4. Four
FOUR
“ I ’ll split.”
The gentleman sitting in front of me was acting cagey, like he was up to something. It was possible he was anticipating getting a big payout—people acted weird sometimes when money was involved—but it was also possible he was trying to cheat. I watched him carefully.
“Sure.” I split the cards. That was how it worked. Players weren’t allowed to touch the cards in case they tried to mark or replace them. Then I looked around the table to see if anybody else wanted to split or fold. Everybody tapped, so I doled out the cards.
The guy was happy. To go along with his two face cards, he got a nine and another face card. I flipped over my second card—I was already showing a face card—and it was an ace. The splitter was full of rage.
“No, you’re cheating.” He moved to stand, but Rex was there before I could even register what was about to happen.
“Sit down,” Rex warned in a low voice. I was thankful that he didn’t have his daughter strapped to his chest. The last time I’d seen him—about two hours before—Chloe had been happily smiling at anybody her father walked past. Even in a casino, people couldn’t help but be charmed by a big, burly security guy with a baby.
Rex was the only member of the security team allowed to have his daughter with him at work, however.
Since he was engaged to the boss’s daughter, that made sense.
The man seemed surprised by Rex’s sudden appearance, and he cast a look over his shoulder, as if debating whether he could take him or not. Rex arched a “go for it; I dare you” eyebrow and waited.
Slowly, the man returned to his seat as I collected the cards and bets.
Rex stared him down a beat longer, clearly gauging the situation. Then he lifted his chin. “Shut it down,” he announced. “You can shift to another table after your break.”
I still had ten minutes before my break, but I nodded all the same. “Closing the table,” I announced in a bland voice.
The other gentlemen at the table grumbled a bit under their breath but moved on without incident. The man who had jumped to his feet seemed torn, however.
“I want to stay here,” he said after a beat. “This is my lucky table.”
Rex narrowed his eyes. Obviously, he was getting the same vibe from this guy I was. Something was going on. I couldn’t figure out what, however.
“This table will reopen in an hour,” Rex replied evenly. “If you want to wait, you can go over there.” He pointed toward a lounge area.
“But…” The man seemed to regroup. “Fine,” he grumbled as he stood, gathering his small pile of chips. “This is crap, though.”
I remained in my spot and watched him go. “He’s up to something,” I said to Rex.
Rex nodded. He was thoughtful when he turned back to me.
He’d never once suggested he recognized me from high school.
He was older than me by a few years, but that shouldn’t have stopped him from knowing who I was.
If he was suspicious, he kept it to himself.
It was also possible he hadn’t put my identity together.
“I’m going to have them run him in the security office.” He pointed toward the bubble overhead. “I don’t know how he could think this was his lucky table after what happened. He was adamant about staying here, though.”
“Which is suspicious,” I agreed, glancing over my shoulder to see what would have been in his sight line. It was more blackjack tables.
“I don’t see what could have his attention over there,” Rex hedged.
“Unless it’s another player.” I hadn’t even realized I was going to say it out loud until the words were already out of my mouth.
Interest lit Rex’s features. “Good point. I’ll run those players too. Maybe he was communicating with one of them.”
“It’s possible.” I looked around again. “Is there something specific you’re worried about?” It was none of my business, but I was intrigued all the same.
Rex opened his mouth then looked around. “Actually, yes.” He moved closer to me. “You remember Ryder Stone, correct?”
The question threw me. “Um, yeah.”
“You went to high school with us. Of course you remember him.” Rex shook his head, almost as if he was internally chiding himself.
Well, that answered that question. He did remember me. Maybe he didn’t remember who my father was. That was possible. “I thought he was in jail.”
“He was.” Rex was grim. “They just let him out on appeal.”
I was thrown. “But… I thought he got sentenced to years in prison.”
“He did. He got a good attorney. He’s going to be roaming around until they decide on his appeal.” Rex was grim. “They didn’t put any limitations on his movement.”
I could read between the lines. “You think he’s coming here.”
“It’s his only move,” Rex confirmed. “He’s going to try to talk everybody into changing their testimony.”
“Nobody is going to do that.” I didn’t know all the players really well, but I knew enough of them to be certain.
“No, they won’t,” Rex agreed. “Ryder still believes he’s important.”
Big and important. Ryder was one of those men. I nodded. “Do you think he’ll go through the motions of trying to disguise himself?”
