“I’m gonna take Hels back behind a dune somewhere and show her how hot the desert can be, so she’ll never wanna leave.” Alice quipped. “She ain’t goin’ nowhere soon? Are you, Sweetiepuss?”

Bette looked back and forth from Alice to Helena. Tina inconspicuously rolled her eyes.

“And where else do you like to, as you say it, ‘escape’ to, Helena?” Bette continued her impromptu and hopefully subtle interrogation. “May I call you Helena?”

Helena cocked her head. “Yes, please call me Helena. Bette, wasn’t it?” Helena stared at the woman.

Smiling, Bette continued, “Yes. I was asking where else you like to vacation? Are you fond of gambling?”

“I’ve been known to appreciate a few hands of blackjack here and there,” Helena replied, but appearing to grow uncomfortable.

“Ever been to Monaco? It’s lovely there,” Bette said.

“I’m sorry to say I haven’t,” Helena answered, taking Alice’s hand.

“What do you do, Helena?” Bette asked.

“Excuse me?” Helena replied.

It was obvious now that Bette’s questions were making the woman edgy.

“For a living?” Bette smiled. “What do you do for a living?”

“I work for my mother,” Helena said.

“Oh, how nice,” Bette politely replied as she took a sip of her champagne.

“And she’s in…?”

“Commodities,” Helena said quickly, taking notice of the bottle beside Tina and pushing it back to view the label. “What are you two having? Oh! It’s Tattinger’s!” she exclaimed. “Darling,” she said, turning to Alice and squeezing her hand, “may we have some of that this evening?”

“Oh, thirsty, are you, Sweetiepuss?” Alice giggled. She took her hand and squeezed Helena’s mouth between her fingers. “I’ll have Jean bring us two bottles, one for now and one for later.”

Bette lay her hand over Tina’s hand and began tracing her fingers back and forth across her skin to offer a signal that she should take some measure to get Alice and her lady friend to take their leave.  Her eyes swept quickly towards the standing couple and then back to Tina, who acknowledged the message.

“Um, Alice?” Tina said.

Bette raised their clasped hands up from the table a few inches and waved them gently.

“I believe Jean told me earlier that we only have a few bottles of Tattinger left until the next shipment comes in,” Tina smiled. “Perhaps, you should let him…”

“Say no more, Cuz,” Alice replied, wrapping her arm around Helena’s waist and pinching her. “I think they’re tryin’ to get rid of us, Sweet Lips. Let’s give these two love bugs some breathin’ room. We gots some nuzzlin’ to do ourselves anyway,” Alice giggled.

“Well, perhaps we’ll see each other again. Have a nice evening,” Bette nodded at the couple.

Tina looked at Bette, then at Alice and Helena and nodded, imitating Bette. “Yes, please have a lovely evening, and enjoy your stay here at the Vegas Oasis.”

“I intend to.”  Helena’s face shone.  But Bette was sure she noticed a slight blush of relief.

“See ya later,” Alice said, leading Helena away, and looking over her shoulder with a grin and a wink.

“Interesting,” Bette murmured, resting their hands back on the table.

“What’s that?”

“Well, first off, the dossier I have on Helena Peabody states that there is no evidence she’s ever even been in the States before.”

“Oh?” Tina said, playing with Bette’s fingers.

Bette looked down and watched Tina’s hand caressing hers.

“Uh, yes. And secondly, the dossier also contains pictures of her, not even two months ago, at the Casino de Monte Carlo. So she’s lying.”

Tina’s fingers playfully interlaced with Bette’s.

“Bette?”

“Yes, Tina.”

“I’m ready to mix the pleasure into the evening now.”

Bette’s ankle slowly brushed against Tina’s as she smiled.

“So does this casino house a ballroom, Tina?” Bette asked softly. “Do you like to dance?”