Vegas Sunrise (17 page)

“I don't agree. I can wrap Birch around my fingers, and there are ways to get information without being on the inside. Being a Thornton has its advantages. I'm not sure I want to give that up.”

“What will you do if Birch wants to give you up?”

“It won't happen. If it does, then I get down and ugly. He's the one who slapped me around. It was pure dumb luck that I remembered the Polaroid camera Birch brought back in his duffel bag. All I had to do was stand in front of the mirror and snap. The bruises showed up magnificently. Spouse abuse works wonders in divorce cases. Especially when there is proof. Tap into that fancy-dancy computer of yours and tell me which room Sage booked for the night.” Jeff's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. He tapped at the keys.

“He's in Room 1611. You are a little devil, aren't you?”

“A key would be nice, Jeff. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I found out the hard way if you don't look out for number one, no one else will.” Celia pocketed the master key Jeff handed her. “I'll probably be calling you later, so be available. We discussed this a few days ago. You know what you have to do. I'll see you later.”

 

Sage was dodging a group of tourists exiting the hanging gardens when he heard the high-pitched babble of excited voices coming from the twenty-one tables. He worked his way across the floor in time to see Celia rake in a pile of chips. She scooped them up into a large cardboard bucket. She tossed one of the chips to the dealer before she turned to leave the table, her winnings clasped tightly against her chest.

“Lucky night?” Sage said. His voice was cool, matter-of-fact, his eyes openly suspicious as he eyed the bucket of hundred- and thousand-dollar chips.

“You wouldn't believe how lucky. Here, these are for you to pay off the things I charged. We're square now. I suppose you plan to tell Birch.”

“What makes you say that?”

“My womanly intuition. How about buying me a drink? There are some extra chips in the bucket that will cover the bar tab. It's almost time to head home. Gambling is very stressful. A drink will help me unwind. I have a subbing job tomorrow. You just wouldn't believe the trouble I've had. I bought this answering machine and hooked it up wrong. I'm not the least bit mechanically minded. I guess I lost more messages than I got. Jeff was good enough to put me up here at the hotel when my apartment got overrun with roaches. They used some kind of killer spray that wasn't good for humans to breathe. You know, the fumes. Anyway, I'm back in the apartment, my machine is working, and I'm working. My job here fell through. You'd think being a Thornton would help my resume. Did you have anything to do with that, Sage?” Celia asked playfully as she wagged a finger under Sage's nose.

Sage laughed as he headed for the Harem Lourge, the bucket of chips clasped securely in his hands.

“Gin and tonic,” Celia said to the bartender.

“Beer,” Sage said. He set the container of chips on the bar.

Celia crossed her legs as she swiveled the barstool till it was facing Sage. “What are you doing in town tonight? Birch said you hated this place.”

“Business.”

“At this time of night! Oh, I get it, monkey business, right?”

“Wrong. It's late now, so there's no point in heading up the mountain. It's one of the nicer perks about this place. Birch asked me to take you to lunch or dinner.”

“Are you asking me to go to lunch or dinner or are you telling me that's what Birch wants you to do?”

“Would you like to have lunch, Celia?” His voice was so prim and polite, Celia smiled.

“I would, Sage, if I thought you genuinely wanted to have lunch with me. Taking me to lunch because someone asked you to doesn't make for an enjoyable luncheon. Besides, I work the lunch hour at the Golden Nugget. I was never big on lunch to begin with. I suppose I should thank you for asking, though. What is it about me that you don't like, Sage?”

“Where did you get the idea that I don't like you?”

Celia smiled. “From you. It's okay. I have a whole list of people I don't like. You aren't on my list, Sage. Thanks for the drink.” Celia slipped off the barstool. Before Sage knew what was happening, she kissed him soundly on the mouth. “No hard feelings, Sage,” she cooed as she playfully tweaked his nose. “I'll see
you
later.” She raised her voice to make sure the bartender heard her and also noticed her little byplay.

Ruby stood in the doorway to the bar. Her jaw dropped. She turned around just as Celia exited the bar. What did, I'll see
you
later mean?

“Celia! What a surprise! It's so nice to see you. How's Birch? I was just going to treat myself to a nightcap before heading back to the ranch. Would you care to join me?”

