Now Danielle had to find a way to get to Pahrump. First things first, she insisted that the newly minted Miss Nevada, Linda, get whatever sleep she could before their 2:45 am departure. Danielle escorted her up to her room on the fifth floor, and promised to knock on her door at 2:00 am. Linda Moulton Howe seemed genuinely excited to be going to meet Art Bell in person.

  One detail that Danielle had neglected to mention to either George Knapp or Linda was the uncomfortable fact that she had no vehicle to transport the pair to Bell's remote desert studio. That was the problem that Danielle had to remedy ASAP. 'Being a time agent is more challenging than I thought it would be,' Danielle joked to herself as she made her way downstairs, and into the lobby.

  No Ubers available in the nineties! So out the door, and around the corner she went, to the spot in the parking lot where several yellow taxi cabs were parked, waiting for guests to require a ride somewhere. "I'm looking for a ride later tonight, say a 2:45 departure?" she offered to the nearest driver, interrupting a conversation he was having with another driver. Both were smoking cigarettes.

  ""Too late for me, sorry miss," replied the first driver.

  "Ya, same with me ma'am. I'm off shift at midnight. You could try Niko," he explained pointing to the fifth cab in the line. "Niko works all night and he might be around then."

  Danielle made her way over to Yellow Checker Star cab 454, and tapped the glass on the drivers side. A good natured young man, eating a burrito wound down his window. Coast to Coast AM was playing on the cab radio. "What can I do for you ma'am?"

  "I have an interview to get to in Pahrump later tonight. Would you be able to give my friend and I a lift there and back?" Danielle realised that this was an unusual request, even by Las Vegas standards, so a significant tip would be in order.

  "What time are we talkin?" queeried the driver.

  "I need to get to Pahrump by 4:00am, so I'm thinking a 2:45 departure time. My girlfriend and I can be in the lobby at 2:30?" suggested Danielle.

  "And where exactly in Pahrump would I be taking you two fine ladies?" asked Niko.

  "To Art Bell's studio on Red Rock Road. We have a 4:00am interview scheduled. He told us not to be late," explained Danielle.

  The cab drivers eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Art Bell! You're kidding me! I'm in to driving up to Art Bell's place! You bet I am! I've never seen the studio in person before and I always wanted to. 2:30 tonight in the lobby? I'll come in and get you guys. You can count on me being there. And I'll be pleased to wait for you to finish the interview and bring you back to the Maxim, if that's the plan."

  "That's the plan," confirmed Danielle slipping Niko a $50 bill to help ensure his promptness.

  ________________________________________________________________________________

  Two hours of sleep passed far too quickly. Danielle's wake up call was a harsh reality, but it just took a few moments for her to gain her bearings, get dressed, and take the elevator up to Linda's room. Danielle was pleased to hear some movement behind the door ,and tapped with some confidence. Linda opened the door, dressed and prepared for the journey.

  "You're ready! I'm so glad. Our ride is waiting in the lobby."

  They made their way to the mostly empty lobby and took a seat on some very nice furniture. No sign of Niko yet, but it didn't take long. They were loaded and underway a little before 2:45. A one quarter moon hung in the cloudless sky, and as they made their way along the State Route 160 highway away from city lights, the stars became more and more visible. The cab meter steadily ticked upwards, and Danielle could see that it was likely going to get to more than $100 by the time they got to Pahrump. It was a good thing that Sarah had included $2000 dollars cash in her travel wallet.

  "I can't believe that you ladies are getting to see Art Bell! I listen to him every night in the cab. Tonight's show is a really good one! He's got Sean David Morton on, I think, but there's also a UFO flap goin on in Phoenix! Do you want me to turn it on?" asked Niko.

  "Absolutely!" replied Linda.

  What followed was a remarkable discussion between Art and Sean covering UFOs, genetic engineering experiments, blood sucking chupacabras (some sort of devil animal), and government cover-ups of just about everything. As the show continued, Art invited listeners to phone in with their questions for his guest. The combination of driving through the desert at night, and listening to such energetically presented stories, was intoxicating. No wonder Uncle Lou missed this guy so much.