Rex cocked his head, considering. “Probably not,” he said finally. “He’s too much of a blowhard to bother. That being said, my understanding is that he’s not a fan of prison food and has lost a lot of weight.
“Ruby saw her father about two months ago,” he continued. “She went there to visit him. He made a request, and she thought he might be trying to make amends.” The way his lips twisted told me that hadn’t gone well.
“I take it Ruby didn’t get what she wanted out of that little ordeal.”
“Nope, he’s still a jerk.” Rex sighed. “I do not want him coming here. Everybody is just now getting settled from the last time he was present in their lives.”
“Has he seen Chloe?” I don’t know why I asked. Curiosity got the better of me sometimes.
“He has not, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“Security is being warned. There’s no stopping Ryder from waltzing in here if he’s in the mood, though. We just have to be on the lookout.”
“Well, if I see him, I’ll let you know.”
Rex nodded, his eyes moving back to the man we’d booted from the table. “I’m going to check the cameras to see if I can figure anything out about that guy. Pick a different table when you open again. I kind of want to see what he does.”
“Do you think he’s trying to cheat?”
Rex shrugged and looked in the direction of the other tables. “It’s possible he has somebody over there trying to count cards and sending him signals.” He held out his hands and shrugged. “I haven’t seen a partner for him yet. That doesn’t mean there’s not one out there.”
“Good luck.” It was the only thing I could think to say.
“Thanks, I think I’m going to need it.”
I TOOK MY brEAK IN THE CAFETERIA AND then made my way down the employee hallway that led to the casino door.
I still had fifteen minutes before I had to be on the floor.
My plan was to get a coffee and relax before I started up a new table.
I was distracted by two people arguing, however. The female voice drew my attention.
“Listen, Mr. Magoo,” she snapped, “I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, but I know for a fact you’re not supposed to be here.”
Tallulah. An inadvertent smile crossed my lips. She was the only person I knew who could call someone Mr. Magoo and somehow make it cute. I looked over at her, expecting to find another worker. Instead, I saw her facing off with Ryder.
My heart sank. He was here. Rex had been right. To me, it made no sense for Ryder to come back. He’d lost his position and his shares on the board. He literally had no ties to Stone Casino any longer. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten the memo.
“Get out of my way.” Ryder gave Tallulah an impatient shove, and it spurred me to action when she stumbled backward.
“Hey!” I muscled forward and caught her before she could hit the wall.
Surprise registered on her features at the sight of me. “I have it,” she said, her voice dripping with petulance. “I don’t need a white knight rushing in to save me.”
I rolled my eyes. It was so Tallulah to jump to that conclusion.
“I wasn’t trying to be a white knight. I was simply making sure he didn’t crack your head against the wall.
” I could have left it there, but I didn’t.
“Of course, your head is so hard that you might have damaged the wall, so I don’t know what I was worried about. ”
She sent me a scathing look. “Sticks and stones.”
I waited, knowing she would have to finish it. She couldn’t leave it hanging there.
“May break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” she added lamely.
I smirked. Then I turned my focus to Ryder, who was trying to ease around us toward the door that led to the casino floor. “You’re not supposed to be here,” I said to him.
Ryder’s eyes went wide with innocence. “I don’t know who told you that, but they were mistaken.” He puffed himself out. “I’m in charge. This is my casino.”
Tallulah and I snorted in unison.
“Last time I checked, you didn’t even have a seat on the board any longer,” Tallulah shot back.
“Well, you’ve been lied to.” Ryder’s tone was grave.
“I don’t know who told you that—I can assure you they’ll get a strong talking-to and an official reprimand in their file—but it’s untrue.
” He unleashed what he likely thought was a charming smile.
“I’m back, and I’m going to be taking back the reins of my company. ”
Tallulah rolled her eyes. “You’re going to give Zach a formal reprimand?”
Ryder was caught off guard. “Zach who?” he asked evasively.
“Your son,” Tallulah replied, not missing a beat.
Ryder’s eyes narrowed. “Wait.” He examined her. “I know you.” His upper lip curved into a sneer. “You’re friends with that manipulative witch my son married.” He straightened. “You have no say here. I don’t even know why you’re in this hallway, in fact. You don’t work here.”
Tallulah grinned. “I do now.”