DRAGNET
(The Borgata Episode)
6/14-16/05
(MUSIC THEME) DUMMMMM, DA-DUM-DUMMM
This is the city - Atlantic City. I play here. I am Westie and I
carry a slot card - number 714.
The story you are about to read is true; only the names have been
changed to protect the innocent.
It was Tuesday, June 14th. It was cloudy, but 90 degrees and muggy
in Connecticut. We were working the day watch out of the Bunko
Detail when the call came in. My partner is Ms. Westie. My boss is
also Ms. Westie.
The Boss received a Code 2 request from the Atlantic City, NJ station
for two trained VP Players for a special detail to Borgata. There
were unconfirmed rumors that several of the 9/6 JOB VP machines were
poised to be hit and we were long overdue. There was also a report
from a confidential informant that Borgata Babes (cocktail
waitresses) were being required to wear size-2 outfits and the casino
was catering to the young, affluent NY City and Philly-types. To
avoid drawing suspicion, we agreed to work this assignment undercover
as middle-class seniors from Connecticut.
We arrived at 1400 hours and parked on level 3-D of the Borgata
parking garage. After taking the elevator down to the casino level,
I stood in line at check-in while Ms. Westie staked out the area
outside the Living Room.
I immediately ID'd a suspicious looking character posing as an angel
statute. Others in line may have fallen for this ruse, but I quickly
determined this babe was no angel when she waived a pinky at me. I
had met this doll back in the late 90's when she was a juvie, known
as Candi Cane, working in the old Boom Boom Room. Living and working
in Connecticut became unhealthy for her after ratting out mobster
Frankie "The Beak" Falcono. Rumor circulating the precinct was the
Feds had placed her under the witness protection system. I wonder if
she misses her old life as a party doll?
I was asked to show a DL, credit card and my badge at check-in. I
requested, a non-smoking room overlooking the bay in order to conduct
surveillance of the traffic between Harrahs and Borgata. One of my
snitches reports members of a certain AC discussion board are working
a free parking scam involving the two casinos. Our last objective
was to confirm and, as required, update the Borgata's video poker
inventory on the VPFree casino database.
The check-in clerk began to explain about the official check-in time,
but I interrupted. "Just the facts ma'am, do you or do you not have
a room available"? We were quickly assigned a nonsmoking room
overlooking the employee-parking garage with distant views of both
the bay and Harrah's.
The following summarizes the results of our two-day investigation as
well as the final disposition of each case:
Charge #1: The 9/6 JOB machines were overdue to be hit for a royal
flush.
Verdict: Not guilty. After hours of serious play and several
near misses, we failed to ID a royal on any
VP screen.
Charge #2: Borgata Babes are required to wear size-2 outfits or face
termination.
Verdict: Not guilty. No need to recall Arnold. After hours of
surveillance, I saw several Borgata Babes
that had moved up a size or two, if not an
entire weight class.
Charge #3: Borgata's target market is the young, affluent NY-Philly
types.
Verdict: Hung jury. Those types may well represent the target
market on weekends, but the weekday
clientele appeared to be refugees from their
local seniors center.
Charge #4: AC discussion board members are working a free parking
scam at Harrahs.
Verdict: Case dismissed on grounds of insufficient evidence.
Although I walked the
Waterfront Walkway between Borgata and Harrah's
twice in addition to conducting
surveillance from our room, I could not identify
any perps.
Charge #5: The VPFree database for 9/6 JOB at Borgata needs updating.
Verdict: Guilty as charged. An inventory will be submitted to
the VPFree administrator.
CLANG CLANG
MK VII
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Addendum: Expense Report Mr. and Ms. Westie
06/14 Gas in CT @ $2.119 POV (privately owned
vehicle) $18.90
Tolls E-Z pass statement
attached 9.65
Borgata
parking 5.00
2 slices cheese pizza 6.00
Casa di Napoli @ Showboat split Caesar's salad
(2) ½ portions of crab over capellini w/
artichokes & mushrooms in a pomodoro sauce
- excellent. Net of Entertainment discount 23.52
06//15 Island Diner 2 orders French with bacon 10.00
Ralph Lauren shop @ the Walk - 2 polo shirts
used in undercover 59.98
Liz Claiborne 1 sweater purchased to protect
against the casino air condition - on sale 19.00
White House Subs split ½ cold cut sub 6.25
Rib & Chop House @ Showboat split Caesar's
salad and (2) orders of grilled seabass
in a lime/cilantro sauce over rice pilaf
excellent. Net of Entertainment discount. 48.33
06/16 Borgata taxes and fees on complimentary room 17.58
Dunkin Donuts honey bran muffin, apple fritter
and one coffee 3.75
Cromwell Kennel 2 days boarding Special Agent
Max 44.00
Total 271.96
Certified: all expenses are incident to official duties while on
temporary detail to the Borgata.
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Ms. Westie Westie