  However, as the show passed 3:30am and approached the end of the program, Art started to field more and more people wanting to tell their stories about sightings ongoing in Phoenix. Throughout the night, triangular patterns of lights were moving across the city's sky, and everyone calling in had a different angle to view the lights, and a different perspective on how to explain them. Art carefully and respectfully interviewed each caller, and managed to optimise the use of the air time so that every tale was told effectively. This guy's journalistic skills were off the chart.

  Niko arrived at the Red Rock Road home of Art Bell at 3:58am. They had almost arrived late, since Niko had to stop and consult his map (Imagine using a paper map to find driving directions!) a couple of times after they took wrong turns. Danielle tried to help him with directions, but the roads were a bit different than she was used to, and anyway, things looked different in the dark.

  The trouble was, as Art made to sign off at the end of the program, he still had a phone board full of eager callers. He made the decision to call for a bonus hour to allow all of the Phoenix listeners to share their sightings. Danielle looked at Niko and apologised, as soon as they heard the news.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  "Niko, I'm so sorry about this. Art told us to be here at 4:00. Is there any way you can stay with us for an hour while he finishes his program?"

  "Not to worry ladies. I'm fully bought in to this trip, and I'll stay until 5:00. There's no way I'm leaving you alone out here in the desert in the middle of the night, and whatever happens, you just gotta meet Art!" 'Niko's was definitely the right cab choice,' thought Danielle.

  After an hour of listening to the bonus hour, and bantering with each other about the remarkable UFO encounters experienced by the people of Phoenix, Art signed off and Danielle and Linda went through the gate up towards the house. Niko remained in his cab. Sure enough there was a large motorhome next to the house, with cables running into it, and a dish on the roof. Wanderlodge, read the emblem on the side of the vehicle. The eastern horizon was starting to glow with the beginnings of morning light returning to the desert.

  Danielle tapped on the entrance door to the Wanderlodge. Cursing and movement was audible from the inside of the vehicle. Danielle stepped back and Art erupted through the door.

  "Who the blazes is bothering me at this hour?" Art stepped out the door with what looked like a bathrobe on, cigarette hanging out his mouth, a large firearm in his left hand, and a cup of coffee in his right. Linda Moulton Howe looked shocked.

  "Danielle immediately tried to de-escalate the situation," It's me, Elanor! I have Miss Nevada to see you!"

  The mention of Miss Nevada seemed to do the trick and Art immediately came back to Earth apologising, "Oh yes, George's friends. Come in, come in please. And forgive my appearance. It was a gruelling show tonight. It's been a long week," explained Art Bell.

  The three entered the bus and Art offered them seats. As Danielle took her seat, she introduced Linda, "Art Bell, this is Linda Moulton Howe, Miss Nevada USA 1994. She is a big fan of your show."

  "Miss Nevada! I heard about your win on the news last night, before the show, but until George called I wouldn't ever have believed that I would meet you!" Art had regained his composure and then some. Danielle immediately realised that this visit was not going to be about her interviewing Art Bell. This was going to be about Art Bell interviewing Linda Moulton Howe.

  "Ms. Howe," began Art.

  "Linda is fine Mr. Bell," corrected Linda Moulton Howe.

  "Linda, how did you become interested in the subject of extra-terrestrials?" asked Art.

  "I moved down from Idaho, two years ago, to study journalism at UNLV. Last summer I was part of a film team that put together a documentary on organic farming and ranching in California. Right around the Bakersfield area. Several of the ranchers showed me evidence of cattle mutilations, and told me they had lost hundreds of head of cattle."

  "When did the ranchers think that these incidents were happening?" asked Art.

  "At night," explained Linda. "They would leave the cows in the field in the evening and by morning half of them would be gone, and others were dead with parts removed."

  "Geeze! That's no way to wake up!" commented Art, continuing, "Were the police called?"

  "They came by at first, but couldn't find any explanations. By the time I talked to these guys, the police wouldn't even go out to the ranches any more."

  "So what did they do?"

