shoves a wisp of hair out of her face and angrily pulls her tresses up into a messy ponytail. I liked it better down. I turn my attention back to the matter at hand.
“I said you could go anywhere, provided you didn’t try to leave the property.”
“I didn’t leave the property.”
“Technically if your foot crossed this line, you did,” I gesture to the point where the tiled flooring in front of the casino doors gives way to the concrete of the public sidewalk. “Did your foot cross this line?”
She doesn’t respond but looks at me grumpily, like a kid that got caught doing something they weren’t supposed to.
“I guess you know better than to screw up this deal,” I go on. “You’re here to pay off a debt you know. Fair’s fair. You agreed to pay it.”
“And I intend to.” Her voice has gotten quieter and she’s calmed down—now that she’s not being held. “But I’m telling you, I wasn’t trying to make a run for it.”
“But her foot did cross the line, boss,” Ben interjects.
“That counts as leaving the property,” Mike adds. “Just like you said.”
“I just—” Lilly starts to speak but I raise my hand to silence her.
“Look, I just met you yesterday. I’ve known Ben and Mike for… How long’s it been, guys?”
“Five years for me, sir,” Ben responds without missing a beat.
“Three years, Mr. Milner,” Mike says, rubbing his hands together so that his biceps strain against the black security t-shirt he’s got on.
I turn to Lilly. “So you see, I know I can trust these gentlemen. They’ve been in my service for years. So I’m more inclined to believe them than you.”
“I just barely stepped onto the sidewalk and they just came out of nowhere and grabbed me like I was making a dash for it,” Lilly protests. She has her hands on her hips and I can’t help but think that she looks cute when she’s pissed.
“We were just doing our job, Mr. Milner,” Mike says, his hands up defensively.
“Yeah, Terry told us to keep an eye on this one,” Ben adds with a nod and a glare at Lilly. “Said she might try to bolt.”
A small crowd of casino visitors has gathered near us, clearly wondering what’s going on. They probably assume Lilly got caught shoplifting or something similar. I’m happy to let them make that assumption. It’s better than trying to explain the truth. But I want to get this fiasco wrapped up quickly.
“Alright, alright guys. All good. Look, why don’t you escort Miss Madison up to the penthouse, gently,” I say, as I see Ben reaching for Lilly’s arm. “I’ll be up shortly,” I turn a stern eye on Lilly. She looks down, not meeting my gaze.
“Okay, Miss Madison, you heard the big boss,” Mike, the gentle giant, steps forward to stand next to Lilly and gives her a delicate tap on the shoulder.
“Let’s go.” Ben, smaller but more of a pit bull, energetically falls into step on the other side of Lilly.
“Thanks, guys.” I watch as they march off, Lilly looking tiny between their hulking figures. This time, she doesn’t look back at me. With her back straight and her chin held high, I can tell she’s clinging on to her pride. Her red ears indicate a prick of lingering anger or embarrassment. I don’t know which.
I’m still hungry and annoyed, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I don’t wait but make a beeline for the security hub. Inside the room, I head directly for the clusters of cameras overseeing the casino’s many entrances and exits. Terry shoots me a look of surprise when he sees me but leaves me alone. He knows when I’m best left in peace.
“I need back footage,” I accost the woman overseeing the relevant cameras. “Exit C. About 20 minutes ago.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Milner.” Without blinking or even looking away from the screen, she starts working the control panel. “Here we go.” In less than a minute, she’s pulled up the footage I want.
“Thanks. Go ahead and roll it.” I watch as Lilly, in her new outfit, appears on the screen. She walks out the door and looks over her shoulder once, nervously. She takes one step towards the sidewalk and stops again. Then she pauses and looks up, directly at the camera. Her eyes are wide and questioning. I can read the question on her face—Are you watching? She’s like a child, testing the limits, I realize now.