Yaritza was not at her apartment.
She was not at the police station, either. Nobody had seen or heard from
her.
It sucked for Nic. It was 3:30 and he wanted some back-up on the
Stratosphere. Not that he thought Clayton would show, but there was no use in
taking chances. There had been something about Weston’s impatient yet calm
manner that disturbed him. The guard Craig was not all that comforting to him,
either. Nic had the distinct feeling that Craig would like to take a shot at
him just to regain his honor. Hell, just having to pull out his gun at the bank
to escape was unnerving.
Eventually, he found his way back to Corday’s office. Inside, Jules
Dalton was working on the captain’s computer. “Hey.”
Jules looked up. “You’re Yaritza’s friend, aren’t you?”
“You know I am. You seen her around?”
“Not today. Do you know when she’s coming back?”
Nic shrugged. “When she’s ready, I guess. What are you up to?”
“Well, we’re making sure everything is where it should be on the
computer.”
“En Ingles, por favor?”
“There was a crash in the system about a month or so ago and we’re
making sure the files are still there, and what isn’t there needs to be
re-entered. I’m doing inventory.”
“And you get to check the captain’s computer. Good for you.”
“It’s a pain in my ass, but whoever does the chief’s office has the
biggest job.”
Nic’s eyebrows went up. “It crashed everything, huh?”
“Yep. Our office, C.S.I., shrink, even the morgue got slammed.”
“The department shrink has patient files on computer?”
“Very little paper anymore, pal.”
Nic nodded. “It seems so. If Yaritza shows up, tell her I’m at the
Stratosphere.”
“Gambling?”
“Fishing.”
An hour later, Nic felt a bit better. To gain access to the top of the
Stratosphere, he had to go through a security check. He had nothing to worry
about, since he was not carrying. That meant nobody else would go up carrying,
either.
When he got to the top, he immediately made for the outdoor observation
area. There were a few people milling about, mostly tourists. He waited for a
half-hour, watching the sun start to descend toward Mount Charleston
Just as he was ready to head back to the casino, a tall young man with a
shaved head and a goatee dressed all in blue denim appeared beside him,
watching the sun as well. The two stood there, admiring the beauty together,
silent.
As the sun disappeared, the man spoke. “You Nic?”
“Me Nic, you mystery.”
“The name’s Erskine.”
“I was hoping to meet Clayton.”
“Clayton is busy.”
“So he sent you.”
“He sent me.”
“And what are we discussing?”
“Your increasing nuisance.”
“Am I annoying you?”
“No, but it doesn’t matter.”
“But I want you to like me, Erskine.”
Erskine finally looked at Nic. “I don’t really like anybody.”
“So what do we do?”
“You have the key?”
“Not on me.”
Erskine almost smiled. “Smart move. My orders are to take it from you if
you had it.”
“You don’t seem disappointed.”
“I’m not. The key’s not mine.”
“One might argue that Clayton doesn’t own it, either.”
“Beats me, I haven’t seen the deed on it.”
“Ah. So now what? We just go our separate ways?”
“You’re tricky.”
Nic grinned. “Best compliment I’ve had all day.”
“You don’t have personal connections we can threaten you with, at least
not that we’ve found yet.”
“Now that’s the operative word: we.”
“What?”
“Who is we?”
“Powerful people you don’t need to meet.”
“A law firm isn’t what I’d call powerful, unless Jefferson-Brown knows
the devil himself.”
Erskine nodded. “We do know the devil.”
Nic shrugged. “So you’re gonna follow me?”
“Until we find the key.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pat me down right here.”
“Nah, too much security.”
Nic tipped his hat. “Til next time, Erskine.” He made his way back inside
and down to the elevator. Minutes later, he was down on the casino level again,
and had the distinct feeling of being watched. That feeling continued all the
way to the parking garage. When he reached his level on the elevator, he
suddenly bolted for the top floor, which was 2 levels higher than his car. He
walked out into the open air. There were only a few scattered cars.
A few minutes later, a stout, suited man with a bad gray comb-over
appeared from the elevator. He wore sunglasses and a sour disposition. “Why do
you make this so fucking difficult?”
“Make what difficult?”
The man pulled out a gun. “Give us the key.”
“I don’t have it, and you’re alone, so there’s no us to give it to if I
had it.”
“I’ll shoot a hole for every time you fuck with me.”
Nic put his hands up. “I’m unarmed.”
“I’m not.” The man fired a shot just next to Nic’s right foot. His aim
was either right on or just plain lousy. “Am I getting through to you?”
“Kind of.”
The man aimed to fire a more convincing shot. He would have been
successful had Yaritza’s shot not knocked the gun from his hand. “Freeze!”
The shooter also raised his hands. Nic lowered his. “Where have you
been?”
“Away.”
“Ok.”
Yaritza turned her attention to the man. “Who are you?”
“Fuck you!”
She aimed and put a hole in the man’s suit shoulder. “What was your name
again?”
“Gillis, Gerard Gillis.”
“Who do you work for, Gillis?”
“The people who want the key.”
“And who are they?”
“Jefferson-Brown.”
Nic shook his head. “Is this what law firms do now? Hire thugs to do
their dirty work?”
Gillis turned to him. “I’m not done with you.”
Nic picked the gun up. “But you’re done with this.” He looked at the
serial number. “This registered to you?”
“Maybe.”
“We’ll check. Should have filed the numbers off.”
“I got a permit for it.”
“And I got a witness seeing you attempt to shoot me. Kind of wipes out
your permit.”
Gillis shook his head. “It’s a losing battle, don’t you see that?”
Yaritza motioned for the man to move away from the elevator. As he did
so, Nic moved toward her. “Hit him, Nic.”
“How hard?”
“I want him out.”
Nic shrugged, then walked over. “Sorry, man.” He feinted low, then did a
hard right cross, left uppercut combo on Gillis’s chin. The man fell back, hit
his head on the pavement, then was out. “That was easy.” He searched the man’s
pockets and found a cell phone. “Let’s cut his communication skills, not that
he had any.”
Yaritza motioned toward the elevator. “Let’s go.”
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