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Ally squirmed in her seat, trying to control the nervous sweating that was threatening to break on her brow.  The taxi driver kept glancing back at her in his rear-view mirror, one brow cocked suspiciously.

“Stop looking at me, stop looking at me, stop looking at me,” she muttered under her breath, realizing that her anxious behavior was making her look suspicious.  He must have received her message, because he brought his gaze back to the road in front of him.  Not that traffic was an issue at the moment.  The cab was stopped, bogged down in the nightly exodus to the Vegas strip.

Ally sighed, and leaned her head against the car door.  She hit the window button and it slowly buzzed and lowered, allowing the light, cool desert night air to blow on her face.  She gazed up at the facades of the various hotels, their light shows and street performers beckoning to the masses that fell on the Strip like locusts.  She stifled laughter as she saw a busload of nuns heading into The Bellagio.

“Hmmm.  So THAT’S where the collections go after mass on Sunday.”

“Excuse me, miss?” the driver responded.

“Oh, nothing.  Sorry.”  Ally looked out and saw that her destination was only a few blocks away.  The Cascade was the newest casino on the strip, and its neon-blue waterfall effect down the side of the building was hard to miss.  She glanced down at her watch and saw it was 8:40.  She had twenty minutes before her meeting…one she could not, under any circumstances, be late for.

“Sir, excuse me…but how much longer do you think we’ll be?” she asked.

He looked up at her in the mirror again.  “Well, there’s no telling this time of night.  Could be 10 minutes, could be 2 hours.  Why?  You in a hurry or something?”

Not in the mood for idle chitchat, Ally checked the meter and threw a twenty onto the front seat next to the driver.  “Thanks, but I think I’ll walk from here.  It’s not far.”  She thanked him, and hopped out of the car.  She bobbed and weaved through the gridlock, trying to get to the sidewalk as quickly as she could.  The thought of being kneecapped by some tourists’ station wagon did not appeal to her.

Once she got to the sidewalk, she steeled herself, and headed towards the casino.  She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper.

The Cascade – 9 PM sharp

She quickened her pace, determined to get there well before the appointed time.  Not that she knew what would happen if she was late, or if she didn’t show up at all…but she didn’t want to risk it.

As she walked, Ally thought back to the day she received the note.  She woke up the previous Saturday morning, and opened her front door to get her paper.  She hadn’t noticed she small, white envelope taped to her front door until she was walking back up the driveway.

“Who left this?  Must be one of my friends being goofy,” she thought, ripping it off her door.  She flung it down on the kitchen table and was about to settle in to enjoy her very large cup of coffee and cereal when the phone rang.

“Screw it…let the machine pick it up,” she muttered as she ripped open a sweetener packet.

“Hi, this is Ally and Joe.  Can’t make it to the phone right now, busy saving the world and all…you know the drill.”  Knowing full well a single girl should never say she lives alone, she mentioned Joe…her faithful if lazy tomcat.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

She expected to hear a click, or one of her friends nagging her about screening her calls, but instead was startled by the sound of an unfamiliar voice.

“I see you got the note.  I think it would be best if you read it. 

Follow the instructions and your reward will be immeasurable.  If not, your loss will be even greater.”

The voice sounded distant, cold…and VERY British.  She swallowed her coffee slowly, for it had suddenly taken on the consistency of glue.  Getting up from the table, she went up to the front door and peeked out through the curtain.  No strange cars, no people outside other than her neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins…and she was positive that no little old lady could be involved in anything that cryptic.

Ally threw the deadbolt, locked the door, and moved stealthily around her house, locking any and all doors and windows, closing blinds and curtains.  By the time she got back to the kitchen, Joe was asleep on the table, his giant head resting on the envelope that had been taped to her front door.  She scooped him up and grabbed the note, running up the stairs to her bedroom and locking the door behind her.

She sat down on the bed, and sat Joe down next to her.  He looked up at her sleepily, and took his standard place on her pillows.  Ally’s hands were shaking as she slowly tore the envelope open.  Inside was the single sheet of paper that she now had in her hand as she walked hurriedly down the Strip.

Ally wasn’t quite sure why she had decided to come, but she knew that she’d rather hear out whomever this was, then face the uncertain fate that her message had implied.

In no time at all, she was at the entrance to the Cascade, and shit…it was impressive.  “I wouldn’t mind coming here…under different circumstances,” she thought to herself.  She noticed a crowd of tourists, and managed to mix in among them as she entered.  Somehow the idea of being around a large, anonymous crowd gave her a sense of comfort in what was a truly unnerving situation.

“I wish I had some Paxil”, she said as she entered the lobby.  Looking up, Ally was taken aback by the sheer glamour of the hotel.   The lobby itself was a giant atrium, at the center of which was an enormous, multi-tiered fountain.  Gentle glowing lights slowly changed hue inside the fountain, giving the water the appearance of liquid stained glass.  She broke from her reverie long enough to notice that it was almost nine.

Not quite sure where she was, she rushed over to the concierge’s desk.

“Excuse me, but can you tell me where the elevators are?” she asked, hoping she didn’t sound as scared as she felt.

“Of course, miss,” he answered.  “Just go down this hallway to your right, then hang a left.  You can’t miss them.”

Ally thanked him, then bolted down the hallway as if her ass was on fire.  The hallway was really more of a causeway between two enclosed waterfalls; their hues changing just like the fountain.  Her boots slid on the polished white marble floor, and she came close to completely wiping out.  But balance was on her side, and she managed to make it to the elevator lobby without incident.

Pushing the “up” button, she waited for an elevator to show up. 

Fortunately, this was Vegas and the casino was on the first floor, so there were plenty of elevators ready for her.  She ran inside the nearest one, and pressed “15”.  She kept staring at her watch and tried to keep her knees from knocking.  It was hard to hide, seeing as how she was wearing a short leather skirt and knee-high black stiletto boots.  Topped with a red sweater and her black, knee-length leather jacket, she thought it made her look tough.  Well, as tough as a computer code programmer could look.

Ally looked up at herself in the mirrored doors and brushed a wisp of light brown hair off her face, struggling to get it loose from the sticky sweat that had built on her forehead.  She grabbed a tissue out of her bag and blotted it away.  Stuffing the tissue in her jacket pocket, she then poked around for her compact.  She applied a light dusting of powder on her forehead and nose, and clicked the compact shut.  As if by some sort of cosmic plan, the second she shut it, she head the bell and the doors slowly opened.

