"You're absolutely right," said Charlene. "However, I would also like to suggest an alternative course of action, one where we don't get out of bed, and we don't get dressed. I haven't figured out all of the details yet, but I honestly think we could make this plan work."

"I'm willing to give it a shot," said Megan, climbing on top of her.

* * *

Charlene was still feeling good as she arrived at work. She and Megan had not discussed what happened in the alley, and Megan hadn't pushed for any details after Charlene said she didn't want to talk about it. They hadn't made any plans to meet later, and maybe they wouldn't see each other until the next time she did an impromptu hostage negotiation. Either way, she wasn't necessarily cured (and, in fact, her ears were still ringing from the gunshot, though not nearly as badly as they were Friday night) but she was infinitely better.

"You look like you had a good night," said Gertie, as Charlene put on the black apron all of the servers wore.

"What makes you say that?"

"Those are the same clothes you wore yesterday."

"Maybe I sat on the couch all night in a depressed funk and couldn't bring myself to change my clothes."

Gertie's face fell. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry. You just looked so cheerful that I—"

"I'm kidding. I got super-laid last night. The details are so hot that I honestly believe I could turn you into a raging dyke if I shared them, so I'm keeping them to myself to protect your heterosexuality."

"I'm not trying to protect it. I mean, it would open more options."

"Sorry. A lady doesn't eat pussy and tell." She froze. "Travis heard that, didn't he?"

"No, he's nowhere around."

"Okay, good. I thought I felt him staring at me. Anyway, does it go without saying that I'm never going to join you on another one of your expeditions?"

"Very much so. Also, they're over. I didn't tell any news people why we were out there, but I guess it was part of the public report, and they blabbed it on TV. Even in the unbelievably unlikely event that I happened to be walking where he was seeking his prey, my plan's been spoiled. He'd either leave me alone or he'd just shoot me. So there's nothing I can do to help find Kimberly except wait for somebody else to do it."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Like we've already established, it was really more of a selfish thing to make me feel like I was doing some good. It would've felt great to slam my stun gun into his balls, but it wasn't ever going to happen. I just got tired of putting up 'Missing' signs. Anyway, I'm glad you got laid. I should get back to work before Travis yells at me."