Tricks and Traps (Gray Spear Society Book 7) Read online

  He put the phone away.

  She furrowed her brow. "What was that?"

  "Check your bank balance."

  She grabbed her own phone from her makeup table. It was a lot slimmer and sleeker than his. Using the browser, she logged into her bank. The balance in her savings account had grown by a million dollars. She blinked in disbelief at the number. A million dollars for one show, she thought. Ridiculous.

  "This is dirty money," she said finally.

  "No." He shook his head. "It's pristine. It was created just a moment ago."

  "The IRS will come after me."

  "Calm down. I paid your price, so I'll expect to see you tomorrow at eight. Again, it's the Rosemont Tower Hotel. Pack a bag because you'll be spending the night." He leaned forward. "Don't make me hunt you down. Don't call the police, either. They can't protect you from me."

  Sheryl nodded timidly. She believed him.

  Aaron took a step towards the door, and then stopped. He seemed puzzled.

  "What's wrong now?"

  "Your audience tonight was thinner than I expected," he said. "If you're so famous, why didn't you sell out?"

  The question caught her off guard. "I blame the Super Double Monkey machines."

  "The what?"

  "It's a new game. It's like a cross between pinball and a slot machine. Everybody wants to play it all the time. There is always a line out the door. The game is taking over the casino like a cancer. Management doesn't give a damn about anything else these days. They even stopped promoting me."

  He turned back to her. The strangely dark shadows on his face caught her attention again. She had spent her life creating pretend mysteries, and for the first time, she felt like she was in the presence of the real thing. This guy was different in ways that went beyond his ability to spit acid.

  "That's very interesting."

  "Why?" she said.

  He just winked at her. He and his red-haired girlfriend left the room and closed the door.

  Sheryl realized she was shivering. She looked down at her phone. Her bank balance still showed the inexplicable million dollars. She clicked through the website as she tried to discover where it had come from. There was no associated deposit or transfer. The money had simply appeared out of thin air.

  She leaned down and examined the hole in the floor. Aaron's acid had drilled through several inches of concrete beneath the tile floor. She looked up at the three perfectly spaced bullet holes in the wall.

  She took a deep breath. What the hell just happened to me?

  * * *

  Aaron held Marina's hand as they walked through the Huhawira Casino. The noise and flashing lights were like a drill boring into his skull. It seemed every one of the slot machines was ringing at once. Neon lights surrounded him. The exits were concealed and there were no windows, creating the impression he was trapped inside a psychedelic cage. The experience was supposed to be exciting, but he found it grueling. He preferred dark, quiet places.

  The gamblers in the casino weren't pleasant viewing, either. Most were old, fat, and badly dressed. They pulled the handles on the slot machines with a robotic cadence. Their glassy eyes stared at the spinning wheels. They were clearly spending money they could ill afford to lose.

  "I hate this place," Marina grumbled.

  Aaron grunted and nodded.

  A large, brightly lit sign on the wall read, "Super Double Monkey! This way!"

  A yellow arrow pointed to a door in the back corner of the room, but he didn't need the guidance. A long line of people showed the way as well. Their faces displayed the kind of hopeless desperation he associated with drug addiction. The line wasn't moving at all.

  "I don't want to wait for hours," Aaron said. "We still have a long drive back to Chicago."

  Marina looked around. "I think that's the back door." She pointed at another opening.

  Gamblers were drifting out infrequently, one at a time. They shuffled their feet and had sleepy, vacant expressions. One woman's fingers were twisted as if she had severe arthritis. She was rubbing that hand with the other and wincing in pain.

  Two muscular bouncers in tuxedos guarded the doorway.

  "Now we just need a distraction," Aaron said. "I have a small breaching charge."

  Marina grinned. "I really miss working with you. Life isn't nearly as interesting when you're not around."

  "Thanks. I feel the same way. Move into position."

  She drifted towards the bouncers.