She looked out straight ahead and saw a large brass plate directing her to the left.   Scanning the room numbers as she walked down the hall, her gaze fell on a door at the very end of the hallway.  It was room 1507.  Swallowing hard, she looked at her watch one last time. It was 8:57. Three minutes to spare.  She extended her fist up to knock on the door, but before she could make contact, the door opened, and she was greeted by a singular figure cloaked in shadow.  Ally was close to turning on her heels and sprinting down the hall when the figure extended a hand towards her. A hand, she noticed, that was sporting a fresh coat of metallic red nail polish.

“Come in, Ally” the figure said, in the same mysterious voice that had come through her answering machine.  Against her better judgment, she took the hand and was gently ushered inside.

****************

The hallway was dark and ominous.  Ally could feel her legs starting to shake again, and was extremely thankful that it was so dark that no one could notice.  At the end of what seemed like an endless hallway was a large living room.  Presumably this was the penthouse suite.  The glow of the neon waterfall cast an eerie blue light in the room.  Her spine started to tingle and she suddenly felt regretful of her decision.   Suddenly, she felt a gentle touch on her lower back.

“Calm down, luv,” the voice said.  “You don’t have anything to worry about.”   Ally turned around at that comment, a little thrown by the reassuring tone.  She turned and was greeted by a handsome, smiling man.  His highlighted hair stylishly disheveled, and his eyes were the same blue as the light that was bathing the suite.  His smile, framed by a well-trimmed goatee made him decidedly less menacing, cryptic message or not.

He steered her towards a desk, and motioned for her to sit down facing it.  He walked over to a large glass and chrome bar and turned back towards her.

“What’s your poison?” he inquired.

“Um…vodka.  Straight up with a twist.”  In a flash, he brought Ally her drink.  She gulped most of it down in one sip, the burn slowly giving way to a sudden sense of relaxation.  She eased back in her chair, and crossed her legs.  Rolling the ice around in her glass, she glanced up and met the gaze of the stranger.  He smiled down at her, and approached her slowly with his right hand extended.

“I’m Eddie.  I work for Mr. Reynolds.  He’s the one who called you here.”  Ally took his hand, and they exchanged a firm handshake.  “He should be out any minute.  He’s always late.”

She nodded, and knocked back the rest of her vodka.  “You know, your little message scared the shit out of me.”

He sat back on the edge of the desk and crossed his arms.  “Yeah…I, um…I wanted to apologize for that.  I just didn’t know how to express the importance of the situation.” He was staring at the carpet through squinted eyes. “I’m not really very good at that sort of thing…I-” He trailed off.

“Well…you’re forgiven.  Just don’t go into a career in customer service, ok?” Ally said, the liquor having loosened her up considerably.  This made Eddie smile, and for a second, she felt this strange, almost electric connection between them.  She was just about to invite him to sit next to her when a door behind the desk opened.  Eddie turned and stood up straight.

“Good evening, boss” he said.

Out stepped a short, rather rotund man in a dark suit, white hair slicked back into a tight ponytail.  He was wearing dark sunglasses, and carried a cigar in his hand.

“Evening, Ed,” the man responded curtly.  “Miss anything?”

Eddie shook his head no, and pulled out the man’s chair.

“So,” the man started, peering across the desk over his sunglasses.

“You must be Miss Barber, eh?”  Ally nodded.

“Yes sir.”

“Well hello.  My name is Archie Reynolds, and I own this place.” Ally nodded again.  “Good…a girl of few words.  I like that.”  He leaned back in his chair and took a long drag off of his cigar.  “You’re probably wondering why I called you here.”

“Well, yes sir. I am.”

Reynolds turned and faced her.  “Miss Barber, my people tell me that you are the best code writer in the state.  As a matter of fact, you wrote the programs for several of the casinos’ financial computers.  And they also tell me that you used to be a hacker in your younger days.”

Ally was shocked.  She hadn’t hacked a computer in years…not since high school.  Not since she got caught trying to download a virus into the state gaming board’s computer system, just for a joke.  Ever since then, she was fully committed to use her computer skills for good, not for personal vendettas.

“Um…yes.  But that was a long time ago.  I haven’t done that in ag-“

Reynolds cut her off.  “I need you to do something for me.  If you accept, you will be rewarded handsomely.  If you do not…well, actually I think it’s better for you if you accept this offer.”  He took another long drag on his cigar.  In an exhale of smoke he leaned across the table and made his proposition.

“I need you to break into the Villa.”

“WHAT?!?”  Ally couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You want me to break into a casino?  I’m not…no!  No…I cannot…”

Reynolds tipped back in his chair and laughed heartily.  He slugged Eddie in the arm, and Eddie gave him a very forced smile.  “No, Miss Barber.  I don’t want you to physically go in there and break in.  I want to employ your considerable technological talents to, how can I say this…short-sheet the competition.” He got up from the desk and waddled over to the window.  “See, I’ve been in this business my whole life.  And opening my own casino is a dream come true.  And business is good.  No!  Business is great.”

“But sir,” Ally interrupted.  “If your business is so good, why do you need me to hack into another casino?”

He turned and faced her.  “Because the bastard that owns that casino owes me money, that’s why.”  He continued, his voice barely containing the anger he harbored.  “Mike Dunhill took me for a fool.  He said he would go in halfsies on this place, because I needed the extra capital.  But at the last minute, he pulled out.  So I’m left to cover all the bills, and I have certain people-the kind whose names end in vowels if you get me-want their money.”  Reynolds paced back and forth by the windows.

“So I need my money, or else I lose this place…or end up dead, got it?” 

He stopped right in front of Ally, and leaned in towards her, his face no more than inches from her own.  “Got it?”

Eddie stepped in between the two of them suddenly.  “Boss, I don’t think threatening her is the best ide-” he was cut off by a fist to the nose.

“Don’t tell me how to do my business, pal.”  Eddie fell back against the desk, clutching his now bleeding nose and swearing under his breath.

“So, Miss Barber…Are you in?”

Ally felt a cold chill run down her spine, her stomach in knots. 

“Um…um…” she stammered, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Eddie, whose eyes were beginning to blacken from the broken nose.

