Lucky Flash: A Lucky O'Toole Novella (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series) by Deborah Coonts

Author:Deborah Coonts [Coonts, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2015-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

LUCKY

Liberace’s ring still glimmered from its case in the mini-museum in the Bazaar, the marketplace at the Babylon where purveyors of every kind of extravagance competed for real estate. From Ferraris to Jimmy Choos, baubles of epic size, designer duds in Lilliputian sizes, graceful original art to gourmet burgers, the Bazaar tempted all shapes, sizes, and tastes. The Babylon Museum was tucked in a tasteful corner near Samson’s, the women’s grooming salon that boasted a cadre of Samson look-alikes offering limitless flutes of Champagne. Women travelled half the world to spend their entire Vegas trip there. A blue door, standing open, and a tasteful, reverent sign marked my destination.

The dusty blue walls, thick carpet, and focused lighting stood in stark contrast to the rest of the rather bold accents of the hotel. The whole place made me want to whisper as if I was in a place of worship and reverence, which I guess I was. Music played in the background—a loop of the oldies but goodies I’d helped the Big Boss compile. Fun times. Curiously, Liberace crooned I’ll Be Seeing You as I staked out my place, holding up the wall, waiting for my father.

Elvis’s sequined jacket from his last concert in Vegas hung on the wall above the case holding the ring, next to a signed guitar from B. B. King and sheet music to My Way signed by Sinatra. These were my favorite things in what I referred to as the Big Boss’s music corner.

Leaning against the wall, I watched tourists wander the room partaking of bits of Vegas’s heritage. Music had been almost as important as gambling in the heyday, luring visitors to make the long hot drive through the Mojave from L A. Of course, the Mob and a possible brush-up against bad was a lure as well, but I tried not to focus on that. Although I was born into that world, it wasn’t my Vegas.

As if hearing his cue, the Big Boss strolled through the door acting like he owned the place, which stood to reason. Casually, he cased the room, checking every detail, every nuance for the perfection he demanded. His eyes paused and then moved on as they brushed over me. Working his way in my direction, he graciously greeted those who stopped him, spending time and attention on each. Since I’d left him, he’d added a suit jacket and his diamond tie-bar—just enough bling to fit with Vegas expectations. Matching diamond cufflinks flashed where they peeked out of his coat sleeve when he reached to shake someone’s hand.

The personification of Vegas, someone had described him in an article recently. Smart, savvy, good, with just a hint of bad. He’d thought the description perfect. “If I was all good, what would they talk about?” he’d said with a grin.

Finally, he made stood in front of the case. When he found me looking at him, he gestured to the bauble resting inside the case. “I told you it was still there.”

I shouldered in next to him.

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