  "One of the ranchers staked out his own field and stayed up all night. He saw several unexplained glowing triangles hovering over his fields, and the neighbours fields. One of the triangles came in close in front of him, and a wide beam of light shone directly downward, onto his prize cow. He watched as the cow was raised upwards into the hold of the triangle. It flew away and he never saw the cow again!"

  "Wow! That would have to be one powerful tractor beam!" responded Art, considering what he had heard.

  "Listen, could I get your number. I'm looking for a guest for next Thursday night and I'm thinking that you might be just the ticket! Are you interested? Looks to me like you are capable of staying up all night!" Art was clearly impressed by Linda Moulton Howe.

  "I'd be honoured, sir!" answered Linda.

  "Art! Art! Where are you?" rang out on the outside of the Wanderlodge. Ramona Bell opened the door and walked into the motorhome. She was clearly surprised to see two such striking young women sitting with Art, in his breakfast nook. "Who?......"

  "Just some journalists, honey. Come to interview me about the show."

  "Yes, well sorry to interrupt, I guess, but your son needs your attention, Art. He just woke up from a bad dream," explained Ramona, still sizing up both Linda and Danielle.

  "Alas, this is the state of my life these days," explained Art. "Father duty calls, and I will be crashing off to sleep right after that. Shall we carry on this conversation, say, how about 10:00pm this Thursday night?"

  "Sounds great to me," answered Linda.

  "Then it's a date!" I will call you to confirm tomorrow night, around 8:00.

  The visit came to a bit of an abrupt halt.

  "I'm so sorry that you didn't get to speak with Mr. Bell," apologised Linda Moulton Howe. Danielle and Linda were walking down the driveway back towards the yellow cab. Niko was still there, waiting.

  "Oh, no worries at all Linda. I got exactly what I needed and you get to appear on Art's program! I couldn't be happier."

  "RRRAAAATTTTTLLLLE........ RRRAAAAATTTLLLE..........."

  "Watch out Linda! It's a rattlesnake!" and sure enough it was. They jumped back, probably avoiding a strike by only inches. Once they calmed down and realised they were safe, Danielle popped back up to warn the Bells of the dangerous intruder. Ramona apologised and thanked her for the warning.

  Back at the car Niko was all excited and asked them how things went.

  Once he heard the report he erupted with, "Yer gonna be on Art Bell! I don't believe it! Let me shake your hand!" Niko was in heaven.

  The drive back to the Maxim was fine. It took a bit longer than the outgoing trip, but Sunday morning traffic was never too bad in Vegas. One of the highlights was driving past the subdivision where her dad's house should have been. Just desert, that's all there was to see, no subdivision, yet.

  Danielle said good-bye to Linda and paid off Niko. Then, into the lobby where she settled the hotel bill. Paying everything with cash was easy. She could get used to this. Packing her belongings into her suitcase she hired another cab and while driving down the strip she noticed a billboard in front of the Desert Inn advertising, 'Out of Africa's Giant Snake Show!' Funny, but Danielle hadn't noticed that one on the way to the Maxim, yesterday.

  Not much was going on at the Health Path Clinic, so it was relatively simple to make her way down the hall to the storage room entrance. 280207 typed into the entrance door lock. Danielle heard a faint hum and she was in. Nothing had changed. She stood on the black square and pressed her palm to the glasses.

  Metal rings! It worked!

  The door opened with a bit of steam or mist released, and the three time operatives all clapped and cheered. "You made it, Danielle! How did things go?" asked agent John Teator.

  "I was successful, I think?" answered Danielle.

  Debriefing, and turning in her gear didn't take long, and having changed back into her own clothes she called her father, and waited for him in front of the office building. The whole experience had taken just 3 hours of elapsed time. It was just a little past 2:00pm, Saturday! This time travel stuff was going to have to take some getting used to.

  Along the drive home her dad asked, "You didn't have to work very long. How much do they pay you for a shift like that?"

  "I'm not sure," she answered. "They said we would settle up tomorrow, on the phone."

  "Well don't let them rip you off!" recommended her dad.

  "I won't." replied Danielle. If he only knew.