“Yes?”  Reynolds said, his impatience giving his voice a snarling tone.

“Yes.  Ok.  I’ll do it.”  Her five words came out like one long one.

He patted her on the head and turned.  “Good for you, kiddo.  Now come

back tomorrow and we’ll discuss the procedures.  Have a good night.”  And with that, he left.  Regaining her composure, Ally got up and rushed over to Eddie.

“Oh my god.  Eddie, are you ok?  I’m gonna go get some ice.  Hold on.” 

She ran over to the bar and filled one of the towels with ice.  She went back to him and gently pried his hands away from his face.

“OUCH!  For fuck’s sake!” he yelped.  “Be careful.”

She gently placed the makeshift icepack on his face.  “Calm down.  Of course it’s going to hurt.  Just relax and I’ll get some tissues.”  She stood up to find the bathroom when Eddie grabbed her arm.

“Don’t…don’t go.  Please.  I’ll be fine.  Just help me up.”

Ally wrapped an arm around his waist and tried to hoist him up.  But in her high heels, and with the effects of the liquor starting to kick in again, she stumbled and fell down.  Despite his rather painful condition, Eddie started laughing.

“Remind me never to ask for your help again, ok?”

She looked up at him and slugged him in the arm.  “You shouldn’t have tried to come to my rescue.  I’m a big girl, you know.”

Eddie’s laughter died in his throat.  “You may think so, but I know how Reynolds operates.  He resorts to drastic measures to get what he wants.”

“If you disagree with his MO so much, then why do you work for him?” 

Ally inquired, finally managing to get both herself and Eddie up.

“Let’s just say I got in over my head when I was young, and it’s too late to get out.”  He sat down in a chair and laid his head back.  “Ally?”

“Yes?”

“What do you say we get out of here?  I need a real drink.  And a doctor.”  Eddie took the icepack off his face and looked over at Ally, his eyes almost completely swollen shut.  “Shall we?”

She nodded, and helped him to his feet.  With her for support, Eddie and Ally walked out of the penthouse towards the elevator.

*******************

In the elevator, Ally shed her jacket and leaned her back against the cool glass walls.  “You know, Eddie,” she started.  “I think people might get a bit suspicious if we walk down into the lobby…you all bloody and battered and all.”

He looked at his face in the elevator doors’ reflection and dropped his head.  “You’re right.  Let’s go out the back way.  I’m parked there…”

Eddie trailed off.  “Um, you can drive, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.  As you can see, I’m in no shape for driving.”  Ally nodded in agreement.

“So which car is yours?” she asked.

“Red Mini Cooper…it’s right outside the door.”  At that, she started giggling uncontrollably.

“What?  What’s so funny?”

Ally stopped, and leaned against the hallway door.  “Doesn’t strike me as very…well…I just figured you’d have a Mercedes or BMW or something.”

Eddie sighed.  “Just because I don’t drive some flashy car doesn’t mean I’m less of a man.”  He started staggering a bit, his eyes now completely swollen shut.

“That’s not what I meant, Eddie.” Ally replied, feeling rather tactless.  “You’re just a surprise, that’s all.  Not at all what I expected from a…well…”

“Yes?”

“Thug.”  And with that, they both started laughing.

“Not hardly, luv.  We there yet?  I can’t see a bloody thing.”

“We’re almost there.”   Just a few steps later they were through the back door of the casino’s kitchen.  Ally helped Eddie down the stairs and got him into the car.  She hopped in, and in a flash, they were off.

“So, where to?  Still think you need a doctor?  And what about that drink?”  Ally inquired, keeping one eye on Eddie, the other on the road.

“No, I think I’ll be ok,” he answered back, sounding more tired than pained.   “But I do have one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I think you’re a nice girl and all…but I don’t loan my car to anyone. 

And if you drop me off, I don’t really want you to walk home alone.”  He turned his head towards her.  “So as you can see, we have a bit of a dilemma.”

Ally understood his quandary.  That second, an idea popped into her head, but she wasn’t quite sure if she should mention anything.  She thought it over for a couple minutes, but Eddie must’ve sensed she was planning something.

“You’ve got an idea, don’t you?  I can hear the wheels turning.”  He smiled.

“Well, um…you could stay the night at my house.”  She realized what she had just said, and how it sounded.  “I mean, I’m not being too forward, am I?”

“No…but I don’t really want to impose.”  Ally was shocked by his manners.

“It’s no problem, really.  I have plenty of room, and I’m sure Joe won’t care.”

Eddie sat up with a start, nearly hitting his head on the roof of the car.  “Joe?  Wh-ho’s Joe?”

Ally laughed.  “He’s my cat, Eddie.  You aren’t allergic, are you?”  He seemed to relax again, settling back into his seat.

“Nah.  I’m just glad I won’t get punched again…this time by a jealous boyfriend.” He said the last part with an inquisitive tone.

She picked up on that tone immediately.  “Nope, no boyfriend.  Not in a LONG time.”  She paused before asking him “Do you have a girlfriend?” meaning it more as a topic of “getting to know you” chat as opposed to a pick-up line.

Eddie shook his head, a half-smile on his lips.  “No, not now.  Not in a while, actually.”  His answer was met with an awkward silence as they continued driving.

Ally suddenly had a flash.  “You need to stop by your place and pick anything up?”

Eddie thought for a second, and then realized that he had a bag in the trunk.  “No…I’m good.  Just grab the black bag out of the back for me when we get to yours.”   She agreed, and slowed the car to take a steep turn.  Driving past that embankment in the dark always scared Ally.  It’s why she hardly ever drove at night.

In just a few minutes, they were pulling into Ally’s driveway.  She shifted the car into park, and popped the trunk release.  She grabbed the black bag out of the trunk and opened the door for Eddie.  “You ok?  Swelling gone down at all?”

He shook his head.  “No.  But my nose isn’t bleeding anymore, so that’s a plus.  I just hope you have a large bottle of aspirin.”  She said she did, and helped him out of the car.  Leading him slowly up the walk, he stopped suddenly.

“Well, the situation is getting better.  I haven’t lost my sense of smell…something out here is amazing.  I mean, I noticed it this morning when I delivered the note, but it seems so much stronger tonight.”

Ally smiled.  “Ah, you smell my rose garden.  Well, not mine entirely. 

