Smith's Monthly #7 by Smith Dean Wesley

Author:Smith, Dean Wesley [Smith, Dean Wesley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: WMG Publishing
Published: 2014-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

WHAT NEXT?

ALWAYS A GOOD QUESTION

AFTER TOLEDO MOSS, a.k.a. Screamer, finished his burger and iced tea, he looked at me. “Well? What next?”

So far the conversation over eating had been on anything but Ben and ghost slots. We had talked about the hot weather for April, I told them about the cab driver, and Samantha even told us how she got Sue a few years back for a birthday present from Ben. But I knew we had to figure out what to do next, so while the others had been talking, I had been planning.

Sitting silently and thinking is what any good poker player is good at. In fact, in no-limit hold-em tournaments, where a player’s entire buy-in could be lost in one dumb play, I liked to just toss all my hands away for the first half hour to an hour and just sit back and watch players. That way I knew how a player acted, what he was likely to do, before I went up against him with my money.

So even with the wonderful talk and Patty being so close, I still managed to do some thinking, and had an answer for Screamer.

“Can you talk to your contacts at some of the major casinos around town?” I asked Screamer. “See if there have been any reported sightings of Ben and the Saturn Slots this afternoon and evening.”

He nodded and I faced Patty and those brown eyes. “Could you have the Horseshoe’s security team keep a close watch on that location near the stairs where the slots took Ben. Maybe they like the place. If they come back, we want to know when and how often.”

“They’ll do it for me,” she said.

“Good thinking, Poker Boy,” Screamer said, nodding, his gaze on something not in this room. “See if we can spot a pattern, maybe figure out where the slots and Ben are going to show next.”

“We can only hope,” I said. “At least it’s a place to start. Patty, any chance you might have tomorrow off?”

“I’ll take it off,” she said, smiling at me.

I kept my face and heart under control and managed to keep going. “Great, thanks. Would you help me do some research into Valley and Standard Slots. Valley owned the things during the time they were in the Horseshoe. I’m betting they are still stored somewhere.”

“Good thinkin’ again,” Screamer said. “Two-sided attack. Always nice to work with you, Poker Boy. You always got a play.” He stood and dropped too much money on the table for his meal.

“I’ll also check my contacts at the police, see if anything else is going on. You staying at the Horseshoe?”

“I am,” I said.

“I’ll call you at seven in the morning,” Screamer said.

He turned to my side-kick, Patty. “It was wonderful crawling around inside that beautiful head of yours.”

Patty had the common sense to blush and say nothing at Screamer’s beaming smile.

“Samantha,” Screamer said to her, touching her arm gently. “Don’t worry. We’ll find Ben. Try to get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a full day.

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