  He went over to a line of slot machines and slipped a small device out of a hidden pocket. It contained a wad of explosive powerful enough to knock the lock out of a steel door or punch a hole in a wall. After checking for witnesses, he placed the charge against the back of a slot machine where it couldn't be seen. He set the timer for two minutes.

  He casually walked over to Marina.

  The explosion was shockingly loud even in the noisy room. It threw the slot machine forward and made it crash onto the floor. A cloud of smoke rose to the ceiling. Nearby patrons screamed in surprise. The bouncers walked over to investigate the commotion.

  Aaron and Marina quickly went through the doorway.

  They entered another room containing hundreds of identical machines arranged in long rows. All of them were in use.

  He approached the nearest machine. A glass box the size of a fish tank contained a bewilderingly complex mechanism. It included painted wooden balls of different sizes, metal rails, springs, holes, gears, rubber bands, clappers, bells, and whistles. The arrangement reminded him of a three-dimensional maze. Knobs and levers below allowed the player to manipulate the machine in certain ways. It wasn't clear how to win the game or even how to keep score.

  The lack of electronic components surprised Aaron. There was a lit panel for accepting money, but otherwise, the machines were entirely mechanical. He couldn't help but admire the masterful craftsmanship in their construction.

  He turned his attention to the people playing the games. They were feverishly working the controls as if their lives depended on it. They seemed completely lost in a world of rolling balls and cute sound effects.

  "I have a very bad feeling," Marina said.

  "Me, too," Aaron said.

  He looked around to assess the security. He counted thirty guards placed around the room, and all of them carried pistols. A grid of surveillance cameras watched every machine from multiple angles. There were no windows. Gamblers entered through one door and left through another, and Aaron saw no other exits. Steel screens could swing down from the ceiling and seal the room.

  "Let's go," he said. "It won't take long for security to identify me as the bomber on the surveillance video."

  Marina nodded. They held hands as they left the room the same way they had entered.

  A large group of casino personnel was gathered around the spot where the breaching charge had exploded.

  Aaron and Marina headed towards the nearest exit at a swift walk.

  They emerged into muggy night air. June had been an unusually warm and wet month throughout the Midwest. Rain showers had occurred almost every day. Mosquitoes had become more than a minor nuisance. In Aaron's opinion, the pests had a particular taste for the blood of commanders in the Gray Spear Society.

  The Huhawira Casino was a big, tan building with a boxy architecture. Native American touches added a little style to the otherwise drab exterior. There was a large parking structure in back. A highway overpass was across the street, and the continuous flow of traffic sounded like ocean waves.

  A group of waiters and waitresses was standing in a circle under the overpass. They were smoking cigarettes.

  "Let's talk to them," Marina said.

  She checked for traffic and jogged across the street. Aaron followed close behind.

  She smiled gently as she approached the group. She had the ability to appear perfectly sweet and innocent when she wanted. He didn't know of anybody with better acting skills.

  "Hi!" she said. "Mind
if we ask you a few questions?"

  One of the waiters responded, "Who are you?" He wore a cheap, black suit and a bowtie.

  "We work for another casino." She took a thick cash roll out of her purse. "We're checking out the competition, and we'll pay for information. Who wants some money?" She peeled off a hundred dollar bill and held it up.

  "I do," a waitress said quickly. Her silky black dress went down to just the middle of her thighs.

  Marina gave her the money. "Tell me about Super Double Monkey. We noticed it's extremely popular."

  The casino employees looked at each other nervously.

  "Well?" Marina said. "I paid you. Talk."

  "The first machine showed up on the floor three years ago," the waitress said quietly. "It was just a prototype, but everybody loved it. Management has been buying more every month since then. Super Double Monkey is the latest version."

  Marina held up another hundred dollar bill. "Who's next?"

  A waiter snatched the money and said, "I heard most of the casino's revenue comes out of that room now. A million dollars a day, maybe more. It's bad business for us though."

  "Why?"

  "The players don't eat or drink. They don't take breaks. They won't even use the restroom while they're at the monkey machines. We live on tips, and we're getting a lot less these days."

