Page 33 of Family Ties and Alibis

Brittney appeared. “Hey, Vin.” She hurried down the hall. Her jaw dropped as she drew closer. “What happened?”

“I got jumped out back.” He briefly told her what had happened.

She clutched her gut. “Do you know who it was?”

“A man and a woman. The guy said a name, but I’m drawing a blank. It happened so fast.” Vinnie started to sway, placing his hand against the wall. “I think the painkiller the EMT gave me is finally kicking in.”

“I’ll get you to bed.”

“They told me I should stay awake for a while.”

“Then I’ll take you to the sofa,” his wife said.

“Do you need a hand?” Pete asked.

“Thanks, but I have it.” Brittney placed Vinnie’s arm around her shoulders and helped him down the hall.

“Pete and I will let ourselves out.”

Carlita followed her husband across the foyer and into the elevator. “I wonder if the cops are still outside.”

Reaching the main floor, they made a beeline for the double doors and slipped out into the cool evening air. The crowd, cops, ambulance, and news crew were all gone.

Passersby strolled along the Boardwalk. She could hear the tinkle of a woman’s laughter.

Carlita adjusted her gaze. Low lighting. Dumpster to the right. Doors to the left. Vinnie had mentioned the armored trucks parked in the back to collect the cash.

Was the couple hiding out with plans to rob an armored truck driver? It was possible. Anything was possible.

Tink. Carlita, startled by her cell phone, clutched her chest. “Who turned the volume up on my phone?”

“You did,” Pete laughed. “You said you couldn’t hear it.”

“Well, I definitely heard that.” She tapped the side button and lowered the volume. “It’s a text from Mercedes.” Carlita clicked on the attached photo, a snapshot of her daughter smiling and fanning hundred-dollar bills with the caption, I won.

She promptly replied. You sure did. Where are you?

Mercedes: At the poker table, bragging to Tony, Paulie and Luigi about my jackpot.

Carlita: Stay there. Pete and I are heading your way. She placed her phone in her pocket and reached for the scooter’s handles. “Tony, Paulie, Luigi and Mercedes are over by the poker tables.”

With Pete taking the lead, they returned inside and crossed the casino. She noticed her daughter first, giving Paulie a high-five.

Slipping in behind them, Carlita tapped her on the shoulder. “Good job winning. What were you playing?”

“Little Shop of Horrors.”

“Like the movie?”

“Yeah. The green plant dude grew tall and started spitting money balls or at least I think it was money balls. It’s all a blur.”

“How much did you win?”

“Fifteen hundred bucks.”

“Good job. Don’t give it all back,” Carlita warned.

“No way. I’m pocketing half and investing the rest in another jackpot.”