Astrid wasn't sure what to think about being released. Charles was still in custody and the captain had said that they expected him to remain there until they had looked further into the alibi of Senor Ordman. She was pretty certain that whichever one they chose to arrest and charge she would be in the clear except for trying to steal the money.

Astrid went to her room and had a long luxuriating shower as she plotted how to retrieve the excess money she had hidden before being caught. Since there was no way of knowing how much was in the safe originally there would be no reason to suspect that there was any more than what they had now.

She smiled and hummed a tune as she envisioned herself far from Windy Palms, with a large sum of her own money, enjoying the same extravagant life of the people she had served so long .

******

Gary poured another glass full of Tequila and with a shudder and a clenched face he downed the entire amount. It was the third and the burn he was beginning to feel in his gut was tapping the clarity he had in his head. Warez had him pegged for both killings. He knew it by the way his eyes gleamed with each faltering answer and now with nobody to provide him with an alibi his future was almost upon him. He eyed the bottle and tilted another stiff measure into the glass.

Glenda was his only out. He had to convince her to back him up somehow. He gulped some more of the fiery liquid and coughed harshly. She could say he went to her room after the maid left. The time would save him from getting to the beach and killing Graves, then she could say he stayed until breakfast. What did he do that morning?

He cast about the room for an answer but his foggy brain couldn't focus. The maid! He suddenly remembered. The maid had stayed with him until morning and now she was denying it. Perfect! She wouldn't contradict him saying that he went to Glenda's now; it would shine the light right back on her.

His plan took form; he needed to speak to Glenda. He could say to Warez that he was protecting her reputation by not mentioning her part. It sounded very weak, even to him, but he was desperate; he could not be arrested down here for something he didn't do-for anything as far as that went. He would never get out of Mexico again.

******

Hector was certain that Astrid was supposed to alibi Charles for the killings, which meant that they both would be sharing the money. He didn't believe for a moment that Charles would murder two people for such a small sum as they found on her and share it as well. Hector lit a cigarillo and sat in Charles' chair and put his feet on the desk and did some deducting out loud. "Astrid had less than one hundred thousand dollars in the bag when they caught her, meaning Senorita Estrada and Senor Hunt either took some before Charles caught up with them or Astrid somehow hid some before getting caught."

He rolled his cigarillo in his fingers and squinted at the ceiling. "Astrid let herself get caught knowing that all she would be charged with was taking the money, which they recovered. She had no intention of alibiing Charles." Both theories were sound and while he liked the one about Astrid better, he felt it only prudent to check out the other couple.

The gossip he'd been able to get from a couple of the police officers told him that Gary Ordman was also a prime suspect and Hector knew that Ordman's only hope was Glenda . . . which if she helped him it removed his own protection. He thought about Glenda Weiss and their pact to lie for each other, wondering if she would be interested in furthering their relationship if there was a large sum of money involved.

This might be just the plan to cut Ordman out permanently. He dropped his feet from the table and stood, hitching up his trousers; Hector Prince may yet emerge unscathed and richer. Find out what she thinks first and if it is good news then find the money. Hector flicked his smoke away and left the office.

******

Miller moved his towel from the lounge and dropped it on his lap as Billy approached. She flopped down and stretched her legs out comfortably, giving him a curious look.

"What?"

"First time I've seen you actually doing a vacation thing like sunning."

He snorted. "I've been to occupied with defending my innocence." Her face broke into a large grin and she placed her fingers over her mouth. "I meant- I was referring to the police investigation." He shook his head.

"Either way you didn't do too well." She laughed at his discomfort and patted his arm. "Teasing, Miller. Just teasing."

"What did daddy want?"

"I'm to stop meddling in the investigation and I'm to consider very carefully my choice of friends."

"Meaning me. Swell." He shifted on his lounge and sucked his teeth. "You know I worked a whole year praying it would be my name drawn in the company lottery for this vacation. When it happened I thought it was my dream come true. Look what it got me."

"Meaning me?"

