Taylor awoke the following morning wrapped up in Flack’s arms, the sunlight filtering through the room’s partially closed blinds, to someone knocking on the door. She slipped out of Flack’s arms, pulled the shirt on he had worn the previous evening and opened the door. It was room service with breakfast. Taylor pulled off the silver lid to the tray and smiled: a full breakfast, minus bacon. She padded over to the bed and prodded Flack’s side. “Breakfast.” The promise of food didn’t take long to get Flack out from the bed.
A couple of hours later and Taylor was driving them out of Vegas and past Henderson, into the mountains which bordered the city. “It still amazes me how we can be in the middle of a desert yet climbing up into the mountains,” Flack muttered as he stared in amazement at the mountainous scenery.
Taylor just smiled following the road up, until eventually they broke the summit in Boulder City. As they began to descend, Lake Mead came into view – a beautiful crystal clear blue. Taylor pulled over and leapt out of the car and across the road, staring down at the view below her. “It’s so beautiful,” she breathed as Flack joined her.
“Would you like me to take a picture of you two?” An elderly woman asked, watching the two of them.
Flack smiled and handed her the camera he had been carrying. Ten minutes later, they had a dozen pictures – the woman was a surprisingly good photographer – and they were back on their way, heading down the steep, winding road, towards the Hoover Dam with the windows open.
The traffic had slowed to a crawl as they crossed the Dam, before pulling into a parking lot. “We can’t just drive across this and not stop,” Taylor told Flack as he followed her down to the Dam.
The two walked to the centre of the Dam, peering out to the lake side. “I can’t believe how excited you are over a dam,” Flack muttered.
“This is one of the unofficial Seven Wonders of the World, Flack. But that’s not why I’m excited.”
“Why are you excited, then?” Flack asked her warily, taking in her mischievous grin.
Taylor pointed down at her feet. “Because I’m in two places at once.” Her left foot was on the Nevada side of the marker, and her right on the Arizona side.
“Have I ever told you that you are a complete geek?” Flack asked, although he couldn’t help grinning at her.
“Many a time,” Taylor nodded.
“Come on, we still have a good three hours driving.”
“Hang on!” Taylor exclaimed, pulling him towards the Nevada side of the Dam.
“What are we doing?”
Taylor just grinned and headed for the water fountain. Once she had had a few mouthfuls, she headed back to the Arizona side, where the car was, but stopped at the water fountain there.
“Taylor, what are you doing?” Flack asked, curious.
“Seeing which state has the better water.”
Flack groaned at her.
A couple of hours later and they were on their way, Taylor trying to keep their speed to something which registered as barely legal. It wasn’t until they breeched one of the hills and saw a state trooper sat in the central reservation, that Taylor admitted she was wrong: Flack had been telling her how she was going to get a speeding ticket if she wasn’t careful, but she had been insisting that why would a SHP car be sat in the middle of nowhere.
After a small detour along Route 66, they finally arrived at the National Park. “Where to, mon capitaine?” Taylor asked Flack, with a salute.
Flack rolled his eyes and consulted the map they had been given. We want to head this way,” he told her, pointing up the road. This way led them to a bus, which in turn, led them to a parking lot. Taylor pulled over and the two got out of the car. At which point, Flack pulled out a very large hamper from the trunk.
“When on earth did you sort that out?” Taylor asked with an excited squeal.
“Ask no questions, get told no lies,” Flack told her mysteriously as he led her to a secluded spot over the canyon and spread a blanket out. “Just in time for the sunset.”
“We have hours before it sets,” Taylor laughed, sitting down next to him. “You’re a bit of a closet romantic, aren’t you?”
Flack grinned sheepishly. “You’d better not let that one out. I have a reputation, you know.”
“Okay, Mr-bad-ass detective.” She reached for the potato chips and began nibbling. “Thank you,” she told him seriously.
“It’s just a picnic,” he shrugged.
“No, not just for this, but for everything: for coming out with me in the first place, for charming my mother, for driving back with me. It means a lot.”