“I don't think so, Ruby, but thanks for asking. I have a teaching job tomorrow, so I have to get up early. Perhaps another time.”

“We could make it a cola. When I was your age, I could stay up till the wee hours and still go to work. Stamina is such a wonderful thing. I insist, Celia,” Ruby said leading Celia to a sofa in the hotel area across from the registration desk. “Maybe we should have coffee. How was your night?”

“Actually, Ruby, it was quite wonderful. I won a lot of money at twenty-one, but I had to give it to Sage to pay off some things I charged. I pretty much went berserk when I went shopping. Birch frowns on things like that. I'm just lucky I won. Birch is such a . . . tightwad.”

“I would have thought he was generous. The others are. How is he? Does he like Atlantic City? I'm still hoping he'll give the ranch serious consideration.”

“He said he's into it. He likes building things. He took some great pictures of the village he built in Costa Rica. We could have dinner one night this week, and I'll show them to you. They're Polaroids, though.” Celia's voice turned wistful when she said, “I miss him. I wouldn't count on him as far as the ranch is concerned. Personally, I thought it was a very generous offer.”

“If you miss Birch, why don't you join him? I don't understand you young people today. If I was married to someone like Birch, I'd be all over him twenty-four hours a day.”

“We have some things to work out, Ruby. I made some mistakes when we first arrived, and now I have to find a way to make them right. Birch wanted . . . expected certain things and . . . I got caught up in the glitz and glamour. Things didn't work out the way either of us expected. Birch got violent and used his fists. I couldn't go out for a few days. Don't get the idea I was blameless because I wasn't. I'm even willing to take the blame for my part in the whole thing. A little distance between us for a while will help things. We'll work it out because we love each other. How are you doing, Ruby?”

Ruby pretended shock for Celia's benefit. “Very few changes occur in my life on a daily basis. For the most part I lead a very orderly existence. I'm still looking for someone to take over the ranch. Have you been to the medical center to see Marcus?” Ruby said in one long rush.

“No. I've been thinking about it, though. I sent a card to Fanny, one of those cheerful, keep your chin up things. I made so many stupid mistakes in the beginning I didn't want to make another one by invading her privacy. I did call earlier. I wanted to be able to tell Birch something tonight when I called.”

“Tell him Billie, Bess, and John arrived a few hours ago.”

“Thanks for telling me that. I know Birch will be relieved. Something's going on with all of them and their mother. Birch didn't elaborate, and, as I said, I learned my lesson earlier, so I don't question him. Now, let's firm up a dinner date for the end of the week. I've really got to go home, Ruby. Six o'clock rolls around quickly. It was so nice running into you. Be careful driving home.”

“How about Friday evening? Sevenish at Peridot. Peridot is Fanny's favorite restaurant. Actually, I think it's everyone's favorite restaurant.”

“I'll look forward to it. Take care, Ruby.”

“Give my regards to Birch.”

“I'll do that.”

Ruby watched Celia weave her way across the casino floor. She wondered why she wasn't exiting by the hotel door if she was really leaving the casino. She stood, her eyes following the electric blue beaded gown that was brighter than the neon overhead. She decided to follow Celia. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew Celia Thornton wasn't going back to her apartment. The night was too young to retire the sparkly blue dress. She was proved right minutes later when Celia left the casino by one of the side doors. She risked a glance at her watch; 10:55. Somewhere along the way, Celia had picked up a matching shawl. She watched as Celia threw it over her shoulder with a carelessness of long practice. Ruby's eyes narrowed. “Just what do we have here?” she murmured aloud.

Following Celia to the casino across the street was easy, the glittering dress showing her the way. Ruby watched as Celia flirted outrageously with the customers. At one point she playfully swatted a slot player when he reached out to pat her rear end. She stopped just long enough to take a sip from a glass he held out. This young lady had definitely been “around the block,” Ruby thought.

Ruby stayed on the fringe as Celia fought her way to the twenty-one tables, where she patiently waited for a seat. When a seat opened, Celia sat down and to Ruby's inexperienced eye, proceeded to act like an experienced gambler. Ninety minutes later, Celia carried her chips to the cashier's window, $17,000 richer for the experience.

“I'm not cut out for this detective business,” Ruby muttered to herself as Celia bought herself a drink at the bar. She chatted and flirted with the bartender as well as the men at the bar for thirty minutes.
It's like she's on a time schedule
, Ruby thought as Celia kept glancing at her watch.

