Dale clambered to his feet and dusted off his pants. With his gun still aimed at the car, he advanced with ease, his partner right behind him. “Cover me, Jimmy.”
He holstered his weapon and pried open the car door, now upside down. The killer hung from the seatbelt, his face bloodied, a deep gash across the top of his head.
Dale bent down and checked for a pulse.
“I’ll call the EMTs,” Jimmy said.
“Forget the EMTs. This guy’s gone.” Dale sprung up and took a deep breath in and out. “Now that’s the way to start a day.”
For a brief moment, he almost forgot his whole world was crumbling around him.
Chapter 3
Doug Grant sat in his private office and rubbed his temples. He hadn’t expected everything to come to a head. He just wanted to be happy, free from the constraints, able to live a normal life. But what would be the consequences?
He went through the usual morning paperwork, feeling older and more alone than he had in years. He was proud of being thorough, a trait learned from his father. At sixty-three, Doug was still very much a working boss. His son, Shawn, now thirty-five and Vice President of Operations, was learning the business from him.
He marveled at how far he’d come: the Greek Hotel and Casino—the second largest and most profitable casino in Las Vegas. He had taken it over when his father, Sherman, had passed away eight years ago. Doug had turned the casino into a multibillion-dollar business and he looked forward to turning over full control to Shawn at the right time. Recent events had moved up his planned date for semi-retirement by years.
He heard the front door to the suite swing open, but he was sure he’d locked it so he wouldn’t be disturbed. He wasn’t expecting visitors and his first appointment downtown wasn’t until this afternoon. He rose to investigate, but before he could, Ace Sanders strode into his office.
The rival casino owner wore a fake tan and cocky grin. Sanders owned and operated two casinos, the Golden Horseshoe and the Midas. Neither was as successful as Doug’s.
Doug frowned. “How did you get in here? That door was locked.”
“Magic.”
Sanders offered his hand, but Doug ignored it.
The man sat on the leather sofa and put his feet up. He had a languid smile. “You know, I really wish you would use your home or casino offices more. It’s a bitch to get down here.”
“That’s the point. Privacy. No interruptions. Obviously it isn’t working.”
Sanders said nothing.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Doug asked with malevolence in his voice.
Sanders studied the office before answering. “I just stopped by for a chat. I think you should listen this time and consider what I have to say.”
Doug stayed seated in his desk chair.
Sanders’ chuckle was thick with sarcasm. “Same way I got through the front door. Please, Douglas. I’m Ace Sanders. I can do whatever I want in this city. Enough small talk. I want your casino and I’m willing to up my price.”
“We’ve been over this before—too many times. I won’t have this discussion with you again. I’ll never sell this casino. Ever! Most of all not to you. This place was my father’s, now it’s mine and it will be Shawn’s. And I hope that when he has children, one of them will want to be a fourth-generation owner.”
“$250 million!” Sanders shouted the number as if it were a revelation. “Which is $50 million more than my last offer.”
“No.”
“You’re making a mistake, old man. At least think about the offer.” Sanders’ voice remained even and calm.
Doug looked at him through tired eyes. Sanders kept increasing the offer and was wearing him down.
“No!” Doug’s heart was beginning to race. “Listen to me. Don’t ever come back here again. You hear me? Now
“This is a mistake.” Sanders got up. He reached inside his coat and pulled something out.
Doug froze for an instant. But it wasn’t a gun.
Sanders had pulled out a round plastic piece and he flipped it onto Doug’s desk. The coin spun on edge before falling. Doug picked up the poker chip and studied it.
“That is a ten-thousand-dollar Golden Horseshoe betting chip,” Sanders said. “A token of my kindness. Come by some time and have some fun. On me, of course. What do you have to lose?”
Sanders headed for the door, shaking his head and grinning the whole way. Before exiting, he turned. “And Douglas, this is far from over.”
Doug rose and pointed a crooked finger. “Get out. Now!”
As Sanders left, Doug felt a sharp pain in his chest. He sat down, clutching his left pectoral. He took a few deep breaths and regained his composure as the pain subsided.
Studying the casino chip, he thought he might just take Sanders up on his offer. But that would be another time. He slipped the chip into his desk drawer and went back to his usual routine. He was not going to let Sanders ruin his day.
Chapter 4
The dream woke him again. Why was it tormenting him?
He opened his eyes and a dim light across the room caught his attention. He saw Rachel seated at the little table, writing vigorously in a notebook, her face a mask of concentration. Books, pens and paper were scattered across the tabletop.
“What are you doing?”
She jumped at his voice. “You startled me.”
“Sorry.” He slid off the bed and crossed the room, his eyes still adjusting to the light.
With the speed of a high-school student hearing the bell, Rachel threw a few items into her knapsack and closed it.
“What are those?”
“Nothing.”
Calvin grabbed the bag. “What are you hiding from me?”
He opened the knapsack and removed a stack of textbooks. “What are these?” He picked up the top one. “
“They’re for school.” Her face reddened. She pulled the books from his hands and shoved them in the bag.
“School?”
“Yeah, school. That big brick building where you gain knowledge. Ever hear of it?”
“Why are you getting so defensive?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know about it.”
“About what?”
She exhaled out loud. “I’m taking online courses at CSN. Okay?”
“Since when are you a student at the College of Southern Nevada?”
“This is my second year in a two-year psychology program.” She pursed her lips. “I want more for my life, Calvin. So far, it hasn’t been like I dreamed.”