“Well, there is a slight alternative motive to this,” he told her.
“Ah, I knew there was a catch,” Taylor grinned at him.
“Would you mind if we called in to see my sister? Only I haven’t seen her since she came back home three years ago. I have a niece and nephew I’ve never seen, and I kinda promised her I’d visit her at some point.”
“Of course,” Taylor shrugged, “I wouldn’t mind meeting her.” She frowned. “Where does she live?”
“Baton Rouge.”
“Louisiana?”
Flack nodded. “It’s not completely out of the way. But if you don’t think the car can make it-”
“The car will make it, Don. Don’t worry about that. And I don’t mind at all.”
The two of them finished their picnic, had a walk around, before watching the sunset. After making their way back to the car in the pitch black, they drove back to their hotel, where, exhausted, they collapsed into bed.
A couple of hours later and Taylor was driving them out of Vegas and past Henderson, into the mountains which bordered the city. “It still amazes me how we can be in the middle of a desert yet climbing up into the mountains,” Flack muttered as he stared in amazement at the mountainous scenery.
Taylor just smiled following the road up, until eventually they broke the summit in Boulder City. As they began to descend, Lake Mead came into view – a beautiful crystal clear blue. Taylor pulled over and leapt out of the car and across the road, staring down at the view below her. “It’s so beautiful,” she breathed as Flack joined her.
“Would you like me to take a picture of you two?” An elderly woman asked, watching the two of them.
Flack smiled and handed her the camera he had been carrying. Ten minutes later, they had a dozen pictures – the woman was a surprisingly good photographer – and they were back on their way, heading down the steep, winding road, towards the Hoover Dam with the windows open.
The traffic had slowed to a crawl as they crossed the Dam, before pulling into a parking lot. “We can’t just drive across this and not stop,” Taylor told Flack as he followed her down to the Dam.
The two walked to the centre of the Dam, peering out to the lake side. “I can’t believe how excited you are over a dam,” Flack muttered.
“This is one of the unofficial Seven Wonders of the World, Flack. But that’s not why I’m excited.”
“Why are you excited, then?” Flack asked her warily, taking in her mischievous grin.
Taylor pointed down at her feet. “Because I’m in two places at once.” Her left foot was on the Nevada side of the marker, and her right on the Arizona side.
“Have I ever told you that you are a complete geek?” Flack asked, although he couldn’t help grinning at her.
“Many a time,” Taylor nodded.
“Come on, we still have a good three hours driving.”
“Hang on!” Taylor exclaimed, pulling him towards the Nevada side of the Dam.
“What are we doing?”
Taylor just grinned and headed for the water fountain. Once she had had a few mouthfuls, she headed back to the Arizona side, where the car was, but stopped at the water fountain there.
“Taylor, what are you doing?” Flack asked, curious.
“Seeing which state has the better water.”
Flack groaned at her.
A couple of hours later and they were on their way, Taylor trying to keep their speed to something which registered as barely legal. It wasn’t until they breeched one of the hills and saw a state trooper sat in the central reservation, that Taylor admitted she was wrong: Flack had been telling her how she was going to get a speeding ticket if she wasn’t careful, but she had been insisting that why would a SHP car be sat in the middle of nowhere.
After a small detour along Route 66, they finally arrived at the National Park. “Where to, mon capitaine?” Taylor asked Flack, with a salute.
Flack rolled his eyes and consulted the map they had been given. We want to head this way,” he told her, pointing up the road. This way led them to a bus, which in turn, led them to a parking lot. Taylor pulled over and the two got out of the car. At which point, Flack pulled out a very large hamper from the trunk.
“When on earth did you sort that out?” Taylor asked with an excited squeal.
“Ask no questions, get told no lies,” Flack told her mysteriously as he led her to a secluded spot over the canyon and spread a blanket out. “Just in time for the sunset.”
“We have hours before it sets,” Taylor laughed, sitting down next to him. “You’re a bit of a closet romantic, aren’t you?”
Flack grinned sheepishly. “You’d better not let that one out. I have a reputation, you know.”
