Free The Night Monster by James Swain Page A

usual madness, and I darted between lanes while trying to focus on the task at hand. My wife believed that everything happened for a reason, and I wondered what was the reason behind this sudden turn of events in my life.
    Exiting on 441, I headed south into Hollywood, the massive casino looming in the distance. Back when I was a kid, the Seminoles had made money giving airboat rides to tourists and putting on rinky-dink rodeos with the headlights of their pickups used to light up the ring. Now they were on top of the world and worth billions.
    Entering the casino grounds, I called Black Cloud on my cell. He was there to greet me when my car was taken by the valet. He was a big man, with jet-black hair that cascaded onto his shoulders and a chiseled face that looked like something you’d see on a statue in a park. He’d done two tours of duty in Vietnam and come home with shrapnel in one of his legs. He walked with a limp but refused to carry a cane.
    “It’s been too long,” Black Cloud said, pumping my hand.
    “You look good,” I said.
    “You’re lying. I look old and tired. What’s with the dog?”
    “He’s my partner. Can I bring him inside?”
    “Sure. We don’t have a problem with dogs.”
    I followed him into the bustling casino. Everywhere I looked, little old ladies with arms like Popeye were yanking on slot machines, while men chomping on cigars were risking hundreds of dollars on the turn of a card. I couldn’t look at it without remembering the cow pasture that had been here not that long ago.
    Once inside an elevator, Black Cloud activated the control panel with a special key, and we were delivered to the fourth floor where the surveillance control room was located.
    “Welcome to the inner sanctum,” he said.
    We walked down a short hallway to an unmarked steel door with a surveillance camera perched above it. Black Cloud knocked loudly, then faced me.
    “We have a small problem,” he said.
    “What’s that?” I asked.
    “There’s a sting going on inside the casino. Our security team is trying to nab a group of cheaters. You’re going to have to wait until they’re done.”
    “Any idea how long?”
    “Could be awhile. These people have stolen a lot of money from us. We need to catch them before they do it again.”
    I didn’t like the sound of that. I’d already wasted most of the day, and every lost hour increased the chance that I’d never find Sara Long. Before I could reply, the steel door swung in and a short man wearing a black turtleneck greeted us.
    “Hey, Chief,” the man in the turtleneck said.
    “Hey, Harry,” Black Cloud replied. “Any luck catching those cheaters?”
    “Not yet.”
    Harry ushered us into the room and shut the door. Dark and chilly, the surveillance control room was crammed with sophisticated surveillance equipment that watched the action in the casino. A gang of technicians sat in front of a row of computers, staring intently at the flickering screens.
    “Harry, I want you to meet Jack Carpenter and his dog,” BlackCloud said. “Jack is an ex-Broward detective and a friend of the casino. He’s also part Seminole, so watch what you say around him.”
    The man in the turtleneck pumped my hand. Beads of sweat dotted his brow, and I could tell that something was bothering him.
    “Nice to meet you,” Harry said.
    “Same here,” I replied.
    “I need to run,” Black Cloud said. “Good luck in your search.”
    “What can I do for you?” Harry asked when Black Cloud had left.
    “I’m looking for a missing college girl that was in your casino two nights ago,” I replied. “There was a man stalking her. I’m hoping one of your surveillance cameras took a photo of him.”
    “We’re dealing with a situation inside the casino right now,” Harry said. “Once we’re done, I’ll do what I can to help you.”
    I followed Harry to the back of the room. Five men were huddled around a high-resolution monitor showing a blackjack game. The game