Lisbon's cell phone rang and she answered it one handed, using the other to keep the SUV on the road. "What's up, Van Pelt?"

"I've got a hit on George Amadi's credit card," the junior agent reported. "He's in Las Vegas. The Plaza Hotel."

"Crap," said Lisbon. "Don't tell me we're heading in the wrong direction!"

"Can I drive now?" asked Cho.

"No," said Lisbon.

* * * *

Ruth left the kitchen carrying plates for her newest customers. The booth where Patrick and Landon had been seated was now empty.

* * * *

"This really doesn't have a lot of potential as a long-term plan," Patrick said to Landon as they walked back to the hotel.

"I don't see why not," Landon said. He had the gun in his hand again.

"For one thing, they're going to mount a massive man-hunt for agent Donovan. She's not just a cop, you know. She's a state cop."

"None of that will matter once she's a dead cop," Landon said reasonably. "No one knows she's here except you and me. And neither one of us is going to tell."

Patrick said nothing as they entered the back hallway. He was confident that he could overpower Landon and lock him in the storage closet when he opened it to retrieve Stephanie. He'd take the little man's keys and gun and they would escape in the semi. The plan was fully planned and envisioned but it evaporated when Landon opened the door to the empty storage room.

"What the hell?" said Landon. He was so surprised that he didn't even flinch when Patrick snatched the gun out of his hand.

Patrick aimed the gun at Landon. "Who else knew she was here?" he demanded.

"No one," Landon said. "I told you."

"Some one took her," Patrick said. He leveled the gun at Landon's head. "Who?"

"Stop being so dramatic," Landon said. "That thing isn't loaded."

Patrick pointed the gun at the ceiling and pulled the trigger. The only action was an impotent click.

Landon was offended. "You thought I could really be a murderer?"

* * * *

The pick up truck suddenly halted and Stephanie was slammed into the front portion of the truck bed so hard it nearly knocked her out. One foot and ankle had escaped from the laundry bag and someone; she supposed Dan, grabbed it and yanked her to the other end of the truck. She was too dazed to fight with any accuracy and he easily shoved her foot back inside and tied the end of the bag together more securely.

"Where do you want to put her for now?" Dan asked.

"I need to think on that a bit," Karen said.

"How about we throw her down the well? We don't use it no more."

"Nah. She'd start to stink after a few days."

"Not if we throw some lime in there with her."

"People might come looking for her. The well is too obvious."

"We could make it look like an accident."

"Tied up with duct tape on her mouth, stuffed in a laundry sack and covered with lime?"

"Take her out of the sack first. Take off the tape and the rope and just throw her in."

"What if she don't die? She could climb back out."

"We could poke her back down with a stick."

"Shut up, Dan. Just bring her in the house where I can keep an eye on her until I can think of some better plan than that."

Stephanie felt herself being lifted and carried. She was taken into a structure and deposited on the floor.

Karen and Stephanie busied themselves making plans with very different outcomes.

* * * *

Patrick looked at Landon, equally offended that he had been tricked with an unloaded gun.

"Don't look at me that way," Landon said. "I was never good at that persuasion thing. Not like you and your Dad. I was going down to Sacramento to talk to George about the money when I stopped at the truck stop and there you were. Arrested. I thought I could help you out and you would help us. I should have known you'd turn your back and abandon us. Just like your Dad again."

"I wasn't arrested," Patrick told him. "She was. I work with the police now."

"The police?" echoed Landon, horrified. "Why?"

"Long story," Patrick said.

"What was she arrested for?" Landon asked.

"Stealing data from and assaulting your brother. She must have uncovered some kind of scheme of his while she was working on her story. She was bringing it up here to let the town know what he was up to."

"Well, I hope she kicked his ass good," Landon said. "His investments have bankrupted us."

"You told me you'd only lost 25%."

"I told you that in front of Ruth. She doesn't know."

"This girl is some kind of reporter then?"

Patrick nodded. "She's the one who did the Bigfoot expose."

"Oh, hell," Landon said. "There are a few people up here who'd love to get their hands on her."