Deadly Odds
an excerpt

Whether you know Atlantic City as The World’s Playgound, America’s Favorite Playground or the City that’s Always Turned On it will probably never truly rival Las Vegas. But since Atlantic City legalized gambling in the mid-1970s, people have always tried to draw comparisons between the two cities. And a few parallels do exist between Vegas and Atlantic City – sand, slots and sleaze. You can probably through Sinatra into the mix as well. Atlantic City is a miniature version of Vegas but built by the Atlantic Ocean. And like any gambling town it is bound to have a certain level of crime and corruption. Atlantic City had all that even before the legalization of gambling. After all, it was a place where those from North Jersey and surrounding cities such as Philadelphia and New York could come to gamble and law enforcement would look the other way. It wasn’t much different from Vegas’ beginnings. Poverty and a failing tourism brought about legalized and state controlled gaming to Atlantic City. You’ll often hear it said in the casino industry “It’s not like going to church.” Its usually said when someone’s language is found offensive or visitors are surprised by the strip clubs and the prostitutes that roam Pacific Avenue or they are shocked that vagrants and drug addicts find their way into the casino. If Vegas is Sin City then Atlantic City could be called Little Sin City.
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As Lindsey frantically dressed and fussed with her shoulder length medium brown hair while getting ready for work, the television blared from the next room. The TV mostly served as background noise but as the newscaster began reporting on the murder of a woman found locally, Lindsey tuned in to listen. While she did not know the woman he spoke about, she found the details of the case eerily haunting. The details disturbed Lindsey. It may have been the grisly means by which the woman’s life had been cut short or perhaps it was the fact that the victim was close in age to her own.
The details were sketchy. But what was known is that the woman was in her early to mid-30s, dark hair and medium build. It was believed that she had been bludgeoned to death. An older gentleman out with his dog for their evening walk had found her body.
The reporter did not identify the woman as her identity remained unknown. No identification was found with or near the victim. According to the newscast it was believed that she had been dead approximately a day or two. It was difficult to determine as the weather had been near freezing for several days and she was partially submerged in marsh water.
The reporter concluded his report and Lindsey went about the business of getting ready for her midnight shift at the casino. If she were going to make it on time she needed to get moving. Fluffing her hair and putting on just enough make-up that she she didn’t look like a corpse herself, Lindsey got herself ready in just under 20 minutes. Running out the door she didn’t give the news report a second thought.
Lindsey raced to work breaking every speed limit. But the traffic lights were in her favor. Flying into the parking lot, Lindsey frantically searched for a parking space. Taking the fist space she could find she was a significant distance from the nearest elevator. As she exited her car and locked the door, thoughts of the newscast about the brutally murdered woman flooded back to Lindsey. Despite the parking garage being dimly lit and dank, Lindsey typically felt comfortable making the trip from her car to the surveillance monitoring room. Tonight was different. She caught herself looking over her shoulder frequently feeling a bit hyper-vigilant. Just feeling this way was disconcerting to Lindsey as she prided herself as being confident and in control.
Making her way onto the elevator, Lindsey let out a sigh of relief as the elevator doors shut behind her. She could breathe easily knowing she was alone and even if someone got on at a lower floor, she had the confidence of knowing that there were security cameras watching her.
Having reached her floor, Lindsey exited the elevator. Feeling a bit lighter now that she was in a public place she let down her guard a bit. She made her way through the smoke filled casino. The slot machines wailed out the usual sound of coins falling into the coin collection tray -- K-ching, cha-ching. Despite the fact that slot machines had long ago ceased paying out in coin the casinos continued to pump in the sound of falling change to create the excitement and anticipation of winning. The clamor enticed would-be players to sit down and try their luck at the one-armed bandits.
Lindsey had become immune to the hollow din but this evening the sound surrounded her offering a sense of comfort it never had before.
By the time Lindsey reached the monitoring room the second shift employees were beginning to file out punching their time card – beep-boop -- as they left. Lindsey and her co-workers exchanged brief niceties as they passed in the hall. There was no time for chatter as Lindsey had arrived just under the wire – as she often would. She could either be viewed as extremely prompt or perpetually running late. Lindsey likes to think of herself as the former. However, it is probable that her co-workers and superiors considered her the latter.
Lindsey’s job as a surveillance officer went one of two ways; either it was a total bore or it was extremely exciting. Since it was Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and in the off-season at that, Lindsey had a feeling she was in for a long slow night.
There is something a bit voyeuristic about being the “eye in the sky.” Lindsey considered it a people-watching job but for some on the job it bordered on a perversion.