The next morning at the offices of Townsend & Associates, Sabrina and Kelly sat on the couch. Each wore a pantsuit. Sabrina's was beige; Kelly's navy-blue. Lisa, still impersonating Kris, was perched on a stool by the bar, working on her third vodka and grapefruit juice. Her black skirt was the shortest Bosley could ever remember seeing, but at least her midriff was covered. He considered that a moral victory.
The phone rang, and Bosley answered, "Townsend and Associates."
"Good Morning, Angels, Bosley," Charlie said.
"Good Morning, Charlie!" replied Sabrina and Kelly.
"Hey, Charlie Townsend," Lisa said with a bit of a slur.
Kelly and Sabrina exchanged concerned looks.
"I'm glad everyone is on time this morning," Charlie said. "Ready to go, Bosley?"
"Just a moment, I'll set up the projector."
As Bosley fiddled with the device, Jill in a white linen shirt and matching pants, burst into the room. She dropped a pair of suitcases, spotted Lisa at the bar, and pointed an accusing finger. "There you are!"
Lisa, with no hint of recognition, stared at Jill. "Hello?"
"Jill!" Sabrina and Kelly sprang from the couch, rushed over, and embraced the former Angel.
"Jill?" Charlie said over the speaker. "What are you doing there?"
"Good question!" Jill frowned at Lisa. "Someone was supposed to pick me up at the airport."
"Oops!" Lisa tried a disarming smile.
Jill continued, "And I guess you didn't tell anyone that I was coming back to town?"
Lisa shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise?"
I'm surprised!" Bosley said.
Jill crossed the room. She hugged Lisa, who played along and hugged back. Jill's lips turned into a slight frown at smell of alcohol on her breath. "I'll let you off the hook this time, little sister."
Lisa relaxed. Now she had an idea who this woman was. "Wouldn't expect anything less from my big sis."
"So, what happened?" Sabrina asked. "Why are you here? What happened to racing?"
Jill looked again at Lisa. "Since someone didn't pass along the news: I finished third in Tokyo. My next race in Denmark, but that's not for another month. I came home to visit. I had to take a cab from the airport, but no one was at the beach house." Jill shrugged. "Figured someone would be here."
"We're certainly glad you're here, Jill," Charlie said. "Care to sit in on a case?"
"Why not?" Jill said.
"I'm ready," Bosley said.
Jill took a seat in front of the desk. Bosley dimmed the lights and powered up the projector.
The slide showed a handsome blond man in his thirties with blue eyes and dazzling white teeth.
"This is our suspect. Keith Kaufman," Bosley said.
Jill waggled her eyebrows. "I'm already glad I'm sitting in."
Charlie said, "I talked with an old friend in the Las Vegas Police Department. Kaufman doesn't appear to be employed. He spends his days golfing or poolside at the Frontier. At nights he can be found at the blackjack tables."
Bosley advanced the slides showing a well-tanned Kaufman at the pool, on the golf course and in the casino.
"Looks like Mr. Kaufman is doing very well for a man who doesn't have a job," Kelly said.
"My thoughts exactly," Charlie said.
"What's the approach?" Sabrina asked.
"Sabrina, you'll go undercover as a technical recruiter. See if you can interest Mr. Kaufman in a job," Charlie said.
"And if I can't, it might just mean he's our thief," she said.
"Could be," Bosley said. "You'll have to try and feel out his monetary situation."
"What about me, Charlie?" Kelly asked.
"The Frontier has an opening for a cocktail waitress in the blackjack pits. I made a few calls and the job is yours."
'Great." Kelly sighed. "Nothing like trying to balance a dozen drinks in heels."
"But think of the tips!" Jill laughed.
Charlie said, "As for Kris, she'll b—"
"I'm primed and ready for a direct assault on Mr. Kaufman," Lisa said.
"Yes," Charlie said. "I got a call from Saffron's Department Store this morning. Two swimsuits, a cocktail dress, shoes, perfume, earrings, and a necklace were charged to my account. Isn't that a bit of overkill, Angel?"
Lisa dropped her voice into a husky tone. "Well, Charlie, if you want to snag a crook, you need to bait the hook."
Charlie chuckled nervously.
"Okay, everybody's got their covers," Bosley said. "I'll make arrangement us to fly to Vegas in the morning."
"Guess we should all go get packed," Sabrina said.
As the Angels headed for the door, Charlie said, "Jill, could you stay behind for a moment?"
She stopped and shrugged. "Sure."
Lisa said, "I'll wait for you in the car."
The door closed.
"What's up, Charlie?" Jill asked.
"I'm a bit concerned about Kris," Charlie said.
"Me too." Bosley nodded.
Jill frowned. "She's not working out?"
"Oh, no," Charlie said. "She was integral in rescuing me from Mister Blue when I was kidnapped in Hawaii."
Bosley said, "And she was the one who realized the ice skaters were going to assassinate the Sheiks. Really saved the day on that one."
"So, what's the problem?" Jill asked.
"The past few days, Kris hasn't seemed herself," Bosley said.
"You mean like forgetting to pick me up at the airport or hitting the bar before lunch?" Jill asked.
"That's some of it," Bosley said.
Jill pressed her lips into a thin line. "Okay, I'll talk to her. Try to find out what's got her acting this way."
"That's a start," Charlie said. "But what we'd really like is for you to come along to Vegas and keep an eye on her."
Jill flashed her brilliant smile. "A free vacation in Vegas. Why not?"