Page 2
Rico
Closing the door behind me I walk forward. “You’re safe, Fancy. We can protect you.”
She shakes her head. “Who are you? Ho-how do you know my name?”
“I’ve seen you at the casino,” Kade says softly, stepping forward. “We saw someone chasing you and followed to see if you needed help.”
She continues shaking her head. “No. No, I’ve seen you,” she points at me. “You’re with him. With Adorno. He sent you here to…”
“No,” I say. “It’s not what you think. We aren’t with Adorno, we’re after him. Look, we know what you saw. If you give us the name of the guy…”
“Phil. They killed Phil. I knew him. He drinks a little too much sometimes and practically lives at the casino playing poker with that damn machine. But…but he was a good guy. Never any trouble. Just a harmless drunk. He didn’t deserve what they did to him. Why? Why would they do that?”
“Who did it to him,” I ask. “We need the name. That’s who we’re after. Him and Adorno.”
She looks from Kade to me. He nods my way, giving me the go ahead.
“We’re undercover. We’re trying to lock Adorno away.
Phil was supposed to meet us tonight on the rooftop across from the Casino.
He told us he had information to share. We came in from the other direction, by the time we saw what was happening it was too late.
We also couldn’t see who killed him. You must have.
He looked right at you. We’ll put you in protective custody. Just tell us who it was?”
“I don’t know the killer. I’ve never seen him before tonight.”
“Would you be able to identify him if you saw him again or a picture?”
“Yes. Yes, I think so.”
“Okay then…”
There’s a knock on the door. “Next up. You got fifteen minutes. You’re paying the fee whether you go through with it or not.”
Kade pulls out his phone and opens the door. “I’ll get us set up. A fake marriage is the perfect camouflage to get us all out of here without being noticed.” He glances back. “Watch over her, and finish getting her dressed.”
After he closes the door, Fancy slides along the wall to the dressing table. She gropes the table top and clasps a brush. “I don’t know you. I’m not going anywhere with you or him. You may look smarter than the other thugs on Adorno’s payroll, but you could still be his men. Show me some proof.”
“I’m glad you’re being cautious. But that’s a little difficult to prove right now.
We’re undercover and don’t carry anything that could get us killed.
Once we get you to a safe place, we can show you proof and have you talk to our handler.
They’ll also make arrangements to get you out of town and into protective custody. ”
She shakes her head. “I can’t trust you.”
“Fancy, if you leave on your own, you’ll be dead before the night is over. Stick with us and help us find who killed your friend.”
She glances up at me with fear filled eyes. “I don’t understand. Why would they do that to Phil? He was just a bookkeeper for a local restaurant chain. He wasn’t a crook. He didn’t know anything.”
“He knew, or I should say, saw more than you’re giving him credit for.
He was a people watcher. I would sit next to him at one of the poker machines.
He always sat at the same machine and he’d feed me info.
Point out people we didn’t have records on and give me information. We always met at the same machine.”
“He liked the female video image on that machine. She reminded him of — of someone he once loved.”
I nod. “I was letting myself be seen and working my way into the scene, subtly trying to get Adorno’s attention.
After a couple weeks Phil asked what I was really doing.
Then point blank asked if I was undercover.
” I can’t help but smile. “The old guy gave me some subtle tips I’d never thought of for staying in the role.
A few days later he gave me information about Adorno that proved solid.
Two nights ago, he told me to meet him tonight and that he'd have something big. Something that would help us.”
Tears slip from her eyes, and she swipes them away with a palm. “He dated my mom when I was little. He’d bring me toys. He always knew what I liked. I guess I never realized how much attention he paid.”
“I know this is hard. What you saw, the shock, the danger. Now I’m asking you to trust a stranger. Please, just go with us tonight and I swear we’ll get you out of town tomorrow. Once we get someplace safe, we’ll show you proof.”
“I want a selfie of you. If they find my body somewhere, my friends will know it was you.”
Clever girl. “Okay.”
I wait until she’s done. “Now turn around Fancy, let me finish buttoning your dress. We’ll explain everything once we’re out of here and in a safe place.”
After helping her find shoes and adjusting the veil so her face is partially covered, we’re ready when Kade returns.
Taking her hand in mine, I raise it to my lips. Kade follows and puts his arm around her shoulder. Leaning in, he whispers near her ear.
“We got you. We won’t let them hurt you. We’ll use this as camouflage and get you to a secure house.”
“I am not testifying. No way. That’s a guaranteed body bag.”
“We won’t force you. If you could identify the guy tonight that would be a big help. Even if you won’t do more, we can still get you into protective custody and have you relocated.”
“Like witness protection? Some place out of this damn town?”
“Yes. Just play along for now,” Kade says.
“Give us a chance. Let us take care of you,” I add.
Leading her to the waiting area there are still two couples in line ahead of us for the Elvis look-alike officiant.
Good. That should give us plenty of time to stall and then make our exit before we’re called to make our vows.
Elvis finishes the wedding in progress, pronouncing them man and wife.
Toasting the couple, he throws back his glass, emptying the contents and nods for a refill as the next couple are led forward.
A young woman approaches, arms filled with pink, red and white bouquets. “It just wouldn’t be a wedding without flowers,” she smiles tentatively. “Especially for someone as beautiful as you. These dark pink roses match your lip color and would be perfect.”
Fancy shakes her head. The young flower girl’s expression drops, and she glances nervously over my shoulder. “Please,” she whispers. “I haven’t sold any tonight, and I’ll lose my job.”
Kade pulls a wad of cash from his pocket, peeling off a couple of Benjamins. “Keep the change for yourself,” he says softly.
Her eyes light up before the money disappears underneath her money apron and into her jeans pocket. “Thank you, sir. Thank you. I’ve got a kid.”
Handing the flowers to the woman now under our protection the girl skitters away. More couples enter from the dressing area. A young man is going from couple to couple, a black velvet tray in his hand. Leaning down I whisper to our witness. “I’m Rico, that’s Kade. Is Fancy your real name?”
She nods.
“Okay, just play along.”