Free Ray Hoy - Jack Frost 01 - The Vegas Factor by Ray Hoy Page B

pushed the bedroom door open with my right foot and walked in. The covers were already turned back. I lowered her into bed and covered her. She rolled over on her right side, her long black hair spilling over the pillow, big eyes looking sleepily up at me.
    Before I turned to leave, she was sound asleep. I quietly shut the door behind me and walked back down the hallway. Andy was standing by the fireplace waiting for me, a brandy in each hand. He offered me one, which I gratefully accepted.
    “I don’t normally drink brandy at this time in the morning, but this is special.”
    “Indeed it is,” I said. We toasted each other.
    “Jilly said you didn’t have too much trouble getting her out of there,” Andy said. “That surprised me.”
    “Varchetta evidently didn’t think we would move that quickly—if at all. We were fortunate.” I told him about Benny, and Varchetta’s offer to let him watch. Andy swore with conviction. He was nearly Benny’s size, but perhaps sixty years old, and looked to be in good condition.  
    We talked for a while. After Jonathan Flynn had been killed, Andy had sold his entire racing stable and gone into retirement. The enjoyment and excitement that the racing game offered had died along with his friend.
    I brought him up to date on what had happened with Felicia since Flynn’s funeral. Andy sat there, his face mellow. He shook his head. “I have to tell you, Jack, that I’m happy to have her back in this house.”
    I told him about the five thousand dollars in winnings. “I’d say you had a pretty successful night,” he said with a laugh. But after a few moments his face grew serious. “Uh, Jilly said you wanted to use my cabin up in the hills behind Virginia City.”
    I nodded. “I think it’s a good idea if we disappear for a few weeks. Felicia is not in good shape, Andy. I know this scared the hell out of her, but people in her mental state—and with her substance abuse problem—have poor memories and even worse judgment.
    “Jilly and I both agree with you. You’re welcome to use the cabin for as long as you want.” He hesitated. “I reckon Felicia told you that she and Jon spent some time together up there.”
    “She did.” I could see that he wanted to say more, but didn’t know how to go about it. “You’re wondering how she’ll feel about my being there,” I said.
    “Yeah, I guess I am,” he said.
    “I’ll make it as painless as possible. I don’t want to step on any old memories. Right now I’m more worried about her safety.”
    “You’re right of course,” he said. “You want to hang around here for a few days before you go on up there?”
    “Let’s see how she feels in the morning.” The tension had gone out of me, the warmth and security of the house had worked its magic spell, and suddenly I felt like Raggedy Andy. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. I leaned back against the sofa. “Andy, I’m out of gas. Been a long day.”
    “With what you’ve just gone through, that’s sure understandable. Your bedroom is the first door on the left, Jack.”
    I got to my feet, feeling old and used. I shook hands with Andy and tottered off down the hallway. As I started to enter my room, I glanced back down the hallway. Andy was still standing there with his thoughts, staring down at the floor.
    * * *
    I was up early. I rummaged around the kitchen, found the makings for coffee, and was having my second cup when Andy came lumbering down the hallway in his bathrobe, wearing a worried look.
    “Morning, Andy,” I said.
    “Morning, Jack.” He motioned back down the hallway with his head. “Felicia’s awake, I can hear her in her bathroom, retching all over the place.”
    “Maybe she caught cold, running through that rainstorm wearing just that flimsy dress.”
    “Maybe.”  
    He didn’t sound convinced. I poured him a cup of coffee. “I’m going to take her out and buy her some new clothes with the five grand Varchetta donated,”