Page 59 of Family Ties and Alibis

Reaching the bar, she found Char waiting for her. “How’s it going?”

“No complaints that I’m aware of,” Mercedes said. “I’ve also stayed off Ione’s radar, at least so far.”

Her trainer grinned. “Ione works the noon to nine shift on weekends, which means she just got here. Give her time. I’m sure she’ll corner you eventually. She makes a point of knowing everyone who works in her area.”

“I can’t wait,” Mercedes sarcastically replied.

“Keep your cool and you’ll be fine.” Char tapped the top of her watch. “It’s lunchtime. Do you want to hit the hot dog stand?”

“Sounds good. My treat. Let’s see if Gina wants to go.” Mercedes and Char waited for Gina to show up, empty tray in hand. “Lunchtime already?”

“Yep, and I’m buying.” Mercedes showed them her pocket full of tip money. “The tips are rolling in.”

“Because you’re cute. The cuter you are, the bigger the tips.”

“Well, I’m an old lady and mine aren’t too shabby either,” Gina joked.

“Honey, you’re a classy lady and a real looker too. I’m sure you and Paige are gonna rake in plenty of dough to pay for your new apartment.”

Because of the limited menu, it didn’t take long for the trio to order their food. While they ate, Char told them about her life, how her husband had passed away and her children were grown and busy with their own lives. “I was bored and started coming to the casino to be around other people. I got to know the bartenders and some of the servers. They kept complaining about being short-staffed. I said to myself, ‘Char, why not make money in the casino instead of spending it?’”

“It wasn’t about the thrill of winning but about being lonely.” Gina pressed her hand to her chest. “You’re always so upbeat and cheerful. It must be what you were meant to do.”

“I took to it like a duck to water. At first, my kids tried talking me out of it. They realize now that it gives me a purpose. In a weird way, I’m helping people.”

“Cheering them up after they lose boatloads of cash,” Mercedes kidded.

“We all have our vices or bad habits, you know? Gambling, overeating, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, judging others.”

Mercedes thought about Char’s statement. “Mine would be impatience. I like to get things done quickly and efficiently.”

“I’m more of a procrastinator,” Char said. “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?”

“I suppose mine is I tend to be bossy,” Gina said. “I try to rein myself in, but sometimes it doesn’t work.”

Char made a ticking sound. “We had better hit the floor.”

Returning to their stations, Mercedes collected her work tray, order pad and pen and began making her rounds. She started at the slot machines and worked her way over to the poker tables.

Moving from left to right, she jotted down drink orders before hustling back to the bar. As luck would have it, the bartenders were in the middle of a shift change, and it took longer than normal to have her orders filled.

Following the same sequence, she delivered the slot players’ drinks first before heading to the tables. Mercedes rounded the corner, and she knew trouble was brewing when she noticed the look on Ione’s face.

The woman stared—or more like glared—at her the entire time.

Collecting another round of orders, Mercedes returned to the bar. Gina stood at the server counter, waiting for her order to be filled. “I’m on Ione’s radar,” she murmured under her breath.

Gina arched her eyebrow. “In a good way or a bad one?”

Mercedes twirled her index finger in a downward motion. “I think she’s going to chew me out.”

“For what?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I’m pretty sure I’m about to find out.”

“This is perfect,” Gina beamed.

“Perfect?”