  She raised her eyebrows. "The players won't use the toilet?"

  "That's right." He nodded. "They'll piss in their pants rather than walk away. It's sick."

  Marina and Aaron exchanged looks of concern.

  "Where do these machines come from?" he said. "Who makes them?"

  The group shook their heads and shrugged.

  He furrowed his brow. "It's a simple question. These damned things don't just pop out of the air."

  "It's top secret," a waitress finally said. "Nobody ever talks about them. We're not even supposed to look at them. I think they suck. I see lives ruined every night. People blow their life savings and end up flat broke. The casino doesn't care as long as the cash keeps pouring in."

  Aaron narrowed his eyes. He didn't like secrets that ruined lives.

  "Thank you for your time." Marina gave a hundred dollar bill to everybody. "I think that's all the questions."

  The two of them turned and went back across the street. Their car was parked in the garage.

  "We'll continue this investigation tomorrow," he said. "I'll get the whole team involved."

  She frowned. "I came all the way from California to be with you, and I'm staying for just a few days. I don't want these stupid monkey machines screwing up our time together."

  He kissed her on the cheek. "We'll make some time just for us. I promise."

  She sighed.

  * * *

  Tawni opened her eyes. She was lying on her bed, and she wasn't alone.

  A slender man was staring down at her. He wore a black ninja outfit over his whole body, and a black cloth mask covered his face. Only his green eyes were visible.

  The ninja raised a knife with a black, serrated blade and brought it down towards Tawni's chest. She barely rolled away in time. She heard fabric ripping as the knife penetrated the mattress.

  Tawni got to her feet. She realized her enemy was a woman.

  Tawni's gun and phone were on her nightstand, but she was on the wrong side of the bed. Her weapon was out of reach.

  The ninja performed a standing leap onto the bed, demonstrating impressive leg strength and balance. She attacked. Tawni jerked backwards to avoid having her throat slashed.

  She tried to grab her enemy's outstretched arm. With the skill of a gymnast, the ninja flipped through the air and landed softly. Tawni barely avoided another swift knife attack.

  She threw herself across the bed, slid forward, and hit the floor on the far side. She grabbed her gun and tried to shoot at an awkward angle. The weapon clicked uselessly. The ninja reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of bullets. She dropped them onto the floor.

  Fuck, Tawni thought.

  She sprinted out of the bedroom. She needed another weapon fast.

  She pulled up short when she saw Aaron sitting at her white kitchen table. He was sipping a cup of coffee.

  "Sir?" she said in confusion.

  "Pay attention to your enemy," he replied without looking up from his cup.

  Tawni turned around. The female ninja kicked Tawni's chest, driving the air from her lungs. She staggered backwards and her eyes bulged. She twisted to avoid another violent knife thrust.

  Tawni didn't understand what was happening, but clearly, Aaron wasn't going to save her.

  She dashed towards a closet where she kept a sword within easy reach. The ninja was two steps back. Tawni grabbed a vase and threw it backwards, but the ninja evaded it. Still, it was enough of a distraction to allow Tawni to reach the closet. She was grabbing the door handle when a thrown knife struck the door two inches from her hand. The blade went deep into the wood.

  Tawni opened the closet and dived inside. She heard another knife hit the outside of the door. She grabbed her sword from a high shelf. It was an authentic Japanese katana in a wooden scabbard, and the blade was very sharp.

  Tawni was pulling out the sword when the closet door flew open. The ninja was standing there with two more knives in her hands.

  When she saw the sword, she backed away. "Do you know how to use that?"

  Tawni furrowed her brow. It was a strange question to ask in the middle of a fight. "Yes."

  "Let's see," the ninja said. "Try to cut me."

  Tawni noticed the ninja had black pointed fingernails. Tawni suddenly understood.

  "You're Marina! This is a test, isn't it?"

  The ninja pulled off her mask. Beautiful red hair flowed down her back. Freckles on her nose made her seem girlish.

