Yes, the Invasion bar was still okay for people in search of partners, and most guests were dressed accordingly. Harold in jeans and checkered skirt fit there as poorly as I with shorts and halter top. On the other hand, it was still midday. “Okay.”
Harold led me to the counter. “What would you like?”
“Beer’s always fine.”
“Okay. Two Lager.”
“Thanks, Harold.”
“Come on, you’ve deserved it. At least.”
“Well, then. It was a cliffhanger, so to say.”
“Ha! You can well call it so!”
“The Invasion is extreme in this regard. I’m asking myself why they didn’t provide catwalks.”
“Protection against burglars.”
“At that height?”
“You’d be surprised what ideas the people come up with. If someone arrives by parachute, there shall not be a landing spot. And so on. The more important the people are, the safer the building has to be. The Invasion surely still belongs to the top.”
I feigned to be oblivious of this important information—but finally, this was a lead! Once the first excitement about the Cartel’s power takeover was fading, I’d follow this up. Later.
“Someone’s waving at us.”
“Where?” Harold asked. “Oh—that’s a mate. I’ll just have to ask him something. Would you mind me walking over?”
“No, just go.”
I also had spotted a familiar face at the counter. He was turning his back at me and following the latest baseball game summary on a screen.
“Hello, Tom.”
“Hi, Yori! Nice to see you!” He hugged me. “You’ve suddenly been gone.”
“Sacked. Take your stuff and leave.”
“Just so?”
“Not quite. I was—bitchy.”
“Why? All of a sudden?”
“Not for a fuck with the boss. A good client must’ve taken a shine on me.”
“And you didn’t like the client? Come on, Yori, you haven’t been so picky otherwise.”
“No—he wanted me for the seventh level.”
“Damn.”
“Don’t make a fuss, Yori. Don’t listen to rumors. That’s all within limits, all okay. The doctors are only there for the aged clients.” And no mention why you never see girls on the upper levels again once they’ve worked there.
“Oh crap, Yori.”
“I denied. He threatened me, I flipped him the bird. Then, I got the boot. Easy as that.”
“That’s not okay.”
“I’ve found a good job, Tom. Now I’m changing the lamps for the advertisements. That’s fun.”
“But it had to be something with putting in, hadn’t it?”
“Oh, Tom!”
We both laughed.
“My boss’s coming back. See you, Tom.”
“See you, Yori.”
I moved to make room for Harold.
“You’ve met an acquaintance, too?” he asked.
“An ex-colleague.”
“Looks nice. What’s he do?”
“Working at the Inferno. I tried that, too.”
“Oh. Client service?”
“Yes.”
“Mmm—but you didn’t like it? Too, well, open-hearted?”
“Fiddlesticks. I’d climb the illuminations nude, I don’t care. Less fabric that could get stuck.” Harold laughed. “Let’s say, I didn’t get along with the management demands.”
“Oh. Well, I think, you don’t need to fear that with me.”
“I’m not delicate, Harold. But there are limits.”
“I’ve heard bad things. I don’t want to know the details.”
“Me neither. That’s why I left. It’s more fun with you.” That was honest, as I noticed to my surprise.
“You see the success, don’t you? I always felt that my craft is a fulfilling job.”
“Can understand that.”
“That leads me to a more serious topic, Yori.”
“What is it?”
“We need to talk about some details of your employment. You needn’t be frightened—it’s about our subject matter. I don’t like to address that with newcomers, as it’s not worth burdening someone with new problems who’s still fighting his vertigo. But you’re obviously beyond that point, aren’t you?”
“Indeed.”
“Good. You know, Yori, my job isn’t just about changing defect light bulbs.”
“I thought so. That alone wouldn’t make a living, would it?”
“Well, the newer lamp types fail less frequently. You should have seen the old times, when I had to exchange light bulbs with screwed sockets. But the light that comes up full in an instant, that can be dimmed or can flash, that will shine super-bright in all directions, and that doesn’t fail, doesn’t exist yet. I can live well from that—good enough to afford an assistant for outside and one for the office. I wanted to get to another point.”
“Okee?”
“We also have electronic circuitry for the light panels, any number of wirings, in some places we have transformers, and all that stuff can fail. Then I have to go out and replace a chafed line or even check first where the actual defect is.”
“Yes. Clear.”
“I think you should learn that, too.”
“Yes. So what?”
“I’m a skilled electrician. You’re an unskilled worker. We have to address that.”
Me, an unskilled worker? I’ve got a Dragon technology diploma. All you could know about electricity and electrical engineering had been handled within two months during the first term. Only because I had struggled so much with the main topic, I hadn’t noticed that I had collected the matter of several other subjects so-to-say en passant, so to say.
What I lacked, however, was the practical application, the tricks of the trade.
“You can surely teach me that.”
“Maybe. But we have to start with the basics cleanly.”
I looked into Harold’s eyes. “Boss, I don’t have a finished electrician apprenticeship, but you’ll find out that my basics are quite reliable.”
