3/

"Where's Sam?"

Ed Deline walked up behind his daughter who was working on some menu changes at the bar in Mystique. Turning around to look at her father, the blonde haired woman shrugged, "Don't know. She came tearing in here asking about a client and I told her that I saw him getting into a limo and going to the Bellagio."

The man just looked at her, uninterested, "And?"

"And," she said with a sigh, "Sam got pissed, made a phone call and got more pissed and left. I don't know where she went."

"Perfect," Deline sighed.

"Why? What's wrong?" Delinda inquired.

"Well, I had to go pick Jasmine up from school, but an important matter popped up and I can't do it."

"Oh," his daughter said, turning back around in her chair.

"Unless..." Ed said.

"Unless what, Dad?" Delinda asked as she wrote some notes out.

"Well, unless you wouldn't mind picking her up and bringing her back here," He said hopefully.

"Dad," she said with a sigh, "I have to get these menus finished, Gunther's having tissy fit over something so I have to make sure that he doesn't get drunk and refuse to lift a spatula, plus, Mary comped some people who couldn't get tickets to the Blue Man Group."

"Blue Man Group? They are at the Luxor," Ed said.

"I know, but apparently they are friends of her's or something and she felt guilty, I don't know."

"So, you won't do it?" Her father asked.

"I can't, Dad, I'm sorry."

"Okay," Ed said softly as he turned to go. "You know," he said, turning back around again, a smile on his face. "I remember when you used to fit in these hands, you were so beautiful, you still are... I'd feed you, play with you, when your mother was tired and I was at home, I'd get up in the middle of the night and feed and change you, I taught you how to ride a two wheeler, taught you how to dance... I think I even came to pick you up a few times when you were in high school and you went to parties and someone broke out the liquor. I can't remember, sweetheart, did your mother ever find out?" Shrugging, he added, "Well, I guess it doesn't really matter anymore, does it?" He stopped, still smiling at his daughter, "It's funny how fast the years fly by."

Sighing deeply, Delinda put her head in her hands, "What time does the school let out?" She asked as Ed headed out.

Her father turned and looked at her, "3:30, but if you can't make it..."

Delinda silenced him with an icy glare, "Like I have a choice?"

Smiling, Ed walked over and kissed her forehead, "I appreciate it, honey, thank you."

Turning to leave, Delinda continued to bore her eyes into the back of her father's head, "Bringing the parties up was a low blow, Daddy!"

Sam pulled her car into the parking lot of the Bellagio and walked in. Looking around as she walked into the hotel, she looked up and followed the signs and soon found herself in the casino. Walking in, she was undaunted by the sounds of the sirens, alarms, bells and whistles which were a staple of casino life.

As she passed a roulette wheel, she spotted a blonde woman cheering on a man. "Lauren!" Sam called out.

The woman spun around on her heel and grinned, "Samantha Jane. What brings you to this part of the strip?"

"Whale thieves aren't looked upon very kindly," she responded as she approached them. Looking at the man, who was obviously on a roll, she said, "Alan, the Montecito comped your suite and meals in hopes that you'd play there, what happened?"

Alan Polk looked at his former casino host, "That blonde woman told me that she couldn't comp my meals and suggested I try the Bellagio."

"What blonde woman?" Sam demanded, although she already had an idea who the said 'blonde woman' was.

"Belinda, I think was her name."

"Delinda," Sam corrected through clenched teeth. As she balled her fists up at her sides, she said, "Fine, you stay here, but expect a bill to be delivered here from the Montecito, which we expect will be paid."

That said, the woman turned on her heel and walked out.

Ed walked into First Security Bank and smiled at the woman behind the counter. "Hey, Trish, do I still have any money in this joint?"

The woman laughed as she nodded, "Good morning, Mr. Deline, and yes, I believe you still have a nickel or two in here."

Grinning, the man said, "Good. Listen, I need to make a large withdrawal from my personal account. Is Mr. Goodwin around?"

Trish nodded, "Yeah, let me call him, why don't you have a seat?"

Nodding, Ed walked over and sat down in a large plush leather chair as he waited. Moments later, a stocky man walked out into the lobby, "Ed!"

Deline turned around and smiled as he stood up, "Lamar, how are you?" Extending his hand, the two men greeted each other.

"I'm good, how have you been? That little girl you are raising doing okay?"

Ed smiled softly as he nodded, "Yeah," he agreed, "she's great." Eager to change the subject, he said, "Listen, I need to make a withdrawal and it's a pretty hefty one."

"Say no more," Lamar said as he led the other man into his office. Closing the door behind him, the bank president gestured for Ed to take a seat in one of the guest chairs as he sat behind his desk. "Your personal account I take it?"

Ed nodded, "Yeah,"

Goodwin nodded as he punched his keyboard for a few minutes, pulling up Ed's account. "So how's Sam?"

Swallowing a sigh, Deline nodded, "Good, she's good. Uh, Lamar, I'm in a bit of a rush here."

"Oh, sure, sure. I've got your account pulled up, how much do you need to take out?"

"30,000."

Lamar let out a low whistle, "You planning on making a charity donation?"

"Yeah," Ed said impatiently, "I'm donating to the 'I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't hurry the hell up fund'. That is tax deductible, right?"

Smirking at his friend, Goodwin said, "Yeah, yeah." After computing a few things, he stood up, "Okay, if you'll just wait right here, I'll go down to the vault and get you your money. How do you want it? Big bills or small ones?"

"Hundreds will be fine, thanks."

Nodding, Lamar left his office, leaving Ed to look around. His eyes zeroed in on a photo on Goodwin's desk. Reaching down, he picked it up and sighed deeply when he saw it was a picture of Goodwin, his wife, Ed and Jillian. Frowning, Ed ran a finger over the glass. "God," he whispered, "has it only been a little over a year?" Hearing the approaching footsteps of Goodwin, Ed quickly placed the photograph back down on the mahogany surface of the desk just before Lamar entered.

Extending his hand, Goodwin handed Ed a small case, "Your money."

"Thanks," Ed said as he accepted.

"I need your John Hancock on this please," He said as he handed Ed a clipboard. "Basically saying that you withdrew the money and we aren't liable for it once it leaves the building."

Deline nodded as he signed the paperwork, "Okay, thanks, Lamar, I appreciate it."

Lamar nodded as he shook Ed's hand, "Pleasure doing business with you, Ed. You take care of yourself."

Ed smiled, "I will, kiss Theresa for me."

The bank president nodded again as Ed left his office. Walking out into the parking lot, Ed fished his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door of his silver Aston-Martin convertible. He always loved to drive the sexy automobile when he conducted business. For a reason unexplainable to Deline, it made him feel like people would take him more serious. Of course, Deline told himself, there was always the strong possibility that if the person he was doing business with didn't take him seriously, than they'd end up leaving with two broken legs. Chuckling to himself, he started up the car and sped out of the parking lot, en route back to the Montecito.