Page 35 of Dearly Betrayed

I slam the drawers shut, shove the folders back inside, and lock the door behind me. I’m trembling as I hurry to the door, chasing after a second knock, my stomach twisted in my guts. Did Jayson have some kind of electronic surveillance? Were his men alerted the moment I opened that door? I picture the worst possible outcomes: beatings, torture, slow death.

Casey’s waiting in the hall. She smiles, big and pleasant, when I peek out at her.

“Hey, Fallon, sorry if I’m interrupting. Just wanted to see if you wanted to get some breakfast with me.”

I stare at her. The words barely register. “Get breakfast?”

“Sure, there are a few great spots in the casino, and it doesn’t cost anything. We just put it on the Costa tab, which is basically endless.”

“Right. Okay. Breakfast.” My mind races for a moment. Do I want to pull myself away from this treasure trove? I’m afraid that if I don’t follow through right now, I might lose it all forever.

But Casey’s beaming at me, and she looks genuinely eager to spend time together. I have to admit, I want to sit down, drink coffee, and pretend to be normal for a little while, and that’d be easy with her. I can forget about crime, forget about my husband, forget about the war for an hour or more, and just be myself.

I can destroy him later.

“Need a second to get ready?” she asks, prompting me to use real words like a grown woman.

“Yes,” I say and open up. “Come in and hang out, I just need a quick second, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

I get ready as quickly as I can while Casey chatters away, talking loudly in the other room. I give one-word answers until we head out together, and I don’t bother looking back at the closet door or those files. She takes me down to an American diner-style place with big plush booths and lots of mid-century teal. I get coffee and toast while she requests a huge plate of pancakes.

“I like big breakfasts,” she says. “Please don’t judge.”

“No judgment here.”

“How are you settling in? I know it’s pretty weird, living in a casino like this. Doesn’t get any less weird, unfortunately.”

“I’m okay, honestly. Just been wandering around.”

“Win any more money?”

“No. Been too nervous.”

“Ah, come on. Take that cash you got and donate it back into the slots. It’ll kill an afternoon at least.”

“I’m not much of a gambler if I’m totally honest.”

Casey laughs, leaning on her elbows. “I wasn’t either before I married Adler. I like dealing the cards, but actually playing wasn’t my thing. You know, once you sort of see people screw themselves over and over again, it puts a bad taste in your mouth.”

“What changed?”

“Now the money isn’t real. I mean, it’s real, but it just goes from my pocket back into the casino and back into my pocket again.” She sighs and rubs her thigh. “That must sound awful. I’m really not some spoiled rich girl.”

“I know that. I can tell.” Which is true—she doesn’t have that snooty, born-with-too-much attitude, like the world owes her more. Casey’s down to earth, and I like that about her. “I probably just need more time to acclimate.”

“Acclimate away.”

Our food arrives as we talk about her family, mostly her children. She tells me about the nannies, the guards, even Adler’s mother a little bit. “Don’t worry about her. I’m still pretty sure she hates me.”

“I can’t imagine that’s true.”

“Oh, it definitely is, but I don’t mind. She’s like… she’s sort of like the Sunrise itself. Stuck in another time.”

I chew on that as I drink coffee and have my toast. After a while longer, I feel comfortable and brave enough to ask about her limp. “I know it’s rude, but I’m curious.”

“No, that’s fine, most people want to know but they mostly just dance around it. I’m glad you just asked.”

---