Ghost Recall by Alan Baxter

Author:Alan Baxter [Baxter, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-06T06:40:01+00:00

-12-

“What’s happening, Eli? You sounded so stressed on the phone.”

I can never hide anything from Bridget. The Lily Bar and Lounge at the Bellagio Hotel is busy and crowded, appearing more packed than it really is with all the mirrors around the walls. We’re sitting on velour couches the color of sick Caucasian skin and I’m attracting a lot of frowns for my jeans, boots and hooded top. The dress code is apparently “upscale fashionable attire” but, honestly, I don’t even know what the fuck that is. I’m being tolerated because I’m with Bridget and she’s a high roller. But I don’t think they’ll put up with me for long. That’s okay, I don’t need long.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m glad you’re okay, that’s all.” I can only assume because she’s been at the tables all day, the Acolytes haven’t had a chance to get to her yet. And that worked for me. Stanley wasn’t so lucky.

“Why shouldn’t I be okay?”

“I can only apologize in advance, but I think I’ve dragged you into something really dangerous. I didn’t mean to, and if I thought it would go like this, I’d have backed out well before now.”

Bridget tips her head to one side. “Would you though? Really?”

I can’t help a short laugh. “Maybe not. I dunno. But I am genuinely sorry.”

“So, it’s time to go? Where are we off to?”

“It’s time for you to go. I have to stay and wrap this up or it might follow us.”

She purses her lips, seemingly equal parts concerned and angry. As she opens her mouth to say something, my phone starts trilling an annoying repetitive tone. I silence it and look sidelong at the gang sitting around me. “Time to change it up.”

“Fuck.” Dwight gets up and comes over.

“Thank fuck for that,” Sly says, sliding off me as Dwight climbs on. The transfer is uncomfortable. If darkness had a texture, it would feel like this. Dwight feels different to Sly which is strange. Just as cold, but a different kind of greasy. I try not to think on it too hard, just grit my teeth as the repellant changeover takes place. I can’t suppress a shudder as Dwight settles in. Sly joins Graney and Michael on chairs opposite me and Bridget.

“The hell was that?” Bridget asks.

“Okay, full transparency. I’m going to tell you as much as I can. But I have to be quick and we need to talk while we’re moving, yeah?”

“The apartment first. I can be packed in ten minutes.”

“No, sorry, we’re going directly to the airport.”

“What?”

“They know everything.”

“Eli, there’s a fortune stashed at the apartment.”

“I know, and a lot tucked away in the bank too. I’ll get back the money if I can, but I think they’ve already got anything we left there.”

Bridget’s eyes flash rage. “I worked my ass off for that money, Eli.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But you have your winnings from today, you have what’s in the bank. I’ll do all I can to recover as much as possible while I tidy this mess up.

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