Bad Beat by Robin Mahle

Author:Robin Mahle [Mahle, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HARP House Publishing, LLC.
Published: 2019-08-03T22:00:00+00:00

When the front door creaked on its hinges, Riley’s eyes snapped open as she lay in her bed. The time hit 11pm and the expectation that Jacob had returned was predicated on the detail that Ward had texted her. He was always looking after her, regardless of whether she was in the right and in this case, she was not.

His steps sounded in the hall as he tiptoed along the wood-planked floors, apparently trying hard not to wake her. Sleep wasn’t in the cards for Riley tonight, at least not until Jacob returned and apologies could be professed.

Light spilled in from the hall as Jacob pushed open their bedroom door and slipped inside. He made his way to the bed, shedding all but his boxer shorts, and crawled under the light-weight covers.

“Hey,” she whispered with her back to him.

“I woke you, I’m sorry,” he replied with a rueful quality.

“I wasn’t asleep.” Riley turned over and regarded him in the darkened room. His eyes held regret and she was sure hers did too. “I shouldn’t have done what I did. I went behind your back and I’m sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have flown off the handle like that. I know you were worried about me.” He held her gaze as though he would never let it go. “I’m scared, Riley. There are things I’ve done, kept from you, in an effort to help someone else. I think it could backfire on me now. And I think my friend might’ve paid a price for something he didn’t owe.”

Riley took in a breath before sitting up and switching on the side table lamp. The soft amber glow revealed the depth of Jacob’s fear, and now she could see everything he’d tried so hard to keep from her. “We’re going to have to keep up appearances.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“This poker game you and Alex were in last night. I have to assume this is the reason he’s now missing. I’m sorry, but your face says it all.”

“Of course it does,” he replied.

“I won’t let that happen to you. So we’re going to have to come up with a plan to make sure no one knows you’re working with us.”

“Working with who?” Jacob finally sat up. “The cops? I don’t know, Riley. Alex asked for my help and I helped. Silas Levin wanted us to throw the games, make the players believe we were novices, and then he swoops in and cleans house. Not obviously, though. He’s smart about how he plays it.”

“The men who approached you and Alex in the parking lot, were they in the game too?”

“Yes, and they lost a lot of money, but they thought we did too, so there weren’t any hard feelings. Well, I didn’t think there were.”

“Okay. So, tomorrow, you’ll give us a description. Ethan’s got pictures of your conversations, but they’re just too grainy. Then we’ll see what we can dig up and keep trying to locate your friend.”

“You said we should have a plan,” he added.

“It’s finally clicked. I know why Carl showed me those cards that day, six months ago.

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