The Secret History of Las Vegas (22 page)

A
sia was heading west, to the King of Siam, a bordello way out in the desert. The King of Siam looked like an ordinary low-sprawling ranch house nestled among twelve acres of green oasis in the desert. The place boasted a world-class spa; a stable with horse-riding lessons, where the exclusive clientele could ride bareback while fucking, if their tastes ran that way; a Tantra teacher; an Olympic-size swimming pool; tennis courts; and a private airstrip. What wasn't immediately obvious were the guards, who were everywhere.

The King of Siam was an exclusive establishment, a members-only cathouse with a membership fee in the high five figures. Its clientele included senators, congressmen, and CEOs. In addition to a selection of the most gifted, diverse escorts, it prided itself on its discretion. Most of the escorts were well educated, many with graduate degrees, and most spoke at least two languages, a necessity since many clients were international.

In a good week, even with the house taking its percentage, some girls could earn up to twenty thousand dollars. Even girls like Asia who didn't have college degrees and spoke only English could still average five thousand a week. Girls couldn't apply or audition for the King of Siam; Big Bill Brown, the owner, chose each girl usually after a chance encounter and a careful background check. In the ten years that they had been open, no one had ever breached the grounds, not even the most committed paparazzi. The joke was that only Area 51 had better security.

Asia had a standing invitation from Big Bill, ever since she'd spent a night with him in Vegas when she first got there. She had taken him up on the offer only once, for just a week, but she found it difficult to follow the house rules.

Even before Sunil had called her, pretty much as soon as she left his place, she ditched her phone and headed for this sanctuary where she knew she would not only be safe but could earn six figures easily in six months. She had every intention of calling Sunil, in a week or two. She wouldn't give up on him but she couldn't deal with the baggage in his life right now.

The landscape was a blur as she picked up speed on an incline. There wasn't much to see here anyway. Just ostrich and alpaca farms, abandoned malls built to service still-empty developments, the occasional deserted water park, desert, and more desert. Classic Nevada—where dreams died as quickly as they were born.

Genevieve was waiting when Asia arrived. Not much older than Asia, at twenty-eight, Genevieve had the poise of an older, more experienced woman.

Hello, Asia, she said. So Big Bill tells me you'll be staying with us for a while. Do you know how long?

Until I figure out some stuff.

A man, Genevieve asked, her voice soft, the texture somewhere between pity and envy.

Isn't it always, Asia said.

Genevieve smiled. You're welcome as long as you want. You'll be staying in Number 12. As always, the money gets processed through me, tips as well. The house now keeps thirty percent, but you'll find that our new services justify that.

Asia took the electronic key for her room. It felt strange to be back, yet oddly comforting. Here there was no pretense about what the girls did. They weren't escorts or hookers or companions or dates. They were just girls—old-fashioned and classy. A good thing; wholesome, even. As she picked up her bag to head down the hall, Genevieve called after her.

Cocktail hour is six. Prompt.

Okay, Asia said.

Whatever it is that you're running from, you're safe here, Genevieve said.

Asia smiled. I know, she said.

S
alazar yawned and stretched. He was still in the institute's parking lot. Eskia hadn't moved. Salazar lifted his camera to his face and studied him through the zoom. He moved the focus around, but Eskia was too far away to get a clear look at his expression. What does he want, Salazar wondered. His phone vibrated against his leg and he reached for it.

Yeah?

So I've got some information on that guy you asked me to run.

Do I need a notebook?

No. He used to be in the ANC's fighting arm in South Africa back when they still had apartheid, and then after the transition was made, he joined the South African Security Services. His file there is sealed even to Interpol, so I am guessing that means he has had some dealings in black ops.

Why is he here?

Visa says he is on holiday.

So this is personal?

Possibly—of course, he could just be lying.

Yeah, you're right. What about the other name I gave you?

What's all this about, Salazar?

Just a hunch, you know?

Well, his name checks out. Sunil Singh is who he says he is, a South African psychiatrist working here in Vegas on a green card. He has Department of Defense clearance, so he must be working on something important for the military.

Any connection between the two of them?

Nothing official, but I don't have access to that kind of information.

What kind is that?

You know, South Africa before 1990. The police and military systematically destroyed most of the records in South Africa before things were fully handed over to the blacks—

Was Sunil DOD or Special Forces over there?

Not as far as I can tell.

Thanks, I owe you.

You owe me several for this, Salazar. I'll never get to call in any of them, though, will I? I hear you're planning to retire, old man.

Fuck you, you dinosaur, Salazar said, laughing.

Tell you what. My wife loves those crazy boats you make. Give me a nice one for her and we'll call it even.

Come over whenever you like and pick one out.

He hung up.

What do you want, Eskia, Salazar muttered to himself. Are you the killer we're looking for?

He finished his coffee and went back to looking through the telephoto lens. Fuck, he had to pee. He put down the camera, reached for the empty coffee cup, unzipped, and sighed.

As he returned the now warm, half-full cup to the cup holder he made a mental note not to drink it by accident.

F
red, Water said, and even Sunil could tell that he was in love.

Water, she said, crossing the room to hug him. As unlikely as it seemed, Sunil could tell that Fred loved Water, too.

