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Oh, actually I’m not turning my phone off in case you call. I swear I’m not in crisis. Really. I’m not.
XOXO Gossip Girl
I studied the doomsday device in my palm, and my hand twitched as I considered throwing it into the pool.
But instead, I sent a cruise ship emoji followed by a thumbs-up emoji.
If he wasn’t going to murder me before, he was now.
17
VINH
My stuff was nearly packed, which wasn't a feat worth celebrating considering I’d only brought some clothes and my laptop when I came to the Coast after Dad’s surgery. I needed to go back to Gulf Shores for some more things soon.
And to check on the condo and its new inhabitants.
I’d touched base with my co-workers regularly to make sure there weren’t any major fires since I’d gone on leave, which I was technically still on for another week before I had to figure out how to juggle full-time work, helping at Ari’s, and other… family maintenance.
I’d worked as an SDET—a Software Development Engineer in Test—for the last few years, which meant that I tried to find vulnerabilities and “break” other people’s code.
It was the type of profession that had people’s eyes glazing over before I finished reciting my job title, and more times than I could remember, people pretended to listen to my answer before nodding sagely and saying things like “Oh, so I.T.” or “Do you think you can fix my grandma’s computer?”
I’d spent the afternoon in and out of video chats with my team about some minor issues before putting my plans for the rest of the day into action. Plans that involved finding out what the inside of a casino was like at 6:00 p.m. on a Monday. In the offseason.
I showed my I.D. at the security counter where a man in an all-black suit waved me through with barely a glance. Not a promising start.
I walked through row upon row of slot machines and some mostly vacant card and roulette tables, as the early-Monday-evening crowd was comprised mostly of seniors. Only a couple gamblers glanced my way as I passed, the rest keeping their attention fixed on their machines.
I eventually made it to the ornate elevator, rode up to the seventh floor, and made my way to the big wheel, which was covered with a piece of black velvet fabric. A metal easel stood by the veiled wheel, displaying a vintage-style poster advertisement.
I stepped closer for a better look.
The entire design was void of color except for the red script that read “Will Lady Luck Shine Upon You?” Below it was a black-and-white photo that was styled like an old polaroid of a dark-haired woman standing at the big wheel, her arm raised as if she were about to spin it. I reached out and traced the photo, outlining the large crown on her head, the blindfold, the face that had a familiar shape. I froze, then dropped my hand slowly to my side as I took in the elaborate toga—so long that its train fell all the way to the floor at the bottom of the velvet steps.
Similar, but not the same.
The differences went further than the lack of freckles. It was also the lack of joy, of vibrancy begging to be unleashed. Of humor and benevolence.
It wasn’t Bree.
But even with the costume and the blindfold, the resemblance was clear. The height, the shape of her face, the natural uptilt of her lips and slightly upturned nose. This had to be Bree’s mother, or at least a close relation.
I took a photo of the listed dates for the upcoming Lady Luck appearances and put my phone back in my pocket, satisfied that I’d achieved part of my day’s goals.
Even if I now had even more questions about Bree Faust than I did before.
I’d planned to go to Ari’s and check in with Liem to see if any prep work needed to be done, but before I made it out of the casino, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slowed my walk as I read the message.
Paul
I left the completed lease agreement on the kitchen bar and I’m hittin’ the road. She’s all yours. Take care of her. Your mom has the key.
Of course she does.
Thanks. I will.
Attention split, I didn’t notice the person crossing in front of me until I bumped right into her. Not hard, but enough to warrant an apology. I automatically reached out to her shoulders to steady her as I looked down into a familiar hive of dark-brown hair. I held my breath as waves of floral perfume crashed into me, but I grimace-smiled despite it. Once she seemed stable enough, I dropped my hands and nodded politely. “Miss Barb.”
