A Gambling Man David Baldacci (reading eggs books .TXT) 📖

better look. Yes, it was definitely the man.

Douglas Kemper hadn’t grieved long for his campaign manager. He was in the front row, cigarette and drink in hand, and seemed to be fixated on Callahan.

Archer went backstage after the show to see her.

She was in her small dressing room with LIBERTY freshly stenciled on the door. There were baskets of flowers littering the floor, while she sat in front of her mirrored vanity table and reapplied her stage makeup.

“Well?” she said, looking at him in the mirror.

“I think you did okay.”

“Well, don’t give yourself a heart attack slinging out praise, Archer.”

“Do you want me to say you’re a star? Okay, you’re a star, Liberty. But you don’t need me to tell you what all those people already did. And you had as many ladies as gents in the audience. I’d say that’s something, all right.”

“You got your flask?” she asked, giving him a pretty smile.

He handed it across and she took a sip. “So, that was just the first act. I’ve got three more sets and then some hand shaking and drinks with some of the big players here, and the local rag is going to interview me and even take my picture.”

“You good with all that?”

“Hell, Archer, I was born for ‘that.’”

“Yeah, I guess you were.”

She lit up a Camel, blew smoke out, and swiveled around to look directly at him. “I heard someone else got killed here. That’s what Dawson was referring to, right?”

“Wilson Sheen. He worked for Douglas Kemper.”

“Kemper, huh? Someone told me he was in the audience tonight.”

“He was. In the front row looking very appreciative of your many talents.”

“Moneybags, right?”

“And married to a very lovely woman, so don’t get your hopes up.”

“So he has connections to Fraser and this Sheen guy. Is he a suspect in your book?”

“Everyone’s a suspect in my book, Liberty.”

“You wanted me to be your spy here. Should I start with Kemper?”

Archer hesitated. “You know, what I told you before probably wasn’t a good idea. It could be dangerous.”

“I can be dangerous, Archer, or have you already forgotten?”

“Yeah, well, you’re dangerous when someone is threatening you. These guys don’t wait around for that.”

“You’re worried about me, Archer. That’s very touching.”

“I am worried about you. Two people have bought it in this joint over a really short time.”

“Well, just so you know, I worry about you, Archer. And I’ve done a little snooping already since I’ve been here.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m observant. I keep my eyes and ears open.”

“And what did you find out?”

“Oh, so now you’re okay with me spying?” said Callahan.

“Liberty!”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, I finished my dinner and took my cup of coffee and found a little room to just have some quiet time and get my nerves under control.”

“And?” said Archer expectantly.

“And I heard some noise in the room next door. And your name came up.”

Archer frowned. “Who was it?”

“It was those same two thugs that roughed you up before, Archer.”

“Hank and Tony? But how do you know what they sounded like? You only saw them before. They didn’t say anything.”

“Easy. When they mentioned your name, I snuck out and peeked through the keyhole.”

“Liberty, that was a big risk.”

“My whole life has been a big risk. Anyway, I saw them.”

“And what did they say about me?”

“Oh, that they were going to kill you.”

Archer sat back and dead-eyed her. “Thanks for saving the best part for last.”

“You can take care of yourself, Archer, I’ve seen that. And now that you’re forewarned? Well, my money’s on you over those two goons.”

“They say why they want to kill me?”

“I heard them mention you were snooping around an island?”

Archer told her about the architectural mockups he and Dash had found and their connection to the island. And then his suspicions about the death of Benjamin Smalls.

“A casino, huh? Makes sense. And dying in your bathtub, Archer? Puhleez. That’s mob stuff. They either machine-gun you or do the ankle grab in the tub and under you go.”

“How come you know so much about that stuff?”

“You think the mob passed Reno by for some reason?”

Archer looked at her closely. “Is Max Shyner part of the mob?”

“I got out, Archer. Read into that what you want to. You got a gun?”

“I do.”

“And you got your aluminum knuckles?”

He nodded. “And I’m wearing underwear, too,” he said with a grin.

“Really? I’m not.”

His features sagged and his cigarette drooped. “Not now, Liberty. For chrissakes.”

She smiled demurely. “What’s your next move?”

He rose and put his hat on. “And the room where you overheard them?”

“Go right down this hall, turn left, and then right again. Second door on the left.”

He tipped his hat. “You got great gams and a great voice, but you’ve also got a great brain. Don’t let anybody ever tell you otherwise.”

“You got style, Archer, don’t let anybody ever say you don’t.”

Chapter 57

THE DOOR TO THE ROOM WAS STANDING OPEN and it was empty, Archer could see. Hank and Tony apparently had flown the coop. He walked out to the terrace, found a seat, ordered a gimlet and a rack of olives and—because he hadn’t had his dinner yet—a roast beef sandwich with a side of potato salad. He drank and ate, and was lost in thought until he heard the voice.

“You don’t look so good, honey.”

He looked up to see it was the same waitress who had taken care of him and Kemper.

“Nah, I’m fine. Hey, you seen Kemper tonight?”

“I’m not that lucky.”

“You ever seen any other skirt here reel him in?”

“Not a one. And there wasn’t a lack of effort. Least it ain’t just me, right?”

“Right. Hey, you know Hank and Tony, Sawyer Armstrong’s bouncer boys?”

“Sure.”

“They’re here, right?”

“They were. Seen ’em leaving, oh, about an hour ago.”

“You ever try your chances with them?”

She planted a hand on her hip. “Hey, fellow, I’m not that desperate. And I like my guys with a little class. I mean, I don’t even think those goons can read. I got standards.”

Archer slipped her a buck and added a wink to