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Chapter 33

ELVIS WAS SITTING ON SIERRA'S DESK, ATTIRED IN HIS flower-patterned shirt, the small lei around his neck. Kay gave him an affectionate pat and then looked at Sierra.

"Time is running out for tomorrow's edition," she said. "We can't wait much longer for Fontana and Ray. We need to come up with a cover. Runtley says we should go back to basics."

Sierra eyed her warily. "Basics?"

"Sex. We need a new angle on the jungle honeymoon."

"Forget it. You've run that angle into the ground."

"Come on," Kay urged, "I'm just doing my job here while we wait for the big story. Fontana and Ray have been gone for nearly two days. Who knows when they'll get back? We need to fill space in tomorrow's edition."

"Fontana promised that he and Ray would only be gone for forty-eight hours."

"It was an estimate. You know that. Something might have come up."

Sierra shuddered. "Don't say that. I didn't sleep at all last night."

Kay made a face. "Neither did I. Kept thinking about Ray down there in the rain forest, wondering if he was okay and what he was doing."

"You're falling for him, aren't you?"

"What's not to fall for? Not only is he hot, he doesn't make a running joke out of my career as a journalist here at the Curtain. That makes him unique among men in my experience."

Elvis suddenly chortled and started to bounce around on the desk.

The anxiety that had kept everything inside Sierra tight and tense for the past two days metamorphosed into shattering relief. She flattened both hands on her desk and pushed herself to her feet.

"I think we've got our big story," she said.

She scooped up Elvis, plopped him on her shoulder, and headed for the door.

"What's going on?" Matt asked.

"They're back," Sierra said.

The door opened before Sierra got to it. Fontana walked in, dark hair damp and long, black raincoat swirling around the tops of his boots. He smiled a quick, triumphant smile when he saw her rushing toward him.

"Got a story for you," he said, opening his arms.

"It's about time you got back," she said.

She flung herself against his chest with such force that Elvis lost his grip. Momentum launched him forward. He landed nimbly on Fontana's shoulder and began making happy, welcoming noises.

Fontana's arms closed fiercely around Sierra. She hugged him with all of her might.

"I've been so worried," she whispered into his wet raincoat.

Ray moved through the doorway behind Fontana. He grinned at Kay.

"Hey, do I get a warm welcome, too?" he asked.

"If you want one," Kay said.

"Oh, yeah," Ray said. "I definitely want one of those."

Laughing, Kay crossed the room and went into his arms.

"Enough with the sappy greetings," Runtley bellowed from out in the hallway. "What's our exclusive?"

Fontana loosened his grip a little, but he kept Sierra tucked firmly against his side. He looked at Runtley.

"Here's your headline," he said. " 'Agents of the Crystal Guild Dismantle Underground Drug Operation.»

"Nah," Runtley said. "Needs more punch. We'll go with 'Guild Agents Destroy Alien Drug Lab.»

"Why didn't I think of that?" Fontana said.

"Because you're a Guild boss, not a newspaper editor," Runtley explained kindly.