with. Not champagne. I don’t want them to see you clutching the glass the wrong way anyway,” I joke. “Vodka-soda, gin-and-tonic, rum-and-coke, whatever you want. I don’t care. Just get something with a straw.” I glance at my watch. I’ve got to get going. “Got it?”
“And with the straw, I should like…”
“Come on, Lilly, you’re not an idiot. Stare those assholes down while you’re playing with it, taking it between your lips, running your tongue over it. The works.”
“Okay.” She nods vigorously but her face is full of doubt.
“Look, you’re basically an actress playing a part tonight. You’re dressed for the part. Now just play it.”
“Sure, I can do that.” She squares her shoulders and picks her chin up. Finally. I’m getting through to her.
“Let me see, what else could you do.” I pause and survey her thoughtfully.
“Do you think you could arrange for some maraschino cherries to be on hand?” She asks shyly.
“Of course. There will be a bar set up in the room and the bartender will have some for drinks.” What’s she getting at?
“I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.” She shrugs, the picture of innocence.
It’s such an unexpected revelation that I can’t help but laugh out loud.
“It was just a suggestion.”
“I’m not laughing at the idea, Lilly. It’s just a surprise, that’s all. How the hell do you know how to do that?”
“Deanna and I read about the trick in this women’s magazine when we were like twelve or thirteen, I think. Deanna used to steal the more mature magazines, the ones that our parents would have never let us read, and we’d sneak off and read them secretly.” She giggles at the memory. “Anyway, there was this tutorial about tying a cherry stem and of course we spent hours practicing. I think I can still do it.”
“Sounds like you were pretty bored in Parkville,” I remark. But I’m reminded of the fact that Deanna, crazy as she may be now, was Lilly’s best friend growing up. That sisterly bond is still strong.
She laughs and I’m relieved to see her relax for a moment. “I guess so. Anyway, I certainly never expected this talent to come in handy but if you think it would be good for tonight, I’m happy to put it to good use.”
“Absolutely. I’d ask for a preview myself but I need to get ready and get going. I want to go over the evening’s playbook with my team before other guests arrive.” I look again at my watch. It’s already nearing 6:30 p.m.
Lilly sits patiently on the bed and watches as I clean myself up. I wash my face, apply some cologne and quickly change my shirt.
“So how will you know if they’re, what did you call it…colluding?” She says, then wordlessly takes the cufflinks I’ve got in my hand and affixes them. It’s surprises me…catches me off guard. No woman has ever done this…but it feels normal with her.
“They’ll send each other signals one way or another. Taps on the table. Touching the face. A code word. Touching certain chips. Putting select chips onto their cards. There's all kinds of tricks, some more clever than others. It usually takes time to identify the signals. We need to play for a while. It might be a long night.” I walk down the stairs as I’m talking, Lilly trailing after me quietly. “Terry will stop by to pick you up shortly before eight. He’ll show you the way to the private room. I want you to be the last to arrive. You’re my ace in the hole.”
“Okay,” she says, but there’s fear and confusion on her face.
I push the button to call the elevator and turn to look at her. Even in her heels, she’s smaller than me, and I can’t help but think how vulnerable she looks now. Is she up to the task? I bring a hand to her face and brush her hair back, behind her shoulders. “Just be bold, Lilly. That’s all you have to do.”
She nods and forces the corners of her mouth up slightly, trying to give me a smile. The elevator doors open and I step inside.
“David!” Her voice calls after me, soft but urgent.
“What?” I snap, turning back. The elevator doors are already closing. I press the button to keep them open a second longer.
“Is this dangerous? What we’re doing tonight?”
I pause. For a split second, I’m tempted to lie to her, to tell her that everything is going to