My sister and I planted it when I moved in here a few years back.”  Eddie smiled, and they started back up the sidewalk, his arm snaked around her waist.

A key in the door, and they were inside.  Joe popped his head out around the top of the stairs, and after recognizing his “mom”, slinked back into the bedroom.  Ally took Eddie’s jacket and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair, then grabbed the bottle of aspirin out of the downstairs bathroom.  Back in the kitchen she poured some water into a glass and took them to Eddie, who by this time was sprawled out on the sofa.

“Medication time!” Ally said in her most sing-songy voice.  “Nurse Ally to the rescue.”

Eddie sat up slightly, smiling.  “Oh, my very own Florence  Nightingale!”  He took the aspirin, then lay back on the sofa.   Ally was about to take the glass to the kitchen when she once again felt his hand on hers.

“Thank you, Ally” he said, his voice showing a new tone of vulnerability. “You’ve gone above and beyond to help me.  It means a lot.”

She smiled down at him, noticing that despite his blackened eyes and swollen nose he still gave her butterflies in her stomach.  His voice was so soft, and his touch was gentle.

“No problem Eddie.  You stood up for me, and this is the least I could do.” 

She patted his hand and got up to take his glass to the kitchen. 

Coming back into the living room, she noticed the rather uncomfortable position Eddie was in.  She ran upstairs and grabbed some extra pillows and a quilt from the linen closet.  She propped the pillows under Eddie’s head, then covered him with the quilt.

“Comfy now?” Ally asked.  He nodded, and smiled again.  “You mind to turn on the telly?  I like the noise in the background,” Eddie asked, almost impishly.   Ally agreed, and turned it on.

“Any channel in particular?”

Eddie thought for a second.  “Hmmmm…History Channel.  Always go to sleep learning something.”  She flipped to the right channel and turned out the lights.  Flipping the deadbolt and lock behind her, Ally proceeded upstairs.

“Goodnight, Ally,” Eddie called behind her.

“Goodnight, Eddie.”

She heard his phone ring.  He answered it, but she was too tired to bother eavesdropping.

******************

Ally awoke the next morning, sun streaming in through her bedroom window, bathing the whole room in a warm, golden glow.  She debated staying in bed, but was startled by the sounds of running water.  It took her a few minutes to shake the sleep-induced cobwebs out of her brain, but when she finally did, she remembered that Eddie had stayed the night.  She slipped into her bathroom, brushed her teeth, and combed through her hair.  She took one look at her faded flannel PJs and decided that she really didn’t want a relative stranger (or anyone else, for that matter) to see her in them.

So, she rifled through her closet and drawers until she found a silk lounging set she hadn’t worn in years.  It’s pale green color played up

the color of her eyes.  She scurried back into the bathroom and pulled her hair up, tendrils of hair framing her face.  At the back of her mind, she kept thinking, “Why are you doing this?  You barely know him?”  But she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to impress him.  While she was still somewhat wary of him, she was also profoundly attracted to him.  He was so gentle, yet so mysterious and almost forbidden.  Like he was hiding something from her.

She shook the thought from her mind, and pleased with her appearance,

headed downstairs.  Eddie was still in the shower in the downstairs bathroom, so Ally headed into the kitchen to brew up a nice, strong cup of coffee.  “What a relief,” she thought to herself.  “No awkward, ‘don’t wake the hit man’ moments.”  She carried her cup over to the door, and went out to the driveway to grab her paper.  She had just gotten in the door when she caught a glimpse of Eddie, standing in the middle of her living room wearing nothing but a towel.

“Oh, shit..oh!” was all Ally could stammer.  She spun around to face the front door, almost dropping her coffee in the process.  Eddie was just as surprised, fumbling around for the quilt to cover himself.

“Oh, Ally…I’m sorry.  I thought you were still asleep!”  he exclaimed, finally covering up.  “I realized I forgot to grab my razor out of my bag, and…” he trailed off, not taking his eyes from her.  “Wow.  If you don’t mind me saying, you look lovely this morning.”  She could feel the heat rising off her face and neck, responding only with a squeaky “thank you”.

“Um, I’ll just…I’ll be in the bathroom if you need me.”  And with that, he disappeared back down the hall.  Ally was still shaking, her heart beating so fast that she could feel it in her ears.  She turned around slowly, trying to regain her composure.  She sat her cup of coffee down on the counter and gathered up the pillows.  She took them back upstairs, setting them just inside her bedroom door.  Heading back down the stairs, she heard the bathroom door open again.  By the time she got down, Eddie had emerged, this time fully dressed, his hair again stylishly tousled, and Ally could swear he had a bit of eyeliner on.    It was noticeable past the bruising, which had gone down quite a bit more than she had expected.  She shook it off as her imagination playing tricks on her.  His goatee was gone, and he was even more handsome without it.  He had folded up the quilt, and set it down on the sofa.  He threw a few items back into his bag, and turned to smile at her.

“This better?” he asked, spinning around, affecting a supermodel pose. 

Ally smiled and nodded.  “Much.”

She ushered him into the kitchen, and poured him a cup of coffee.  They sat in her kitchen for most of the morning, talking about life, reading the newspaper, and getting to know each other.  It was nearly noon when

Eddie’s mobile phone rang.  She could tell by the tone that it was Reynolds.

“Yes.  I’m fine.  No, no real damage.  What?  Oh..ok.  What time?  Ten? 

Ok.   Yeah.  Yes, sir.  Bye.”  He looked up at Ally with a mixture of anger and exasperation in his eyes.  “Well, it seems I must be off.  I’ll be back here to pick you up at nine, ok?”

Ally nodded, and watched as Eddie grabbed his things, headed for the door.  But before he got there, he turned and smiled at her.  “Thank you, Al,” he said, his eyes once again visible, and soft.  “You’re something else.  See you later.”

“Yeah, Eddie.  See you later.”   She watched from the doorway as he hopped in his car, giving Ally a wave.  With that, he was gone.

******************

Ally paced around the house, trying to come up with ideas to keep her mind off the previous night’s incident…and what she was about to do tonight.  She took a shower and dressed, cleaned the kitchen, the living room, swept the carpets, and took out the trash.  The monotony of her normal Sunday cleaning ritual couldn’t even knock the thoughts from her mind.  She decided to head into her yard and water her rose garden.  It was the only place she could think of that gave her a sense of sanctuary.

