I had my purse because it was easier to have my identification together with my phone. I called right from our table since they had extended hours through the “snow-in” and set a spa appointment for mid-morning so we could have a late breakfast. I was sleeping in, I didn’t have the conference to attend anymore.
I pulled the spa menu up on my phone and we discussed what treatments we wanted. Choices, plenty of choices: standard massage with a mani-pedi, aromatherapy with your massage, deep tissue or sports massage, detoxifying mud wrap, hot stone massage, or special herbal poultice massages. We were tending towards a hot stone massage and the seasonal body wrap. I knew it hadn’t fixed her emotional pain, but at least she was getting her mind off Johan for a little bit. In the morning we would both get a little break and relaxation at the spa as well.
We showed a slight bit of restraint by skipping dessert, but we lingered over coffee and discussed our jobs and the personalities and politics involved at both.
Porsche sighed, “Wish this dinner didn’t have to end.”
“I know, we have the illusion of normalcy while we sit here. You don’t have to be a Resort Irregular, you can just enjoy the rest of the time here. It’s okay, I understand.” I wanted to offer her an option, an out from being involved.
“No, I am the smart sidekick. You need me.”
“I thought it was plucky sidekick?” I grinned. “But I always need my best friend.”
“So, Vegas night – should we dress up a bit or save that for the masked ball tomorrow night?”
“Let’s stop in the gift shop before it closes and see if they carry any resort fashions.”
I had only glanced in the gift shop when we arrived. We were greeted immediately upon entering. There were the standard supplies of items guests might need but didn’t pack. There were branded items and men got a rack to themselves of more sweatshirts and ski items. But the ladies got two racks of women’s resort fashions. Sure there were sweaters and sweater sets, but some had more bling and glitz.
We both selected an outfit for tonight, going for glam. I chose a flowing lightweight knit royal purple top and pant set with a double row of rhinestones around the neck, the bottom hem of the shirt, and around the wrists. Porsche chose a sleeveless black sheath sweater dress with chunkier stones around the neckline and a belt with matching stones.
At the checkout, I noticed a display of sleeping aids next to the register.
“Have sales gone up for the sleeping aides through this ordeal?” Just making conversation, really. I had the silly idea sleeping pills would account for nobody hearing either murder if they were zonked out.
“No, only sold one box. The couple couldn’t agree on whether she needed them or not. He sure thought she did. That was three days ago, and none have sold since.”
“You’d think more people would need them, considering everything.” Of course, guests might have brought some from home. I finished and paid for my new fashion items. I would never forget this trip, but this fashion choice would remind me of the fun Porsche and I managed to have in spite of the murder.
We changed and freshened our hair then made our way to the makeshift casino that was two of the large conference rooms combined.
Before us lay the room, without all the long tables from the conference, but rather seven poker tables, two blackjack tables, a roulette wheel, and a craps table under softer lighting. Sounds of subdued conversation, shuffling cards, tossed dice on green felt, and a rolling ball on the roulette wheel greeted us. I was surprised at the amount of equipment they owned. At least I guessed they owned it all since the roads weren’t good enough in town for even rental companies to make deliveries. Besides, last I heard most of the businesses were still closed.
We picked up our free chips, if we lost all of those we had to purchase more. I knew next to nothing about gambling. Since 1991, Colorado had a few mountain towns like Cripple Creek and Blackhawk with legal gambling. But I had never visited, let alone gone to Vegas.
“I’m going to need to study how this works for a while and get the hang of it. Don’t let me hold you back.” I told Porsche.
“Okay, I’m going to play roulette.” She left and I had to deal with how all of this reminded me of Mason. From his Sheltie named Roulette to his playing in high stakes poker tournaments. You can see why he seemed like every guy’s fantasy. My heart ached at the thought.
