Free Point Blank (Sisterhood Book 26) by Fern Michaels Page B

hand. Dix had stood in for him on the two occasions when he’d gone to China to get the lay of the land, so he was privy to all of that. This third trip fell right into that plan, so maybe the ex-spook wouldn’t ask too many questions.
    Three sharp knocks on the door—Dix’s announcement of his presence. Bert pressed a button, and the hydraulic door hissed open.
    The piercing blue eyes took everything in at one glance, Bert’s casual attire of jeans, Izod pullover, Nike running shoes, the duffel bag by the door. “Nothing like waiting for the last minute to tell me you were leaving,” Dix said lazily as he flopped down on one of the three ergonomic chairs in the office. That was another thing about Dix—he was like a bendable Gumby, loose as a goose.
    “Cut the shit, Dix. You knew I was making the trip the minute I got off the phone with the boss. And that was twenty-three hours ago. Gossip leaks like a sieve in this place. Plus, I know you saw the car waiting for me out front. Right or wrong?”
    “On the money, boss, on the money.” Dix grinned, revealing a magnificent array of pearly whites. “I was just making conversation. Any special instructions while you’re gone? And how long do you plan to be away?”
    “Just run the place like I do. It’s up in the air. Those guys like to mess around and stall and make you sweat. I’m thinking three days. If I don’t make any progress, I’ll take my marbles and come home. I’m meeting up with Todd from the Wynn and Big Al from the Sands first. I think it’s a go. Clinching the deal is step two. In other words, it all depends how bad they piss me off.
    “We talked about this already, Dix. Tell me now if you are having any second thoughts. You sure you want to run the Macau casino? Life will be quite different over there, as you well know. I’m not signing on any dotted line until I have your full commitment.”
    Dix laughed. It was a deep rumble of sound. “Told you I’d give it five years as long as I got a piece of the action, and Annie and you both agreed to that. That’s a piece plus my salary. Just so we’re clear on that. At the end of the five years, I want the option of bugging out so I can buy an island somewhere and live off my dividends while I’m being catered to twenty-four seven. That’s the deal.”
    “Okay. When I get back, we’ll put it together if it’s a go, and then you can take up residence in Hong Kong until the casino in Macau is completed. Then it becomes your headache.”
    His blue eyes locked on Bert. “Why don’t you tell me now why you’re really going over there? Yeah, yeah, I heard everything you said, but there’s another reason, isn’t there?”
    The guy was good, he had to give him that. “NTK, pal.”
    “Need to know, my ass, Bert. Come on, level with me. This is me you’re talking to, pal. I thought we were best buds.”
    “Can’t, Dix. Boss’s orders. You know how that goes. Hold the fort. You have my number. Call me if anything goes awry. Gotta run.”
    Dix was up and out of the chair he’d been sitting on. The piercing blue eyes narrowed to slits. “This isn’t shits and giggles, is it, Bert? This isn’t even really all about the casino, either, is it?”
    “No, Dix, it is not shits and giggles.”
    “Okay, you need some guys, let me know. I know quite a few in the Orient who would jump at the chance to help if need be.” Bert nodded as he slapped Dix on the back.
    “I’ll be in touch. Make sure those four weddings in the chapel go off smoothly.” Bert laughed out loud at the look on Dix’s face. He hated chapel duty. Especially when the preacher was an Elvis stand-in.
    Ten minutes later, Bert hunkered down into the backseat of the casino car and closed his eyes. What the hell was he getting himself into? His least favorite people in the whole world were the Chinese. There was no trust there, no code of honor. At least that he could see.
    He hated Hong Kong. Almost as much as he hated Macau.