  "I thought it would be a fun way to introduce myself."

  Tawni took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding. "Fun for you, maybe."

  "I was very careful not to hurt you," Marina said. "I'm serious though. I want to see you use that sword."

  "It's razor sharp."

  "I would hope so."

  Aaron looked over from the kitchen table with an interested expression.

  Tawni stepped into a fighting stance with the sword held in front. Marina gripped her knives tightly. It seemed she intended to block with them.

  Tawni lunged forward. Marina slid underneath the attack and kicked upwards. The sword was knocked out of Tawni's hands. Marina tripped Tawni while she was still watching it fly in a high arc. Marina rolled to her feet and grabbed the sword before it hit the ground.

  "Keep practicing," Marina said.

  Her face warm with embarrassment, Tawni stood up. Marina returned the sword to her.

  "What do you think of my recruit?" Aaron said.

  "Talented." Marina nodded. "A natural warrior. I approve."

  Tawni smiled a little despite the circumstances. Compliments from commanders were a precious thing in the Gray Spear Society.

  Aaron stood up. "Let's go back to headquarters. It's going to be a busy day."

  "Can I get dressed first, sir?" Tawni said. "I'm still in my pajamas."

  "Hurry."

  Chapter Two

  Aaron followed Tawni and Marina as they walked towards the Rosemont Tower Hotel. Marina still wore her black ninja outfit, which he didn't find attractive. It was too mannish. Tawni wore a puffy, yellow shirt and a long, brown skirt. The loose clothing wasn't attention grabbing and allowed plenty of room for hiding weapons.

  Even though the women had just met, they were already chatting like a couple of school girls. Tawni wanted to hear all about Marina's past exploits. Marina was happy to tell the stories, and some of them were new to Aaron. She had been a member of the Society much longer than him.

  Some of the tales included explicit descriptions of sex. He knew female legionnaires sometimes used sex to get information. Fortunately, that situation had never happened while he and Marina ha
d been lovers, but before they had met, she had slept with many bad men. Aaron didn't like to think about it. He drifted back so he wouldn't have to listen to the lewd accounts.

  It was a beautiful morning for a walk. The sun had just risen, so the air was still cool. This part of Rosemont contained a mix of office space, retail shopping, and condominiums. The streets were wide and clean. At this time of day, there was hardly any traffic to disturb the quiet.

  The Rosemont Tower Hotel was taller than all the buildings around it. The sides were sheathed in broad sheets of glass the color of a new penny. The windows fit so tightly together the seams were invisible. There was nothing that could offer the slightest grip for a climber. Tiny grooves prevented even suction cups from sticking. The tinted glass appeared opaque from the outside, making it impossible to tell how many stories the building had. Most people believed there were twenty, when in fact, there were twenty-two.

  After crossing the huge parking lot, they entered the front lobby. Aaron's eyes needed a moment to adjust to the low lighting. The carpeting was black with interlocking golden hexagons. Stone tiles covered the walls and sparkled with golden flecks. A huge sculpture made of glass and flowing water hung from the ceiling. It looked like an upside-down water fountain.

  Aaron noticed Mr. Rosenblum was manning the front desk. He was the manager of the hotel and normally stayed in his office. He was a middle-aged man with sparse white hair forming a ring around his skull. His black business suit and golden tie matched the carpet. A folded handkerchief poked out of his front pocket.

  Aaron walked over. "You're working in the trenches this morning?"

  "Yes, sir." Rosenblum stood at attention. "A couple of people called in sick, and I had to fill in. I don't mind. I like greeting our guests."

  He looked over at Marina and raised his eyebrows. He knew better than to inquire about her strange attire. Aaron had trained Rosenblum not to ask questions.

  "Anything going on that I should know about?" Aaron said.

  "We had a small incident last night. A guest had a medical condition and needed to be taken to the hospital."

  "Were the circumstances suspicious?"

  "No, sir," Rosenblum said, "or I would've called you."