I thrust Mason from my mind, again. Which in itself was sad. I had this handsome and exciting guy in my life and more and more I had to put him out of my thoughts because he caused me such disillusionment and second thoughts about being with him. I pasted a smile on my face and determined to go forth and conquer.
I wondered around the modest crowd and watched a Texas Hold’em Poker game. It wasn’t anything like the poker that my dad taught me to play during family game nights. There were handouts of how to play and I grabbed one.
It starts with only two cards dealt face-down and that told me it was different than the poker I knew. These two cards are called my “hole cards.” Based on just those two cards you bet, check, or fold. At this point you are betting on “the flop,” three shared cards that will be dealt face-up in the center after the betting. Betting again for a fourth shared card face-up coming called “the turn”, then a final round of bets on the fifth shared card face-up called “the river”. Then the betting for the pot of chips begins for real.
After the flop was dealt, or initial three shared cards are dealt, you bet on the strength of what your two cards plus the shared would make for a hand. You can only count five cards, so the directions advised to bet the best five-card combination of standard poker hands – like three of a kind – from your two face-down cards and the shared cards in the middle. The best combination hand wins the chips.
I watched for several hands. I understood there was likely more of a strategy to playing this kind of poker, but I wasn’t picking it up that easily.
Debra was playing at the table I watched. She was oblivious to my presence and seemed a competent player, winning as often as not.
I strolled around and watched the craps table which had lawsuit Christopher and his wife playing. That was a game that seemed to be the epitome of gambling, and thus not for me.
I turned and bumped into Justin, standing looking around. Crap. No way to avoid him when I run right into him. He looked at me, his eyes looking over the new glam outfit from the gift shop and my hair spruced up a little. He licked his lips a few times and swallowed, he finally managed to get out the words, “Wow, you look...wow.” I was completely covered, although I guess the touch of glitz and the slightly clingy drapes of cloth produced a subtle allure.
“Are your parents here with you?” Because I didn’t think he should be here without them, even if there wasn’t actual money at stake.
I barely got the words out when a man placed his hand on Justin’s shoulder. “Come on son, we’re at the craps table.”
“Dad, this is Julienne...” He seemed unable to finish.
He nodded, “Nice to meet you.”
They left, and Justin looked back at me with his shy little smile on his smitten face.
I kept my ears open, hoping to catch some gossip where I could listen in, but everybody’s attention was on the games.
I focused on the blackjack table and players. I wasn’t the only one, I stood with several others looking at a little handout on how to play and observing a few people at a table. It stated the object of the game was to beat the dealer. If you go over twenty-one points you lose. The object is to get more points than the dealer without exceeding twenty-one. Then the instruction sheet listed all the values such as the ace (one or eleven points), and all face cards are ten points. A “blackjack” combination of one ace and one face card was the ultimate and beat all other combinations.
The dealer deals two cards out and takes two cards for himself with one showing. Then he starts with the player on his left and goes around. The instruction pamphlet gave five
options at this point: stand (no more cards), hit (take a card), double (taking one card and no more that hand), split (which confused me about splitting your hand into two hands – sounded like cheating to me), and surrender (which I feared would be my typical choice.)
“My first time with Black Jack. You?” The man standing to my left asked. He was around my age and dressed in slacks and a lightweight black sweater. I glanced around for his girlfriend, but he didn’t seem to have a lady with him at the moment.
“Total novice here. I’m glad they provide instructions.” I handed him mine.
“I will break the stereotype and take these directions gladly.” He smiled an easy infectious grin.
I looked around again.
“Did you come here to ski, snowboard, or snowshoe?” I was pretty sure he hadn’t been in the conference.
“Snowboarding with my buddies. They’re over there.” He indicated the craps table with his mixed drink. “What a trip this has been too. Unbelievable.”
“Yes, it’s been like something in a movie. You never think it’ll happen to you. Stuck in a hotel with a killer.” I hoped I wasn’t being too melodramatic, but this was my way to get the conversation focused on the two deaths.
