Aiden Bronte walked into his bedroom and stretched. The last few days had been calm, relaxing, and he’d even spent some time with family. Hearing the phone ring, he looked to see who it was. “Hey, Mom.”
“How are you doing? Wanted to tell you that your dad and I decided to take a cruise next month.”
“Good,” he said, and then he frowned. “Isn’t that like short notice?”
“I think that’s why your father wants to do it. There was an incredible deal, and he wants to go.”
“Sounds good. Besides, I don’t know where I’ll be next month anyway.”
“Ah, so that means you can’t come with us then.”
“Well, I don’t know that I can or I can’t, but I would say it’s probably a no.”
“Right.”
But she didn’t appear to be concerned; in fact, she appeared to be more than excited.
“If there’s a chance to see you over the next couple days, it would be nice.”
“I’m kinda on call, Mom. We’ll see.” Their call was over soon, and he got up and had a quick shower. When he came out, he’d missed a call. He hit Reply, and, when Corbin answered the phone, Aiden asked, “Hey, you guys surviving?”
“More than surviving.” Corbin yawned. “Playing house is great. You should try it.”
“Even though she’s got a baby coming?”
“Absolutely. You know me. I never really figured I would have a family at all. So this is just fine.”
“Good. So why the call? What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is you’re shipping out.”
“I am?”
“You are. You ready?”
“Hell, yes. Do I get anybody partnered with me?”
“Well, you do, but, in this case, I’m not so sure how that’ll work. Do you remember Mountain? Mountain Bear Rode?”
Mountain was one of those huge monster-size guys. “Of course. Who doesn’t?”
“He’s supposed to be coming on board with the Mavericks too.”
“Really? I thought the Mavericks were getting their budget slashed. Also I thought Mountain was heading back up north. Canada or someplace?”
“I think something’s afoot with the Mavericks. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on.”
“Interesting,” Aiden said, with a quick frown. “That’s fine, as long as I fulfill my obligation, then I’m free and clear, right?”
“You are, indeed. And believe me. I’ve got Nellie here trying to get me out of it too.”
“Yeah, especially now that you’ve got a family on the way,” he said in a teasing note.
“You’re absolutely right, but Mountain has a different issue altogether, and he needs us. I’m not sure what that deal is, but he’s coming on board to help you first, and you’ll be helping him out too. I just don’t have all the details.”
“Where am I going?” He quickly dressed, while he was talking on the phone.
“You’re leaving in twenty minutes. Mountain will be there, with wheels.”
“And where are we going?”
“Vegas.”
“Vegas? What’s in Vegas?” He was stunned at that location. He’d only been stateside for a few days as it was.
“A series of loan sharks involved in gambling, and a supposedly innocent victim of it all.”
“Yeah, in Vegas is there such a thing?”
“It looks like somebody is laundering money.”
“Hardly our deal either.” He frowned. “This sounds bizarre for us.”
“Just like my mission, sometimes strange things happen.”
“Fine. What’s going on?”
“The innocent victim is our card dealer, Toby. She’s been charged with murder, released on bail. I am told that she’s at home in isolation.”
“And we care, why?”
“Well, for one, this is not so much a paid job as it’s something to do with Mountain. Hopefully he’ll tell you more when he picks you up.”
“Is it personal?”
“Very, but also something else.” Corbin sounded frustrated, which was unusual and unnerving.
“Okay,” Aiden said slowly, “that’s just confusing.”
“I know. Sorry. I’m not trying to be cryptic, but I’m just not getting very much in the way of intel either.”
“Hey, that’s not how we’re supposed to work.”
“I know. Believe me. Yet it has to do with Mountain.”
“Fine. So I’m supposed to go to Vegas and to help solve a crime and to free somebody who is supposedly up for attempted murder charges?”
“No, not just attempted murder but first-degree murder.”
“Who did she supposedly kill?”
“Her ex-husband.”
“Well, shit, that alone makes her a good suspect.”
“I know, right? Everybody loves to take out their ex. But, according to her, she had nothing to do with it.”
“You could have sent me anywhere in the world, and you send me to Vegas? You are going soft.”
“I know. Sorry, bro. Not only that but it’s not an op that we normally deal with. But, hey, lots of the cases lately have been pretty off the wall.”
“If you say so,” he snapped. “This is just a BS case.”
“Maybe, but it’s Mountain’s case.”
“But it’s not supposed to be a Mountain case.”
“I know. That’s what’s weird about it. Anyway he’s picking you up in a few minutes. See if you can get more info out of him.”
“Yeah, you can bet I will. And thanks.”
“Once we’re done with this case, I’d like to see you settle close to us.”
“Why would you want that?”
“So you can start a family, and so we can stay friends.”
“Ha, ha. Nobody is in my life. You know that.”
“True. But I also know nobody was in my life when I did my last op too.”
“No way. Somebody charged with murder doesn’t sound like my kind of partner.”
“Well, that’s one of many.”
“What do you mean, one of many?”
“I think they’re looking to pin four murders on her.”
“Jesus Christ. Why?”
“Because they’re all guys she’s dealt cards to. They were at her table, winning big. Yet, when they were found, dead, no winnings were on them.”
“So where’s the money then?”
“Believe me. That’s something that everyone would like to know. So add it to your list. Find out where the money went.”
“Great,” he muttered. “I’m out.”
And with that, he grabbed the travel bag he’d had ready since getting back to his place and locked the front door. He walked down to the curb. He hadn’t even dropped his bag when Mountain drove up in a military jeep. Aiden took one look, smiled, threw his bag in the back, and laughed. “The only reason you got a jeep is because you can have the roof off and not hit your head.”
Mountain looked at him, and something in his icy gaze warmed slightly. He gave a clipped nod and said, “Nice to see your sense of humor is still there.”
“Well, mine is. Where’s yours?”
“Frozen,” he snapped, “but I’ll give you the details on the drive.”
“You better,” he said, settling into the passenger seat, “because I’m a little confused what kind of a deal this is.”
“In a way you got the lucky job, as you might not even have to assist on the next one,” he said, “because I’ve got something going on in the background that’s big. It’s deep. It’s dark, and I need big-time help. Only no one believes we’ve got a problem, … yet.”
“Good enough,” Aiden said. “You know me. I’m always there for the rescue.”