“Okay, Mr-bad-ass detective.” She reached for the potato chips and began nibbling. “Thank you,” she told him seriously.
“It’s just a picnic,” he shrugged.
“No, not just for this, but for everything: for coming out with me in the first place, for charming my mother, for driving back with me. It means a lot.”
“Well, there is a slight alternative motive to this,” he told her.
“Ah, I knew there was a catch,” Taylor grinned at him.
“Would you mind if we called in to see my sister? Only I haven’t seen her since she came back home three years ago. I have a niece and nephew I’ve never seen, and I kinda promised her I’d visit her at some point.”
“Of course,” Taylor shrugged, “I wouldn’t mind meeting her.” She frowned. “Where does she live?”
“Baton Rouge.”
“Louisiana?”
Flack nodded. “It’s not completely out of the way. But if you don’t think the car can make it-”
“The car will make it, Don. Don’t worry about that. And I don’t mind at all.”
The two of them finished their picnic, had a walk around, before watching the sunset. After making their way back to the car in the pitch black, they drove back to their hotel, where, exhausted, they collapsed into bed.
* * *
Taylor practically floated back up to the room. She’d had a fantastic day. The morning, they had walked up and down the strip, even visiting New York, New York and riding the rollercoaster, stopping in all the major casinos, before heading back to Caesars Palace for what Taylor could only describe as star treatment. The prize Flack had won had included a free evening dress and suit for the couple, as well as an afternoon in the spa.
So Taylor had had to ‘endure’ men and women waiting on her hand and foot in Christian Dior as they presented her with dress after dress. In the end, she had allowed Flack to pick the dress. That being said, she knew it was going to be the red one the moment she laid eyes on it. A red cocktail dress with off-shoulder capped sleeves and low cut V-neck bodice. The A-line, mid-length skirt and body were covered in dainty sequin embellishments… it had been the only red option.
The spa was just as heavenly. Massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, as well as having her hair and make-up done for her. All in all, she hadn’t felt this pampered since… well, ever. The closest was when she won her award, but there had been no massage included in that deal.
She returned to the room feeling like a princess. Flicking on the television, she half watched an episode of The Simpsons as she put her dress on, and then waited patiently for Flack to appear.
And when he did, he was carrying a bunch of flowers – red roses. “Taylor… wow. You look… wow.”
“You’re not looking so bad yourself there,” Taylor told him. He had already changed into his suit (courtesy of Christian Dior) and looked simply gorgeous. Taylor wasn’t sure if it was because she’d grown up around the navy, but there was something about a man in a suit or uniform.
Flack glanced at his watch. “We should leave – we have reservations.”
“Should I even ask?” Taylor asked.
Flack shook his head with a grin. “Nope, just enjoy the surprise.”
Half an hour later, after exiting the limo (another moment where Taylor’s mouth had dropped open in surprise) they were waiting in line to go up the elevator to the top of the Stratosphere, to the Top Of The World restaurant.
“I can’t believe this,” Taylor muttered as they were seated right by the window, Las Vegas twinkling at them in the night sky. They could see right down the Strip where they were. “Thank you so much, Don.”
So Taylor had had to ‘endure’ men and women waiting on her hand and foot in Christian Dior as they presented her with dress after dress. In the end, she had allowed Flack to pick the dress. That being said, she knew it was going to be the red one the moment she laid eyes on it. A red cocktail dress with off-shoulder capped sleeves and low cut V-neck bodice. The A-line, mid-length skirt and body were covered in dainty sequin embellishments… it had been the only red option.
The spa was just as heavenly. Massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, as well as having her hair and make-up done for her. All in all, she hadn’t felt this pampered since… well, ever. The closest was when she won her award, but there had been no massage included in that deal.
She returned to the room feeling like a princess. Flicking on the television, she half watched an episode of The Simpsons as she put her dress on, and then waited patiently for Flack to appear.
And when he did, he was carrying a bunch of flowers – red roses. “Taylor… wow. You look… wow.”