The sun streamed down into the garden, and she was happy to see that all the bushes were in full bloom.  Ally leaned over the roses and grabbed the hose, turning the water on.  Standing there, her thoughts slowly drifted from the garden to Eddie.  She re-played the morning’s events…and the butterflies in her stomach returned when she thought of him standing in her living room, nothing more than a towel on.  He wasn’t a buff guy by any means, but he was definitely well built.  Nice arms, REALLY good legs.   And she couldn’t help but have noticed that he had a nice little ass on him.

Ally chuckled to herself, finding the whole incident funny in retrospect.  But her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a puddle of water develop under her feet.  “Shit!” she exclaimed, turning the water off and chucking the hose out into the yard.  She headed towards the garage, shaking the water off her feet.  She grabbed her garden scissors out of the garage and cut so many roses that she expected the whole house would smell like a flower shop.

Heading back towards the kitchen, she noticed that Eddie had left some of his things on the coffee table.  His watch, a set of cufflinks, and what looked like a tube of mascara.  Ally reached down to pick it up, and sure enough it WAS a tube of mascara…MAC nonetheless.  She wasn’t quite sure she could take it in…Eddie?  Eddie in makeup?  She hadn’t been seeing things then.  She was confused, but not as confused as she expected to be.

“Maybe he’s into glam rock in a big way,” she said aloud.  Her comment was met by the loud cries of Joe, standing next to his empty food bowl.

“Ok, sweetie.  Mom’s gonna fix your breakfast now.”  She put Eddie’s things on the counter next to her bag so she wouldn’t forget to give them back.  She opened a can of cat food and dumped it into Joe’s dish.  She had barely pulled the can away when the tomcat’s giant orange head was full-on inside the dish, scarfing down every last morsel.   Ally sat down at the kitchen table, just watching him.

“So, what did you think of Eddie, Joe?” she inquired, holding one of her regular conversations with her cat.  He turned his head, and licking his chops let out a quiet “rowr”.  Then his head disappeared back into his dish. Ally realized that it was useless to talk to him when he was eating.

She looked at the clock on the microwave.  It was almost four, and she was tired after her cleaning fit this morning, so she decided to stretch out on the sofa for a nap.  She ran upstairs to get a pillow, grabbing one from her bedroom where she had left them that morning.  As she settled in, she caught a whiff of Eddie’s cologne, it’s traces still on the pillowcase.  Ally smiled, drifting off to sleep, it’s spicy scent filling her lungs.

********************

It was 8:15, and Ally was frantically searching for something to wear. 

Eddie was due to pick her up in 45 minutes, and she still wasn’t anywhere near ready.  She knew that she shouldn’t be so worried about what she was wearing…after all, the county lock-up didn’t really care what you were wearing when you were being booked.  But she pushed those hesitations to the back of her mind and continued to search.

After emptying almost all the contents of her closet and drawers onto her bed, she finally settled on a pair of faded, boot cut jeans that hugged her figure perfectly, topped with a green shirt the same color as the silk lounging suit.  “I really should wear this color more often,” she thought to herself as she surveyed her choice in the mirror.  She had taken extra time doing her hair, and applied makeup that was sure to accentuate her eyes even more.  While she was still unsure of the decision she had made the night before, she figured she might as well go down looking good.

Little did Ally know that at the same time, Eddie was preening in front of a mirror in his room at the Cascade.  He had an apartment of his own once upon a time, but was never there.  Reynolds had offered him a suite at the casino, more to insure that if he needed something, Eddie wouldn’t be far away.  So, he’d moved in.  He missed having his own place…a place where he could do whatever the hell he pleased, without worrying that someone was pawing through his things.

It’s not that he was paranoid or anything.  He just knew that everyone in this hotel had a sort of twisted allegiance to Archie, more out of fear than respect.  He knew if anyone found his stash in the bathroom, he knew that there would be some level of hell to pay.  He’d been with Reynolds since he was practically a kid, but Eddie knew that if his boss ever found out that he wore makeup, or women’s clothes, he’d be out on his ass…or worse.  He maintained a very rough, steely manner in his business life, but only to keep people’s suspicions at bay.  His ex had left him because of his lifestyle, and even though he now lived in Vegas, one of the most liberal cities in the world, he still felt that he had to hide his true self from anyone on the outside.

He lightly applied a thin coat of concealer around his bruised eyes, then topped it with a tiny bit of foundation.  Just enough to hide the injury, but not enough that would make someone double-take.  Eddie’s nose was still a little swollen, but no amount of makeup would cover that up.  That aside, he reached into a small bag and pulled out his eyeliner, applying it gingerly.  After letting it dry, he opened his eyes, and looked into the bag to find his mascara…But it wasn’t there.

“Fuck.  I must’ve left it it Ally’s,” he muttered, zipping the bag closed and burying it deep in the top bathroom drawer.  It was yet another thing he’d realized he’d forgotten to pack in his rush to leave after Reynolds’s call.

He secretly found himself dreading facing Ally.  What if she questioned him about it?  What would he say?  He didn’t know her well enough to explain his lifestyle to her.  It’s not that he was ashamed; quite the opposite.  It’s just that women didn’t exactly respond enthusiastically to him when he told them.

“Well, I guess I have no choice,” he sighed, taking one last look in the mirror.  He went with his usual monochromatic ensemble; black shirt, black chinos and his thick-soled black boots.  They had a slight heel on them, but seeing as how he wasn’t the tallest guy, most people assumed they had elevator lifts in them.

Eddie kept looking at his mobile phone, waiting for it to ring.  Giving up, he slipped his jacket on, and pulled the door shut behind him, heading out to pick up the girl who was going to make his boss a fortune.

As he drove out to her house, he wondered to himself how such a nice girl could be willing to get involved in one of Archie Reynolds’s devious plans.  She’d at least gone legit with her skills early in life.  Eddie wasn’t so lucky.  And now he wanted out.

Archie had been a loan shark in his early days, parlaying his connections to get into the casino business.  He’d been on holiday in England when he spied a twenty-something Eddie lifting wallets from patrons at a pub.  Reynolds had cornered him outside the pub and offered to give him a job that would pay much more than picking pockets and stealing wallets from drunks.  Eddie had agreed, and had been working as Archie’s strong-arm ever since.  He missed home, but knew he was in far too deep to get out now.  Suddenly, his mobile began to ring.  He answered it, and it was the call he had been waiting for, hoping it would come far, far away from the casino.  His wish had been granted.