“This was a great idea to help us all relax.” He was close, in my personal space. “Can I get you a drink? Wine perhaps.” His smile seemed genuine and if things weren’t up in the air with Mason I might have spent some time talking with him.
“I don’t want to give the wrong impression. I have a boyfriend.” I smiled to soften the rejection.
“Oh. Where is he?” He didn’t look around but stayed focused on me.
“He’s on a business trip.” I shouldn’t feel like I had to justify his absence, but I did.
“Business trip. Well, his job must be important to take him away from you.” He cocked his head.
I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t answer. I turned my attention back to the table. Before long, he moved to another table. I let out my breath.
“He lost interest fast. You’re better off without getting close to a guy you don’t know, considering the murders and all.” It was the lady to my right with a slight Boston accent. She looked to be a few years older than me, but not many. She wore glasses and was dressed in black slacks and a red sweater for a classic look.
I smiled, “That’s very true. I’m Julienne, and you are?”
“Lisa and this is my friend Blair.” Blair was noticeably taller than Lisa or myself with a fireplug shape dressed in a royal blue velvet blazer, gray shell, and black slacks. We shook hands and took a step back from the Blackjack table to talk without disturbing the players.
“I was here for a conference. I guess your skiing got canceled.” I had to start somewhere. It was rude to dive right into the murders.
They were indeed here for the skiing and as a winter holiday. They both lived on the east coast and had to work through most of the holidays so this was their break.
“It’s a shame your belated holiday break got waylaid with the tragic events.” Witness my clumsy attempt at introducing the murders. I hoped I wasn’t rushing the conversation.
“We’ve kept busy, considering everything. I loved the baking class but tonight looks to be more fun.” Blair supplied in a stronger Boston accent that made me smile as I tried to decipher what she said.
“I wonder when the police will make an arrest. There are enough people here who had issues Ms. Caine. Maybe even big enough to kill Ms. Caine. I haven’t heard anything about the other woman.” I couldn’t give a bigger invitation to gossip without flashing neon lights.
“Oh, Leona was a sweet woman. She was in our baking class and we hit it off. We had drinks after class and enjoyed our dessert creations in the bar.” Lisa contributed.
“I don’t think I’ve spoken to anybody who’d gotten to know her. I was beginning to think she was a mystery woman. I mean, she wasn’t here with anybody. Just seemed so... shadowy or secretive.” I let my voice get carried away like I was a teenager again.
Blair’s hard Bostonian voice softened as she shared, “Not at all. She was meeting up with her love. I guess the storm must’ve hit before he made it. This was supposed to be a romantic getaway.”
“She seemed sad he didn’t make it, so we didn’t talk about it much,” Lisa added.
How interesting was that? Did Kara argue with her over this man? Could Leona have taken the man from Kara? That would have infuriated a woman like Kara and could explain the intense argument they had. There were so many possibilities and no way to narrow the focus of speculation.
“Yeah, she had a lovely pendant necklace from him that she kept holding. You could tell she missed him. Rather sweet really.” Blair tossed out.
“What did the necklace look like?” I wondered if it was the same necklace she wore at dinner the other night.
“It was a white gold heart with several rubies. Looked expensive.” Blair said.
That was the same necklace she wore at dinner when I observed her...okaaay, when I was on stakeout and followed her. I didn’t know if it was important, but if it was expensive, maybe the killer kept the trinket. Could it have been a robbery gone wrong? I’d tell Johan. He would know if she was wearing the expensive token of love. Maybe the killer slipped up finally.
Two of the players at the table were leaving so Lisa and Blair saw their chance to play. I wondered to another table that was also changing players. I was still relaxed from dinner and didn’t feel much pressure to win, only to enjoy the game.
I was cautious in my play, but I was a fast study and won a few hands. Before long I had amassed a substantial pile of chips. Between hands, I looked around and saw a modest crowd around my table. Porsche was watching with a genuine smile and her phone out...taking a picture of me I think. Since this wasn’t really Vegas she wouldn’t get in trouble.
