“I ran into some old friends. So what’s the problem with our neighbor?”
“Wang invited us over for brunch tomorrow morning.” Pepper dropped her voice. “I want to know what his deal is. This guy’s over the top.”
“What did he do, send you a mash note?”
“Come here and I’ll show you.”
The smell was overpowering as they entered the living room. Every table, chair, and inch of floor space was covered in flowers. Not your usual variety of freshly cut roses and tulips, but a breathtaking assortment of orchids, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums. Misty stood in the corner of the room. Like Pepper, she had on her unhappy face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Billy asked.
“You’re not being level with us,” Misty said. “Is he, Pepper?”
“No, he’s not,” Pepper said. “We went outside to take a swim and when we came back in, these flowers were here along with this note.” She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to him. “It says, ‘It is destiny that our paths have crossed in a city of improbable chances. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you better.’”
“So he’s enamored with you. Big deal.”
“He wants sex, right?”
Pepper and Misty had forgotten that the sky palace was bugged. He pointed to the doors leading outside and moments later stood with them by the railing, where it was safe to talk.
“I told you before, sex isn’t part of the equation, unless you want it to be,” he said.
“Boy, I’ve heard that one before,” Misty said. “Look, Billy, if you want us to tag-team this guy, just say so, and we’ll go downstairs and buy a box of rubbers and pay him a visit. We don’t have a problem fucking his brains out, but you’ve got to tell us in advance so we can be prepared. We’re not whores who can turn it on for any customer, okay?”
“This isn’t about sex,” he said.
“Right,” they both said.
He blew out his lungs in exasperation. Pepper and Misty had to get it out of their heads that Tommy Wang was trying to get them in the sack. Going inside, he picked up a potted chrysanthemum from the coffee table and returned holding it in his hands. “Wang didn’t come to Vegas to have sex or to see floor shows. He’s here to gamble in the casinos, and that’s all he came here to do. A Chinese bad guy named Broken Tooth is paying for his trip and expects him to win millions of dollars and bring it back home. If Wang doesn’t, he’ll end up getting hurt.”
“As in killed?” Misty asked.
“Yes, as in killed.”
“You’re kidding me. Is Wang a gangster?”
“No, but Broken Tooth is, and he runs the 14K Triad, which is the most powerful crime syndicate in China. Wang somehow convinced Broken Tooth to lend him a few million bucks so he could beat the casinos in Las Vegas. Wang came to Vegas six months ago thinking he would double the money, go home, pay off Broken Tooth, and live happily ever after. Well, it didn’t work out that way. The casinos busted him and Wang went home broke.”
“I thought you said he was the most fortunate man in China,” Pepper said.
“He is. Some other jokers also borrowed money from Broken Tooth and lost it all in Las Vegas. When Broken Tooth found out, he had his men put bullets in their heads. For some reason, Wang got spared the ax, and Broken Tooth sent him to Vegas to win his money back.”
“Can he do that?”
“With our help he can. I read a story about Wang on the Internet and decided he was the perfect cover for our heist, so I arranged for us to get put in a sky palace next to his. I also knew that having you wear those jadeite necklaces would get him jumping.”
“Why?” Pepper asked.
“Because Wang is your typical Chinese gambler who sees symbols in everything. Take this chrysanthemum. The Chinese believe this plant attracts good fortune, same with the other flowers. Wang sent it to you in the hopes you’ll bring him good luck.”
“So we’re just two big rabbit’s feet,” Misty said.
“Two beautiful rabbit’s feet,” he said. “When you get together with Wang, you’ll pull the stunts we worked on in Lake Tahoe and make Wang think he can’t lose.”
“Is this guy going to win the money for us?” Misty asked.
“Yup. Tommy Wang’s our agent. He just doesn’t know it.”
“So that’s how you’re going to get the money out of the casino,” Pepper said. “Wang’s going to take it out for us.”
“In a manner of speaking, yeah.”
“How do we get our cut once that happens?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Are you going to murder him?”
“Come on, you know me better than that.”
“Then how are you going to get it from him? He’s not going to just fork it over.”
“I can’t tell you that. But you have my word, no one gets hurt except the casino.”
Pepper and Misty thought it over.
“I’m cool with that,” Misty said.
“And we don’t have to fuck him,” Pepper said, just to be sure.
“Tommy Wang doesn’t expect you to fuck him, and neither do I. It’s not on the menu.”
“This has got a lot of moving parts. Are you sure it’s going to fly?” Pepper asked.
“There are always risks when you steal. This scam is worth the risk ten times over. What do you say we have a drink and call it a night? On me.”
Pepper and Misty both laughed. The tension had left their faces, and they’d returned to being their beautiful selves. The scam wouldn’t fly without them, and Billy was going to do everything possible to allay their fears and keep them happy.
“What are you drinking?” he asked.
“Vodka and cranberry juice,” Pepper said.
“Same here,” Misty said.
“Coming right up.”
As they went inside, a crashing sound made Billy jump. He stared at the foyer, convinced the police had broken down the door and were coming to arrest him.
Sixteen
The police didn’t come barging into the sky palace. Billy breathed a sigh of relief and took a moment to collect himself. The crashing sound happened again. Pepper didn’t act like anything was out of the ordinary, nor did Misty.
“The suite has a private bowling alley,” Pepper explained. “The guys are playing. Are you okay? You look really stressed, Billy.”
It had been a long day, and Billy needed to get his mind on other things. He went behind the bar and fixed their drinks, including a rum and coke for himself, came around, and served them. They clinked glasses and the crashing sound happened again.
“You bowl?” Pepper asked.
“Since I was a kid. I’m the best bowler in the world,” Billy said.
“Travis thinks he’s the best bowler in the world,” Misty said.
“Let me at him.” Drink in hand, Billy followed Pepper and Misty down a hallway that he didn’t remember being on the original tour. “Who you backing?”
“My money’s always on you, Billy,” Pepper said.
They entered a single-lane bowling alley. It resembled a dance club with glow-in-the-dark paint and shape-shifting lasers throwing images across the ceiling. On the wall was a cupboard with striped bowling shoes. Travis had a handful of cash that had recently belonged to Cory and Morris, and the big man watched Billy lace up with a suspicious eye.
“I didn’t know you bowled,” Travis said.
“It’s been a few years. How much a game?”
“A hundred bucks. How many points do you want me to spot you?”
“None. Make it two hundred.”
“Come on, Billy, I play in a league. I’m good.”
“You’re chopped liver. Two hundred a game, winner take all.”
“You’re on. You want to take some practice throws?”