Page 66 of In the Nick of Time
“You know you don’t have to replay this like we’re rehearsing for the school play,” Nick said. “We just need to make things happen differently.”
“Fine. What direction?”
“Toward the entrance, but I think she veered to the right last time.”
Moving faster this time, Doug steered Nick toward the front of the club. He found that, if he didn’t look directly where Nick indicated, he could see a shadow of some sort. Like looking at one of those Magic Eye things from when he was a kid.
While he couldn’t see a little old lady, he definitely could feel something much more sinister. Like whatever it was really had waving tentacles, slimy skin, and bad intentions. But maybe that was more Nick Sedgewick wearing off on him.
“What direction now?”
Nick fell against him, and Doug automatically wrapped his arm around Nick’s shoulders.
“I’ve had way too much to drink. Can we get a ride back to the hotel, babe?”
He’d timed it so they were just passing the bouncer.
“Gentlemen, we have a private ride service available. Let me give the driver notice. Just wait by the yellow flag outside.”
“Yes?” Doug asked Nick.
“Absolutely.”
It was chilly outside the club. The desert was cold at night even when temperatures reached roasting levels during the day. With Nick plastered to his side, they meandered to the waiting area. Nick shivered and Doug held him more tightly. He wanted to ask what his partner was seeing.
Before he could, Nick pinched his side. “Babe, I’m so glad we’re getting a ride. Too bad it’s a short one and we won’t be able to do any funny stuff before we get to the hotel.”
“Tell you what, hon, next trip we’ll go to London and ride around in one of the black cabs for hours doing whatever we want.”
“Oooh, that sounds naughty.”
A freshly washed black Lincoln Town Car coasted to the curb. Doug opened the back door and ushered Nick in before him. Was Lady Luck in the front? Was she sitting next to them? Wasshe even in the car with them? He hated not being able to see the enemy.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
Doug rattled off the hotel’s address and the driver pulled away from the curb and out into late-night Vegas traffic.
“Mm, babe, I can’t wait to be alone with you.” Nick ran his hand suggestively across Doug’s thigh.
Luck was definitely in the car. Would she try to come up to their room with them? What had tipped her off? She must have realized somehow that one of them could see her. Did the driver know he had a demon riding in the car with him? Doug hated that he couldn’t ask all the questions he had. Agent Sedgewick was in charge at the moment.
It would have been easy to be distracted by the bright lights and glitter of nighttime Vegas, but Doug forced himself to stay alert. Someone had to protect Nick.
“Where is she? It?”Doug whispered in Nick’s ear as they finally exited the elevator. The trip had taken forever, stopping at every floor. It didn’t help that Nick apparently hated elevators and had muttered under his breath about Death Boxes and freak accidents the entire time.
“She stopped at the slot machines on the main floor.”
“We should go back.”
“I don’t think so. I think she’ll find her way up here with no problem.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she waved at me in the lobby. A little finger wave but a wave, nonetheless. And maybe also mouthed, ‘I’ll see you later.’”
“She waved at you,” Doug said flatly. “And said she’d see you later.”
“Yep. I guess we didn’t fool her.”