“You’re not looking so bad yourself there,” Taylor told him. He had already changed into his suit (courtesy of Christian Dior) and looked simply gorgeous. Taylor wasn’t sure if it was because she’d grown up around the navy, but there was something about a man in a suit or uniform.
Flack glanced at his watch. “We should leave – we have reservations.”
“Should I even ask?” Taylor asked.
Flack shook his head with a grin. “Nope, just enjoy the surprise.”
Half an hour later, after exiting the limo (another moment where Taylor’s mouth had dropped open in surprise) they were waiting in line to go up the elevator to the top of the Stratosphere, to the Top Of The World restaurant.
“I can’t believe this,” Taylor muttered as they were seated right by the window, Las Vegas twinkling at them in the night sky. They could see right down the Strip where they were. “Thank you so much, Don.”
* * *
From across the way, two semi-transparent people were watching them. “Did you know, this place is in the top ten for locations where people propose,” said Aiden, watching Taylor and Flack accept their starters.
“He wouldn’t!” exclaimed Maddy.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have pictured Flack proposing like that,” Aiden told her. “But then again, I never pictured him surprising his girlfriend with a weekend in Las Vegas, before driving across the country with her.”
“You think he has a ring?” Maddy asked, growing excited.
Aiden sighed patiently. “I may not have pictured him doing the whole romantic getaway, but if there is one thing I know for sure. He won’t propose to someone he’s been dating for only two months.”
Maddy shrugged. “Those two are going to be together. I can feel it in my bones… or maybe I would if I still had them,” she grinned.
“I don’t think he’s bought a ring yet anyway,” Aiden said.
“Yeah, well look at Danny. He has, and he’s still not proposed.”
Aiden smiled, “I’m glad he didn’t do the whole Valentine thing. That being said, I’m glad he’s finally found someone he can settle down with. I remember a conversation where he swore he wasn’t the marrying type.”
“He’s still not proposed, though,” Maddy repeated. “Do you think Lindsay is the one who can tame him?”
“Danny will always be Danny, but I think Lindsay brings out a different side to him: a side which he’s surprised to find he likes. And I don’t think he’s going to want to lose it.”
Maddy sighed and folder her arms. “Well, I’m feeling a bit cruel now.”
Aiden nodded. “With what’s coming up, I do too.”
“They’ll make it though,” Maddy said, more as a statement than as a question.
“I think so,” Aiden agreed. “That being said, we have work to be doing soon.”
“We? I think you’ll find that I’m the only one supposed to be working tonight – you’ve just tagged along because it’s Vegas.”
“So sue me,” Aiden grinned. “And I don’t get why you’re getting all protective about this. You’re only meeting someone.”
Maddy glanced at the clock behind the bar and nodded in agreement. “Castenelli Heights.” She frowned. “I really do feel bad – I haven’t seen Taylor look this happy in so long.”
“Come on,” said Aiden, before she disappeared.
“Siento que interrumpiremos sus vacaciones, Taylor. Haga el la mayor parte de esto.” She gave the couple one last glance and disappeared, following Aiden.
“He wouldn’t!” exclaimed Maddy.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have pictured Flack proposing like that,” Aiden told her. “But then again, I never pictured him surprising his girlfriend with a weekend in Las Vegas, before driving across the country with her.”
“You think he has a ring?” Maddy asked, growing excited.
Aiden sighed patiently. “I may not have pictured him doing the whole romantic getaway, but if there is one thing I know for sure. He won’t propose to someone he’s been dating for only two months.”
Maddy shrugged. “Those two are going to be together. I can feel it in my bones… or maybe I would if I still had them,” she grinned.
“I don’t think he’s bought a ring yet anyway,” Aiden said.
“Yeah, well look at Danny. He has, and he’s still not proposed.”
Aiden smiled, “I’m glad he didn’t do the whole Valentine thing. That being said, I’m glad he’s finally found someone he can settle down with. I remember a conversation where he swore he wasn’t the marrying type.”
