The bartender in attendance was a gregarious man who looked to be in his early forties. He had premature gray hair and a quick, sexy smile, which was probably one of the main reasons hed been hired. That, and his dexterity when it came to mixing drinks. She noted that he had fast hands.
His name tag identified him as Kevin.
Moving to her end of the bar, Kevin asked, Whatll it be, pretty lady?
Slipping her hand between the bottom of the glass and the bar, Natalie stopped him from placing it down. Information. She saw a dubious look cross his brow. To counter that, she took out her badge. Granted she wasnt here in an official capacity, but Kevin didnt need to know that. Were you on duty last night?
Because there was no one else at the bar seeking his services, Kevin began to wipe the gleaming black surface, massaging it slowly. You mean during the gala?
Yes.
The smile gracing his lips was a satisfied one. Last night had obviously been profitable for him, she figured. I caught an extra shift.
She took out Candaces photograph and carefully placed it on the bar, turning it around so that he could look at it head-on. Did you happen to see this woman there?
The bartender glanced at the picture. Mild interest turned to recognition. You mean Candace Rothchild? Yeah, she was here, loud and brassy as always. But not for long, he added, looking rather disappointed. There was always a circus when Candace was around, Natalie thought. People came along for the entertainment. The boss and she had at it, and then he had Schaffer escort her out.
She latched on to the first part of his statement. They argued?
Yeah.
About?
He shook his head. Couldnt tell you. Too far away for anything but body language, he confessed.
And Schaffer? she repeated.
He got her to leave.
She leaned in over the bar. Tell me about him.
Dont know much, the bartender admitted.
Just that his names Matt Schaffer, and hes Montgomerys head of security for the casino. Boss flew him in from L.A., where hes head of security for Montgomery Enterprises.
There was no avoiding it, she thought darkly. She was going to have to talk to Matt. The thought left her cold. Do you know where I can find him right now?
Kevin glanced at his watch. He should be in his office.
She rarely frequented casinos, and when she did, they werent ones that belonged to her fathers rivals. Luke Montgomery had made no secret that he wanted to be the King of Vegas, a position that her father had once aspired to.
And his office would be? She waited for the bartender to enlighten her.
On the second floor, toward the rear. He pointed her in the right direction.
Taking out a twenty, she placed it on the bar. Thanks for your help.
In a practiced, fluid motion, Kevin slipped the bill into his vest pocket. Any time, lovely lady, he called after her. Any time.
She debated going up the stairs, then decided on the elevator. The car that took her up to the second floor was empty. Natalie stepped out of the elevator, looked around to get her bearings and then walked toward the rear of the floor.
The office where the monitors and the people who watched them were housed was encased in dark, tinted glass walls. It gave her an opportunity to scan the room and its occupants before she entered.
None of them were Matt. But then, as head of security, hed probably have his own area, she thought, most likely removed from the others.
Into the Valley of Death rode the six hundred, she silently recited, digging deep for a line from a poem by Tennyson. Wrapping her hand around the brass handle, she opened one of the glass doors and walked in.
The woman whose desk was closest to the door looked up and then began to cross to her. Im sorry, but you cant come in here. This is a restricted area.
Natalie already had her ID in her hand and held it up. Im looking for Matt Schaffer, she told the woman.
God, even saying his name made her mouth go dry. She was supposed to be over him, had moved on with her life. What happened?
The woman began to answer her. Hes
Right here.
The deep voice came from behind her. Natalie felt every single nerve ending go on tactical alert at the same moment that all the hairs at the back of her neck stood up.
Despite the fact that it had been eight years, she would have recognized his voice anywhere.
What can Ido for you? The break in the question came because she turned around in the middle of his inquiry.
Natalie.
For a fraction of a heartbeat, Matt Schaffer stopped breathing. Hed known that, most likely, it would be just a matter of time before their paths crossed. Knew when he had reluctantly agreed to Luke Montgomerys proposition that he transfer to Vegas to oversee security at The Janus because thered been a problem with the last man whod been in charge. His only condition had been that the transfer be temporary, lasting only until someone reliable could be found to fill the slot.
If luck had been with him, he might have been able to avoid this.
But deep down in his bones, hed known all along that this was destined to happen. Maybe even unconsciously hed actually wished that it would. Now that it had, that same old feeling hed always had around Natalie slipped over him.