Page 12 of Family Ties and Alibis

“You’re all set.”

“You’re posting the charges to our room?”

“Mr. Garlucci paid for your services.”

“My son comped our spa session?”

“He did. He called up here to surprise you with a spa session. When he found out you’d already booked one, Mr. Garlucci was adamant that you not be charged.”

“That stinker.”

“He’s a good guy. His wife, Brittney, is a regular,” the woman said.

“I would be, too, if I lived close by.”

“Wait here. I want to tip the staff.” Pete walked into the back and reappeared a short time later. “We need to track Vinnie down and thank him.”

“I’ll send him a text.” Carlita tapped out a brief text, asking her son if he had a minute to meet with them. They hung out, waiting for a reply.

“He’s not answering.” She took a closer look at her phone’s screen. “There’s a reason he’s not answering. I don’t have any cell reception. Do you remember how to get to his office?”

“Sort of,” Pete said. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

Reaching the main lobby, the couple got turned around and found themselves in front of the fitness center. They finally gave up and asked a casino employee where they might find Vinnie.

“Mr. Garlucci is on the casino floor.” The young employee told them the quickest way to get there.

Carlita thanked him, and they began backtracking. The corridors seemed to go on forever until finally leading to the lobby atrium.

A sharp left and they were back inside the casino, filled with flashing neon lights and the steady hum of ringing and dinging. Two more left turns and they came full circle back to their starting point.

“How did we end up here?” Carlita groaned. “Maybe we should ask for help again.”

Pete spun in a slow circle. “Hang on. I know where we are. The main cashier station is right around the corner.”

Exiting the high-limit area, they zigged and zagged past the tables until reaching the cashier’s desk.

Carlita’s heart plummeted when she noticed the long line of guests waiting to reach the counter. “Let me try calling Vinnie again.”

Pete stopped her. “I don’t think you should call him.”

“Why?”

He jabbed his finger toward the far wall where her son stood talking to uniformed police officers.

“Uh-oh,” Carlita said. “Now what?”

Chapter 5

Carlita said the first thing that popped into her head. “Maybe Sal Tomaria followed through on his threat and tried setting Treasure Cove Casino on fire.”

The conversation continued with Vinnie motioning several times at the surveillance cameras, the casino floor, and the main door.

An officer, the one standing to the right of her son, jotted in his notepad, occasionally nodding his head. He flipped the pad shut and shoved it into his pocket.

Vinnie turned on his heel and led the cops around a bank of machines and out of sight.

Carlita started to turn away when she noticed a familiar figure casually leaning against a video poker machine, smoking a cigarette. “I see Luigi.”