metal top railing. The bridge's two towers were made of brown stone and stood about fifty feet above the roadway. There were a few benches along the walkway.}

^{We had no luck on the first pass. We took a break at the other end of the bridge.}

^{I asked, “What's Rob thinking with this clue? What was his point?”}

^{“I do not know. I suppose he thought it would be a cool place to visit.”}

^{“Right, but when we got here, he probably realized there wasn't any really good place to hide the clue.”}

^{Harmony said, “I think you are right. He needs to always think ahead.”}

^{“That's right.”}

^{“I wonder how he did it.”}

^{“Did what?”}

^{“Well, think about it, Stevie. While he was here, he needed to know where he would put the clue at the next location. He really needed to plan it out.”}

^{“Probably.”}

^{“I wonder how he decided on the locations.”}

^{“Well, some of them aren't that hard to choose, you know, like this and the Eiffel Tower.”}

^{“True, but for others, like Cirque du Soleil and Red Rock, it took more effort, some imagination even.”}

^{“Yes, that's true.”}

^{Harmony asked me, “I wonder what he has in mind for his grand finale?”}

^{“I don't know. We'll need to be careful.”}

^{We started down the Boulevard side of the bridge. We still had no luck. So, we started an even slower search. During the second walk south our luck changed. There, on the underside of one of the benches, Harmony found the next clue. We sat on the bench, under a street light and read the contents.}

^{The next scripture passages read:}

^{When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day. In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died.}

 

^{Rob's clue read:}

^David,

^{You both did well today, even if you were slow at times. The redheaded sister is getting restless with your pace.}

^{We will end today's hunt after one more stop. Before it closes for the night, find your final clue of the day in the pool of hungry sharks.}

^Nabal

 

^{“Where is a pool of sharks in Las Vegas?”}

^{Harmony stood, pointed down the street, and said, “Right there, at Mandalay Bay, past Excalibur and The Luxor!”}

 

 

^{Since we were closer to Mandalay Bay than our car at Paris, we continued walking down The Strip. We passed Excalibur with its brightly lit castle and turrets. Then, we walked by Luxor with the replica Sphinx in front and its massive, black-glassed pyramid in back. The pyramid really does have this intense beam of white light that shines straight up to heaven. What a strange, impressive sight!}

^{The third hotel and our destination, Mandalay Bay, was a South Seas paradise. We sensed the tranquil setting as we walked up the front driveway.}

^{Harmony held my hand the whole way and our pace was slower than our first walk. We were getting tired. Rob's promise that this was the last stop of the day, but not the grand finale of our hunt, reduced our stress. We were almost relaxed by the time we entered the hotel lobby.}

^{Mandalay Bay had a very tall atrium lobby with a glass roof, potted palms, white walls and a marbled floor. Three tower wings radiated off the lobby at 120 degree angles. The center of the lobby held a large fish tank. The casinos, restaurants and shops surrounded the huge lobby.}

^{The concierge directed us down a hallway to the Shark Reef. We paid our seventeen dollar entrance fees and entered the venue.}

^{Shark Reef's centerpiece is a massive aquarium. There were many other types of fish in the big tank with the sharks. Apparently, the sharks are fed separately and leave the other fish alone. A special feature of the big tank is a tunnel that runs through the middle. Water flows all around this tunnel so you can see fish and sharks swimming underwater.}

^{The sharks were fierce and hungry looking. The tropical fish came in all colors, shapes and sizes.}

^{There, in that tunnel, we found the next clue. The plastic disk was stuck to a support beam between two curved pieces of strong, thick glass. I pocketed the disk and we continued our tour of the aquarium. I especially liked the big Komodo Dragon in one of the dry side exhibits.}

^{Soon our energy and interest waned. It was nearly nine o'clock.}

^{“Harmony, let's go have dinner. It's been a long day.”}

^{“Yes, let us.”}

^{“I need to call Edie and Lieutenant Lomita too. Why don't we eat here?”}

^{“That sounds good. Where would you like to eat?”}

^{“You choose. If we can find a quiet, casual place I can put Edie on speaker so we both can speak to her.”}

^{“Do you think she will desire to speak to me?”}

^{“Sure. She spoke to Mel and me last night.”}

^{“Oh, I see. All right then, I will choose the restaurant.”}

^{We walked to the lobby and determined our options. Harmony suggested the Border Grill because it was Mexican, not crowded, casual, and had outdoor seating. It fit the bill. We requested an outside table away from everyone else. The hostess obliged us; the nearest table was about forty feet away.}

^***

^{“As you can tell, we've had a busy day, baby.”}

^{Edie said, “It sounds like it. You guys were all over Vegas.”}

^{We had already ordered dinner. I chose roasted plantains for my appetizer and seared halibut for my entrée. Harmony selected a seafood tortilla for her first round and chicken enchiladas for the second.}

^{We were sipping a margarita as we talked to Edie in Casa Verde. Tawny and she were back from their shopping and early dinner in Palm Springs. They spent a bunch of money on new clothes. Edie called it their form of therapy.}

^{Edie asked, “Did you see them anywhere you went?”}

^{I answered, “No, but of course Rob had to be at each place not long before we were there.”}

^{Harmony added, “Edie, Rob wrote that Mel and he were at the waterfall in Red Rock not long before us. Plus, in the last clue he wrote that Mel was getting restless.”}

^{“Interesting. So, what's next?”}

^{I said, “Well, we haven't opened the latest clue that we found here in the aquarium. Would you like us to read it?”}

^{Edie said, “Sure, go ahead.”}

^{I opened the clue and passed it to Harmony to read.}

^{When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin.” Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.}

