People huddled around us, the air coiled and hot as I took up the dice. I started to blow, sucking in a startled gasp as I spotted a familiar face through a gap in the crowd. Nick and Garrett stood twenty feet away, talking with the pit boss. “I think it’s time to go,” I whispered to Vero.
“Maybe just a few more rolls, to make sure we caught their attention.”
I ducked, attempting to tug her down with me. “We don’t want any more attention.”
She followed the direction of my stare and crouched beside me. “Oh, no.”
“What if they recognize us?”
Vero looked at our chips, torn. “Maybe they won’t. You look pretty hot.”
“Vero!”
“Fine, we’ll go.” She scooped up the dice and threw them a final time.
“Craps!” the croupier called out. The crowd groaned, our cover thinning as they quickly began to disperse. Nick and Garrett turned in our direction.
“Get down!” Vero grabbed my hand and pulled me under the table, crawling fast to the other side. The carpet smelled like urine and sweaty socks, and I gagged when a piece of chewing gum clung to the knee of my jumpsuit.
“Did they see us?”
“I don’t think so,” Vero said. We peeked through a field of pant legs and heels in time to see Nick and Garrett approaching. Their shoes paused inches in front of us. We listened, snatching bits and pieces of their conversation with the croupier through the surrounding chatter.
“… looking for someone… hoping you can help us… any idea where I might find Marco Toscano?”
“Sorry, can’t help you.” The croupier called for everyone to place theirbets. The detectives’ shoes reluctantly turned away. Vero and I waited until they disappeared from sight before crawling out into the open. “That was close,” she said, dusting off her knees. I dug frantically in my purse for a wet wipe, certain I’d contracted some casino-borne disease.
“Excuse me, miss?” I yelped as someone touched my shoulder.
“That didn’t take long,” Vero whispered in my ear. She smoothed down her wig and we both turned around.
A smarmy man in a suit jacket extended his hand to me. “I couldn’t help but notice your luck ran out prematurely tonight. Such a shame. You were doing so well.” A business card appeared between his index and middle fingers, as if he’d pulled it from his sleeve. “If you’d like to continue playing this weekend, Enzo Russo would be delighted to speak with you. He is a man of exceptional means, with a keen eye for talent and opportunity.” The man inclined his chin toward a dome on the ceiling. “May I tell Mr. Russo you’ll be in touch tomorrow, Miss…?”
Vero nudged me.
I glanced up at the camera and smiled as I tucked the business card inside my bra. “Reina.LaReina. Tell Mr. Russo the pleasure will be all mine.”
CHAPTER 19
My cell phone buzzed as Vero and I left the casino and took the stairwell to Marco’s floor. I paused halfway up, frowning at my screen. I didn’t recognize the number, only the 703 area code of the caller.
“Who is it?” Vero asked, holding on to the wall as she adjusted the straps of her heels.
“I don’t know.” I connected the call, answering cautiously. “Hello?”
“Finlay? It’s Joey Balafonte. Got a minute?”
I could practically hear the toothpick clenched between his teeth. “I’m actually a little busy—”
“I’m worried about Cam. I’ve been looking for him everywhere. He hasn’t returned any of my calls, and none of his buddies have heard from him either. He hasn’t even checked in with his grandmother. That’s not like him. I’m afraid he’s gotten himself in over his head. Has he called you? Do you have any idea where he is?”
I hesitated, torn between honoring my promise to Cam and the terrible worry I recognized in Joey’s voice. He might not be Cameron’s father or legal guardian, but he did feel responsible for him. And there was no worse feeling than the fear of losing a child.
“You’ve heard from him, haven’t you?” he asked, latching on to my pause, his fear turning to hope.
“Why would I have heard from Cam?”
“Because he trusts you. I saw it that night you caught us arguing behind the dorm at the police academy, the way you tried to protect him. Cam must have seen it, too. I swear, Finlay, I was only trying to help him.” It came out desperate, pleading. “My brother would haunt me from the grave if I ever let anything happen to that kid.” The phone went quiet, as if he were holding his breath. “Look,” he finally said, resigning himself to my silence. “I know Cam’s scared of getting in trouble for starting that fire, but if he’s arrested for it, you tell him I will be with him for all of it. I won’t let him go through it alone. I’ll call in every favor I have and make sure they go easy on him. Just, please… if you know where he is, tell me so I can come pick him up.”
