“Okay, let’s go with what Maggie just suggested. We take on Happy Village and Mr. Hershel. But we’ll need another vehicle, so we’ll get out at Babylon and rent a vehicle from there. Dennis, can you do that now? Ask for something fairly conservative for a visit to Mr. Herschel’s.”

“I’m on it,” Dennis said as he brought all his fingers into play on the mini keyboard.

Jack tapped Harry on the arm the minute they were seated in back of the van. “You okay, Harry? You’re looking a little frazzled.”

“A little!” Harry hissed, outrage ringing in his voice. “Those guys do not eat or sleep. All they do is gamble. AND WIN. I’m afraid to go to sleep for fear of what they might do. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have six security guys standing behind you all day and all night watching every move you make? Even though I wasn’t gambling, I was with them. I was their host. To be perfectly honest, I think they think I’m a shill of some kind for the guys. I know security thinks they have some secret magic, something or other that lets them win, win, win! The truth is, they’re just dumb lucky. Plus, they are oblivious to everyone and everything except the cards or the machines. When they got on that gold-buying gig, I wanted nothing more than to shoot myself.”

Jack patted Harry’s arm to show his sympathy. Cyrus nuzzled his leg in a show of support. “Don’t beat yourself up over this, Harry. Chalk it up to beginner’s luck. We just turned it all over to Lizzie, so you’re off the hook. Look, if you want to go back to the hotel and grab some sleep, Dennis, Cyrus, and I can handle this. We’ll come get you when we get back. You’re not going to be any good to us if your timing is off and your head is with your friends. Get some sleep and a take a nice long shower. You’ll feel like your old self in no time.”

“I’m never going to feel like myself until those guys are on the plane and cruising at thirty thousand feet.”

“That bad, huh?” Jack grinned.

Harry laughed, a sickly sound. “Yes and no. Don’t get me wrong. They’re all great guys. This is the first time they’ve been to the States, and they love it. They love all this Vegas claptrap, and they absolutely love the money. They are having the time of their lives. They really got off on the pillow thing. I don’t know how you came up with that, but I’m glad you did. But, yeah, I’ll stay at the hotel and grab some sleep.

“The truth, Jack. What the hell is going on here?” Harry whispered.