'How's Marty feel about this?' I said.
Bibi had her arms folded across her stomach as if she were sick, or cold. She squeezed herself a little tighter when I asked the question.
'Marty don't matter,' Anthony said.
'We clean out this place and we're gone.'
'How do you feel about it?' I said to Bibi.
She shook her head.
'She feels great about it,' Anthony said.
'Either of you worried that Marty Anaheim might be jealous and try to find you and, ah, attempt to correct your behavior?'
Bibi seemed to be getting colder; she hugged herself tighter.
'That's what I got you and Hawk for,' Anthony said.
I passed that by without comment.
'Anthony with you last night?' I said to Bibi.
She nodded.
'All night?'
She nodded.
'From midnight to four-fifteen?' I said.
She nodded.
'No,' Anthony said.
'Bibi, you remember I was playing blackjack until four-fifteen. Hawk saw me. I was with you from four fifteen on.'
Bibi nodded.
'Sure,' she said.
'That's right.'
'Isn't that swell,' I said.
'You through now, man. I gotta get back to the table before it goes cold.'
'Sure,' I said.
'Hawk's not there. So stay in full view.'
'You think Marty's here?'
'Better to act like he might be,' I said.
'Aren't you going to come with me?'
'I'll stay and talk for a while with Mrs. Anaheim,' I said.
'Don't call me that,' Bibi said.
'Man, you're supposed to be guarding me.'
'I was supposed to be bringing you back to your wife,' I said.
'Well, that's over,' Anthony said.
I stood. Bibi sat. Anthony looked at me and at the door and at his watch. He shifted from one foot to the other.
'You coming?' he said.
'Nope.'
'Man, the table's getting cold on me while we stand here.'
I waited. Anthony looked at Bibi.
'I got to get to the table,' he said.
She nodded. Anthony looked back at me.
'Yeah, sure. Okay. I'll be right there at the tables. Nobody's gonna try something right there, in the middle of the casino.'
I smiled encouragingly. Anthony shifted again and then headed for the door.
'I'll be playing,' he said.
The door closed behind him and the ornate room was quiet. Bibi sat on the couch looking at me. I glanced around the room. There was nowhere to sit without moving a pile of clothing. Bibi didn't seem to care if I stood or sat.
'Want some coffee or something?' she said.
