16. Doug

SIXTEEN

DOUG

In which Doug is reminded of something he'd rather forget.

It was the old lady; Nick was onto something. But the odd thing was that Doug hadn't really seen her before—or even tonight, if he was being honest. He'd sort of glimpsed her out of the side of his eye and forgotten about her because, as terrible as it sounded, she was a senior citizen and therefore he'd categorized her as not dangerous. And so he'd forgotten she was there.

Nick said she'd been sitting in plain sight at the tables both times they'd been in the VIP room. The first time, she hadn't been sitting at Doug's table, but Nick insisted she had been sitting at their table the second visit. And Nick could see her just fine.

Doug was trying to think fast.

Maybe the best plan would be to fall into her plan and go from there.

"Be patient, babe, we have all night," Doug said to Nick.

"M'kay," Nick responded with a naughty eye waggle.

Doug did his best to focus on his cards while digging through his knowledge of known super- and subpowered peoples. What was her skill? What he needed was to have Nick describe her to him, but now was not the time.

"Cards up," announced the dealer.

Doug lost. Then he lost two more games.

He held up his hand, refusing the next deal, and scooped the remaining chips into his pocket.

"I need a stronger drink. Let's go sit at the bar."

"Anything you want, old man. I'm all yours."

He suspected that Nick was serious even though he tried to pass it off as a joke. Doug was unsurprised to find that he didn't hate the idea of Nick Sedgewick sticking around in his life. When this was over, they'd have the time to have a conversation about it. One positive about SPAM was that the organization didn't have a no-fraternization policy. It was hard enough to live among normals and keep powers a secret. Why make it more difficult by banning relationships with those who also had them?

The middle room was a little more crowded than it had been earlier. Doug had to weave around new players waiting for open spots at the tables. There was also no seating at the bar right away. He and Nick waited off to one side, hoping a group of younger men would decide to try their luck elsewhere.

Luck. Doug felt like he'd been hit by a two-by-four.

"Lady Luck," Doug said, staring at Nick with realization.

"What? Full sentences, please. I'm tired and have been through a lot today. Question, do we get hazard pay for this kind of stuff?"

"Actually, we do, but that's not the point. The point is, I think I know who the woman is."

Nick appeared astonished. "You believed me?"

Doug felt his eyebrows draw together. "Of course I believed you. Why wouldn't I? You have good instincts even if you are a new agent. You're observant underneath all that faffle you put on."

A sappy smile spread across Nick's face. "You like me."

"I more than like you," Doug admitted, "but, again, that's not the point."

A couple slipped off their barstools and headed to the dance floor hand in hand. Setting his palm against the curve of Nick's lower back, Doug guided him to the now open seating. The bartender was busy making drinks but made eye contact to indicate he'd be over as soon as he could.

"Tell me more," said Nick.

"Later. Right now, I need you to listen, and then we'll need to decide the best plan of action. Most of all, I need you to act normally."

Nick raised his eyebrows. "Normal? I've never acted normal in my entire life."

"I meant," Doug clarified, "be yourself."

"Okay." He nodded. "That I can do."

"I think we're dealing with Lady Luck," Doug said in a low voice.

"What do we know about her?"

"Not much. Which is how she's gotten away from SPAM and other organizations for so long. Hundreds of years, as far as I am aware."

Nick's eyes widened in surprise. "Did you say hundreds of years?"

"I did. Obviously, she isn't really lucky. That's just what she calls herself. And I'd say that we don't even know if she is really a she, a he, or a they. I had a mentor who ran up against her many years ago, and he theorized that she's an emotional succubus."

"A what?"

"A succubus," Doug repeated. "She likely feeds on emotions. Especially high emotions, which is why she loves Vegas and anywhere else where people are likely to put everything on the line for the massive endorphin hits they get if they're successful and the crushing lows if they aren't. Most people can't see her. Francois believed that she had a way of manipulating people to keep going, to keep betting, and when the final endorphin high or low hits, because those taste just as good to her, she sucks everything she can off a person. Like a sponge."

"That's just gross." Nick wrinkled his nose. "Why can't you see her? She was right there."

"I don't know. I imagine that, once again, it has something to do with your body chemistry."

"I suppose. Do you think Pork Pie was working with her? He made it sound like he was on his own."

The bartender drifted their way. "Have you decided what you'd like to drink?"

Doug didn't ask what Nick wanted. "Two tall vodka tonics, lime on the side."

"Bleck, I am so tired of alcohol."

"These will be watered down, that's why I ordered them."

"So, you think I can see her for the same reason The Undertaker's drug and Velvet Elvis's voice don't affect me the way they do others?"

"Something like that."

The bartender returned with their drinks, setting them in front of them.

"Is Lady Luck a subpowered person?" Nick asked.

Doug sipped at his drink; it was watered down just as he'd thought it would be.

"It's Francois's opinion that she is different from us. Not human or humanoid. Maybe a demon. There are a few of those still kicking around. They are mostly immortal, after all."

"Did you say…" Nick paused eyes wide, then mouthed, "Demon?"

"Most are harmless to humans," Doug continued. "But there are a few who aren't. They pop up every once in a while, do some harm, then go back to wherever they hide for a few decades—or eons."

"I just don't know how to process this."

"Like I said, just be yourself, Nick."

"Do we go back in and pretend we don't know anything? What's the plan?"

"Don't you think it's interesting that we've come across not one, or two, but three powered entities here at The Ace of Clubs?"

"Do you think they are… colluding to take advantage of people? Working together?" Nick asked.

