As Maria’s Mercedes approached Halawa Heights’s main gate, the corporal standing duty stepped from his sentry box into the road, putting up a hand and halting the car. Condley dutifully flashed his government ID card from the driver’s window, but by then the young Marine was not looking at him anymore. He had gone into a hypnotic trance, unable to restrain his dumbfounded eyes from traveling all along Maria’s lithe, bikini-clad frame. And just to rub it in, she waved cheerily to the young man, taking off her sunglasses for a moment and giving him a playful wink.

“Corporal, stop slobbering on my Mercedes.” Condley’s hand was still dangling outside the window as he continued to hold his ID card up for the sentry’s inspection.

“Sorry, sir.” The embarrassed corporal shook his head like a dog snapping water out of its ears. He leaned forward, checking Condley’s identification. “You have business at Cinc Pac Fleet, sir?”

“I’m from CILHI,” answered Condley with just the right tone of mystery in his voice. “We’re here on an MIA case.” The sentry nodded knowingly, returning Condley’s ID card. To his surprise, Condley handed the young man one of Maria’s business cards in exchange. “If you like what you’re looking at, they’re open seven days a week. Bring a friend.”

The corporal checked the card, looking hungrily back at Maria, and put it into a trouser pocket. “She works there?”

“She is the proprietor of this fine establishment,” said Condley dryly. “But she’s got lots of highly talented employees with, shall we say, equally admirable assets.”

“I’ll be there Friday night,” said the grinning corporal.

“If you’re coming on Friday bring lots of friends. The SEALs think they own the place.”

The corporal gave them a secret thumbs-up as he waved them through the gate. Driving inside the headquarters compound, Condley glanced casually at Maria, feigning anger. “I should get a tip, pimping for you.”

“Don’t say you’re pimping for me, Brandon. You hurt my feelings. And, anyway, I don’t do that anymore.”

He gave her a teasing glance. “No kidding? I seem to remember having done it about three hours ago.”

She held her chin high, looking airily out the window. “Not for money, not anymore. Except for you, I’ve been a virgin now for almost three years.”

Her comment startled him. “You’re not turning tricks?”

“Except for you.” Her eyes flashed as they navigated past perfectly manicured lawns. “I have my green card, and we’ve already been married. So why should I lie?”

The thought that sweet Maria was actually being faithful to him after all these years of uncomplicated friendship made him suddenly nervous. It was as if a different woman were sitting next to him, and he did not know what to do about it. “You changed the rules without telling me. Why’d you do that?”