Chapter 21: Epilogue

I lay naked on my back staring at the textured plaster ceiling of the hotel room. I had a cold beer perched on my stomach. The chatter of the television rode faintly above the humming drone of the air conditioner.

"Not sure if I was a hero or a son of a bitch," is what Jennifer's father had said to me when I had met him earlier in the day. He said he wasn't sure which, but his "gut feelings" were to give me "thanks" for having "his little girl back". He had shaken my hand and I saw tears gleam in his eyes.

It was six months now back in the States. I had resumed my career flying with Talbot Industries, although now days my work was stateside. Today I was in Washington and had spent the day in a closed Congressional inquiry. The meeting room had packed with lawyers, assorted bureaucrats, politicians and diplomats. The dead solders back on the island had been part of some backwater Indonesian government's police force and their killing had created a minor international incident.

Talbot Enterprises under authority of its newly appointed board of directors had made an initial offer to settle all costs, but our lawyers had smelled blood and held out. There had been an out-of-court settlement. My bank account now had a whole series of numbers and zeros in it. I had been thinking that my own charter flying business might be a future possibility.

The younger girls seemed to have adjusted well back in "the real world". We had all last been together months ago at a news conference. Afterwards I had regular calls and cards from the three, and then over the months this had slowed to a trickle. The teenagers had enjoyed their moment of fame. A sports magazine had used them as models in a tropical swimsuit issue. I thought their sex appeal transcended the professional models elsewhere in the magazine.

Then the two had been offered a job as "technical consultants" on a reality based survival series on another island. They would interview the ejected contestants. I noticed the girl's wardrobe consisted entirely of bikinis.

I had talked to all three on the phone. I was flying again and was not at a specific place for any length of time. So it was a matter of luck when contact was made. Brittany seemed to have found a budding career in show business. She told me she had an agent and there had been an offer for a part in a sitcom. Then she had told me some news that caused an unexpected pang of jealously. A new young man had come into her life. As she had excitedly related how wonderful this guy was I silently counseled myself that now we were back in the real world. I took a deep breath, stated I was very happy for her and that he was a lucky guy. I only talked to Jennifer twice from public phones and our conversations had been generally perfunctory. She entered a school on the West Coast and was as busy as I was. Kimberly was not one to chat on the phone but she was doing well. She had returned to her business and her recent publicity seemed to have opened new doors of opportunity. I thought each time after we had hung up that she wanted me to say more.

I had thought I might see them earlier in the day at the courthouse. But evidently they had previously given their testimony and in absence had been represented by their legal counsel.

So tonight, I found myself back in the real world, ready to start a new life and very much alone. I had been celibate since our return. This was not because of lack of opportunity. Since my return women seemed to find me irresistible. Wherever I went, females of all types seemed to want to touch me or convey their interest. I wondered if I was giving off some type of wild male pheromone. But I couldn't generate a response. I just was not excited by the civilized game of love anymore. I wondered what had happened to me. I felt empty and depressed in this world.

There was a knock on the door. I had not been expecting company and knew no one in this town so I assumed it was room service. I donned the complementary robe and cracked the door.

Jennifer stood in the hallway. She was wearing a smart suit and carrying a overnight bag. She smiled at me.

"Hey boss, I brought you a present," she said brightly.

Jennifer had a leash in her hand and she tugged it. The leash led to Kimberly who stepped into my view. The leash was attached to a multi-colored wire collar around the older woman's neck. Kimberly was wearing a three-quarter-length leather trench coat and high heels. It fell open and I could see she was naked underneath. Her eyes had been downcast and she brought her face up. I saw the ocean in her blue eyes. I smiled, then she smiled and I heard the roar of the waves.