H e ’ s added you at the front desk to his appointment list, but not as Calvin Watters. ”
Great. This was getting weirder by the minute.
“ The cover story is that you ’ re Winston Coburn III, a n heir who owns three casinos in Atlantic City and is thinking of expanding his operations to Vegas. ” Pitt came back out of the closet holding two shopping bags. “ Coburn is only in town for two days to check out available properties—small casinos. Start small and build. He ’ s meeting with Grant to get his advice about which casinos he should take an interest in and discuss the possibility of a joint venture, if not with Grant himself, then with his son, Shawn. ”
“ So I just walk in? ”
“ Yes. You ’ ll go in, flash a business card that states you ’ re the CEO of three casinos in Jersey and the security guards will confirm that you ’ re on the appointment list. Then you go up to Grant ’ s penthouse office on the twenty-fifth floor. ”
Calvin scowled. “ Do I look like I own three casinos? ”
“ You ’ ll have everything you need to complete the image. Besides, it doesn ’ t matter what the guards think about your appearance. They ’ ll assume you ’ re eccentric. Y ou wouldn ’ t be the only one from New Jersey like that. ”
He still didn ’ t like it. “ Why the disguise exactly ? ”
“ People know you , know what you do . You ’ d stand out anywhere unless we disguise you . And Grant doesn ’ t want you identified. ” From one of the bags, he pulled a Panama hat with an encircling wide brim. “ Here. Put this on. It should fit. ”
Calvin donned the hat and tugged the brim down over his brow. He glanced over one shoulder and caught his reflection in the mirror by the bar. Shit…I look like a fool. Pitt was right , though. The hat distracted attention from his face and hair.
“ G ood , ” Pitt said. “ Now put on these glasses. ” He handed Calvin a pair of large-framed sunglasses, which hid a good deal of his face.
“ Last but not least… ” Pitt reached into the second bag and pulled out a long , tan overc oat.
Without a word, Calvi n put on the coat . It was roomy , even on him , with a loose neck line that he could t uck his woven dreadlocks in to . The cuffs reached past his wrists and cover ed his body tattoos. The coat , which extended past hi s knees , was long and baggy enough to conceal his physique. “ I look ridiculous. Is all of this really necessary? ”
A black man with no distinguishing features.
Pitt shrugged. “ I ’ ve seen worse … maybe. It ’ s an odd combination, but as a partial disguise, it ’ s great. ”
“ Well, I ’ m taking this off now . ” Calvin remov ed the hat, glasses and coat. “ I ’ ll put them back on when I get to the parking lot of Grant ’ s building. ”
“ Fine. Here ’ s your Winston Coburn III business card , e ngraved, embossed and on special paper. ”
He studied the card . It was impressive and not something Pitt would have thought of or paid for. What the hell am I walking into? And who else i s in on it? Grant ? “ Anything else ? ”
“ In case there ’ s a problem with your listed appointment, you should know that Dixie called the front desk yesterday afternoon as your secretary. She said Grant was very interested in meeting you on your brief trip here and he ’ s agreed to your request for an ea rly - morning appointment. ”
“ How early? ”
“ Nine thirty . The front desk isn ’ t going to disturb a man like Grant to confirm an appointment until you show up. Then they ’ ll call him to confirm. If he doesn ’ t answer, they ’ ll assume he stepped out for a minute because he ’ s intrigued by this unexpected opportunity to t alk business with Mr. Coburn. ”
Calvin chewed on this information for a moment. “ Why are you giving me so many details? You ’ ve never done that with any jobs before. ”
“ This is the big one, ” Pitt said . “ Whatever you have to do to get
Great. This was getting weirder by the minute.
“ The cover story is that you ’ re Winston Coburn III, a n heir who owns three casinos in Atlantic City and is thinking of expanding his operations to Vegas. ” Pitt came back out of the closet holding two shopping bags. “ Coburn is only in town for two days to check out available properties—small casinos. Start small and build. He ’ s meeting with Grant to get his advice about which casinos he should take an interest in and discuss the possibility of a joint venture, if not with Grant himself, then with his son, Shawn. ”
“ So I just walk in? ”
“ Yes. You ’ ll go in, flash a business card that states you ’ re the CEO of three casinos in Jersey and the security guards will confirm that you ’ re on the appointment list. Then you go up to Grant ’ s penthouse office on the twenty-fifth floor. ”
Calvin scowled. “ Do I look like I own three casinos? ”
“ You ’ ll have everything you need to complete the image. Besides, it doesn ’ t matter what the guards think about your appearance. They ’ ll assume you ’ re eccentric. Y ou wouldn ’ t be the only one from New Jersey like that. ”
He still didn ’ t like it. “ Why the disguise exactly ? ”
“ People know you , know what you do . You ’ d stand out anywhere unless we disguise you . And Grant doesn ’ t want you identified. ” From one of the bags, he pulled a Panama hat with an encircling wide brim. “ Here. Put this on. It should fit. ”
Calvin donned the hat and tugged the brim down over his brow. He glanced over one shoulder and caught his reflection in the mirror by the bar. Shit…I look like a fool. Pitt was right , though. The hat distracted attention from his face and hair.
“ G ood , ” Pitt said. “ Now put on these glasses. ” He handed Calvin a pair of large-framed sunglasses, which hid a good deal of his face.
“ Last but not least… ” Pitt reached into the second bag and pulled out a long , tan overc oat.
Without a word, Calvi n put on the coat . It was roomy , even on him , with a loose neck line that he could t uck his woven dreadlocks in to . The cuffs reached past his wrists and cover ed his body tattoos. The coat , which extended past hi s knees , was long and baggy enough to conceal his physique. “ I look ridiculous. Is all of this really necessary? ”
A black man with no distinguishing features.
Pitt shrugged. “ I ’ ve seen worse … maybe. It ’ s an odd combination, but as a partial disguise, it ’ s great. ”
“ Well, I ’ m taking this off now . ” Calvin remov ed the hat, glasses and coat. “ I ’ ll put them back on when I get to the parking lot of Grant ’ s building. ”
“ Fine. Here ’ s your Winston Coburn III business card , e ngraved, embossed and on special paper. ”
He studied the card . It was impressive and not something Pitt would have thought of or paid for. What the hell am I walking into? And who else i s in on it? Grant ? “ Anything else ? ”
“ In case there ’ s a problem with your listed appointment, you should know that Dixie called the front desk yesterday afternoon as your secretary. She said Grant was very interested in meeting you on your brief trip here and he ’ s agreed to your request for an ea rly - morning appointment. ”
“ How early? ”
“ Nine thirty . The front desk isn ’ t going to disturb a man like Grant to confirm an appointment until you show up. Then they ’ ll call him to confirm. If he doesn ’ t answer, they ’ ll assume he stepped out for a minute because he ’ s intrigued by this unexpected opportunity to t alk business with Mr. Coburn. ”
Calvin chewed on this information for a moment. “ Why are you giving me so many details? You ’ ve never done that with any jobs before. ”
“ This is the big one, ” Pitt said . “ Whatever you have to do to get
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