***********************

Eddie pulled into Ally’s driveway with a couple of minutes to spare, so he tried to wrap his mind around the funny feeling he had in his stomach.  “Why am I so bloody nervous?” he wondered, his palms starting to sweat.  He thought Ally was a lovely girl…he even fancied her.  There was a part of him that was felt lucky to have found out about her through his research.  No one was more qualified than her…and he was shocked when he opened the door.  He hadn’t expected her to be so beautiful.

“Shake it off, man” he said, unfastening his seatbelt and opening the door.  He smoothed out his clothes, and headed up the sidewalk to her door. He stopped to admire the scent of the roses in the night air, and smiled. “I could picture myself in a place like this,” he thought as he knocked on her door.

Ally opened the door, and Eddie couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. 

“Hello, Al.  Once again, you look lovely.”

She blushed.  “Thanks, Eddie.  So I guess its ‘go time’, eh?  Come in and I’ll get my jacket.”

He stepped inside, shamelessly staring at her as she walked away.  She turned around and caught him.

“Like the outfit?” she asked innocently.  Eddie simply nodded.

“Thanks.  I guess I’ll look good when I’m arrested, huh?”  she asked, her gallows humor coming to the surface.  He gave her a confused look.

“Never mind, Eddie.  Let’s get this over with.”  She grabbed her purse, and realized his things were still sitting next to it.  She grabbed them and handed them to him.  “Here, I found these on the table.  I think you might want them back.”

He was a little surprised by her response.  She was nonchalant about it.  Casually handing him the watch, cufflinks and tube of mascara, it was almost as if she was handing him a set of keys.  She didn’t even bat an eye.

“Oh, thanks.  I felt naked without it,” he said, strapping it on.  As he did, Joe came out of hiding and started rubbing against his legs.

“Hey there, buddy.” Eddie reached down and petted him, not paying any mind to the coat of orange hair the cat was leaving on his black pants. 

Ally noticed and shooed him away.

“Go on to bed, Joe.  Mom will be home later.”   The cat obeyed, dashing up the stairs to the bedroom.  Ally turned, and leaned down to brush the hair off Eddie’s trousers.  “There, much better.” She looked up when she said that, only to notice her guest trying to sneak a peek down her shirt.

“Getting a nice view, are we?”

Eddie gave her a wry smile.  “Hey, don’t put them on display if you don’t want people to look.  That’s like keeping the Mona Lisa in a broom closet.”

Returning to her full, upright position, Ally smiled at him.  “Maybe when we get to know each other better.  I think we should get going, don’t you?”

He looked down at his watch.  “Yeah, it’s almost 9:30.  Always better to be early.  Mr. Reynolds doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”  He motioned for her to go ahead of him, and pulled the door shut behind him.  Ally made sure that the door was locked, and they both got in Eddie’s Mini.

Off they were, literally partners in crime.

***********************

Riding in the elevator, there was an uncomfortable silence between them.  Both were unsure of what they were about to embark on, of what might happen.   Ally’s knees started shaking again, only worse than they had last night.  Eddie took notice and placed his hand on the small of her back, rubbing in small circles.  Ally turned around and gave him a grateful but nervous smile which he returned.  He reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

“Don’t be scared, Al,” he reassured her, breaking the silence.  “I won’t let anything happen to you.  Just remember that I’m here for you, k?”  She nodded and turned back around.  The bell sounded and the doors slid open.  Eddie ushered her towards the penthouse and as the door shut behind them, she knew there was no turning back.

When they finally reached the penthouse, Eddie pulled a key card out of his coat pocket, and the door clicked open.  He led her inside, where she noticed a computer and two large monitors set up facing away from the windows.  The room was dark; the shades had been drawn.  The only light in the room emanated from the monitors.  Reynolds was standing next to the table, two rather menacing men on either side of him.  Eddie cleared his throat, and their conversation abruptly stopped.

“Ha, there you are, Ed.  And Miss Barber, nice to see you’re still on,” he said, cigar clamped in the corner of his mouth.  He came over to them, shook Eddie’s hand and slapped his back.  “Nice to see that your nose is in one piece.  Sorry about that, I was really on edge last night.  You know how it is,” Reynolds said, in a tone not leaving Eddie any opportunity to disagree.

“Yeah, boss.  I’m fine.”  Eddie replied through clenched teeth.  He shot Ally a disgusted look, which she acknowledged with one of her own.

Reynolds rushed Ally over to the desk, and sat her down in front of the monitors.  “Will this work?  Do you need anything?” he asked, taking a

long drag from his cigar.  She shook her head, and he patted the top of her head.

“Good girl.  Now I’m gonna go downstairs, talk to the customers.  Eddie will stay here and help you.  You need anything at all, or anything goes wrong, you just let me know.”  All she could manage was a nod.  “But you’ll make sure nothing goes WRONG, won’t you?”  She felt cold steel against her neck.

“Y-y-yes sir.  I’ll do my best.”

Reynolds smiled broadly.   He turned and motioned to the two goons he’d been talking to earlier.  “C’mon boys…let’s catch some daubers!”  He said that last line with a zeal that sent shivers down Ally’s back.

“Keep an eye on her, Ed.  Remember my instructions.”  With that, the three men left the suite.  When Ally heard the door click shut, she broke down in hysterics.

“What the fuck have I gotten myself into?” she sobbed, trying to maintain normal breathing patterns.  “H-h-how could I do this?”  She dropped her head into her hands, shaking uncontrollably.  Eddie rushed over, kneeling down next to her chair.

“Shh, don’t do this, Al,” he said softly, reaching up to lift her head out of her hands.  “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Ally’s eyes were flashing behind the tears.  “What?  You heard what he just said.  You’re going to tell me that you won’t let anything happen when your boss just held a gun to my head?”

Eddie took her hands in his, holding them tightly.  “I keep my promises.  Just do what you can, and I’ll take care of the rest.” He handed her his silk handkerchief, which she used to blot her eyes.  He looked up at her, and she noticed there was an urgency-a kind of fire-that she hadn’t seen before.

