didnât miss the real concern on Kimâs face.
âDonât you think you should discuss this with Gabriel before you make a decision?â Kim ran her finger along the edge of Foâs case.
Fo considered that as Kim turned her screen to face Gerry again. âI suppose heâll want to know.â She brightened. âMaybe he can come, too. Heâs more powerful than I am, but Iâm a lot more outgoing.â
Brynn grinned. âTranslation: Fo never met anyone she didnât love talking to.â
Gerry shifted slightly glazed eyes toward Conall.
He nodded. âFo, talk things over with Gabriel. If everythingâs a go, weâll start the search for Gerryâs serial killer tomorrow night.â
âIâll have to let Holgarth know I want to stay until the end of the week and then hope Burke takes his time getting here.â Growing anticipation gleamed in Gerryâs eyes.
Conall waited until his friends had left before guiding Gerry toward the Sultanâs Palace entrance. âLetâs have some fun to celebrate our new partnership.â The Sultanâs Palace was not a good idea. He recognized the fact, acknowledged it, and then ignored it.
Once inside, he waited while Gerry stared wide-eyed at everything.
âWow, Iâm impressed.â She turned to Conall. âThe gold dome, the oriental rugs, the super-plush everything. It looks like a real sultan would live here. So whatâs the fantasy?â
Conall had already beckoned Sonya over. âSonya will take you to the haremâs quarters.â
âHaremâs quarters?â Gerry eyed Sonyaâs wide expanse of bare stomach. âWait, I donât know ifââ
Sonya smiled as she urged Gerry toward a door. âYouâll love this. Weâll get you some makeup and into an outfit so youâll be ready for the sultan.â
âSultan?â Gerry threw Conall a panicked glance as Sonya led her away.
Conall smiled and waved at her. Then he turned to Ben, who was manning the ticket counter. âTell Julio to take this next fantasy off. Iâll play the sultan.â Ignoring Benâs grin, he headed toward the menâs costume room.
Gerry glanced around warily. She was comfortable in her job. Chasing bad guys wasnât scary. This was scary. Sitting on a thick rug, she was propped up by a mountain of colorful pillows.
With all the eye makeup Sonya had slapped on her, she probably looked like a crazed raccoon. And her clothes? Hah. Clothes covered the body. What she was wearing were strategic pieces of cloth. There was the tiny bra with a playful fringe of beads and bells then nothing until well past her navel. A filmy piece of cloth masquerading as a skirt clung to her lower abdomen with brave tenacity. Go, skirt.
Relax. Weâre having fun here, right? But for the life of her she couldnât remember ever having even one fantasy about being a member of some sultanâs harem. Conall shouldâve asked her opinion.
âMen donât have a clue, do they?â The amused female voice reminded Gerry that there were three âharem girlsâ with her.
âAbout what?â All three women were beautiful and blond with pale eyes sheâd seen somewhere before. Where had she seen . . . ?
âAbout what a woman wants. From your expression, Iâd say a man chose this fantasy for you.â The woman shrugged. âThis is a guy fantasy. I bet heâs even arranged to be the sultan.â
Gerry smiled. âProbably. And yeah, I donât fit the harem mold. Definitely not soft, sweet, and simpering.â But a male harem? Now that was a fantasy. âDo you work here all the time?â
They all laughed. âNo, weâre just filling in for the regulars. They all ate at the same place and came down with food poisoning. Oh, and Iâm Tullia.â She nodded at the other women. âThese are my sisters, Fulvia and
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