The Case of The Terrible Teachers in Las Vegas: A Cozy Tiffany Black Mystery by A.R. Winters

Author:A.R. Winters [Winters, A.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I had my second wind by the time I was ensconced at my blackjack table. My mind was buzzing with thoughts of dead principals in parking lots—actually, just the one—lying teachers, eco-warriors, colorful mocktails, and a dozen other competing snippets from the case.

It was like a puzzle inside my head, and I knew the pieces all fit together somehow, but I couldn’t quite see how. I let my subconscious deal with that in the background while I dealt cards, collected chips, and did my version of providing a friendly but professional croupier service to my customers.

A pair of older ladies from Indiana who were on a ‘girls’ trip’ together were having a great time at my table.

The two of them grabbed each other’s arms excitedly, knocked over chips, and chattered endlessly while they impatiently waited for the next hand to begin.

The start of the hand was delayed when another customer joined us at the table. The new woman had a visor on her head which was pulled down low, obscuring most of her features. She gave nervous glances left and right as she sat down, as if afraid of being caught.

The thing was: She was being caught.

I took a half-step back and bent down so I could see under her visor, and I stared at her. My eyes and hers both went wide as she stared back at me in horror.

“Oh, shoot!” Opal Callaghan, the vice-principal of Mesquite Meadows High said. “What are you doing here?”

I stared back at her, wishing I had my phone so I could snap a picture of her. But, of course, we dealers weren’t allowed our phones while we were working.

But then I remembered that that stage of our case was now over. It didn’t matter if Opal was gambling now. Our so-called education superintendent was nothing of the sort, and he didn’t need us to collect evidence of ‘immoral behavior’ any longer.

That didn’t mean that Opal’s presence wasn’t helpful though. In fact, it might be the key to the case.

“I work here,” I told her, not really seeing a way around the blindingly obvious truth.

“I’m not here,” Opal said quickly. “I’m… I’m looking for the restaurant. This isn’t the restaurant, is it?”

“What a load of bull!” said one of the old ladies next to her—Betty, I think it was.

“You’re not fooling anyone,” said her partner, Gladys. “Fess up. You know you’re in a casino.”

“And there’s nothing wrong with it!”

“Opal,” I said, “it’s nearly midnight, and you’re in a casino. You didn’t climb out of bed and accidentally end up here. You don’t need to pretend that you’re looking for a restaurant. There’s nothing wrong with playing a hand or two of cards. A lot of people do it. Isn’t that right?” I raised my eyebrows to the two older ladies.

Betty nodded agreement quickly. “It’s a fine entertainment.”

Gladys leaned over and whispered to her friend, but it was the kind of whisper that was loud enough for a deaf person to hear. I didn’t catch all the words, but it was something about trying to ‘shark’ the new lady.

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