“I’m gonna go get some dessert,” Grandma said. “And then I’m hitting the slots again.”
“I’m skipping dessert and taking my money to the craps table,” Lula said.
“Me, too,” Connie said. “Only I’m playing blackjack.”
Briggs handed the money out and sat tight, using the duffel bag like a booster chair.
Stephanie Plum 13.5 - Plum Lucky
Chapter 2
My phone rang, and I saw my home number appear in the readout.
“It’s feeling lonely here,” Diesel said. “I’m not getting vibes on you or my target. Where are you?”
“Atlantic City. Grandma’s here. She found some money, and she’s having an adventure.”
“Found?”
“Remember the bag I was searching for in her room? She has it here with her, and it’s filled with money. She said she was walking home from the bakery yesterday, and she found it sitting on the curb.”
“Green duffel bag with a yellow stripe?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh man, what are the chances,” Diesel said. “How much money?”
“Around a million.”
“I don’t suppose there’s a little guy with curly gray hair and green pants lurking somewhere?”
“A little guy in green pants attacked Grandma yesterday.
And it’s possible he followed her out of the Burg this morning.”
“His name is Snuggy O’Connor. He’s the guy I’m tracking, and the money in that bag is stolen. If you see him, grab him for me, but don’t take your eyes off him or he’ll evaporate into thin air.”
“Really?”
“No. People don’t just evaporate. Boy, you’ll believe anything.”
“You sort of evaporate. One minute, you’re standing behind me, and then you’re gone.”
“Yeah, but that’s me. And it’s not easy.”
Diesel disconnected, and I went back to my lunch. Macaroni and cheese, potato salad, turkey with gravy, macaroni and cheese, a dinner roll, three-?bean salad, and more macaroni and cheese. I like macaroni and cheese.
A half hour later, Grandma was back at her video poker machine, and Briggs and I were standing guard. I was hoping Diesel would have a plan when he arrived, because I had no idea
what to do with Grandma. It’s not like I could put her in handcuffs and drag her home.
I caught a flash of fire-?engine red in my peripheral vision and realized it was Lula’s hair making its way across the casino floor.
“You’re not gonna believe this,” Lula said, coming up to me. “I was rolling crap at the craps table...”
“Easy come, easy go,” Briggs said. “So much for the lucky money theory.”
“Yeah, but turns out it was lucky. The guy standing next to me was some big-?ass photographer on a photo shoot for some lingerie company, and he said they were looking for experienced plus-?size models. He gave me his card, and he said I should just show up tomorrow first thing in the morning. I almost peed my pants right there. This here’s my opportunity. I always wanted to be a supermodel. And a supermodel’s just one step away from being a celebrity.”