“Ally, I promise.”

She knew she was in too deep to get out now…but there was something about Eddie that made her trust him.  There was something deep in his blue eyes that made her feel safe.  She agreed, and he kissed her trembling hands.  With a newfound resolve, she turned and keyed a universal access code into the network, and in seconds she was inside the Villa’s financial matrix.  Before she continued, she reached into her bag and pulled out an MP3 player.

She plugged it into the computer, and soon Depeche Mode’s music filled the room.

Eddie was taken aback.  He stood up behind her, and asked her, “Is this a normal part of the procedure?”

She shook her head.  “I guess.  I haven’t listened to this stuff in a long time.  I copied it from a CD I used to listen to when…well, when I used to do this before.  It helps me think.”  She returned to the matrix, tapping in several lines of code that looked like some sort of alien language.

Eddie stood there and watched her intently, working away, the music pulsing in the background.  He watched her as she peeled out of her jacket, never taking her eyes off the screens.  He noticed how graceful she looked when she arched her back to stretch.  The entire time, he kept one hand in his pocket, grasping his mobile phone.  As soon as she accessed the routing center of the Villa’s computer system, he had a call to make.

After about twenty minutes of typing, Ally finally cracked into the Villa’s nerve center.  She turned to Eddie and said, “Well, I’m in.  How much does your boss want?”  Her tone fully displayed the disgust and anger she was barely able to contain.

Eddie pulled the phone out of his pocket, and flipped it open.  He motioned for Ally to wait for him.  “Let me find out.”  With that, he

disappeared down the hallway and into the bathroom.  She could hear him talking to someone, but she couldn’t hear the conversation.  Moments later, Eddie rushed out of the bathroom.

“Hurry up and get out of their computer.  NOW!”

*************************

Ally was confused and shocked by this sudden turn, but did as Eddie had instructed.  She had barely logged out and unplugged her player when he grabbed her, her bag and coat and hurried her out of the penthouse.

“We’re going down to my room…just stay close and do everything I tell you to.”  He sounded panicked, but Ally was too dazed to question him.  He led her into the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall, the two of them running down a flight of stairs to the floor below.  Eddie stopped, pulled a very large gun out of his jacket, and kicked the door in.  He looked down the hallway, then motioned for Ally to follow him.  They ran down the hallway, and finally came to the door to Eddie’s suite.  He unlocked the door, flung Ally inside, then quickly slammed the door, throwing all the locks.

She had tripped on the way into the room, and while still on the floor turned to him.  “Might I ask what the HELL is going on, here?!?” she

snarled, now so confused it angered her.  He looked down at her, jammed the gun into the front of his pants and reached down to pull her up.

“I’m sorry, Al,” he said.  “I am so, so sorry.  I should’ve told you about all this…”  He trailed off, not able to look her in the eyes.

Suddenly, they heard the pounding of feet above them.  Eddie quickly scanned his suite, then drug Ally into his bedroom.  He flung open the door to the closet and pushed her inside, following immediately behind her.  He pulled the gun out of his pants, keeping an eye on his bedroom.

At this point, Ally was so scared and angry, she wanted to grab the gun out of his hand and shoot her way out of the casino.  Unfortunately, her body was not wanting to cooperate with her mind.  All she could do was sit in the middle of Eddie’s walk-in closet, a rumpled mess.  From upstairs, she could hear Reynolds screaming at the top of his lungs.

“What the fuck is going on?  Where the hell are they?  Oh, they are gonna pay!”  The footsteps returned, followed by the slam of a door.  At that point, Ally stood up and tried to rush past Eddie.  He grabbed her arm before she could get past him.

“Where the hell are you going?  He knows we split!  He knows we didn’t get the money,” he exclaimed, spinning her around in her tracks.

“I’m going to get out of here, that’s what.  What happens if they go to my house?  What happens if they find my family?  What the hell is going on?”

Eddie pulled her back in the closet.  He shut the door, and there they were, alone in the dark.

“Al, I turned on Reynolds.  I ratted him out to the owners of the Villa.  I told them what he was up to, and I wanted to stop him.”  He stopped.  “And they informed the police.”

She was even more confused.  “And this is supposed to reassure me HOW?”  she cried, turning away from him.

“The cops are at your house.  They’ve been there since we left tonight.”  Although she couldn’t see Eddie, she could feel him step up to her, his breath on the back of her neck.  “I couldn’t let anything happen to you…or anything you cared about.”

Ally turned slowly, dropping her jacket and bag at her feet.  She heard Eddie click the safety on the gun, and set it on a shelf next to him. 

“Why?” she asked, sounding more like a little girl than the woman she was.

Almost by instinct, he reached up and touched his hand to her face. 

“Because I care about you, that’s why.”  He leaned in and kissed her softly on the forehead.  Suddenly, they heard the front door of his suite open.  Eddie grabbed her, and pushed her back into a large rack of clothes.

“Stay down, and don’t move.  Don’t make a sound.”

Ally hunched down and threw her coat over her legs.  She felt the touch of something soft and silky against her skin, momentarily distracting her.  But she heard the voices of Reynolds and his henchmen sacking Eddie’s living room.

“That little prick has to be here somewhere,” Archie barked.  Ally’s blood ran cold, and she could hear Eddie breathing harder.  She heard the safety on the gun click again, and the unmistakable sound of a round entering the chamber of the gun.  She had never been so scared in her life, and she sat there, practically sick for allowing herself to get into this situation.

The footsteps and voices grew closer, and she shrank back into the clothing, her coat now completely over her head.  Not that it offered any protection, but if she was going to die, she didn’t want to see it when it happened.

Meanwhile, Eddie was standing with his right side against the door, gun cocked and ready to go.  The footsteps grew closer and closer, when all of a sudden the knob on the closet door started to turn ever so slowly. 

Then, one of the henchmen called out.

“Hey, look what I found!  This guy’s a fruit!  He’s got a big bag full of makeup!”

If it hadn’t been fully lodged in his throat, Eddie was positive that his stomach would’ve dropped to his feet upon hearing this.  Ally heard it to, but was too scared to acknowledge it.  Fits of laughter overtook the henchmen, but that was soon stopped by Reynolds.  The bag went flying against the wall with a resounding crash.

“Let’s get out of here, you idiots.  We have to find them NOW!”