“We’ll see then. Okay, I’ll credit you knowing about an electric circuit.”
I didn’t want to bust my cover, nor was I inclined to spend endless boring hours with the trivialities of electricity. Harold would soon find out anyway what I already knew and could do. Only, how could I best tell him?
Instead of an answer, I picked a coaster and a pen from behind the counter and sketched a small diagram, which I then gave him.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“That’s the circuitry for a control gear for adjustable wide angle luminaires. Here’s the bayonet connector. Here’s the splitter that’s separating the control signal from the power current, here’s the logical unit for address decoding, this is the control for switching and dimming, and here’s the exit to the luminous element.”
Clueless, Harold studied the diagram.
“Normally, we get the lights assembled. But I’ve checked some of the exchanged parts. With about half of them, the actual luminous element is perfectly okay, but the dimmer’s busted. Seems it won’t stand the permanent stress. From my point of view, it’s sized too weak.”
“Well.”
“In any case, we can reuse all these lights if we only change the control gear. That will save us a lot of money, because the circuit boards only cost a few cents and not lots of dollars like the entire lamp. Not to mention the pile of scrap.”
“Well, yes.” Slightly embarrassed, he played with his glass of beer.
“You didn’t think I’d apply for a job where I don’t have a clue, did you?”
“Honestly, Yori, I did. I only get applications from the unskilled.” Slowly, a smile snuck into his face. “Looks as if I’m lucky this time.”
I returned the smile and kept my mouth shut. This luck couldn’t last forever. Some day, I’d have to desert him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
&nb
sp; Now that I had a daytime job, my evenings and nights were free for other activities. It didn’t take Harold long to notice that. Right in the morning, before we started working, he raised the topic to me.
��Yori?”
“Yes?”
“It’s not exactly my business—” Why did he speak to me, then? “But I’m worried about you.”
About me, not because of me, that was something.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Harold.”
“Anyway. I’ve seen too many people going under due to gambling. That’s true, you’re gambling?”
“Many people in Vegas do that.”
“Tourists, yes. We locals stay away from it. It’s not good.”
“You’re talking of pathological gambling, Harold. Ring ring, the machine spills a few coins. Happiness hormones are created, the human is happy. The attempt to feel much happier costs more money than most will ever win. I don’t do that.”
“But you’re gambling.”
“No games of chance, Harold. I’m feeding a machine here and there, so that casino security doesn’t get the notion to watch me. I’m only interested in games that I can influence with dexterity and brain.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do you belong to those who believe you could earn money by playing Poker?”
“At least I could try. I thought of Blackjack instead.”
“Even there, in the long run, only the casino wins.”
Statistically, he was right. But the house’s calculative advantage was low. Poker offered a better chance to win in the long run, but I couldn’t afford the ante yet. In the end, the games were only a cover for my true sources of earnings.
“Sometimes you meet nice people there.”
“Gamblers?”
“If I let myself be invited to a drink, I’ve already significantly improved my odds for the night.”
“But—”
“But later sex isn’t ruled out.” Harold didn’t seem to understand. “Harold, that’s not the job I’m striving for. But a girl must see to her needs. I told you that I’m not delicate.”
Especially rich gamblers happily paid a little more if they were in good mood, or made generous gifts—most of all, if they didn’t expect the staff’s favor being included in the entrance fee. At least, this was the face I’d keep up, the cover within the cover. The apprentice electrician, who followed prostitution under cover of amateur gambling, covered the skilled gambling pro, which in turn distracted from my nightly raids, and all this was the cover for the professional whore and Dragon technology graduate. Not to mention my nanos. I only had to take care that I didn’t lose my orientation with all the covers.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“I’m still worried about you, Yori.”
“It’s all going well, Harold. I only gamble a little now and then, and I even win. I’ve granted myself a budget, and I won’t exceed that limit.”
“That’s not the point, Yori. It’s the environment.”
“The blokes? I’m carefully selecting my guys. Or are you jealous?” I winked at him.
“I tell you a secret, Yori. I don’t lean toward women.”
“Oh. A pity—you’re missing something.”
“Hey—even if I’m gay, I’m not blind. You’re a very cute girl, no doubt. And I’m not worried about your gamblers.”
“You’ve investigated?”
“I’m watching over you, Yori.”
I knew that. I very deliberately decided what I’d allow him to see, but in a way that he couldn’t recognize it.
“Yes, Dad.” He had deserved that. I was over forty, and he called me girl.
“Yori, it’s about the bars you frequent when you don’t hook a gambler. You don’t know your ways in Vegas. So far, you’ve been lucky, but you can quickly find yourself in a very bad quarter.”
“I’m cautious. I think I know what you mean. No more than half a block away from the Strip. But this way, drinks and food are cheaper. After all, I must save my money.”
“Well, okay. Be careful, Yori.”
“It’s okay, Dad.”
As always, he smiled when I called him Dad. Harold simply was a good guy.