At least one thing hasn't been a lie, he thought.

Doc, Fire said, where the fuck have you been?

Hello, Fire, Sunil said. Please, guys, sit.

They sat. Fred sat next to them on the couch.

Fred, Sunil said. Do you mind moving to the armchair over there?

Why?

This will go faster and easier if you can remain neutral throughout my interview. Physical space is the first step toward that.

Fred nodded. She squeezed Water's hand and moved. Crossing her legs, she cut a look at Sunil.

Water, how are you today, Sunil asked.

Water shrugged.

So where were you, Doc, Fire asked.

I went to get Fred for you, Water, Sunil said.

Water looked up and smiled shyly. I love Fred, he said. Fred loves Water.

Fred smiled.

Do you know what happened to us yesterday, Fire asked.

Yes, you had an MRI done, Sunil said.

It was an outrage. We were forced to undergo a medical procedure against our will at a zoo, a zoo!

I'm sorry about that. I tried to stop it on principle, Sunil said.

A lot of good your principles did us yesterday, Fire said.

Boys, Fred said, voice soft. Play nice. The doctor is trying to help you.

Water smiled at her, Fire looked away.

So your MRIs revealed something interesting. It seems that you are not conjoined at any vital spots. No major organs, no major arteries.

So, Fire asked.

Did nobody do any tests when you were born? You could have been separated with relative ease, Sunil said.

And what kind of life would I have had, Fire asked. I would be a small, immobile lump with a superior intelligence.

Is the life you have now any better? Stuck as you are to your brother's side? A burden to him?

Doctor, Sunil, please don't talk to them like that, Fred said. Her voice was still soft, but there was a definitive edge to it. The twins trust very few people. The only time they were presented with a chance for separation, as babies, it was by the doctors of Area 51 and there were conditions. Their mother, Selah, declined the offer, she said, riffling in her bag and retrieving her cell phone. She pretended to check it and then slipped it into her shirt pocket.

Look, I understand that they are your friends and you want to protect them, but I have a job to do here. I must ask you to be quiet if you want to remain in the room, and if you cannot be quiet then I will have to ask you to leave.

Fred put up her arms in surrender.

I'm sorry, she said.

Now, where were we, gentlemen?

Discussing the possibility of some Frankensteinian surgery, Fire said.

I never mentioned surgery, Sunil said.

You were talking about removing me from my brother's body, Fire hissed.

If it were removed from the body, the small intestine would stretch twenty-two feet, Water said.

The MRI shows some unusual results in the brain area, Sunil said.

Well, I am a genius, Fire said.

Yes, well, as it happens, this does concern your brain, Fire. You see, when we are at rest, even asleep, there are certain areas of the brain that are lit up, and when we are animated, speak, think, or react emotionally, different parts of the brain light up. Do you follow me?

I just said I was a genius, Doc. Of course I follow you, Fire said.

Well, it seems that your scan revealed something a little disturbing. The only areas that are lit up in your brain are at the old brain; you know, the medulla oblongata, the part that governs your autonomic systems. Your brain, for all other intents and purposes, is dead. The scan suggests that you are brain dead, Sunil said.

What the fuck, Doc, Fire said.

Really, Sunil, Fred began.

Sunil turned to her. Please stay out of this, he said. Now, he continued, turning back to Fire, something tells me you already knew this. So I want you to tell me exactly how can you be both so animated and brain dead at the same time?

I'm a yogi, Fire said, and laughed. Fuck, Doc, I told you when you met us. We are King Kongo, African Witchdoctor. We have strange powers, man. What can I tell you? We should be in a comic book, not a psych ward.

This is serious, Sunil said. I want to release you, but certain people here want to keep you here for tests, particularly given the new information on your brain.

One out of twenty people have an extra rib, Water said.

Here's what I know, Sunil said. Water is completely healthy and his brain is fully functional. In fact, according to his MRI, his brain is fully lit up. It would seem from the MRI that Water is in fact the genius.

The twins looked away.

I would go so far as to say that there is no Fire and Water. Just Water. Here's what I believe, and correct me if I am wrong. Fire was born brain dead, alive mostly because he had autonomic function. When the doctors wanted to remove him, it became clear to Selah that Fire would die very quickly if he were removed from Water, so she decided against the operation, which most mothers would do. Am I right so far?

The twins remained silent, and Fred moved uncomfortably in her chair.

It was bad enough that you were conjoined, but to have a parasitic, brain-dead, half-formed twin was worse, Sunil continued, ignoring Fred. So my guess is that you developed a way to make it appear as though Fire was alive. The bigger you made his character, the more believable he was. It's a very good plan, and I think you are very gifted.

Fuck you, Doc, Fire said. Where do you get off talking to me like that!

I'm sorry, Sunil said, not sounding very sorry at all. Look, I don't want to keep you here. Some things have come to light in the last twenty-four hours that place you very low on my priority list. I would like to establish that you are mentally capable and let you go. Then I can focus on what I want to do. Do you understand?

I don't know what you're talking about, Fire said.

Sunil turned to Water.

No pithy fact from you, Water?

