I cock my head. “I noticed you left in a hurry. I hope you didn’t run into…trouble.”
Those noises in the alley last night. I can’t help but wonder what happened. But Miss Wonder is clearly okay, thanks be to Jove. Not a scratch on her.
She dusts off her jacket. “I’m fine now. That’s what matters. And I need to go downstairs and get my credit card. I won’t be a minute.”
I want to let her in because I want to give this woman whatever she wants. But Her Majesty would have my head—and that’s not just an expression in this case. “I’m afraid the rules of the club still stand. Because you are not a member, I cannot allow you inside unless you are a guest of someone on the list.”
“Yes, but I’m not actually going to go to the club. I’m going to settle my tab, turn right back around, and leave. It’ll take thirty seconds.”
I grin. “Even thirty-second visits are against club policy, Miss Wonder.” I shrug. “If you want to come back with Mr. Hathaway or another member, I’ll gladly let you inside.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She points at the door. “I’ve already been down there. Twice now. It’s not like I don’t know what it looks like. Plus, if I never settle my tab, you’ll never get the money for my drinks.”
“One gin and tonic and one dirty vodka martini are hardly enough to put our ledgers in the red.”
“That’s hardly any way to run a—” She stops, narrowing her eyes at me. “Wait, how do you know what our drink orders were?”
I raise my eyebrows. I dare not tell her I’ve been spying on her both nights she’s been here. “It’s my job to know, Miss Wonder.”
“It’s hardly the job of a bouncer to memorize the drinks of his club’s patrons.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I’m sure you understand by this point that Aces Underground is no normal club.”
“What if I don’t come back with Maddox? You have my credit card—my personal property—and I demand that you allow me to go down and retrieve it.”
“If you don’t want to call Mr. Hathaway or another member to escort you, you’re welcome to call your bank to get a new credit card.”
She slams her hands down on my desk. “This is ridiculous. Just let me go down there, Chet.”
Great Scott. The woman has fire. I already knew that, but this is the first time it’s manifested itself into a violent act. I like it.
This woman is the first person I’ve allowed into Aces who has the power to take down anyone.
Even Her Majesty.
The credit card is clearly a pretext. She wants to check things out in the daylight.
I noticed the Seven of Spades was hovering over her table a lot more than her other patrons last evening. Her Majesty has told me that she’s been exhibiting signs of wavering, that I should keep a special eye on her.
Perhaps there’s something there.
Either way, things have been too tedious for too long.
It’s time to invoke a touch of chaos.
“Tell you what,” I say. “Go on down.”
Indeed, Miss Wonder sneaked behind the velvet curtains and confronted the Seven. The Seven spoke—actually spoke—to her, despite the rules to the contrary.
Our Queen doesn’t believe in second chances.
The Seven will be dead by dinnertime.
But perhaps this is my chance.
Miss Wonder is a curious little kitty-cat. And the kitty will be back tonight, her claws bared.
And she deserves a little nudge in the right direction.
