The Serpent's Kiss

61

Scott Abrams, the Greektown Casino Manager, picked up his phone. “Yes?”

“Sir, we’ve got a phone call from the FBI. They… we need to evacuate, sir. Right now!”

Abrams was a little slower on the uptake than desirable. “Ben? What’s—”

”Right now, Scott! I’m pulling the plug. Right now!”

Abrams noted the urgency — almost panic — in his Chief of Security’s voice, Ben Lewin. “Do it!” he snapped.

Almost immediately an alarm sounded. Man, thought Abrams. Ben must have literally had his hand on the alarm.

Lisa Mobly pushed through his door without knocking. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Ben called, said the FBI called.”

Her face paled. “It’s four o’clock.”

“So?”

“The Serpent…”

Abrams’ eyes went wide. “Let’s go. Get everybody out. Everybody!” They raced from his office, yelling for everybody to evacuate immediately. This was not a drill.

Out on the main casino floor people were reluctantly leaving their money and heading for the doors. Security guards, faces tense, were directing people, hurrying them out. Teams of security moved quickly from floor to floor, making sure people were headed for the exits.

Abrams, pushing through the crowd, trying to locate Ben Lewin, heard a cry and spun, fear flooding his senses unlike anything he had ever experienced in his entire life.