Of course, after our talk I went to the dangerous quarters anyway, where Vegas’ ordinary inhabitants went, waiters, maids, trash collectors, gardeners, automobile mechanics, and whores, where pickpockets and occasional criminals went, too.
There, I eavesdropped on the talks nobody should hear, and helped myself to a behind-the-scenes picture. Where was someone banned from further visits? Where was business running extraordinarily well? Who had been spotted by the police, and who had been so unlucky to meet house security first?
This Friday night, one conversation was extraordinarily interesting.
“Night, George. How’s business?”
“Hello, Paul. Can’t complain, and yourself?”
“Oh, so-so. Heard already?”
“What?”
“Gomez is back.”
“Really? Something big coming on? Where?”
“No idea. Last he’s allegedly been to the east. Says Rough.”
“Rough. Oh, he’s still alive, too? What about his horses?”
This little piece sufficed for me. I emptied my glass and left. A brief check in front of the door didn’t reveal immediate trouble, so I could risk the next half block. Doubtlessly, I’d be able to successfully defend myself against brawlers, junkies, pickpockets, and pimps as well as against the Union, a racketeer gang. However, I’d better avoid this kind of attention. As soon as I found a dark corner, I activated my camouflage and continued invisibly.
Shortly before reaching the Black Hole, I became visible again. To be precise, Velvet became visible, not Yori.
Nobody pestered me when I approached the entrance, just the opposite—the people around the door voluntarily gave way.
Jesse winked at me when I ambled past the counter, and nodded toward the gambling room. I signaled for a beer and followed his hint.
Gomez was alone with a stale glass of beer. When I entered, he smiled. “Hello, Velvet. Nice that you drop in.”
“I’ve heard that you’re in town and wanted to say hello. How are you?”
“Fair. And you?”
“All fine. No problems.”
“Quiet here?”
“Sure. Since the temporary government has taken over, it’s all law and order.”
“As before, then.”
“Exactly.”
At least here in Vegas, having been firmly in the Cartel’s hand before, not much had changed. Perhaps the collaboration with the local police had improved. As the Cartel also controlled the media, most Americans didn’t hear much—but here in Vegas, with guests from all parts of the USA, you could gain quite an overview. According to it, the current government tried to keep effects on the average citizen minimal. Those who looked away, didn’t cause trouble and, if applicable, paid their local racketeer, were left in peace.
“I’d like to know why you actually helped me with the last job, Velvet. It can’t have been money—you hadn’t asked before.”
“No, it wasn’t about money, Gomez. It was an interesting challenge.”
“And?”
“And I like to nag the Cartel—if they even already knew what a treasure they were sitting on. I believe they didn’t notice.”
“I believe that, too. Otherwise both of us were already dead.”
“You’d be dead, Gomez.”
“The Cartel gets everyone, Velvet. You, too.”
“They’ve been after me for so many years already, Gomez.”
“And you’re still alive?”
“No.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Gomez laughed, although my answer had been dead serious. Johanna Meier had died, and when had I lived really untroubled since then? On the other hand, whether they were aware of it or not, for the last eight years, I had been a thorn in their foot.
“Why do you trust me, Velvet?
”
“I don’t trust you, Gomez.”
“Let me put it differently. Why do you entrust me this? I could sell you to the Cartel to protect myself.”
“First, that wouldn’t change anything for me. I’ve slipped away before, so I’ll escape them again. Second, the Cartel doesn’t cherish traitors. Who sells his buddies once, will do it again. So traitors are eliminated. If you sell me out, you’re dead for sure.”
“I’ve never heard of that.”
“They don’t advertise it. After all, they want to be supplied by traitors again.”
“How do you know, then?”
“Know your enemy, Gomez.”
“Dragon itch. Well then.” He emptied the rest of his glass. “It’s about a job.” As if I hadn’t figured that out by now. “I’d like to have your support.”
“What is it about?”
“Not here. Are you ready to come along and hear the story?”
“Okay.”
“Here?”
“Here,” he confirmed.
“Well then. Here surely nobody will eavesdrop.” Except for Gomez, myself, and his car, there were only dust and rocks around—no wonder, after he had driven me into the desert for an hour. We had even left his car another hundred meters behind.
At the same time, it was the perfect location for a trap—there was no cover and no place to hide around, if you couldn’t dig in deep. Without car, you couldn’t get away. The darkness offered some options, but in exchange, it was cold, so that a warm body had to shine brightly on any night-vision goggle.
“Except if one of us is wired.”
“If you think I will show you a hot striptease, you’re wrong.”
“Ey, keep calm, Velvet. I was about to offer you to shake me down.”
“Gomez, don’t treat me like stupid. You’re about to tell me, so I don’t give a shit who you’ll allow to listen in. So what?”
“Okay. It was a try.”
“Try what?”
“To see more of you.”
“Another such foolery, and you’ll never see me again.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Come to the point.”
Lover Page 6
