8 Bodies is Enough(31)
She gave him a little wave before moving off.
He watched her wiggle away and grunted. Meg who?
“We oughtta move out here,” Chance said. “There’s so much freaking money floating around. And with your card skills, man, you’d be rich in no time.”
Wes pursed his mouth and thought about Mouse accusing him of skipping town. The man was right—he didn’t have much keeping him in Atlanta. His dad might not make it and didn’t want anything to do with him anyway…Carlotta was engaged to Peter…and Meg wasn’t giving him any hope.
“Let’s do it,” Wes said with a shrug. “In fact, why bother going home at all? I love this place!”
“Excuse me, sir.”
Wes turned around to see two security guards in a wide-legged stance. This couldn’t be good.
“We need you to come with us.”
“What—”
Before he could get another word out, they had each grabbed an arm and were helping him along.
“Get my chips,” he yelled back to Chance.
“That won’t be happening,” one of the guards said. “Pick up your feet.”
Since the alternative was to be dragged, Wes began to trot to keep up with the behemoths. His face burned as he was paraded through the casino while everyone stared and pointed.
He was escorted down a long hallway to a grim chamber that was as intimidating as any police interrogation room. The security guards ordered him to sit in a chair behind a table and keep his hands in sight. They put his backpack in a wire cage as if it was an animal that might try to escape.
“Slow crime day, guys?” he asked.
“Shut up,” they said in unison.
A few minutes later the door opened and a craggy-faced man wearing a gray sport coat walked in with a scowl and a swagger. “What’s your name, son?”
Wes swallowed hard. “Wesley. Wren.”
“Where are you from?”
“Atlanta.”
“Atlanta, Georgia. Mighty hot there.”
Wes pursed his mouth and nodded, then realized with a thud he should’ve told them the town on his fake ID—Ozark, Alabama. Crap.
“I’m Captain Pace of the Las Vegas Police Department.”
“Captain?” Wes gave a little laugh. “No offense, but don’t you think all of this is a little overkill?”
“Overkill?”
“I mean, there are no victims here. I spent a lot of money in this casino, and I won a lot of money. And I tipped really well—ask anybody. The way I see it, this is a win-win situation.”
“Is that right?” the captain asked, seeming amused.
Wes was glad the guy was lightening up. “In fact, I’ll forego my winnings if you’ll let me walk out of here with the money I brought with me.”
“That sounds like a deal,” the man said with a nod.
Wes exhaled in relief. “Just don’t tell my sister.”
“Is your sister involved in this?”
“No—not at all. And this has nothing to do with the dead guy that showed up in her hotel room.”
The man frowned. “Dead guy?”
A hot flush began to creep up Wes’s face. “Like I said—no connection.”
“Okay, stand up.”
Wes pushed to his feet. “I appreciate you being so understanding.”
“Turn around, please.”
Before Wes knew what was happening, the captain had pulled his hands behind his back and snapped on cuffs.
“Guys, I was just having a little fun. And you gotta admit—it looks real.”
“Wesley Wren, you’re under arrest for possession of counterfeit money and fraud.”
Wes’s head came around. “What? Did you say counterfeit money?”
“You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions,” the man continued. “Anything you say may be used against you…”
Chapter 12
AS CARLOTTA STOOD in front of the door, waiting to see if anyone would answer, a tangle of scenarios wound through her head. What if her mother opened the door? What would she say to Valerie? And would her mother hug her, or turn her away?
What if the man answered? She needed to be ready to explain her presence. And how was he connected to her parents?
What would she do if no one answered? Camp out on the driveway until someone emerged? She couldn’t very well break down the door…although Hannah probably could.
Under the blond wig, her scalp crawled. A layer of perspiration covered her body and her heart was beating so fast, she felt faint. She had just decided she should probably sit down when the door knob rattled.
Carlotta sucked in a sharp breath.
The door opened…to reveal a young girl with long, dark hair wearing a flowered sundress. “Hello,” she said, looking up at Carlotta with a wary expression.