They set off for the foyer of the casino, where Sam approached one of the staff. “Hello, I would like to speak to Frederick Hans, the VIP Casino Manager, please.”
“Yes, ma’am. Your name, please?” the attendant asked as she picked up her phone.
“Samantha Page.”
After a short pause, the attendant said, “Thank you, Samantha. Would you care to take a seat in our VIP lounge? Mr Hans will be down to see you in a few minutes. In the meantime, please help yourself to a complimentary snack and beverage. I’ve unlocked the door to your left.”
They walked into the VIP lounge, Billy’s mouth dropping open, which brought a smile to Sam’s face as she watched him explore everything on offer. Despite the two of them being alone in the room, the tables were filled with an assortment of hot and cold food and beverages. The opulent furniture and décor paled in comparison with the spectacular harbour view.
Billy couldn’t stop grinning. “Do you know how long I’ve been coming here, Sam, and I had no idea any of this existed, it’s magnificent.” He picked her up and spun her around.
“Put me down. Don’t get used to this, okay? And don’t forget what we’re here for!” Sam whispered in his ear.
He put her down and sat next to her and they looked out over the harbour as the attendant served them Cokes in long thin glasses filled with ice.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Samantha. Great to see you again and welcome back,” Frederick said with his usual flair, looking even more immaculate than last time, with a beautiful white rose in his lapel.
Samantha took his offered hand and shook it. “Hello, Frederick. This is my fiancé, Billy Ashley.”
“Hello, may I call you Billy?” Frederick said and, without waiting for a reply, continued, “Welcome. How can I help you two beautiful people today? Are you here to take up my offer by any chance, Samantha?”
“Would ten thousand dollars be a good starting point?” Sam’s voice commanded the room.
“Of course, my dear. This way, please, follow me. Leave your drinks here and Tony will deliver fresh ones to your table. Thank you, Tony.”
He led them to a private elevator and ushered them inside. “The room we are going to is just three floors up. I will take you to the cashier where you can pick up your chips as soon as you transfer the money. Then pick a table and have fun. By the way, I just love your glasses, Samantha.”
The doors opened and Frederick led them into a gaming room. “I will leave you here and the cashier will look after you. Please don’t hesitate to call me at any time. I’m here all night, so enjoy. Tony will bring you your drinks as soon as you pick a table and good luck.”
After thanking the cashier, Sam called out, “Billy, come hold the chips for me.”
“Wow, Sam, this is incredible. We are really going to do this!” Billy was having trouble keeping still.
“You need to calm down and please let me do all the talking. You will pretend to be the main player with all the money, and you allow me to play because I bring you luck. Get it?” Sam whispered in his ear and kissed him.
He looked confused. “Okay, why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Are we going to do this or what?” Sam said impatiently.
“Sorry, yes, I get it now.”
“Just play along with me, okay? Remember, don’t gamble, just keep me playing poker first and then blackjack. Let’s do this!”
At the poker table, their chips started piling up and the onlookers all seemed to fall for their act hook, line, and sinker. Sam knew that if these people believed them, then the casino surveillance team observing their every move through strategically placed hidden cameras, would fall for it as well and leave them alone.
Three hours later, after playing poker and then blackjack, they had accumulated thirty thousand dollars in winnings and Sam called for the attendant to hold their chips. Ensuring Billy wasn’t left behind to gamble it all away, she took him by the arm and headed to the VIP lounge for a much-needed break.
“I’m going to the bathroom. Can you please wait for me here? You’ve been wonderful all night so let’s not fuck things up now, okay?” Sam said. When he didn’t respond, she almost shouted, “Are you listening to me, Billy?”
But Billy’s attention was on a flat-screen TV on the wall. “Look, Sam. Isn’t that where you used to work? There’s been a murder at the museum. Did you know her?”
“What?” Sam turned towards the TV. “Oh my God, they’ve murdered Dr Julie Dunn!”
After hearing the details of the murder on the news bulletin, Sam ran to the bathroom, broke down and cried.
She had a chilling thought. She knew how the three thugs had discovered her name and come to find her at her old apartment. They must have tortured Dr Dunn before killing her. But she reminded herself that the book glasses had been given to her and it wasn’t her fault that both Mr Harman and Dr Dunn were dead.
She splashed water on her face and quickly fixed up her make up before heading back out into the lounge.
“Sorry about your friend, sweetheart. Are you okay?” Billy wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
“Thanks, honey. I’m fine now. Let’s get back in and finish this off.”
“Hey, I may not be a good gambler, but I’ll make an excellent partner, if you’ll let me. Will you let me, Sam?”
“Yes, of course, honey.”
“Okay, as your partner, I’m telling you we are not going back in there after this horrible news. We’re going home. Please don’t argue with me about this. Tell Frederick to hold our winnings and we’ll be back tomorrow. Off you go!”
“You’re right. I love you!” Sam said with relief.
All the way home to Billy’s apartment, Sam kept on thinking about how Julie must have suffered before they killed her like they’d killed Mr Harman. She didn’t care now if they found her. She couldn’t wait to deal with them when the time came.