 

^{Edie said, “We're getting near the end of Chapter 25. We must be near the end of the hunt, too.”}

^{I agreed.}

^{Harmony added, “Yes, I agree, too, Edie. In an earlier clue today Rob wrote about the end being tomorrow.”}

^{Edie said, “Guys, I'm so worried for you. I'm praying all the time. Please be careful tomorrow.”}

^{I said we would.}

^{Edie said, “Harmony, do you think you should stay at your condo tomorrow and let Stevie go by himself?”}

^{Harmony answered, “I am too scared to be alone right now, especially at home. Rob knows where I live. He left a letter on my front door yesterday.”}

^{Edie replied, “Oh, that's right. I forgot. I understand how you feel.”}

^{I said, “So, that's where we stand. Harmony, please read Rob's latest clue.”}

^{Dear David,}

^{The end is coming soon. Rest tonight as two challenges will test you tomorrow.}

^{First, find the hole of death at Desert Pines. Look for your next clue in the sand around the green.}

^Nabal

 

^{Edie asked, “What does that mean, Stevie?”}

^{“It must mean a golf course, since he writes about a hole and sand and the green. Harmony, is there a golf course named Desert Pines?”}

^{“I am not sure. There could be. I do not play golf. It seems like a logical name for a course in Las Vegas.”}

^{I said, “On our way out of here, we'll stop and ask the concierge. I'm sure he'll know.”}

^{“Good idea.”}

^{Edie said, “I hope this does end tomorrow.”}

^{I said we did too.}

^{“Have you been talking to Lieutenant Lomita?”}

^{I answered Edie, “Yes, we've called him a few times today, including just before we called you. He has the Las Vegas police on standby to help us if we see Rob. We just never did today.”}

^{“This is just so weird and unbelievable.”}

^{I agreed with Edie.}

^{Edie said, “I'm praying for your sister, Harmony. Stevie thinks she's strong. I know she needs to be.”}

^{Harmony answered, “She is Edie. I truly do not think I could survive if I was in her place. I was having difficulty today and I was with Stevie, not Rob.”}

^{Edie said, “Stevie will save her. I believe it.”}

^{“I believe that in my heart, too. This is very hard…” Harmony was on the verge of breaking down again.}

^{Edie said, “It will be over soon. Stay close to Stevie.”}

^{“I am.”}

^{Edie than said to me, “Give that poor girl a big hug.”}

^{I smiled at Harmony across the table and said, “I will.”}

^{Harmony grabbed my hand.}

^{Edie said, “I look forward to meeting you, Harmony. Stevie tells me you remind him of a younger version of myself.”}

^{“That is what he told me, too.”}

^{Edie said, “I don't know how that can be. Maybe he just misses me and is seeing things.”}

^{Harmony answered, “I am not sure.”}

^{I said, “Hey, you two, I'm only being honest. Look, I'll take a photo of Harmony with my cell phone. I'll call you back after I send it to you.”}

^{I did it and then called Edie.}

^{Her first words were, “This is hard to believe. The resemblance is remarkable. We really need to figure out our connection.”}

^{“I told you.”}

^{Edie said, “It makes me want to meet you even more, Harmony.”}

^{“Thank you, Edie.”}

^{Edie said, “Well, Stevie, I miss you very much but I haven't met anyone here who looks like you.”}

^{We laughed at that comment.}

^{Edie then said, “Look, one last thing, guys. I've been thinking about our wedding, Stevie. I know we want a small one now. Why don't we get married in Las Vegas? Tawny and I can come there when this is over.”}

^{I smiled and said, “OK, are you sure?”}

^{“Why not? It has everything there we need for the ceremony and places to stay and relax after all this.”}

^{I said, “If you want to, it sounds good to me.”}

^{Edie said, “And, Harmony, I want you and your sister to be there too. You can be our witnesses.”}

^{“Are you sure, Edie?”}

^{“Yes, it's the least we can do for all your help.”}

^{“Thank you,” said Harmony.}

^{Edie added, “And, tonight, if you're scared, you have my permission to hold Stevie tight. Give him a kiss for me.”}

^{“I will.”}

^{I didn't know what to say so I stayed quiet. This all seemed so strange.}

^{“Stevie, I'll get off the phone now. I love you and miss you. I can't wait to be with you again. Tawny says hello, too.”}

^{“I miss you baby. I want to be together with you on Monday.”}

^{“Goodnight, baby,” Edie said, as we hung up.}

^{We ate our dinner and it was great Mexican food. We shared our appetizers and entrees. Harmony ordered us a second round of margaritas.}

^{On the way out of Mandalay Bay we learned that there is a Desert Pines golf course in the north part of Las Vegas, about seven miles north of UNLV. We planned to get there midmorning on Sunday. We took a cab back to Paris, and drove back to the condo.}

^{A half hour later we were parked and walking into Harmony's Avalon condo. It was after 11 PM. I was beat. So was Harmony. She had slept in the Mustang on the drive back to Henderson.}

^{I grabbed a bottle of water while Harmony went to her bedroom. I sat on the sofa and thought about all the whirlwind events since Monday. It all seemed like a dream, and much of it was a nightmare. Three wonderful people were dead. I met a special set of twins. And, Rob was still out there with one of those twins.}

^{Then, Harmony slowly walked by me. She had changed into a white sleeveless cotton nightgown that ended way above her knees. She had also brushed her hair and she smelled incredible. She looked gorgeous. She also looked vulnerable again.}

^{She sat next to me on the sofa, exposed nearly all of her legs and said, “I am not quite ready for bed.”}

^{“What would you like to do?”}

^{“I want to be with you.”}