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“Thefts while patrons were here at the Black Star.”
A small snort escaped me. “Pickpockets at the Black Star? If that’s what’s got you so worried, why not talk to Sakkar? I’m sure he and Laux could tighten up security on the floor.”
Draven shook his head. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about people’s homes getting robbed while they’re out here. Details from their businesses suddenly getting leaked. As if someone is keeping tabs on them when they’re here.”
That gave me pause. Draven wasn’t finished, though. “There’s also been several complaints about percomms being hacked while they’re here.”
“Is there anything in common with the people who’ve complained?” I asked, already trying to draw any connections I could. Maybe it was certain people or districts being targeted. Or these patrons were hired by one of our rivals to stir up trouble and spread rumors.
“Not from what we’ve been able to find,” Draven said, standing up as he did. “Nothing in affiliation or species or income. No social connections even. Which means this isn’t targeted toward specific people.”
I grimaced. “It’s targeted toward the Black Star.”
A curt nod from Draven. “People are starting to talk. They think we may be responsible for this. That the Black Star has started investing into some more shady means of business.”
And that was the most damning problem of all. If this problem of theirs didn’t get cleared up soon, people would think the Vinduthi stole from them. The Black Star Casino would lose business and its credibility. Their reputation would be shot, and building back a rep was no easy job. People already feared the Vinduthi but at least they had believed the casino was honest and fair. If that fell apart, it would be hard to win them back.
It also aligned all too closely with what I had just learned about Conii and Amber. I had hoped to keep her involvement and the whole conspiracy quiet until I had more information and a solid plan of action. There was no sense in taking down a few moles if the real threat was still there.
Normally, I knew Draven wouldn’t mind this approach. He liked it best when he had all the information rather than fragments and stories. Clearly, though, the situation was getting out of hand already.
“You’re certain these complaints are legitimate?” I asked.
“Very,” Draven said, his tone grave. “Even Banek was involved in one of these thefts.”
That made me sit up a bit straighter. “Banek? What happened to him?”
“He claims, and we’ve verified, that a bottle of Night Wish was stolen from his bar.”
Night Wish was an incredibly expensive type of spirits that only the big spenders ever know to ask about. Not just anyone would have known where it was, let alone that he carried it at his bar. Those wealthy enough to be in the know were hardly the type for petty theft. Resold on the market, it could go for a hefty sum of money.
I tapped the edge of the desk restlessly. “How was Banek involved exactly?”
“Banek was in a private room talking about it with some of his friends.” Draven raised a hand, already anticipating my next question. “I’ve already had Thelev look into his guests. They’re as clean as they can be for being Banek’s friends. We don’t believe they were involved.”
A small growl escaped me. If Banek had been targeted, too, that meant these claims really were legitimate.
“So tell me,” Draven continued, turning to face me. “What do you know about any of this?”
As entertainment director, it was an unspoken part of my job to know the patrons. To analyze them, not just to know what would entertain them but what would endanger them. It was the reason Draven had put me where he had.
Now he was looking expectantly for answers. For a moment, I thought of deflecting the question and coming up with something that wasn’t quite a lie. I wasn’t ready to expose Amber and my scheme quite yet.
But Draven had a look in his eye that said he meant all business and would accept nothing less than the truth. Not when the Black Star’s reputation was teetering on the edge of disaster.
I let out a long sigh. “I know we have a mole problem. And before you jump down my throat about it, I have a plan and I don’t want you to freak out when you hear what I have to say.”
Draven narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak.
Sitting up a bit straighter in the chair, I tried to emulate control. Because anything less and Draven absolutely would sound the alarm on this. “I caught a mole who was working on some of the patrons for information just like you said. When I interrogated her about her employer, she admitted she’s working for Conii.”
At that name, Draven went very still and his eyes widened a fraction. Then he set his jaw. “You found one of Conii’s people working my casino, and you didn’t tell me right away?”
I nodded, not letting his scathing look deter me in any way. “Like I told you, I have a plan. The girl isn’t one of Conii’s committed fanatics. She’s being blackmailed into doing this. I’ve convinced her to report to us on what she’s doing and who she’s talking to.”
Draven stared me down a minute more before finally speaking. “And who is this girl you’ve put so much trust in?”
Yep, Draven definitely didn’t like this plan. As much as I would have liked to have kept Amber out of it, there was no going back now. “Her name is Amber, and she’s a hostess.”
