Page 68 of Spades

“Sure thing, Liss.” She grabs my arm. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

I laugh, though it comes out as more of a nervous chuckle. “It’s an underground bar. How bad could it be?”

A few minutes later, I’ve grabbed my coat, scarf, and hat and am walking to the alleyway off Randolph and State. I locate the black door with the four card suits on it and walk inside.

Chet is sitting on the fur-lined couch in the foyer, reading a copy of theChicago Tribune. He peers over the newspaper, widening his eyes.

“Miss Wonder, what are you doing here?”

“Hi, Chet.” I smile. “I left my credit card here last night.”

Chet cocks his head. “I noticed you left in a hurry. I hope you didn’t run into…”—his eyebrows twitch—“trouble.”

From the way Chet said “trouble,” I wonder if he knows about my run-in with those three goons in leather jackets last night. I have a feeling he knows a lot more than he lets on.

I dust off my jacket. “I’m fine now, that’s what matters. And I need to go downstairs and get my credit card. I won’t be a minute.”

Chet presses his lips together. “I’m afraid the rules of the club still stand. Because you are not a member, I cannot allow you inside unless you are a guest of someone on the list.”

“Yes, but I’m not actually going togoto the club. I’m going to settle my tab, turn right back around, and leave. It’ll take thirty seconds.”

Chet grins. “Even thirty-second visits are against club policy, Miss Wonder.” He shrugs. “If you want to come back with Mr. Hathaway or another member, I’ll gladly let you inside.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I point at the door. “I’ve already been down there. Twice now. It’s not like I don’t know what it looks like. Plus, if I never settle my tab, you’ll never get the money for my drinks.”

“One gin and tonic and one dirty vodka martini are hardly enough to put our ledgers in the red.”

“That’s hardly any way to run a—” I stop, narrowing my eyes at him. “Wait, how do you know what our drink orders were?”

Chet raises his eyebrows, his eyes shining playfully. “It’s my job to know, Miss Wonder.”

“It’s hardly the job of a bouncer to memorize the drinks of his club’s patrons.”

His nostrils flare slightly. Only slightly, but I notice. “I’m sure you understand by this point that Aces Underground is no normal club.”

“What if I don’t come back with Maddox? You have my credit card—my personal property—and I demand that you allow me to go down and retrieve it.”

“If you don’t want to call Mr. Hathaway or another member to escort you, you’re welcome to call your bank to get a new credit card.”

I slam my hands down on the desk. “This is ridiculous. Just let me go down there, Chet.”

Chet’s lips twitch around his toothy grin. He strokes his chin with his long, bony fingers. I feel like his gaze is penetrating through my jacket and scrubs, that he somehow has X-ray vision and can see my naked flesh underneath my many layers. I instinctively cross my arms over my chest.

“Tell you what,” he says. “Go on down.”

I narrow my eyes. “What made you change your mind?”

Chet keeps staring at me, inhaling slowly. “Like you said, it’s your personal property. I don’t want to stand in the way of you and something…personal.” He rises and unlocks the door leading to the mirrored staircase. “Go ahead.”

I look down the mirrored staircase and my pulse quickens. I’ve been down here twice now, and I know what awaits me. So why do I feel like this staircase is now leading into the depths of hell?

I swallow. “You sure?”

Chet nods slowly. “Sure as sugar, Miss Wonder.” He pulls a pocket watch out of his pinstriped jacket and squints at it. “I should warn you, though. The club isn’t open yet. The staff are still preparing for tonight. You know what they say about seeing the sausage get made.”

My stomach twists. “What do you mean?”

Chet wrings his hands together. “You’ll see what I mean. Now go, hurry, before I change my mind.”

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