She wasn’t that scared person anymore—a fire ignited within her and her thoughts turned to revenge. But it would not be blind revenge. It would be calculated, masterfully set out, so by the time they finally got to her, they wouldn’t know what had hit them.
She knew exactly what to do and silently swore to see her plan through until all three murderers were dealt with once and for all.
“Are you okay, sweetheart? Do you feel like talking?” Billy asked gently as she continued to gaze out of the ferry’s window into the darkness.
“Sorry?” Sam asked. “Oh, by the way, tomorrow is Monday and it’s a public holiday, so I don’t have uni.”
“Yes, I know. I’m off work tomorrow too.”
“On public holidays, the casino always has a bigger crowd than on weekends, which are traditionally busiest. I think tomorrow would be a great opportunity for us to get the remaining hundred and twenty thousand dollars. But if we do it, it will be almost impossible for us to get back to the casino again. Although they may not know how we won, consistent winnings of that magnitude will raise suspicion and they are likely to simply ban us for life.
“But if we do it all tomorrow, we may be lucky enough to avoid the worst-case scenario, because there are likely be others like us, and casino surveillance and security might be too busy putting out other fires to notice us.”
He looked dazed but didn’t argue. “Whatever you think.”
Please Call Frederick Hans
“Wake up, sleepyhead. It’s Monday!” Sam yelled from the kitchen.
“Come back to bed,” Billy pleaded, half-asleep.
“While you’ve been asleep, I’ve already been to the supermarket for some groceries and picked up some breakfast, so come and eat it before it gets cold. Oh, and by the way, I think I saw those three thugs,” Sam said casually.
“What!” Billy screamed and tore into the kitchen wearing only boxer shorts.
“Yes, those three thugs who were looking for me at my old apartment. Was one of them shorter and bulkier than the other two with short gre
y hair and a beard?” Sam asked, before biting into her egg and bacon muffin.
“Yes, that’s right, and the other two were taller and thinner and both were balding,” Billy looked through the front window, frantic.
“What are you doing, silly? We’re two floors up and you can’t see the street from here. I don’t think they would be lying on the beach so come and have your breakfast.” Sam sipped on her cappuccino.
“They’ve found us. How could you eat at a time like this?” Billy ran back to the front window for another look outside.
“Billy, come here, please!” Sam said.
He stormed back into the kitchen.
“Thank you. Now listen. They might live here, who knows? Now that we’ve seen them, we can avoid them. Before they could have been in right in front of us and we wouldn’t have had a clue. So, stop worrying for nothing. They haven’t found shit. Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold.” Sam settled him down and smiled when she saw him tuck in.
She needed Billy calm so she could think things through. She’d had a headache all night and didn’t want to wear the book glasses until they arrived at the casino, expecting another long night with them on.
She took two headache pills with breakfast and went to lie down after putting the groceries away and cleaning up the kitchen.
Still spooked, Billy stayed in the apartment all day, occasionally sneaking a peek out of the front windows when he thought Sam wasn’t looking.
Before they knew it, the sun was setting, and it was time to head out to the casino. They dressed with the high roller room in mind. Sam suggested Billy wear his so-called funeral suit, and she donned a magnificent long black dress with an open laced back, with matching shoes and handbag.
On such a beautiful moonlit night, the ferry ride should have been romantic, but they had no time for romance, with Sam whispering instructions in Billy’s ear all the way. By the time they docked, she was confident he wouldn’t let her down and excited to again enter the domain of the high rollers.
After putting on the book glasses, Samantha approached the front desk in the main foyer of the casino. “Hello, could you please call Frederick Hans for me?” Billy stood next to her with a half-smile.
“Welcome. My name is Ted. May I ask your name, please?” the attendant said with a smile.
“Samantha Page and Billy Ashley.”
“Thank you.” He reached for the phone.
Ted had just hung up the phone when a young woman appeared at his side. “Welcome back, Samantha and Billy, we have been expecting you. My name is Pam Wong. Unfortunately, Mr Hans is currently unavailable, but I will be happy to assist you any way I can. Whenever you are ready, please make your way to the third floor. The cashier is expecting you.” She led them to the lift and pressed the up button. “I will leave you here but if you need anything, please ask for me and I will be happy to assist you.”
Once the lift doors closed, Sam whispered to Billy, “See, what did I tell you? It’s so busy here tonight that Frederick couldn’t see us because his hands are full taking care of his wealthier clients. Let’s do this!”
When they arrived on the third floor, they joined the end of the cashier line. The room was buzzing with activity and excitement.
After a short wait, the cashier arranged an attendant to take their winnings over to their chosen table. Sam started with blackjack and quickly began to accumulate significant winnings, yet no one raised an eyebrow at them.
As Sam had predicted, the high roller room was packed and huge quantities of money were being wagered, won, and lost at tables all around the room.
Four hours in, with eighty-four thousand dollars in winnings, Sam’s headache had become unbearable. She raised her hand to decline to bet on a new round of cards and called for a bathroom break. The other players ignored her.
In crippling pain, Sam took off the book glasses and handed them to Billy and told him to take her seat while she took a short break.
