Page 63 of In the Nick of Time
As nonchalantly as possible, they stepped into the room. Very James Bond.
“I’m surprised there’s no bouncer or door guard,” Nick commented.
“Oh, we’re probably on camera somewhere. Hopefully, it will take a few minutes for them to notice we weren’t escorted.”
“That’s excellent news.Not. Now what?”
Turning to face Nick, Doug reached out and tugged on his tie before running his hand down the front of Nick’s suit jacket.
“Just making sure you’re presentable. Now you do the same for me.”
While Nick straightened things that did not need it, Doug glanced around.
“Follow me.”
“Boss.”
“Yes.”
The first thing Nick noticed was that Velvet Elvis wasn’t playing; he was nowhere in sight. Maybe it was his night off. Or he could’ve played earlier, Nick supposed. The second thing he noticed was that the older woman he’d seen the other times they’d been at the club was again seated at the table Doug chose.
Nick sat down next to Doug but did not ask to be dealt in. The dealer shot them a blank look. She wasn’t expecting them, but she didn’t hesitate to flick seven cards in Doug’s direction.
Almost immediately, the itchy feeling Nick experienced the other night had returned. Since he didn’t see Elvis, Nick doubted he’d been the cause. Unless he wasn’t in costume, of course, but Nick didn’t think that was the case. The common denominator was the elder in the sequin-festooned tracksuit.
Reaching over, he ran a hand down Doug’s thigh, leaned close, and whispered in his ear. “I think it’s the old woman.” He squeezed the massive thigh for good luck and because he wanted to. “She’s been here each time we have. The first night I spotted her because she slipped past the line outside and no one else seemed to notice. Yesterday, the day before, whenever—I’ve lost track—she was at our table, and here she is again. Myskin itches.” Nick nipped Doug’s earlobe, grinning when he was rewarded with a shiver.
“Babe, the things you say,” Doug responded with a sexy rasp. “We’re just getting started tonight. Don’t you worry, we’ll take care of that itch as soon as we get back to the hotel.”
SIXTEEN
DOUG
In which Doug is reminded of something he’d rather forget.
It was the old lady;Nick was onto something. But the odd thing was that Doug hadn’t reallyseenher before—or even tonight, if he was being honest. He’d sort of glimpsed her out of the side of his eye and forgotten about her because, as terrible as it sounded, she was a senior citizen and therefore he’d categorized her as not dangerous. And so he’d forgotten she was there.
Nick said she’d been sitting in plain sight at the tables both times they’d been in the VIP room. The first time, she hadn’t been sitting at Doug’s table, but Nick insisted she had been sitting at their table the second visit. And Nick could see her just fine.
Doug was trying to think fast.
Maybe the best plan would be to fall into her plan and go from there.
“Be patient, babe, we have all night,” Doug said to Nick.
“M’kay,” Nick responded with a naughty eye waggle.
Doug did his best to focus on his cards while digging through his knowledge of known super- and subpowered peoples. What was her skill? What he needed was to have Nick describe her to him, but now was not the time.
“Cards up,” announced the dealer.
Doug lost. Then he lost two more games.
He held up his hand, refusing the next deal, and scooped the remaining chips into his pocket.
“I need a stronger drink. Let’s go sit at the bar.”
“Anything you want, old man. I’m all yours.”
