in to that office, do it. Make sure you ’ re there by nine thirty . Wait for his return if you have to. If you don ’ t make this meeting, I don ’ t know how long it ’ ll be before he ’ s ready to try again. ” Pitt stared at him. “ You want this to be your last job ? Then get it done right the first time. Once you get the money, come straight back here. I ’ ll give you the $30,000 balance on the spot and it ’ s adios, a migo . ”
Cal vin gave a nod. Adios , amigo sounded good to him.
He turned his thoughts to Grant . The man was often in the local papers and he knew he ’ d recognize him anywhere. “ Give me the address . ”
While driving to Grant ’ s office, Calvin tried to still the uneasy thoughts that flickered through his mind. He had known Pitt for three years and t he man wasn ’ t acting normal . He was nervous about something . And that didn ’ t sit well with Calvin.
Something ’ s up , or maybe it ’ s the size of the payoff .
Calvin didn ’ t buy into Pitt ’ s story about Grant owing him $200,000 . Not completely. Most casino owners in Vegas hired men like Pitt to do the dirty work and keep quiet , but Grant hiring Pitt for various illegal jobs was inconsistent with the character and reputation of the casino owner. Through the decades that Grant had run t he Greek with his father and in the last fifteen years with his son, he ’ d had a good reputation as a somewhat honest man. To Calvin, Grant was a man who wouldn ’ t get near such jobs.
So why does Pitt want me to see Grant?
If there was something going on here— and Calvin was sure there was— he was going to have to improvise and be careful too. His instincts had never failed him before. Calvin wanted to talk to Grant himself and find out what was really going on.
With most jobs, h e only knew his target by name. It was easier if he didn ’ t know the person . This time he had no personal connection, but almost too much information.
He remembered when the rich had welcomed him into their group as a promising , clean-cut athlete bound for glory. Now he was just an outsider looking in. Ju st another thug.
The upscale building was located in downtown Las Vegas, the city ’ s central business district. It was originally the town site and gambling district located in the center of Las Vegas Valley, but it ha d taken a backseat to the Strip, which was located just south.
When he arrived at the expensive office co mplex , he ignored the valet parking and parked on the street. He put on the hat and sunglasses , stepped from the car and donned the coat.
Surveying the crowded sidewalk, he zigzagged through pedestrians hurrying to work. He strode through the rotating door into a bustling lobby, where men and women in tailored suits hustled to meetings .
It was 9:12 a.m . He was a bit early.
Oh well. B etter to be early than late.
He entered the building and approached the counter , where a short, stocky security guard held a clipboard.
“ Winston Coburn III to see Douglas Grant. ” Calvin handed his business card to the guard.
The guard scanned the clipboard . “ Yes, Mr. Coburn . I have you down for a nine-thirty appointment . I ’ ll notify Mr. Grant t hat you ’ re here and see if it ’ s okay to send you up. ”
“ No problem. ”
The guard called Grant ’ s office. He listened for a minute, then hung up. “ Mr. Grant isn ’ t in his office . He probably stepped out for a few minutes . Y ou are a bit early. Would you mind waiting until I ’ m able to reach him? ”
Calvin ’ s smile disappe ared . He remembered his boss ’ s words.
“ Listen , uh … ” h e read the man ’ s name tag, “ Gus. Yes, I mind waiting. Grant knows that I ’ m flying back to Atlantic City this afternoon , which is why we made an early appointment. I don ’ t care if he ’ s there now or not. I ’ ll wait for him in his office, but absolute ly not in this miserable lobby. ”
“ But Mr. Coburn, ” the man
Cal vin gave a nod. Adios , amigo sounded good to him.
He turned his thoughts to Grant . The man was often in the local papers and he knew he ’ d recognize him anywhere. “ Give me the address . ”
While driving to Grant ’ s office, Calvin tried to still the uneasy thoughts that flickered through his mind. He had known Pitt for three years and t he man wasn ’ t acting normal . He was nervous about something . And that didn ’ t sit well with Calvin.
Something ’ s up , or maybe it ’ s the size of the payoff .
Calvin didn ’ t buy into Pitt ’ s story about Grant owing him $200,000 . Not completely. Most casino owners in Vegas hired men like Pitt to do the dirty work and keep quiet , but Grant hiring Pitt for various illegal jobs was inconsistent with the character and reputation of the casino owner. Through the decades that Grant had run t he Greek with his father and in the last fifteen years with his son, he ’ d had a good reputation as a somewhat honest man. To Calvin, Grant was a man who wouldn ’ t get near such jobs.
So why does Pitt want me to see Grant?
If there was something going on here— and Calvin was sure there was— he was going to have to improvise and be careful too. His instincts had never failed him before. Calvin wanted to talk to Grant himself and find out what was really going on.
With most jobs, h e only knew his target by name. It was easier if he didn ’ t know the person . This time he had no personal connection, but almost too much information.
He remembered when the rich had welcomed him into their group as a promising , clean-cut athlete bound for glory. Now he was just an outsider looking in. Ju st another thug.
The upscale building was located in downtown Las Vegas, the city ’ s central business district. It was originally the town site and gambling district located in the center of Las Vegas Valley, but it ha d taken a backseat to the Strip, which was located just south.
When he arrived at the expensive office co mplex , he ignored the valet parking and parked on the street. He put on the hat and sunglasses , stepped from the car and donned the coat.
Surveying the crowded sidewalk, he zigzagged through pedestrians hurrying to work. He strode through the rotating door into a bustling lobby, where men and women in tailored suits hustled to meetings .
It was 9:12 a.m . He was a bit early.
Oh well. B etter to be early than late.
He entered the building and approached the counter , where a short, stocky security guard held a clipboard.
“ Winston Coburn III to see Douglas Grant. ” Calvin handed his business card to the guard.
The guard scanned the clipboard . “ Yes, Mr. Coburn . I have you down for a nine-thirty appointment . I ’ ll notify Mr. Grant t hat you ’ re here and see if it ’ s okay to send you up. ”
“ No problem. ”
The guard called Grant ’ s office. He listened for a minute, then hung up. “ Mr. Grant isn ’ t in his office . He probably stepped out for a few minutes . Y ou are a bit early. Would you mind waiting until I ’ m able to reach him? ”
Calvin ’ s smile disappe ared . He remembered his boss ’ s words.
“ Listen , uh … ” h e read the man ’ s name tag, “ Gus. Yes, I mind waiting. Grant knows that I ’ m flying back to Atlantic City this afternoon , which is why we made an early appointment. I don ’ t care if he ’ s there now or not. I ’ ll wait for him in his office, but absolute ly not in this miserable lobby. ”
“ But Mr. Coburn, ” the man
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