Ruby looked at her own watch and was dismayed to see that it was five minutes past two. She wished she were home in bed.

Again she followed the sparkly dress out of the casino and back to Babylon. Ruby made sure she stayed far enough away to observe the young Mrs. Thornton, but not close enough to be seen and recognized. At twenty minutes past two, Jeff Lassiter strolled nonchalantly into the Harem Lourge. He exited almost immediately, followed by Celia a few minutes later. Ruby stayed on her trail until she felt a light tap to her shoulder. Panic-stricken, she whirled around.

“Are you having some kind of problem, ma'am? I've been watching you all night. Why don't we go somewhere that's quiet so we can talk?”

He looked like a nice young man but Ruby was having none of it. She shook off his hand, her eyes searching for the shimmering blue dress that was headed for the elevators. “Listen, I'm undercover,” she hissed, “and you're interfering with my job. My name is Ruby Thornton. Run it by your boss, what's his name, Neal? He'll vouch for me. Now, scat, before I make a scene.” The elevator door closed just as Ruby reached it. There was nothing for her to do but watch the lighted arrows at the top of the elevator. The elevator stopped at the sixteenth floor. Were there other people in the elevator? She had no way of knowing. When the elevator door opened, she emitted a sigh of relief. Good. Now all she had to do was find out what room Sage was in?

“Ma'am?”

“I thought I told you to stop bothering me. You made me lose . . . Never mind. What do you want now?”

“I want you to come with me.”

“That's not likely to happen, young man. I don't like pushy people. I'm not doing anything wrong.”

“You look like you're stalking someone.”

“Your eyes are deceiving you, young man. I do not stalk. Men do that to unsuspecting women. You're trying to put me on the defensive. You're stalking me! The things we Thorntons have to put up with. I want you to leave me alone.”

“I work here.”

“Well, guess what, my family owns this casino. Are we having a standoff here?”

“It would appear so,” the young man said, his voice edgy.

“Is there a problem, Anthony?” Neal Tortolow, head of Security and floor manager, asked, coming up behind his Security guard.

“Yes, there is a problem,” Ruby said. “You know me, don't you?”

“Of course, Miss Thornton. What's the problem?”

“I'm conducting family business here this evening. Your man here just crimped my style. The person I was observing got away from me. This is not something the family would want to . . . you know, get out. Do you mind if I leave now?”

“Can I help? Do you care to be more explicit?”

Ruby sighed. “Without mentioning names will it help if I say it's about the young you-know-who and the other young you-know-who, both newcomers to this establishment?”

Neal's brow furrowed. “Oh.” He nodded and waved her on.

“Anthony, this is one of those things you learn to deal with as you gain more experience. You were diligent and I commend that in my employees. Miss Thornton is family. Take a break and wind down.”

Neal kept his eyes on the bank of elevators. What the hell was going on and
where
was it going on? The old lady was undercover on a matter that concerned two people known as “you-know-who.” At two-thirty in the morning, it was par for the course.

Neal scribbled a note to himself and stuck it in his breast pocket. The elevator stopped on sixteen—Anthony said customer in blue dress took elevator to sixteen prior to his discussion with Ruby Thornton.

 

Celia stepped from the elevator on the sixteenth floor. She scanned the arrows on the walls to see which corridor she should follow to 1611. She sucked in her breath. Was this a mistake? Would it backfire? She desperately needed an ace in the hole. But, would what she was about to do give her that ace? It was a gamble. Solly, her old buddy from BBT, which meant Before Birch Thornton, always said you fuck them before they fuck you. Then you divide and conquer at which point the pie is all yours. What she was about to do would drive a wedge between Sage and his wife, another wedge between Birch and Sage which, in turn, would bring mother Fanny into the foray and drive a third wedge between her and her son Sage. Internal family matters would take precedence over business matters and pave the way for Jeff Lassiter to carry out his plans. Jeff would send, anonymously, the little sister's photographs to one and all along with the astronomical sums of money she'd lost gambling. All the internal strife would cause extreme stress to big sister Sunny, who would collapse under said stress. Yes, what she was doing would definitely be an ace in the hole. For 10 percent of the Babylon empire she'd sell her soul to the devil.