At three o'clock in the morning, a sharp rap vibrated the window of Tonia Stowell's bedroom.  She moaned, rolled over and pulled the covers over her head.  After the celebration of her twenty-eighth birthday at the Saddle Horn with a group of friends, she felt the agony of consuming too much champagne.  When the second knock rattled the glass, she forced her eyes open and tried to raise her head. 

     "Tonia, wake up," called a harsh male voice. 

     "Who the hell?"  She threw back the covers and struggled to get up.  Glancing at the clock, she cursed.  "Damn, I've only been asleep an hour."

       She eased out of bed and clutched her head.  Wrapping her robe around her nude body, she staggered toward the window and peered out.
 
    "Dear God, what does he want?" she muttered, motioning for him to go around to the front door. 

     Her cat, Cyclone, leaped off the bed and followed Tonia into the living room where she opened the front door only as far as the chain allowed.  "Drew Harland, do you know what time it is?" 

     His slate blue eyes met her stare.  "Yeah, dammit.  But I need your help."

     She sighed, unlocked the safety chain and threw open the door.  Folding her arms across her chest, she stepped back and glared at him as he entered, then slammed the door shut with her foot  "This better be good, waking me at this ungodly hour."

     "I'm in trouble.  You've gotta help me."

     Tonia marched over to the glass topped coffee table and picked up a pack of cigarettes.  She sat down on the brocade velour couch and crossed her legs, revealing a shapely tanned thigh through the slit of her silk robe.  After lighting her cigarette, she leaned back on the couch and blew a circle of smoke into the air.  "What kind of trouble?"

     Drew ran a nervous hand through his crop of blond hair.  "Bad.  Coty and I robbed The First National Bank on the edge of town and he killed the security guard."

     She narrowed her jade eyes.  "You fools!"

     He ducked his head.  "Yeah, I know.   And to top it off, we noticed a damn video camera perched on the eaves, probably got the whole thing on tape.  It'll only be a matter of time before the cops find us."

     Tonia put her cigarette on the lip of the crystal ashtray and stepped into the kitchen.  She mixed herself a stiff Jack Daniels and water, then carried it back into the living room.  Sitting down, she flipped the ash from her cigarette. "How much did you get?"

     "Close to a hundred grand."

     A slight smile curled the edges of her mouth as she took a sip from the glass.  "Where is it?" 
 
     He flopped down on an overstuffed chair opposite her and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.  "In a safe-deposit box." 

     "So what the hell do you want me to do?"

     He dug into his pocket, pulling out a gold-toned piece of metal. "I gotta get out of the state, but I'll give you a cut if you'll keep this key until the heat dies down."

      Tonia crushed out her cigarette and stood.  Untying her robe, she sauntered toward him, the silk material flowing open, revealing firm breasts and curved hips.  He stood, his eyes wide as she took the key from his hand and slowly wrapped her arms around his neck.  "Sugar, I'll keep this in a nice, safe place for you.  Anything else you need?"