“I can almost feel the hot water pouring all over my body from fifty high-powered jets,” Alonzo said happily.

“I can’t wait to feel those silk sheets,” Miggy added, laughing.

“We’re almost there,” Alonzo said in a hushed voice.

Miggy turned serious and dropped again to his haunches so he was eyeball to eyeball with Alonzo. He licked at his lips, then asked in a harsh whisper, “Do you think we’ll have nightmares over this down the road?”

“Absolutely not,” Alonzo said.

Miggy wasn’t so sure, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

* * *

Back at the hotel penthouse suite, the only sounds to be heard were tapping keys and low-voiced cell phone conversations.

The sun was dropping beyond the horizon when Charles called a halt as Jack and Cyrus blew into the room like a hurricane.

“Sorry, guys, I didn’t mean to sleep so long, but I was really beat,” Jack said by way of apology. “What, if anything, did I miss?”

Charles took the floor. “The last report we’ve had, and it was from Lizzie herself, said Cosmo was now semiconscious. Dr. Wylie is more than pleased and is still with him. Lizzie said he was trying to talk, but it was just gibberish because he’s so full of drugs. She thinks he was trying to say something about Little Jack. He’s in and out, as she put it, but Dr. Wylie said that was all right. Both of them are cautiously optimistic. I do believe that is a good sign. In other words, no brain damage.”

Jack nodded. “Did that guy Meadows ever call back?”

“No!” Fergus said. “Dennis called again, and just like the other calls, it went right to voice mail. I’ve lost track of the number of calls we’ve made to that SOB. Something is not right where that man is concerned.”

“What do we know about him? Who was checking him out? Has anyone given any thought to calling in Snowden?”

“That’s three questions, Jack. Avery is on his way. He was in Seattle. He might even be here by now since I called him earlier. He’s free to go on the payroll. I was just about to call for a status report from the boys when you arrived, so let’s hear it, lads,” Charles said.

Dennis raised his hand to go first. Charles nodded.

“Background here first. The Nevada Gaming Control Board, also known as the State Gaming Control Board, is a Nevada state governmental agency involved in the regulation of gaming throughout the state, along with the Nevada Gaming Commission. It was founded in 1955 by the Nevada legislature. The Board is composed of three members appointed by the governor. Cosmo is one of those three. Board members serve four-year terms in a full-time capacity.