They pulled up in front of Neros Steakhouse, Caesars’ in-house eatery. A valet with military-style epaulettes and gloves approached. The three of them went to get out. McGrath grabbed Spencer’s arm and looked him dead in the eye, still smiling, still likable.

“One thing, Spence. Why would you think I’d be thinking about pinning something like that night in Delray on you? That’s just stupidity on your part. Why, you’re here for just the same reason as the rest of us. You’ve just been slow to realize is all. And I don’t know why, boy. Making money, laughing. What’s not to like?”

“People dying?”

“People like your old guy in the gas station? Or people like the crack stacks who wasted him and wanted to waste you?”

Spencer said nothing.

McGrath nodded. “Let’s go to work. You should be good at this too.”

Spencer hit Stop on his phone as he got out of the car. Cal went for the trunk.

Spencer believed his rib eye béarnaise was the best steak he’d ever had.

Cal tapped his knee under the table. “Take it.”

Spencer looked down. Cal was offering him a thick wad of notes.

“There’s four grand there, Spencer. Take it for Chrissakes.”

Spencer took it. He had to straighten out in his seat in order to work it into his pocket.

“Soon as you’ve lost around two hundred bucks then stop whatever the fuck you’re doing and come find me. Got that?”

Cal said to forget the blackjack and go for the faster games. Whether losing or winning, he needed to do it fast. As soon as the check was paid they went and changed their cash into gaming chips.

Of late, Spencer had managed to cut back on his gambling. There’d been the occasional binge at the MGM Grand and Greektown Casinos, but they’d been punishing. He’d gone online on Chris’s laptop a few times—until he forgot to delete his search history one night. Chris had gone batshit and put all sorts of blocks in place. Now Spencer couldn’t even google any gambling-related word without sending a flare up over Highland Park. He suspected Chris had recruited Abby as an informant too.

Spencer did pretty well to start with but the same old fail streak came back soon enough. He tracked Cal down to the craps table.

“I’m down two fifty,” he whispered.

“I thought I told you around two hundred?”

“Sorry. Got carried away.”

“Well don’t get carried away. We got a lot to get through today. I’m just wrapping up here.”

“How you doing?” said Spencer. He asked automatically rather than out of interest. He’d given up making small talk with Cal.

“Thought I was done but I just won three hundred bucks.”

Spencer nodded. “Nice.”