For the next several hands I did well, but not great. I decided Porsche had waited on me long enough, so I played the last round a bit more aggressively to be done for the night. I had a ten and queen for a score of twenty. I stood with what I had and didn’t take any more cards.
The time to reveal our hands came and the dealer had a six, a two, and a king for eighteen. I won a pretty big bet this time. My heart was pounding, and I had the biggest smile on my face. I don’t think I had ever won anything before and this took a little thought and some luck. Of course, I wasn’t playing in Vegas against more experienced players.
I got the chips added to my stacks that had slowly grown. I was surprised at how many there were now. I gathered them up to get my gift store credit and joined Porsche.
“That was great Julie. I streamed it live on Facebook and tagged Mason. He needs to know how good you are at Black Jack.” She shook her head side to side like a bobblehead, proud of her virtual prodding of Mason to pay attention to me.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you shouldn’t have done that.” I wasn’t going to try and make him jealous or anything like that.
“Too late now, honey. Let’s cash that pile in. I’ll help.”
“Did you win anything?” I asked, hoping she had good luck too.
“Of course I did. We’ll have fun picking out more from the gift shop.”
I wished Mason had been here – I would’ve liked to share my beginner’s luck with him. Sigh.
Chapter Seventeen
I was shocked when they added up my chips and it came to six hundred and fifty in chips, and that was after subtracting the initial chips they gave me. But that translated to sixty-five dollar credit at the gift shop. Wow, what would I get? I hadn’t looked at their jewelry in the display cases, maybe I could get a nice gold choker chain. Or better yet, souvenirs for Aunt Regina, Uncle Lars, and my cousins Felicia and Loring.
Once we had walked out of the Alpine-room-turned-Vegas, I shared with Porsche what my new acquaintances Lisa and Blair had told me about Leona.
“I wonder if Johan knows he will need to contact her boyfriend and give
him the bad news?” Porsche said.
“I wonder if he found any contact information for the guy?” I thought aloud. Johan hadn’t mentioned finding her phone. But then he probably wouldn’t share if he had.
I checked my watch. We decided it was close enough to our meeting time to go ahead and get seats in the bar. The lounge was subdued compared to the other night with muted conversations and more drinking than revelry or camaraderie. After my time in the Vegas-themed room, I felt downright bubbly compared to my fellow guests seated around me. Tammy, looking sophisticated in a long skirt and sweater, walked in barely a minute after us. We were clustered around a small square table and waited for the prior guest’s glasses to be removed.
Tammy let out a whistle and complemented Porsche and I on how lovely we looked.
I was tired of the snow and had enjoyed the mental break of swimming in the pool and relaxing in the Jacuzzi last night, and gambling tonight. The Vegas night was a success and I’d felt like I was in a casino rather than snowbound in a small mountain town, in a building filled with a few hundred people and a killer or two. So I wanted to continue that feeling.
When I asked for a Mojito, one of my favorite drinks, our waitress asked if I wanted regular or slushy. Whoever thought to take a Mojito and blend it into a snow-cone-like drink was a genius. I went for the slushy, with the image of warm sunshine and palm trees in my mind. This little adventure had me wanting a tropical vacation badly.
We also got a plate of appetizers. Each table had a little acrylic stand with the entertainment schedule. Sadly, the local musicians still couldn’t make it for performances. No telling how rural their homes might be and reports said the roads were still treacherous. To compensate, they had Karaoke. Fortunately, we were far enough from that area so we could talk, and bonus - the noise might keep our conversation from being overheard.
I was surprised I was getting the entire evening with Porsche, but no doubt Johan was stretched even thinner since the second murder. I could tell she was forcing herself to join in, but I also knew she was still struggling with the situation with Johan and the approaching goodbyes. Occasionally, I would catch her staring into space and looking sad.
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