"I'm still not convinced that The Undertaker was working with anyone. He doesn't seem like the type who plays well with others. Maybe taking advantage of the situation. But the other two? I think it's possible. Elvis could be in Lady Luck's thrall. But," he said thoughtfully, "I've never heard of Luck working with anyone. She is more of a winner-take-all demon."

"Um, I have to be honest here. Less than a week ago, I was the only one I knew who could do something no one else could. And now"—Nick lifted one hand and raised his thumb— "there's a talking tortoise" —index finger straightened— "you and SPAM" —middle finger—"a guy who can tell how people die—except, apparently, for me" —his ring finger extended—"and also Velvet Elvis, who can put people to sleep with his voice but also maybe he's just boring. I'm almost out of fingers. Oh, and let's not forget magnetic Agent Schoenhut, the SPAM agent who can smell lies, and now a possible demon who feeds on gamblers' emotions. What I'm trying to say is, it's a lot for me to take in."

Nick's eyes darted between the interconnecting door and Doug. "Don't look now—I guess you can't anyway—but she's coming out of the room."

"What does she look like right now? Try not to be obvious about it."

"Duh." Nick quickly glanced toward the doorway and then back at Doug. "She looks like she should be playing shuffleboard on a cruise ship. She's wearing a sequined pink tracksuit today and white tennis shoes. White hair, too much makeup. She's about parallel with us now, fifteen feet away. What do we do?"

Doug tossed back the rest of his drink. "Let's get going back to the hotel."

Thankfully, Nick didn't argue. He also didn't finish his drink. Going out on a limb, Doug was going to assume the demon was aware that Nick could see her. And now she was on the hunt.

"Pretend you're a bit drunk," Doug said, pulling Nick from the stool.

"That will be easy because I'm tired enough to lie down and sleep right here."

"I want to find out where she goes. Do your best to keep her in sight."

"Right, boss. Oh, crap."

"What?"

"One second."

Abruptly, Doug's glass was full again.

"I lost her," Nick whispered. "She just disappeared on me. Here she comes again."

This time, Doug left his drink where it was.

"Let's get back to the hotel."

"You know you don't have to replay this like we're rehearsing for the school play," Nick said. "We just need to make things happen differently."

"Fine. What direction?"

"Toward the entrance, but I think she veered to the right last time."

Moving faster this time, Doug steered Nick toward the front of the club. He found that, if he didn't look directly where Nick indicated, he could see a shadow of some sort. Like looking at one of those Magic Eye things from when he was a kid.

While he couldn't see a little old lady, he definitely could feel something much more sinister. Like whatever it was really had waving tentacles, slimy skin, and bad intentions. But maybe that was more Nick Sedgewick wearing off on him.

"What direction now?"

Nick fell against him, and Doug automatically wrapped his arm around Nick's shoulders.

"I've had way too much to drink. Can we get a ride back to the hotel, babe?"

He'd timed it so they were just passing the bouncer.

"Gentlemen, we have a private ride service available. Let me give the driver notice. Just wait by the yellow flag outside."

"Yes?" Doug asked Nick.

"Absolutely."

It was chilly outside the club. The desert was cold at night even when temperatures reached roasting levels during the day. With Nick plastered to his side, they meandered to the waiting area. Nick shivered and Doug held him more tightly. He wanted to ask what his partner was seeing.

Before he could, Nick pinched his side. "Babe, I'm so glad we're getting a ride. Too bad it's a short one and we won't be able to do any funny stuff before we get to the hotel."

"Tell you what, hon, next trip we'll go to London and ride around in one of the black cabs for hours doing whatever we want."

"Oooh, that sounds naughty."

A freshly washed black Lincoln Town Car coasted to the curb. Doug opened the back door and ushered Nick in before him. Was Lady Luck in the front? Was she sitting next to them? Was she even in the car with them? He hated not being able to see the enemy.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

Doug rattled off the hotel's address and the driver pulled away from the curb and out into late-night Vegas traffic.

"Mm, babe, I can't wait to be alone with you." Nick ran his hand suggestively across Doug's thigh.

Luck was definitely in the car. Would she try to come up to their room with them? What had tipped her off? She must have realized somehow that one of them could see her. Did the driver know he had a demon riding in the car with him? Doug hated that he couldn't ask all the questions he had. Agent Sedgewick was in charge at the moment.

It would have been easy to be distracted by the bright lights and glitter of nighttime Vegas, but Doug forced himself to stay alert. Someone had to protect Nick.

"Where is she? It?" Doug whispered in Nick's ear as they finally exited the elevator. The trip had taken forever, stopping at every floor. It didn't help that Nick apparently hated elevators and had muttered under his breath about Death Boxes and freak accidents the entire time.

"She stopped at the slot machines on the main floor."

"We should go back."

"I don't think so. I think she'll find her way up here with no problem."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she waved at me in the lobby. A little finger wave but a wave, nonetheless. And maybe also mouthed, ‘I'll see you later.'"

"She waved at you," Doug said flatly. "And said she'd see you later."

"Yep. I guess we didn't fool her."

When they arrived at their door, Doug started to slide the key card through the reader but Nick grabbed his arm before he could open the door.

"I'm getting tired of this," Nick grumbled.

"Of what?"

"We've done this twice already."

"Why am I not remembering? I've remembered when you've changed time before."

"My best guess is that it has something to do with our new friend who got to the room before us. Let me go in first. You have to trust me on this."

From the tone of Nick's voice, Doug suspected he had not followed instructions the previous times they'd entered the hotel room.

"I trust you."

"That's exactly what you said last time."