Las Vegas, Nevada...sometime later...we'll say 9:41am PST
The team arrives McCarren Airport with Jess and Andrew saying their goodbyes. Outside the airport, near the cabline sits a navy Chevy Suburban and a man matching the description of Brian Aby, your West Coast Agency contact. He is a man of modest stature, about 5'8", 175lbs with blond hair and blue eyes wearing a hawaiian shirt and shorts...typical California look.
As the team waits for a long second, pondering what is to come, Stewart chimes in from the background.
"HEY! Kim, long time no see! Are you waiting for cab? I have a rental car if you need a ride. Are these gentleman (pointing at the team) giving you any trouble?"
Andrew looks a bit put-off by Jess' snippy comment, but holds back any resentment.
"That's the story of my life. Well, you gents take good care of her. (kissing Jess' hand) Good day Ms. Westlake. I shall be waiting to hear from you."
Moments later, the team sees Stewart peeling out of the car rental lot in a late-model Jaguar convertable.
Agent Aby figures this is a good as time as any to make contact with the team.
"Um...hello? I believe I'm here to pick you guys up? Wow, it sure is bright out here...isn't it?"
Harry "marks" him for what it's worth.
Cripes, he's definitely not your average field agent. From the paleness of his skin and thickness of his glasses, I'd bet he spends 18 hours of his day behind a computer screen. Most likely a snoop. I hope he doesn't melt under the desert sun.
"But...who's Andrew?! (whips out his PDA) Excuse me... there's no Andrew listed on my instructions! Uh...who are you people? What's going on here?!"
A bead of sweat comes down the side of Brian's face, then his normal pinkish paleness turns a nice shade of white. Gavin's seen this before...right before the scared guy pulls out his gun and starts spraying and praying. Brian appears to be going for his weapon.
That describes the farce of a melee that is Artis' attempt to disarm Brian.
Brian goes for his nickel-plated sissy pistol as Artis' oh shite! factor goes through the roof. Artis goes for a sloppily executed disarm whilst Brian completely botches his quick draw manuever. The corresponding cause-effect is that Brian is completely bowled over as his aforementioned sissy pistol skitters across the pavement...stopping at the feet of an airport rent-a-cop.
The good news (if you can call it good) is that no one around seemed to notice the scuffle. The rent-a-cop is busy talking on his cel phone and smoking a cigarette being thoroughly engrossed in his conversation.
I motion for Jess to ...ahem... distract the security guy, then tell Gavin and Harry to "watch Brian", and I suppose I'll Move Silently and get the gun while the guy's staring at Jess.
Jess goes over to the rent-a-cop with the standard Got a light, check out my cleavage routine as Gavin and Harry muscle poor Brian into the suburban.
Artis makes his move for the pistol as Jess uses patented manuever #321...Did I mention I'm not wearing underwear?
The cop seems totally distracted by Jess' flirtations as Artis yoinks the pistol from below. He gets away clean from the scene and gives Jess the "all clear" thumbs-up. She then proceeds to knee the cop in the balls slapping him in the face for good measure.
I hand Gavin the pistol and slide my rear into the driver's seat. "That was a rude thing you did, Brian. You almost got the lot of us tossed in jail. No more guns for you. Now, Agency obviously told you to meet us here. Didn't they say what we looked like?"
I continue and drive my way out of the airport. "You've got our equipment stashed somewhere, I take it?"
Brian is desperately trying to grasp what just transpired. He holds the back of his head where it smacked into the pavement.
"Fuck! You people are fucking nuts! Go straight, then make a left onto Las Vegas Boulevard. They should put you in a glass room with the instructions break only in case of war!. Ouch! Fuck...oh god, it hurts!" Make a right at the next light."
Brian appears to be directing Artis down the swathe of big-budget hotels along Las Vegas Boulevard...aka THE STRIP. The last right turns the suburban into the parking lot of the Mandalay Bay Casino-Hotel.
"I think you guys bruised my brain. Just pull up to the valet parking area. The Agency has your suite ready with your stuff inside."
Artis pulls up to the valet area and the team gets out. Brian, albeit begrudgingly, gives you the low-down as he escorts you up to the room (#1402).
"Here are your room keys. Everything should be in order at this point. My room...which for the record is nowhere near as nice as your accomedations is 807."
As the team takes a look at their accomedations, Gavin spots a some rather large samsonite suitcases stored in a large teakwood armoire.
This must be the goodies...
Artis takes a look at the security situation.
Only one point of entry...that's good. We're on the 14th floor, so barring an aerial strike or...well, I won't go there...we should be fine.
At this point the hotel phone rings...it's Philpott.
Good morning team. I hope that your flight went well. Don't worry about a tap, Mr. Aby has taken care of that issue. And by now you all should have made contact with Brian Aby, alias "Buzzard". Treat him well, because he is the eyes and ears of Las Vegas...believe it or not. Three years ago we caught him hacking into three casino bank accounts and before we traced it to Aby, he liquidated nearly $200 million. If you need to do any intelligence gathering that doesn't require going out in natural light, he's your man. What is the status of the Stewart Operation?"
"Splendid. Keep me informed as your investigation develops. Oh, I should also tell you that you will be joined shortly by a new Agent...Brian Malory, Codename: Osprey. You should be receiving his DOSSIERE with the latest batch of intel."
Harry hooks up his laptop to recieve the intel when it comes, but for now contents himself to lie on the couch, eyes closed, headphones on, listening to the "Sinatra at the Sands" live album, featuring Count Basie.
"Hey Kim...it's Andrew. Yeah, I know it's only been 30 minutes, but I wanted to know if you'd like to go see a show tonight. I got tickets to see one of those Sinatra impersonators...I hear he is quite good."
As Jess muddles over the offer, Artis flips on the TV. It's the internal hotel info channel. About 10 seconds of advertisements goes by,
The critically acclaimed Broadway show MAMA MIA! live at the Mandalay Bay Theater. Opens February 2003.
See JAWS at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef.
Tonight. LIVE! From the House of Blues, one night only! Performer Bob Watley does Sinatra. *SOLD OUT!*
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