Never ones to question the dictates of fortune, Jerry, Bal-Simba, Taj and Moira made for a side door. They had barely turned the corner when they found themselves face-to-face with a wall of casino security guards, all looking very determined.
“Stand aside,” commanded the guard in the lead and the phalanx swung around them without a second glance, intent on reaching the chaos on the casino floor.
Jerry looked at Bal-Simba and Taj and shrugged. Then the four bolted out the door and dashed for their truck. In the distance the sirens were getting louder.
Moira and her companions had barely gotten out the door when a mob of police erupted around the corner. The group did a fast 180 and ran the other way, cut off from the truck in the parking lot.
“Hey! Over here,” a voice called as they rounded the corner ahead of their pursuers.
Jerry saw a man holding a side door open and beckoning them.
What the heck? Any port in a storm. The group made a mad dash for the door and Fluffy’s tail disappeared through it just as the first police were coming around the corner.
“Quick, this way,” Gilligan said to the oddly assorted group. He led them down a corridor and stopped at one of the hotel’s freight elevators. Taking a key from his pocket he used it to summon the elevator. As soon as the door opened he piled them all in.
“We’re setting up exhibits on the third floor and I tipped a little extra for my own key,” he explained to the others. “Once we get there we u make for the passenger elevators. You can hide in my room for a while.”
There were several workmen in the exhibition area, preparing for the next show. They stared incuriously at the four men and the dragon who emerged from the freight elevator and headed down the hall.
With most of the rooms taken by show attendees and almost all of them at the show, the hotel corridors and elevators were deserted. It took two cars to get the parry up to the twentieth floor where Mick’s room was, but they met no one on the way.
Thanks,” Jerry panted as soon as they were inside and the door was locked. “But why… ?”
“Let’s say I have an interest in dragons,” Gilligan told him. “And the people who associate with them.”
“Hey, Mick, open up,” came a Slavic-accented voice. The others started, but Gilligan motioned them to be calm and opened the door. There, in addition to Kuznetsov, was his friend and business associate, Vasily.
“How’d you know where to find us?”
“You are not very good at this game,” Kuznetsov told him. “Too predictable.”
“Great,” Gilligan muttered
“You had better think of something fast,” the Russian added. “They are already starting to search the hotel.”
Gilligan looked around “I don’t suppose that dragon can fly?”
Too young,” Jerry said.
Before Gilligan could think of anything else there was another knock on the door. “Hotel security,” a voice called. “Open up, please.”
Like most Las Vegas hotel rooms the bathroom and dressing area were next to the door, forming a short corridor and shielding the beds from direct view of the door. While everyone else crowded around the corner, Gilligan pulled his shut from his pants, kicked off his shoes and went to the door, rumpling his hair as he went
“Yes?” he said trying to sound sleepy, as he opened the door a crack There was a man in a hotel blazer and two armed guards on the other side.
“I’m Mr. Masterson, the assistant manager,” the man in the blazer said. “Have you seen anything, ah, unusual in the last few minutes?
“I’ve been asleep.”
“Yes sir. Do you mind if we come in and check things out? Just as a precaution you understand.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Please open the door, sir,” one of the guards said firmly.
“Who is it, honey?” came a sleepy female voice from inside the room. An amazing voice, oozing sex and promise.
“Ah, it’s the hotel,” Gilligan said, managing to keep his wits about him.
“Oh, what do they want?” Now there was a note of sultry disappointment. “Can’t you get rid of them and come back to bed?”