CHPATER 7

On a perfectly clear night in Las Vegas, and with the expected crowd of celebrities and eager sports fans piling in to the MGM Grand, the two biggest heavyweights in the world prepare to meet after an eight-month dance around and toward each other.

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Ian walked out of the casino toward "Saul" who was waiting for his package.

"Mr. Kowalski?" he said as he came up beside Gideon.

"Mr. Doyle," Gideon replied without looking at Ian.

"I'm very busy tonight. Are we on schedule?" he asked bluntly and Gideon smirked.

"I have no reason to suspect otherwise," Gideon said. "My couriers should be here momentarily." At that point, a black Lincoln rolled up to the curb of the hotel and Shawn and Eliot stepped out with Eliot holding the briefcase. He then cuffed the case to Gideon's wrist after some D.C. slang was exchanged.

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"Eighteen; Blackjack!" Derek looked up from where he was dealing blackjack to see Gideon and the others coming down the aisle. Ian looked to the right to see Spencer sitting at a slot machine. He quickly motioned to one of his guards.

"Find Mr. Hankel. Tell him Dr. Reid is in the west slots." The guard nodded and went off to do his boss' bidding. "I'm afraid I can't have any private security personnel in the casino cages," he said to Saul. "I hope you understand."

"Of course," Saul answered. He had expected that. What he didn't expect was someone to blow his cover.

"Jason! Jason Gideon!"

Gideon's eyes went wide behind his sunglasses. His face was expressionless. Ian looked at Gideon suspiciously as he looked at the owner of the voice.

The men looked at Shawn and Eliot grabbing hold of a dishelved man with a bad suntan.

"Giddy, it's me! Bettin' Pete, from Sarasota!" The man said.

Gideon took one look at the man. "Ruben. Ishmael."

Shawn and Eliot nodded and they took Bettin' Pete away from the scene. Gideon turned to Ian.

"Mr. Doyle, please. I have never enjoyed the touch of steel to my skin." Doyle just smirked as they continued their destination. Once they got there, Ian then proceeded to check the briefcase.

"Lift them up," he told Saul who complied and lifted the jewels. Ian continued his procedure until he was satisfied. "Mr. Kowalski, I acknowledge that your briefcase contains no dangerous or illicit material and I further agree to take said briefcase and store it in my vault for a period of 24 hours. Now I cannot actually allow you to accompany the briefcase into the vault."

"Why not?" Saul didn't foresee this happening either and Ian smirked.

"Well, insurance for one, security for another; but most of all, I just don't trust you." Gideon smirked; Ian was a hard guy to get by. There was a knock on the door and Ian excused himself to answer it. Tobias Hankel walked in and talked to Doyle in a small voice.

"I put two plainclothes on Reid. He's in the Keno bar now." Doyle nodded and walked toward Saul.

"Mr. Kowalski, this is my casino manager, Mr. Tobias Hankel. If you will allow him, he will have your briefcase stored in your vault while you watch. Those are my terms: yes or no?"

"You leave me no choice," Gideon sighed as he uncuffed his hand.

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Shawn and Eliot, in waiter's outfits, rolled the dinning cart into the back entrance to the hotel and through a series of hallways until they reached the room with the rest of the drifters.

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Ashley was standing by a pillar, waiting for Ian to come out.

"Deep breaths; you'll do fine," came Garcia's voice through the earpiece.

"Thank you," Ashley said as she sighed.

"No sweat, chica. You're a natural. But don't screw up." Ashley was taken aback and glared at the security camera in which she knew Garcia would see.

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Gatsby and Penelope laughed at Ashley's look as Shawn and Eliot pushed the cart into the room.

"Who get's the penne?" Eliot asked.

"Right here," Garcia replied as the boys lifted the tablecloth to reveal a casino cage beneath it.

"You ready?" Gatsby asked Parker as she finished wrapping her hand. The blond teen nodded.

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"This is our security center, where you'll oversee the casino and the vault," Ian told Gideon. "You'll be able to monitor your briefcase from here." Ian looked at his watch as Gideon looked on.

"Don't let me keep you," he said sincerely. The sooner Ian left the better.

"Mr. Kowalski."

"Mr. Doyle."