Fact, Water said. Something known to exist, or to have happened, something known to be true. Fire and Water are facts.

Really, Sunil asked.

Dr. Singh, that is enough, Fred snapped.

Gentlemen, I have devised a very simple test to prove the fact of Fire and Water. I would like you both to talk at the same time.

What, Doc, Fire asked.

I've been so stupid, Sunil began.

I could have told you that, Fire said.

Fred smiled.

Remember when I asked you about Water's tongue, the first night I examined you?

No, I don't, Fire said.

I asked you if Water's mouth was always a little parted and his tongue moves and you said yes. I should have known then but I was so wrapped up in my own recent struggles. That's a classic tell for ventriloquism.

There are no classic tells for ventriloquism, Fire said.

Then prove me wrong. Both of you speak at the same time.

May I, Doc, Fred asked, walking over to the twins.

Sure, Sunil said.

Sitting next to the twins, Fred gently touched Water's face and embraced him. As she did so, she slipped her cell phone from her shirt pocket into the generous sweatshirt he had on. Pulling away, she kissed Water gently.

Tell him, she said. It's okay.

Water smiled and nodded. Turning to Sunil, he said, You are right, Doc.

About what, Sunil asked.

About everything.

Sunil sat back and let out his breath. He had been half hoping that he wasn't right. He got up and crossed to his desk, where he'd left the bottle of whiskey, and poured himself a drink. What a weekend. It was hard to believe all that had happened since Friday, and now this revelation. He almost wished the twins hadn't been performing. Before he knew it was true there was the slight chance that he could release them. Now he knew he couldn't. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were psychopaths. No, that Water was a psychopath. If he could pull off this act for so many years, then he could do anything. Sunil turned around and sat on the edge of his desk.

What were you doing at the lake with all that blood, he asked.

I really was just swimming. The water of the lake feels good, takes the pressure of Fire off my side. Do you know how much muscle control it takes to hold up a dead twin? Water is so very soothing and it's not like I can take a dip in my local gym's pool.

I suppose not, Sunil said. And the blood?

I knew about the body dumps; I couldn't risk a body.

Smart, Sunil said. Enough theater to attract law enforcement, but I still don't know why.

Sunil, Fred said.

Yes?

Can we cover Fire up, she said. He'll be fine under the sweatshirt. He's used to it. The truth is he freaks me out a bit, those eyes. Always has.

Like Ed Mordake's twin, Sunil said. Cover him up. It's fine. I'm a little freaked out too. Now that I know the truth, it's like having an animated corpse looking at you.

Fred nodded.

Tell me something, Sunil said.

Which of us are you asking, Fred said.

Both of you, either of you. I know you're members of the Downwinder Nation, a radical group. What does the Downwinder Nation do, exactly?

We are committed to the eradication of dangerous military research in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. We find ways to close down facilities engaged in such research.

After everything that had happened in the last few days, Sunil wasn't as surprised as he might have otherwise been. This new information was just one more piece of a crazy week. And do you intend to close us down? I suppose that's why you are here, right?

We do what we can, Water said.

Why risk telling me all this? What is going to stop me from turning you in? You are threatening to destroy my research.

You won't turn us in, Fred said.

How do you know I won't?

Because you have more pressing matters on your mind, Fred said. I met a man outside who I think is looking for you. He has a gun with a silencer.

That's it. We're done here, Sunil said. I'm calling security to escort you out of the building.

With that, Sunil picked up the receiver and dialed the guard. After hanging up he said to Water: You realize I cannot let you go now.

Water just smiled.

I'll see you soon, my love, Fred whispered to Water, loud enough for Sunil to hear. With that she followed the guard out, without a backward glance.

See you around, Doc, Water said. Or maybe you won't. Remember, we are the witchdoctor. Laughing, he followed the security guard out.

When they left, Sunil walked back to his desk and poured another drink. He carried it over to the wall of zebu. Maybe Asia had been right. Maybe it was some tarot that he had unconsciously assembled. Too bad he couldn't read it.

To you, Asia, he said, raising his glass. I hope you are safe.

He downed the drink, straightened his clothes, and headed out to see Brewster. As he waited for the elevator, his cell rang. It was Sheila's number.

Sheila, he said, I've been worried about you.

It's me, Sunil, Eskia said.

You fokker! I'll kill you.

Someone will die today, that's for sure, Eskia said. And if you don't want it to be Sheila, you had better come downstairs now. I'll be waiting.

Don't harm her, you shit. She had nothing do with this.

And Jan? What did she have to do with anything?

Why now, Eskia?

If you're not here in ten minutes I'm leaving with Sheila.

Don't harm her. I'm getting into the elevator now.

Sunil hung up and rode down to the lobby. In the parking lot, Salazar watched Eskia start up his car and pull up to the front of the institute. He saw Sunil come out and get into Eskia's car. As they drove off, Salazar started up the Bug and followed.

By her car, Fred lit up a cigarette and watched the cars leave. She glanced at her watch. It was midafternoon. It wouldn't be long now. She'd better get going. She pulled her car around to the back of the institute, where deliveries were made. A Dumpster hid her car from view.

She settled down to wait. Water should be out anytime now.