Minutes later, as I lay down on Sheryl’s sofa in her outdoor patio, I could hear her talking to Harley by the door of her gate, “Why don’t you go to your meeting that you’re about to be late for… yeah, I agree with you that Aerin can’t go on that boat trip to Catalina Island …I’ll call you or Aerin will call when she wakes up, ok?”

After a semblance of quiet settled around us, I chanced opening my eyes.

“I bought you a few minutes,” Sheryl said as she helped me to sit up on the sofa. “I expect everyone will be coming by to check on you soon enough before they all go to their appointments this morning.”

“You know I’m not suffering from jet lag or anything like that?” I asked. She shook her head, and answered, “I overheard your conversation with Harley’s friend … nasty piece of work, that girl.”

She frowned. “Now’s not the time to express my joy in knowing about you and Harley. There’ll be time enough for that later on. What’s your plan?”

“I need to find that madam, and about whatever else is in Harley’s past in Vegas that could be a problem for her, it looks like, now and in the future,’ I started to brainstorm aloud.

“Agreed,” Sheryl nodded. “That friend of hers who’s willing to jam Harley up with all of that stuff will always be a problem for her, I think. You have to see what she really has on Harley.”

“I’m not sure how long that will take, though,” I continued. “I feel like we won’t have much time, and I have no idea where to start …”

“So why don’t you go to Vegas right away? Don’t tell anyone, if you can help it,” Sheryl suggested. “From what I understood from Harley when we last talked, the decision about that partner opening in that firm could be imminent, so any negative news about her at this critical period will be devastating. That friend of hers could ruin everything…”

I nodded. I knew the tight rope Harley was walking without my angel realizing it. Annie could really impact things for her and I had to neutralize that advantage, somehow. “What about Harley …” I started to ask.