**Dulles Intermational Airport**

0900 Zulu

Flight 36A

Seats 12A and 12B

"Did you remember your pajamas this time?"

"Yes. I had time to pack." Mac grinned, pulling out her walkman.

Harm put on a mock hurt expression. "You don't want to talk to me?"

"Huh? Oh. I'm gonna relax for a while."

"But-"

"Can't hear you." she teased.

"What are you listening to?" Harm enunciated.

"The Last High."

Harm snorted. "Go figure."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing."

**********************************

**Las Vegas Airport**

fill

in

l8r

Baggage Claim

"D*****! Harm, could you grab my other bag please? I missed it."

"It's because you're so short. Got it."

Mac balked. "I'm 5'10 thank ou very much. Ahh!"

A man apparently in a rush knocked Harm and Mac against the wall.

"I still have 6 inches on you." Harm grinned.

"Would ya mind getting your '6 inches' off of me?"

Harms eyes widened. "Huh?! I'm so- Ha ha. Funny Colonel."

"And they say payback's a b****."

"A b**** for whom is the question. Okay, let's get going. Autopsy tonight."

"Ooh. Don't let me forget the popcorn."

"Alllllright. If you say so."

Mac burst through the turnstyle door. "So, where's our car?"

"That one right there." Harm pointed to a dark green mustang convertible."

"Sweet! When did the Navy start issuing those?"

"They didn't. The rental agency issued our car to someone else, so we get this one as a consolation prize."

"But why didn't we get a navy car?"

"You always have to look the gift horse in the mouth?"

"Just wondering."

"The admiral wanted us to blend in with the tourists."

"Why?"

"CSI is doing an open investigation. We're going to find out in...other ways."

"CSI? Why isn't NCIS handling this? This is a military case."

"Aren't you inquisitive today?"

Mac gave Harm a look.

"NCIS is 'otherwise occupied'. It's on a need to know basis, and before you ask, they didn't feel that I needed to know."

"Alright."

Harm pulled into a large hotel parking lot.

"Is this where we're staying?" Mac asked incredulously.

"Yep. This is the scene of the crime. We have the room across from Commander Lindsey's."

"Oh. I almost forgot who we were here for. It's weird. It feels like-"

"Like when Singer died."

"Yeah."

"Except this bas**** was the one who killed her."

Mac cleared her throat. "Okay, are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's go."

Harm and Mac got out of the car and handed the keys to the valet.

Harm swung open the door. "After you ma'am", he said with a silly grin.

"Why thank you, sir." Mac grinned.

The hotel lobby was filled with sounds of bells ringing and people talking. And through the wide double doors on each side of the check-in was the casino.

"So," Mac said, "where do we start?"

"The autopsy starts at 2000. I-"

"No, I mean WHERE DO WE START? Blackjack, slots, roulette-"

"Mac," Harm began.

"You're right. Roulette's a sucker game. Let's go with blackjack." she nodded in decision.

"Mac." Harms eyes bugged out in insistence.

"Harm?", she smiled sweetly.

"Why don't we check in first?"

"Alright. Then the casino?"

"We'll see."

Harm stepped up to th reservation desk and laid down his visa. Reservation for Harmon Rabb."

The receptionist looked him over.

"One moment please...Room 119, sir. The porter will bring up your luggage." she responded as she handed over their key.

"A keycard!", Mac exclaimed. "I'm sooo happy to see one of these instead of a key. Half the time they don't work, but they're fun to use." Harm just looked at her for a minute. "Mac, are you okay?"

"Sure. Why?"

"You're rambling about keycards."

"I just like 'em, that's all."

"Okay." Harm still looked unconvinced, but they'd arrived at the elevator and were boarding it. When they got to their floor, the porter was already there waiting for them. Harm opened the door and Mac wandered off to check out their room. She called out descriptions from the bedroom while Harm tipped the porter.

"Wow. This place is great. Mini-fridge, jacuzzi tub, great view, one bed, cable-"

"One bed?" Harm interjected.

"Uh, yeah."

"Maybe the couch folds out." He called.

"No. We have a loveseat and a chair. They don't fold out."

"Does the chair RECLINE?" Harm inquired, eyebrows quirked.

"No. We're in a casino Harm." Mac reasoned. "They don't expect us to stay in our room. Besides," she paused, "it's a big bed."

Harms eyebrows shot up to his hairline and his jaw dropped.

"Harm, come check this out. Harm?"

Harm picked his jaw up off the floor.

"Yeah, coming." he managed.