When Neal catches up to octogenarian Natty Silver, once a burlesque top banana and now known for his disappearing act, he's supposed to escort him home from Las Vegas to Palm Springs. Sole witness to a crime, Silver is now the quarry of some pretty dangerous people. And bodyguard Neil--scorching through the desert at 80 mph, brooding on his inner child by freezing starlight, and looking down the barrel of one gun too many--is soon dodging vultures and on the brink of a surprise watery grave. Martin's Press.