Page 55 of Just My Luck

Rick and I gasped and looked at one another.

“Oh, not before desert,” Nova added quickly with a little whine. “I would love something sweet after that meal.”

We heard a snap and, from the sounds of it, desert was delivered to the table.

“Can I ask you something?” Nova said a few moments later.

“Anything, my dear.”

“Does that sort of thing happen a lot around here?”

“What sort of thing?”

“I mean, I’ve heard of escorts, of course, but child trafficking? I thought that stuff was only in foreign countries. Not in Las Vegas.”

Kit chuckled. “You’re pretty naive about some things, I suppose. My family has been in Vegas since the time of the mob bosses.”

It was quiet for a moment. I just knew that Nova was trying to figure out what to say to keep him talking.

“Those are just stories, though, right? I mean, the mob didn’t really set people up and run Vegas, did they?”

“They still do,” Kit said, and Nova gasped again.

“You? Are you a mob boss?” She sounded interested, not scared, at this point. I silently thanked the years she’d spent in drama class.

Kit chuckled. “Of sorts. I mean, running my own casino is sort of the same thing.”

“I guess, but setting something nefarious up like that up, framing someone for that sort of crime, you’d have to, what? Coordinate with the police and all? That’s got to be hard.”

Kit paused. “If one were to frame anyone, as you put it, it wouldn’t be hard if a man had the right players in his pocket.”

“Players? Such as police officers?”

“Well, yes, but the police are just worker bees.”

It was quiet for a minute. “Lawyers, then?”

Kit chuckled. “Again, you’re thinking too small.”

Then Nova gasped, and I almost jumped out of my chair. “You’re not saying judges can be bought?”

“Who is buying anyone, my dear?” Kit purred. “Why waste perfectly good money on men who go around and corrupt themselves. All one needs to do”—there was a low pause and it sounded as if Kit moved closer to Nova—“is keep an eye out and an ear to the ground.”

“That sleazeball. He’s blackmailing judges?” Rick said.

“There’s not enough here to prove that,” Beth added.

“Who? Like, what’s his name, that just went up for reelection, Judge… Carver, Kroger?” Nova asked.

Kit chuckled. “Judge Conger has an affection for young boys that I keep an eye on.”

Nova sighed. “Wow, I guess you do have connections.”

“That is only the beginning,” Kit agreed.

There was some soft noises and my entire body went on guard as I could distinctly hear kissing noises.

“Surely, there’s no one higher up than a judge,” Nova said softly. “I mean, who is the most powerful man in the state?”