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Mick stopped the pickup truck along the Vegas main strip curb. The rough engine sputtered while Carter, Magnus, and Sylvia climbed out the back. Troy rolled down his window as Magnus stepped to the side of the passenger door.
Magnus smiled, reaching inside, and rubbed Digger’s head. “Take good care of him, Troy.”
“I will,” the boy replied with a broad smile.
Magnus leaned down and made eye contact with Mick. “Thanks again for the ride.”
“Not a problem. I appreciate the trade. I can tell the ferret means a lot to you.”
Magnus nodded. He ruffled Troy’s hair. “He does, but Digger’s in good hands. I have no doubt that Digger and your son will have great times together.”
Mick put the truck in drive and slowly pulled away. Sylvia patted the back of Magnus’ arm. Magnus looked down at her with sadness in his eyes.
She rubbed his arm. “Where to now?”
Magnus sighed. “We need to find a pawn shop.”
“Shouldn’t be hard,” Carter said. “They’re all over.”
“I know, but we need one that has little traffic and away from the main street. Discretion is key.”
Glancing at the edge of the sidewalk, something caught Magnus’ eye. He reached down and picked it up. “I’ll be damned.”
“What is that?” Sylvia asked, stepping closer to inspect it.
“A casino chip.”
Stamped on one side of it is ‘Lady Luck Casino.’ On the other side: $1000.00.
“It’s really worth a thousand bucks?” Sylvia asked.
“That’s what it says.”
“Wow,” she said in a near whisper.
Magnus studied the chip. “Vegas is the city for Lady Luck, but not that often.”
Carter said, “Maybe it’s a sign of good fortune?”
“Not for the person that lost it,” Magnus replied.
Carter laughed. “I suppose not.”
Magnus said, “But my Mama used to say that everything glittering isn’t always gold. Here, Sylvia, you take it.”
“Why?” Her eyebrows rose as she took the chip. “What do you want me to do with it?”
He nodded toward the building across the street. Within all the flashing lights displayed the casino with the same name. Lady Luck.
“That’s the casino it came from. Take it inside to the cashier’s window and cash it in. Use the money to get you and Carter a suite. Live a little before he goes after Grayson. It’s been a long trip back to Earth, so reward yourselves.”
“You sure?” Carter asked.
Magnus grinned. “What’s a thousand bucks compared to the value of these stones?”
“That’s true.”
“What about you?” Sylvia asked.
“I have other things to take care of,” Magnus replied. “Simply leave word at the desk to inform Carter of your room number. But don’t use your real names.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“Grayson’s looking for us,” Carter replied.
Sylvia glanced at Carter. “What name would you like to use?”
He thought for a moment. “Rick . . . Davenport.”
“Okay. I’ll be Tory Jones.”
Magnus tapped Carter’s arm. “Perhaps you should let her carry the briefcase.”
“No,” Carter said, shaking his head adamantly.
“I figure by you holding that briefcase it will make talking to the pawn shop worker more difficult.”
“No, I’m keeping it with me.”
“You don’t trust me?” Sylvia asked.
Carter released a frustrated sigh. “It’s not that, Sylvia. Really. I don’t trust letting this leave my sight at any time.”
“Why not?” Magnus asked, folding his arms and looking down at him.
“It’s personal.”
“What’s inside the briefcase?” Magnus asked. “You’ve been overly protective of it ever since you landed on Mars.”
Anger flickered in Carter’s eyes. “Neither of you have any idea what I endured on Deimos. It was horrible. What happened there was . . . I don’t have the words to describe it, okay?”
Magnus nodded. “I’ve lost people close to me, too, Carter. It happens. We have to move on.”
“Sometimes moving on isn’t that easy.”
Sylvia wiped tears from her eyes. She gently rubbed Carter’s shoulder, and he turned away. “Don’t shut us out, Carter. We’re your friends.”
“We are,” Magnus said. “Whenever you’re able to open up to us, we’re here.”
Carter shook his head. “I know you both want to be closer to me. I sense that by your words and actions. I did the moment I landed on Mars. But it’s hard for me to let anyone get close to my heart. I’m sorry. I’ve lost too much.”
“And that prevents you from trusting us with your briefcase?” Magnus asked.
“What I carry in this case is my burden.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Sylvia said.
Carter gave an even smile, ran his free hand through his hair, and his eyes became cold. “It always will be, Sylvia. Look, this much I can tell you, okay?”
Sylvia and Magnus nodded. Their eyes reflected their immediate interest.
“I brought back the badges of all the people I worked with on Deimos,” Carter said. “I want to show Grayson that they were people, not inventory, not his property. They were people who sacrificed their lives by leaving Earth to help him advance the new frontiers on Mars. They had names. Dreams. And because he didn’t take the proper precautions, they’re all dead. That’s why I’m so protective of this case. If someone stole it, I will have failed my colleagues and friends. I’d have no physical record of their names and identities.”
Magnus nodded and extended his hand. Carter shook it. “Thanks for sharing that with us, Carter. That makes perfect sense. Sorry for the intrusion.”
Sylvia wrapped her arms around Carter’s neck and squeezed. She kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Sweetie, for opening up to us. It explains everything so much better. I want you to know that I truly love you.”
Carter smiled. Tears moistened his eyes.
“Look, we’re wasting valuable time,” Magnus said. “The longer we’re out here in the open, the easier Grayson can find us.”
“Do you really think he could find us here?” Sylvia asked.
Magnus nodded. “Of course. Never underestimate him. With his wealth and power, he has people in every major city, but my guess, especially here.”
“I believe it,” Carter said.
“See you soon,” she said to Carter with a hopeful smile.
Sylvia crossed the street to the casino. While she walked away, Magnus and Carter detoured down a narrow side street. The bright lights faded. Both sides were drab and looked more like an alley than the actual street.
A small pawnshop named, ‘Down on Your Luck?’ was less than half a block away. Magnus grabbed the suspenders of his overalls and winked. “I can’t look anymore down on my luck than I do right now. Hell, I can even tell them that I lost the shirt right off my back.”
Carter grinned. “Certainly looks like it.”
“Maybe the owner will feel sorry for me.”
“Every little bit helps.”
***
An alarm beeped sharp and quick on Donovan’s laptop. Grayson turned from staring out his large window.
“We have a hit,” Donovan said with a broad smile.
Eagerly, Grayson hurried to the desk and stared at the monitor. He pointed at the screen with a muscled finger. “Pull it up. Who is it?”
Donovan brought up the facial recognition image on the large wall screen. Sylvia’s face displayed. Her eyes were nervous and uncertain.
“Where is she?” Grayson asked, stepping around the desk toward the large screen.
“Location?” Donovan asked the computer.
‘She entered the Lady Luck Casino.’
Sylvia glanced around the casino floor like a timid mouse. Afraid to move, she stood examining her surroundings.
“What about the others? Where the hell are they?”
“We don’t have anything on them yet. But if she’s there, they shouldn’t be far away.”
“We can’t be certain of that,” Grayson said.
“Sir, they are on the run. It’s in their best interest that they remain together. Even if she has entered by herself, the others are nearby. It’s only logical.”
Grayson shoved his hands into his pockets. His jaw tightened. “You’re right. To have gotten this far, they have shown remarkable brilliance. They are stronger as a team.”
“Not to worry, sir. If the facial recognition found her, it won’t be long until we find her accomplices.”
Grayson squeezed Donovan’s shoulder. “Great work.”
“Thanks.”
Grayson tapped his earpiece. “We have a visual on Sylvia. She’s inside the Lady Luck Casino. Get into position. Stand ready until the other two are located.”