Jimmy woke at 8 A.M. The notes on the coffee table had not moved themselves during the night. No unseen hand had arranged them in a way that would make perfect sense. That task was still going to be very much up to him.
He showered and dressed quickly, gathered up his notes, and went downstairs to meet Kat for breakfast. He had eight hours ahead of him to do what he had to do in order to be able to play the final table with a clear head.
Kat had gotten there first, and as he approached the table she said, “You look like shit, dude. Don’t tell me another murder happened?”
“No, nothing that eventful. I just didn’t get too much sleep.”
“You’re gonna have to rebound, dude,” she said. “Maybe you could take a nap later?”
“I don’t know, Kat,” he said. “I’ll see. Let’s have something quick for breakfast, okay?”
“Fine with me,” she said. “I’m gonna play tourist today and do some sightseeing. I wanna see the Venetian and the Wynn . . .”
She continued to talk while they walked to the counter for coffee and pastries.
When he was able to get a word in edgewise he asked, “Did you see Sabine at all yesterday?”
“Once, I think,” she said, “why? You into that broad, Jimmy?”
“She’s interesting.”
He ate his doughnut and studied Kat. She seemed to have found herself a happy medium as far as her appearance went. All the Goth qualities were still there, but she had on just the right amount of makeup and was wearing a skirt.
“You look nice.”
“I had some help,” she admitted. “A couple of the other chick players helped me out before I did my WPT interview. They were the nuts.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Cloney Gowan and Evelyn Ng.”
“Wow,” he said, impressed. “If you’re going to take advice from anyone on style . . .”
“Yeah, I know. They were cool about it.”
After a little more chatter they finished their breakfasts and left Palio.
“I’m headin’ out,” she told him. “Is there anything you need me to do first?”
“Just go and have a good time, Kat,” Jimmy said.
“I can do that.”
“And be at the game tonight,” he added. “I’ll need the moral support.”
She smiled and said, “I can definitely do that, dude.”
“Then I’ll see you there.”
They parted company outside Palio. Jimmy was very satisfied with both Kat’s level of play and her attitude. She had come a long way in the time they’d been in Vegas, and she had finished in the money. She was dressing in a more feminine style, and the conversation they’d just had had only one poker term in it.
Jimmy went by the poker room to see who was around and was surprised to see Sexton there, talking to a couple of guys. Jimmy thought to himself, This guy gets less sleep than me.
“Hey, Mike.”
Sexton turned, saw Jimmy, and excused himself and came over.
“That was the director and one of the cameramen for tonight,” he explained.
Jimmy nodded. Perhaps a little too much information, but nevertheless.
“How did it go getting Vic and those guys a room last night?” Jimmy asked.
“No problem,” Sexton said. “And I checked in with them this morning. They’re all still alive.” Sexton chuckled.
A bit odd, Jimmy thought. Perhaps the sleep deprivation was getting to him.
“Listen,” Jimmy said, “I need to talk to Vic. Is he in the room with them?”
“No,” Sexton said, “it took me until this morning, but I got a couple of off-duty security guys in there.”
“So where’s Vic?”
“I don’t know,” Sexton said. “Maybe in his room?”
“I’ll check,” Jimmy said.
“Are you all set for tonight, Mr. Final Table? You definitely locked up a seat as one of our Bad Boys. ‘Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do,’?” he started to sing the Cops TV theme.
“I hope to be by five o’clock.”
Jimmy gave Sexton’s shoulder a soft punch, then he walked away, leaving Sexton standing by himself, smiling and singing, “whatcha gonna do when they come for you.”
Rather than just go to Vic’s room Jimmy decided to use a house phone to call him. He’d kept Margaret up pretty late, and there was no telling how much sleep Vic had gotten. He was surprised when the Philly cop answered, sounding chipper and very much awake.
“Did I wake you or Margaret?”
“Naw, Margaret went down to hit the slots early, and I been waitin’ for your call. What’re your plans for today?”
“My plans?”
“Jimmy,” Vic said, “I been a cop for a long time, and I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The look a cop has when he’s got the scent,” Vic explained. “You had that look last night. You got the scent.”
“I don’t want to talk about the scent on the phone,” Jimmy said. “Meet me downstairs in front of the elevator that leads out to the Strip. We’ll talk about the scent there.”
“Okay, kid,” Vic said. “See you in a few.”