Jackpot

43

Arrow Donaldson was just about the last person Teddy would have expected to be bailing him out of jail. It was a most interesting turn of events. The casino mogul was joined by the secretariat of security to transfer Teddy from the jail to Arrow’s waiting car. Teddy got in first without hesitation. He wanted to project confidence and trust, knowing a man like Arrow Donaldson would feed on any hint of fear. Arrow got in after Teddy and asked the driver for a drink.

The driver handed back a flask, which Arrow in turn offered to Teddy as they drove away. “Need a pick-me-up? Sounds like it’s been a rough day for you.”

“Jail is certainly never easy.”

“You’ve been in jail before?” Arrow asked.

Teddy could almost see the man laying the trap. If Arrow wanted to learn more about Billy Barnett, Teddy was happy to oblige. He took the drink Arrow offered, and said, “Not like this, no. We’ve done filming in jails before and I’ve done research, you know, but not like that, no. Wow.”

Teddy took another drink and flopped back in his seat. “This is a nice car,” Teddy said, looking around like he was assessing the vehicle’s amenities rather than looking for anything he could use as a weapon if this turned out to be a trap.

Arrow ignored that comment, shifting instead to the business at hand. “I’m glad I could help you out of a sticky situation.”

Teddy sat up, as if recalling his manners. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help. I’m sure the police enjoyed having a high-profile American in custody, and may have been reluctant to let go of their prize.”

Arrow nodded. Teddy sensed he was putting out the right vibes as the reckless rich American Arrow expected him to be.

Teddy continued, “Now that unpleasantness is past, I’m looking forward to being elbow-deep in a pile of chips at the craps table.”

“There is no greater luxury than having enough money to waste it on something exciting,” Arrow said. Then after a brief pause, he finished with, “And dangerous.”

“You know something I don’t about the craps table at your place?”

Arrow took a drink directly from the flask this time, and handed it back to Teddy who followed with his own long swig.

“A true gamble can’t be had at a table, my friend.”

“You got something in mind, spit it out, friend,” Teddy said.

“It’s just all so... glossy. So boring.”

The inflections in his voice and his body language seemed genuine to Teddy. He wondered if something about being buzzed in the back of a car together was creating a spark of bonding between them.

As Arrow finished the rest of the alcohol in the flask, Teddy realized Dale Gai wasn’t with them. Maybe she’d been released on her own and was at the casino waiting for them.

“Dale Gai was arrested with me,” Teddy said, taking advantage of their new bond as they approached the hotel entrance. “You may know her. She works at the casino in security. She was assisting me with security for the film festival.”

“I can’t be expected to know every employee. It’s a large operation. I’ll talk to someone in HR and make sure she’s provided the resources she needs locally to defend herself.”

Teddy had two paths in front of him, and neither was very good. He could push further for Dale’s release and risk having Arrow send him back to jail, with prejudice, where he might not ever be seen again. Or, he could do exactly what he’d told Dale Gai he wouldn’t do and sell her out to save his own skin.

In the end, the logical decision was clear, if unpalatable. Neither he nor Dale Gai would be well-served by him being locked up again. It only raised the odds that whoever was trying to destroy Peter and Ben’s interests in Macau would succeed.

Dale had already shown she had survival skills comparable to Teddy’s, so he had no doubt she would be fine for the time being. When the time was right, if needed, he could marshal the resources to break her out.

“You’re right,” Teddy said, as they exited the car at the casino’s entrance. “Why put what you and I can do together at risk because of a woman.”

Arrow smiled a wide, contemptable smile as he emerged from the car and escorted Teddy into the hotel as if he were an honored guest.