"No, no. Don't be silly. I'm talking about- about everything . . . else . . ." He looked over at her, at her smooth, tanned arms and legs, at the way her hair fell about her face and he wet his upper lip. "Should I interpret that question to intimate that I somehow got you?"

Billy closed her eyes and covered them with her forearm. The air on the patio seemed to contract, forming a wall around them, blotting out everything else. They were alone in a void of complete silence.

"Billy-?"

"Damnit, Miller, I don't like questions like that." She blurted.

He lifted up on one elbow, facing her. "Billy . . ."

"I know, I know. You love me. You told me that already." She lowered her arm and met his eyes. "I told you that I made my living pleasing men and being a charming piece of arm candy when necessary. Those experiences have left me a tad cynical about emotional relationships."

"You're saying that night in your room was strictly business?"

"Habit. Not the sex part but the rest of it."

"I don't believe you for one minute."

She sat up quickly and got off the lounge. "I don't care what you believe; I know what I feel . . ." She stuttered to a stop then wiped a hand across her cheek, turned on her heel and left. Miller watched her go with a wistful stare; he was right and he knew it, professional business be damned. He checked the time and decided to wander down to the Dive Shop for some late lunch. The invitation for lunch with Billy was a non-starter.

******

Glenda was not pleased when Gary pushed his way into her room and even less pleased when he began his old refrain about an alibi.

"It'll work, Glenda," he insisted. "The maid denied being with me so I can say I came here that morning, early."

"And what about the fact you lied to the police? You told them Shelia Burrows was in your room then."

"I said she left and after that I can say I came here. I'll tell them I was protecting you. I was- I was-"

"You were what, Gary. You were and are an asshole."

"Glenda, please . . ." The knock at the door brought them both up short.

"Who's that?" Gary asked.

"How the hell would I know, the maid's already been in."

She went to the door and opened it, surprised to find Hector with his ever present, foul smelling cigarillo jutting from grim lips.

"What the hell do you want?"

"What is he doing here?" He pushed his way into the room and slammed the door. "Is this some plan to shift suspicion onto me?"

"What's he talking about? What the hell's going on here, Glenda?" Gary shifted his shoulders as if readying for combat.

"Don't say anything, Hector. I'm warning you." Glenda glared at the security guard.

"What do mean, don't say anything?" Gary grabbed her arm and spun her toward him. "Why is he here?"

"A better question is why are you here, senor?" Hector pulled Glenda's other arm.

"Let go of her!" Gary yanked harder and Glenda yelped, lashing out with foot that caught his shin. He yelped back and dropped her arm, rubbing his leg and hopping backwards.

"I want you both out of here no-" Hector swung her around onto the bed and charged at Gary, punching him hard on the side of the head before he could straighten up. Glenda fell in a tangle of skirt that rode up and blocked her view.

"You scheming, puta!" Hector screamed, lunging at the bed, his shoe catching on the carpet and sending him reeling sideways into a staggering Gary. They both crashed against the dresser and Hector's cigarillo was bent up into his cheek, effectively extinguishing itself there with a sizzling hiss and a scream from Hector. Gary pushed him away and took a wild swing that glanced off Hector's shoulder and into his ear. Hector went down in a heap, groaning and Gary turned to find Glenda's fist approaching like a missile.

Guests in the adjacent unit called the manager to complain about the sounds of a struggle coming from next door and Warez dispatched his men to see what was up. They arrived to find one man kneeling and bleeding from the nose all over another man who was on the floor clutching his face and standing over them both, an irate woman, rubbing her hand and screaming obscenities.

The two policemen steered the group down the walkway to the main building. Hector was moaning and cursing, holding one hand over his ear and the other on his burned face. Gary limped along with a wet facecloth over his broken nose and Glenda marched huffily ahead of the group, massaging a swelling set of knuckles.

Captain Warez drew in a sorry breath of air, removed his cap and ran a hand through his thick hair dejectedly as the trio was ushered in front of his desk in the lower lobby.