Billy sat down and ogled the pair of glasses in his hand.
“Sir, are you playing? Excuse me, sir, you must play if you are sitting at the table,” the dealer said.
“Sorry, are you talking to me?” Billy asked.
“Sir, you must play if you continue to sit at the table. Are you playing, sir?”
“Um, yes, I’m playing,” Billy replied and slipped on the book glasses.
After putting them on, he was overwhelmed by a strange sensation, almost as if a strong wind was blowing his hair back. Suddenly self-conscious and fearing he would be exposed, he opened his eyes and nervously studied the dealer and the other players, but no one gave him a second glance.
“Do you wish to place a bet, sir?” the dealer asked, directing his attention back to the game.
He nodded, awestruck at what was happening in his mind. At first, he was alarmed by his sudden ability to see the cards of all the players, no matter where they were placed on the table. He also absorbed all sorts of information, everything from a slight movement made by someone to a hitch in breathing or a raised heart rate.
All the while, the complex calculations his mind was computing were breathtaking. The adrenaline hit was potent and addictive.
Buoyed by a surge of newfound confidence, he placed an initial bet of five thousand dollars. He didn’t know how he got to that figure as his previous highest initial bet was one hundred dollars, but surprisingly, it didn’t faze him. He confidently raised the stakes until his winnings were tenfold.
Uncharacteristic of him, he showed no sign of emotion and switched into an automatic mode of playing, knowing what to do and how to do it.
Almost three hours later, with winnings exceeding one hundred and forty-six thousand dollars, Billy realised Sam still wasn’t back and quickly took off the book glasses and placed them in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
He informed the dealer he wished to cash in his chips. An attendant appeared to accompany him to the cashier, and he asked him to hold his winnings while he visited the bathroom and rushed off to the VIP lounge to find Sam.
“Billy, I’m over here!” Sam called out as she sipped on a glass of champagne while eating a cucumber sandwich. “You must try these sandwiches. The cream cheese spread in-between the cucumber slices is to die for.”
“Sam, you frightened the shit out of me. Where have you been? Have you been here the entire time?” Billy whispered in her ear.
“No need to whisper among this lot and it took you long enough to come looking for me. Anyway, how did you go with it all?” Sam asked, reaching for another sandwich.
“We won!” Billy said.
“Of course we won, silly! How did you go with wearing the book glasses?” Sam put down her sandwich.
“What a rush. What can I say?”
“I know!” she said with a smile and settled back down on the lounge to finish off the remaining sandwiches and wash them down with the last of her champagne. “Come on, let’s collect our winnings and go. So how much have we won?”
“A little over one hundred and forty-six thousand dollars,” Billy said without much thought. Then, astonished by the amount, he started to hyperventilate.
“Take it easy, Billy, breathe in and out. Take deep breaths. You’re still coming down from the rush of the book glasses. You are perfectly fine, okay? This will pass in a few minutes. Just keep breathing like that. See? There you go. Now how do you feel?” Sam asked rubbing his back.
“Yes, much better thanks. My mind is still racing with endless ideas and calculations. It’s amazing!” Billy explained breathing heavily.
“Okay, I need some fresh air, so you go back and cash in the chips and I’ll meet you out the front of the casino.”
Billy rushed off to the cashier. When he walked out the main entrance of the casino, he was terrified to see Sam flat on her back in the middle of the driveway with a crowd gathered around her.
He ran over to her and was relieved to see her being helped back onto her feet by a couple of by
standers. She brushed it off as simply tripping and falling, but he knew there was something more to it as he held her tightly while thanking the crowd for their help.
“What happened, sweetheart?” he asked as he helped her walk to the wharf to catch the ferry home.
“Did you get the money?” Sam asked.
“Yes, I’ve got it here.” He showed her the cheque and put it safely back in his wallet.
“Good. I’m fine. I now know that alcohol and the book glasses don’t go together. Lesson learnt and never to be repeated!” Sam said, slurring her words.
Although taking a little longer than usual to get back to the apartment, they made it home without any further drama and, exhausted, slept off the magnificent achievement without any celebration or acknowledgement.
Nothing was said about it again; the fear was too great for them to ever talk about it. They knew it was a miracle that they had not attracted attention from casino security despite their winning streak and the fact they both wore the same glasses at the poker and blackjack tables.
The next morning Billy decided to take the day off work. Careful to avoid waking up Sam, he picked up his surfboard and hit the waves. By the time he got back to the apartment, she was up and eating her breakfast.
The rest of the morning was filled with organising how he would go about paying off the loan shark. “I’m still four thousand dollars short,” Billy said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll transfer that to you now on my mobile.”
“Thanks, sweet—”
“You just make sure this never happens again!”
Billy didn’t say a word. He just nodded vigorously. He didn’t want to experience that kind of pressure ever again.
“Okay, it’s done,” she said, winding her arms around him. “Now, university needs to be my priority for a while. I’ve got exams coming up. You need to support me by not going back to your old ways.”
He shook his head. “I swear I won’t. I don’t want to let you down.”
“Good.” She smiled and kissed him.
High Distinctions
The Book Glasses Page 12