The doorknob was released, and the three men left the room as quickly as they had arrived.  As soon as he felt the coast was clear, Eddie set the gun down, and grabbed his phone out of his pocket.

“Pick up, pick up,” he muttered.  “Yes.  Detective Rowe?  Yeah, it’s me.  Yeah.  No, she’s fine, we’re in my suite.  He was here.  Probably her house, yes.  You do?  He did?  Ok…thank you.  Yes, I’ll be here.  Sure, send them here.  Thanks again.  Oh…you’re welcome.  Goodbye.”  He hung up the phone, and opened the closet door.  He flicked the switch on and walked over to where Ally was hiding, burrowed inside her jacket.

“Al?  Sweetie?  It’s ok.  The police are here.  They’re going to guard our—I mean my—room.”  He slowly peeled the jacket away from her head, and she looked up at him, squinting at the sudden bright light.  She took his hand, and he helped her to her feet.  As she regained her sight, she was shocked to see that not only did Eddie’s closet contain men’s’ clothing…it also contained a considerable amount of women’s’ apparel as well.  But once again, she was too confused and distracted to bother to make a comment.

*******************

Eddie slowly led her to the bedroom, where he sat her down on the bed. 

He went out into the living area, uttering a few swear words as he picked up the miscellaneous contents of the makeup bag.  Taking a moment to look out the peephole to see the cops standing sentinel, he set it on the coffee table, then went into the kitchen, filling a glass with ice.  He went to the mini bar and grabbed a small bottle of vodka.  Back in the bedroom, he poured Ally a stiff drink.  She had gotten up from the bed and stood looking out the window onto the strip below.

“Here you go,” he said, offering her the glass.  “I think you might need this.”

She turned and looked at him, her eyes on the verge of tears.  Taking the glass, she set it down on the small table next to her.  “Not right now, thank you.  Right now, I just wish I was home.  I want my own home, my cat…oh shit, my cat!”  With that, she leaned her head against the cool glass, no longer able to contain her emotions.  Tears streamed down her face, pooling on the marble floor beneath her.

Eddie stepped up, wrapped his arms around her waist, almost as if he was holding her up.  He rested his chin on her shoulder, holding her close to him.

“Don’t cry, luv.  Please.  I know that there are two units of police cars at your house with more on the way.  Nothing’s gonna happen to Joe, I promise.” He whispered the words into her ear.  “Besides, I’ve grown attached to the little bugger myself.”

Maybe it was the tone of his voice, but despite her tears, a laugh snuck past Ally’s lips.

“That’s better.  I’d rather hear you laugh.  It’s beautiful to hear it…almost as beautiful as the rest of you, honestly,” Eddie said.  Ally shook her head in disagreement.

“No, Al.  You are beautiful.  Your smile, your laugh.  Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen.  And your body…” He trailed off, running the back of his hand gently down her cheek to her neck.  He eased the collar of her shirt away, and placed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck.  Her breathing slowed, as did his.

Eddie brushed her hair out of the way, and placed another kiss on the other side of her neck.  One arm slowly moved from around her waist to across her torso, the other pulling her closer to him.  Ally turned her head to the side, and he placed another gentle kiss just to the corner of her mouth.

She turned around, reaching up to wipe the tears from her face. 

Looking up, her eyes met his.  He smiled down at her…a smile that sent a charge down  Ally’s spine.  Her legs turned to jelly, but he was holding her so tightly that she didn’t fall.  A quiet laugh escaped her lips.  She looked down, suddenly aware of how close they were.  She could feel not only her own heartbeat, but Eddie’s as well.  Her lungs were filled once again by the spicy scent of his cologne, and she could hear his breathing; long, slow, deep breaths.

He reached down and tipped her head up towards his.  Now consumed with a fierce passion that he knew he could no longer control, he bent down and pressed his lips to hers.  Ally pulled away, then looked up at Eddie, his eyes glazed over with lust.  His lips were parted, and the first traces of a flush appearing on his cheeks.  She felt her own face growing hotter, and before she knew it, she had pressed her lips to his.  They melted into each others’ arms.

Ally’s hands came up and tangled themselves in Eddie’s hair.  He leaned over, pressing her back against the glass.  Never breaking their kiss, her hands traveled down, under his jacket.  She managed to tug it off of him, flinging it somewhere into the bedroom—she didn’t know where, and at that point she didn’t give a damn.

At that moment, Eddie finally pulled away.  He scooped Ally up in his arms, carried her over to the bed and laid her down gently.  Suddenly, the familiar sound of Eddie’s mobile phone broke the silence.  He let out a sort of growl, then leaned up, kissing her tenderly.

“I think I should probably answer that.”

Ally nodded, and he squeezed her hand.  “I’ll be right back, darling. 

Don’t move.”  With only the glow of the neon waterfall to guide him, he managed to find his jacket.  Fumbling around for a moment, he finally found the phone and answered it.

“Hello?  Yes, Detective.  You did?  What?!?  Holy shit—he did?  Jesus. 

But everything is ok, right?”

Upon hearing that, Ally sat up, a knot building in her gut.

“Ok, good.  Yes.  In the morning?  Of course.  No, thank you.  You’re welcome Detective.  Good night.”  Eddie flipped the phone shut and shoved it back into his jacket pocket.  Throwing it over the back of a chair, he slowly walked towards the bed, sitting down next to Ally, pulling her close.

“Everything’s fine, Al” he reassured her, resting his chin on the top of her head.  “They found Archie and the other two casing your house.”  He felt her tense up, and pulled her closer to him.  “Don’t worry…Don’t worry.  When they saw the cops, they tried to drive away.  That cliff nearby—well, one of the goons missed the turn.”

Ally looked up at him, he eyes wide.  “You mean?  Are they…dead?”

Eddie nodded.  “Yeah.  They found them, or at least what was left of them, scattered down the hill.  They were able to ID them though fingerprints.  I’m supposed to go down to the station tomorrow to give a statement.”

At that, Ally sat back and let out a huge sigh.  “Thank god.  I feel like a two-ton weight has been lifted off my chest.”

“Well, since that’s been lifted…what do you say we finish what we started earlier?” Eddie asked, a teasing yet sensuous tone in his voice.

She looked up at his face, and planted a kiss on his lips.  “Most definitely.”