SAVANTS
The Chapture 52

The female FBI agent I met a few months ago met me in a restroom at McCarran airport, Las Vegas, to pair me with a wiretap.

"Hi, Sky. I'm Anya Kowalski. Remember?" he asked, taking out his equipment.

"Yes, of course."

She smiled at me in the mirror, her slender brown hair shining in the spotlight. "We appreciate what you did for us."

"Can you please hurry? Sally will probably come looking for me anytime."

He grinned at my worries. "That's impossible. He was being interviewed by a local reporter about his views on airport standards. The reporter won't let him go."

"And that reporter?"

"One of our men." He slipped a small microphone into my cleavage. "It has to be done. Try not to cover too much and remember not to hit it with anything because it makes a sound that makes our listeners hurt ears."

"good. I-i understand. No batteries or wires"

"No. It has its own small battery and will run for about twenty-four hours and no wires."

"But it's emitting a signal, right?"

"Yes, it transmits sound. What you hear, we'll hear, too."

"Can anyone know?"

"In theory, yes. But only if they have a deep line on FBI frequencies. We didn't have any problems before."

"But did Daniel Kelly get this information from any of you?"

He grimaces. " Don't worry if anything happens we'll get you and your parents out soon, so don't worry."

Sally was preening when I got back to her side.

"The young man was very interested in my views" he said. "He said he agreed fully that the airport is tasteless and could be filled with some more challenging artwork—maybe Damien Hirst's cow or diamond skull—however this is vegas."

"Most people who complain about airports seem as if they can do it with a good night's sleep." Simon says.

"I should have thought of that." Sally winked at me.

"I think one of Dali's cool watch faces is more preciseL—time seems like a hoax to international tourists" I suggested.

My parents stopped and looked at me in amazement.

"What?" I asked, embarrassed.

"You understand art!" Sally gasped.

"Yes so?"

Simon laughed happily. "Our years together and I don't think it rubs off on him'" He gave me a kiss on the top of my head.

"I still won't splash paint onto the canvas." I muttered, glad to have given them something to celebrate. I feel bad enough to let them into this plan.

"We didn't expect you to understand art. In fact, I thought I'd forbid you to try." Said Simon.

Simon hooked his hand on my arm and Sally's hand and led us out of the airport to the waiting car.

Get in the back seat, It's not the same vehicle that took me to barn—just a harmless hotel shuttle car to airport—but I still feel the cold running through my spine.

'Zed?'

'It's okay, Sky. Victor and I are two cars behind you. We'll step down and hand this assignment over to another agent in a few moments, but we won't lose you.'

'Is it okay to talk like this?'

'Until you arrive at the hotel. We suspect Maria Kelly is a living shield expert so we shouldn't take any chances.'

'Tell me again, how much do I have to get for the FBI to get in?'

'We need them to acknowledge his involvement in the kidnapping or to do something illegal on this trip, like trying to fake your memory —that's most likely. An added bonus is any sight or sound from the two blurred Kelly.'

'How do I get them to do that? It seems much more difficult now, I have to execute a strategy that I only think of in the abstract.'

'They've arranged everything to bring you here so they should have a plan. Follow as far as you can. We suspect they'll try to separate you from your parents.'

'And I let them?'

I know Zed is uncomfortable with the answer. They'll be safer that way.

'Don't worry about me.'

We turn to the covered drop-off area for The Fortune Teller casino hotel.

"That's the name!" sally said, flicking her finger. "I know it has something to do with the exhibit." He tidied Matisse's silk scarf on the jacket of his thin wool suit. "Did I look good, Sky?"

"Very professional." Answer me.

Simon always screams 'artist' whatever he's wearing. Today she wears her favorite black denim jacket with her jeans—jas version.

"What an amazing place!" he was amazed as we walked through the streets with an array of slot machines and maids in skimpy gypsy costumes.

That is a maze—many stores are selling cheap junk right next to designer label stores. "So it's really bland, it's a work of art in itself."

On our right, a bell rang and coins started flowing from the machine into the lap of an excited man in a shiny blue sportswear. There was a momentary pause when gamblers glanced towards the lucky winner, then did their job back.