“He’s still not proposed, though,” Maddy repeated. “Do you think Lindsay is the one who can tame him?”
“Danny will always be Danny, but I think Lindsay brings out a different side to him: a side which he’s surprised to find he likes. And I don’t think he’s going to want to lose it.”
Maddy sighed and folder her arms. “Well, I’m feeling a bit cruel now.”
Aiden nodded. “With what’s coming up, I do too.”
“They’ll make it though,” Maddy said, more as a statement than as a question.
“I think so,” Aiden agreed. “That being said, we have work to be doing soon.”
“We? I think you’ll find that I’m the only one supposed to be working tonight – you’ve just tagged along because it’s Vegas.”
“So sue me,” Aiden grinned. “And I don’t get why you’re getting all protective about this. You’re only meeting someone.”
Maddy glanced at the clock behind the bar and nodded in agreement. “Castenelli Heights.” She frowned. “I really do feel bad – I haven’t seen Taylor look this happy in so long.”
“Come on,” said Aiden, before she disappeared.
“Siento que interrumpiremos sus vacaciones, Taylor. Haga el la mayor parte de esto.” She gave the couple one last glance and disappeared, following Aiden.
* * *
“I can’t believe that we only have one more day here,” Taylor sighed. The two of them were just leaving the Stratosphere, after going to the observation deck and taking photos, as well as hitting the roof for the three rides. On the way out, they had stopped for a little bit of gambling. They weren’t overly bothered about it, but as Flack pointed out, you can’t not come to Vegas and not gamble. The result was Flack won a few hundred dollars at Blackjack.
Currently, they were walking hand in hand back down the Strip to their hotel, after deciding that they wanted to see the city all lit up. “That’s the newest Casino,” said Taylor, pointing to the Castenelli Heights, which they were just about to walk in front of. It was the tallest hotel in Vegas, surpassing even the Stratosphere, but what made it stand out was the fact that the front of the building was designed to look like a giant waterfall – the water actually cascaded down over eleven hundred feet into a pool above the entrance.
Taylor stopped and glanced up to the top. It was really high. The wind was blowing the water in a fine mist to the left hand side of the building. She followed the mist down to ground level before her eyes settled on two familiar figures, and a new one. “You have got to be kidding me,” she groaned.
“What’s the matter?” Flack asked, before his eyes finally found the two ghosts. “Oh.”
“Give me a break…” she trailed off when she noticed them looking up. Slowly, Taylor cast her eyes upwards, and instantly regretted it. Plummeting towards the ground was a person, screaming helplessly. The screams came to an abrupt end as his body hit the floor with a dull thud, only metres from where they were standing.
Seconds later there were screams as people realised what had happened.
Taylor looked up, noticed what looked like someone on the roof, before turning around and emptying her stomach of the very expensive meal they had just eaten.
Currently, they were walking hand in hand back down the Strip to their hotel, after deciding that they wanted to see the city all lit up. “That’s the newest Casino,” said Taylor, pointing to the Castenelli Heights, which they were just about to walk in front of. It was the tallest hotel in Vegas, surpassing even the Stratosphere, but what made it stand out was the fact that the front of the building was designed to look like a giant waterfall – the water actually cascaded down over eleven hundred feet into a pool above the entrance.
Taylor stopped and glanced up to the top. It was really high. The wind was blowing the water in a fine mist to the left hand side of the building. She followed the mist down to ground level before her eyes settled on two familiar figures, and a new one. “You have got to be kidding me,” she groaned.
“What’s the matter?” Flack asked, before his eyes finally found the two ghosts. “Oh.”
“Give me a break…” she trailed off when she noticed them looking up. Slowly, Taylor cast her eyes upwards, and instantly regretted it. Plummeting towards the ground was a person, screaming helplessly. The screams came to an abrupt end as his body hit the floor with a dull thud, only metres from where they were standing.
Seconds later there were screams as people realised what had happened.
Taylor looked up, noticed what looked like someone on the roof, before turning around and emptying her stomach of the very expensive meal they had just eaten.
Originally posted: 26/09/2006