Free The Set Up by Sophie McKenzie

her. Some chance.
    ‘I’ll get the drinks,’ I said. ‘What d’you want?’
    Ed glanced at Ketty again.
    ‘Coke please,’ she said.
    ‘Me too,’ Ed said, clearly relieved she hadn’t asked for an alcoholic drink.
    I rolled my eyes and turned to the bar. I had my fake ID all ready to ask for a beer, but decided to try Jack’s password instead. As soon as I said ‘white flag’, the barman nodded.
    ‘Sure. No charge, mate.’
    Wow. For a second, I was tempted to get myself a triple vodka or something on top of the beer. Then I remembered why I was here – and that, as soon as Jack took Ed away, I was going to have to show Ketty I could juggle with seven objects. Better to keep a clear head and stick to a small beer.
    After a few minutes, while the three of us sipped our drinks and looked round, Jack sent me a text:
    Back room. Left of gents. Come alone.
    I made an excuse and left Ketty and Ed by the bar. There was a bouncer on the door next to the toilet. I said the ‘white flag’ password again. The bouncer opened the door and stood back to let me pass.
    Feeling a little unsettled, I walked into a small cloakroom, where a woman in a silver dress was checking in coats and bags. I didn’t have anything with me, so she just yawned and waved me through to the main room. It was buzzing, with slot machines against one wall, four card tables at one end and a roulette wheel in the middle. Staff wearing silver shirts (for the men) or silver dresses (for the women) wandered about with drink trays. Another man was calling out numbers by the roulette table, which was crowded with people watching the wheel spin.
    Silver lights made the room sparkle. Both the walls and the floor seemed to be covered with dark red velvet. I’d only ever seen rooms like this in films.
    Jack appeared beside me in another smart designer suit.
    ‘Is this a casino?’ I said.
    He nodded. ‘A small one.’
    A couple walked past. The woman stared at me. I suddenly realised how out of place I must look – at least five years younger than everyone else in the room.
    ‘What’s the plan, then?’ I said, wondering why Jack hadn’t come out to speak to Ed in the main bar.
    He laughed. ‘That’s what I love about you, Nico, you’re up for anything.’
    I glanced at him, suddenly worried. Did he expect me to play cards or something? I had no idea how to do anything more complicated than ‘snap’.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ Jack said, misunderstanding my anxiety. ‘The owner’s a business contact of mine. No one’s going to challenge you.’
    ‘Okay, but . . .’
    ‘So Edward and this girl of yours are out by the bar,’ Jack interrupted.
    ‘She’s not . . . er, yup, but . . .’
    ‘And they’re friends too? I mean, I know Edward’s only just met her, but he likes her . . . they get on?’
    ‘Yeah.’ I thought of Ed’s smile when I’d told him Ketty was interested. ‘I think he likes her a lot, actually, but I don’t see how that’s relevant. I mean, I don’t think Ed’s going to be able to handle this room,’ I said. ‘Even if he gets over the shock of seeing you, which I doubt.’
    ‘He just needs a nudge.’ Jack grinned.
    He glanced across the room at a middle-aged woman in a smart black dress. She was watching us talk, an expression of deep interest on her face.
    ‘What d’you mean?’ I asked, feeling confused. ‘I thought you just wanted to talk to him?’
    ‘Mmm . . . slight change of plan,’ Jack said. ‘But don’t worry, you’ll still end up with loads of cash.’
    ‘But . . .’ I knew that I’d told Jack I wanted money. But that had only been in order to impress Ketty. Now that I’d realised flashing expensive stuff in her direction really wasn’t going to work, I just wanted a chance to talk to her alone. ‘You are going to take Ed off, aren’t you?’
    ‘All in good time.’ Jack grinned. ‘Now, I want you to go back outside with Edward and . . . what’s your friend’s