"I want to paint a face," Sally mused, looking at a woman with a very desperate expression perched on a bench near her fruit machine of choice. "you can smell hope and despair. It's like going into hell where the souls of people lose hope."

Hells? I myself think of Hell with Kelly as a powerful demon.

A porter took us to the elevator bank. "Mrs Toscana will meet you in her office" she explained. "West Tower, third floor."

The mirror elevator led us to the mezzanine floor. Balcony facing the main floor of the casino, a variety of games are in progress from roulette to poker. 

It was midday, most people were dressed casually and the atmosphere was relaxed. I look forward to the sophistication of James Bond and getting some seaside entertainment. 

Baize shines with a rich glowing green with the dubious promise, plastic flakes that actually represent millions of dollars thicken the illusion that this is all just a little harmless fun. 

Our guide showed us a set of double doors with a 'General Manager' inscribed on the brass nameplate. 

After we finished, we left a flash of a striking painting of the hotel decor for tranquility and subtlety: an elegant L-shaped white sofa for visitors; fresh flowers on a glass table.

The first thing I noticed was a row of screens showing activity in all parts of the hotel. There is a close-up of the card table as well as a more common view of the common area.

Then I saw Maria Kelly standing by the window looking out at the hotel atrium, her hands outstretched. He's a poison and I don't want him anywhere near my parents.

"Simon, Sally, nice to meet you in person after our phone call. And this must be Sky?''

His smile was friendly, but his emotions told another story, flickering between cold blue calculations and a hint of red violence.

I hope my face doesn't show any disgust when I see her again. I have to pretend I don't remember.

"Yes, indeed," said Simon. "Thank you for inviting us."

He waved to us to the three chairs across the table from his. "I hope this weekend will give you the opportunity to understand my hotel, what kind of clients we serve, and what artistic tastes they may have. I think you'll find rooms that range from economical to exclusive and our guests' preferences on a wide scale."

This job is fake— I can see it in the yellow that now shines around him. He enjoyed twisting the story, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"I've prepared a complete program for you and one of my assistant managers will be dedicated to facilitating your visit. But it sure sounds pretty boring to your daughter."

"Sky was happy to be able to adjust to us" Sally said. "He won't bother."

"No, no, that's not necessary. I think he might prefer to find out what Vegas has to offer young people.

Simon moved in his seat. "Well, now, Mrs Tuscany, you're very kind, but you know what Sky has experienced recently; we don't want to leave her alone in a strange place."

"Of course, I totally agree. That's why I asked my brother if he could take the time to take care of her. I'm sure he'll show her a good time. Maybe they can watch an afternoon show. Cirque du Soleil is amazing—he shouldn't miss it!"

Sean Kelly's idea of a good time was to drain all my emotions and mess with my head. So here's the plan: to throw me to Sean-lion while my parents were herded into playing at the hotel. 

I just hope Victor and Zed get all this and will intervene before things go too far.

"Do you like that, baby?" ask Selly.

"It's okay" I replied, not enough to thank Mary.

"Look!" The lines around Sally's eyes wrinkled into a relieved smile. "Then we'll meet again here tonight for dinner, sweetie."

"I've reserved a private dining room for you guys, so you can meet up with the other senior staff members." Maria smiled, revealing an expensive row of teeth. "But Sky might prefer to eat a burger with Sean. He was waiting for her outside. I have some business I want to talk to your parents about, Sky. I hope you don't mind."

"Yes, I don't mind." He really rat— chased me away with that bastard outside while pretending he was helping me. "See you later."

"Happy be happy" said Simon happily. "Come back when you've had enough, baby."

Reluctantly, I woke up. The only redeeming part of this plan was the fact that my parents would be far from any danger.

I checked my new phone in my jeans pocket. Victor had given it to me that morning, saying that he had programmed it and other emergency numbers just in case. "Stay on your phone, Simon and I will call when you're done looking around." Sally.

"Don't be in a hurry if you're having fun." Sally smiled sincerely at Maria.