Unlucky (35 page)

"You think I can't beat a Yankee FBI agent at cards? The day that's the case, I'll slit my own wrists."

"It's not just him and you know it. The girl is helping him."

"She's nothing but trash made by despicable people. She can't make a difference."

There was a pause on the other end and finally the man spoke. "Is that what this is about? Personal business that should have died a long time ago? You take these chances for nothing. Randoll is no fool."

"Then he'll be a dead smart man by the end of the day."

"And what about the woman?"

"I have plans for her." Silas flipped his phone shut. Oh, did he have plans for Mallory Devereaux. Mallory, who looked so much like her mother.

He pulled an old, faded photo from his wallet and stared it.

Beautiful, unfaithful Marie.

Reginald St. Claire would go down for helping her escape him. He'd know what it was like to sit in a cell surrounded by four gray walls... separated from the woman he loved, his entire life changing and unable to do anything about it... he'd know with certainty that Silas was responsible for making it all happen.

And Mallory Devereaux would become one more dead whore--just like her mother.

Jake placed his cards on the table with a smile. He'd tried to hold it in, but this hand had clinched it. Silas Hebert was out of chips. Even though they hadn't gotten a glimpse of every hand, Scooter's tips to Mallory had definitely given Jake's play that extra edge he needed to beat Silas.

Now, Silas's only option to continue play was to put up more money, and Jake desperately hoped his ego would entice him to do exactly that.

He looked across the table at the man and waved one hand at the empty table in front of him. "Mr. Hebert, you're out of chips. As this is the final day of play, you're allowed to purchase one round of chips worth ten thousand to stay in the tournament. Are you interested in making that purchase, or would you like to call it quits?"

Silas stared at him for a couple of seconds, not saying a word, and Jake felt moisture begin to form on his brow.
Buy the chips. Buy the chips
. He found himself mentally chanting that mantra and wondering if the whole paranormal thing had finally rubbed off on him and he'd decided to try a mind bend.

Finally, Silas reached into his jacket, pulled out a stack of bound bills and laid it on the table. "I'll take the ten thousand. You're not getting rid of me that easily." He stared directly at Jake, making sure both the words said and those implied were relayed in his gaze.

"I never thought it would be easy," Jake replied as he lifted the stack of bills off the table and placed it on the shelf below. He counted out ten thousand in chips and pushed them across the table to Silas, barely able to contain his excitement. The bastard had gone for it! Now all Jake had to do was continue winning and everything was going to work out.

Silas would go to prison. Mallory would get the money for Harry's business, and based on the dwindling number of players at the other tables, things were looking pretty good for Reginald St. Claire.

As for himself, he'd head back to New Jersey alone--up one huge money laundering bust and down one partner. But when he considered the things Mark had hidden from him all these years, letting go of his old partner would be the easy part. Letting go of his new partner was something he still didn't want to think about.

"Well, gentlemen," Jake said as he shuffled the decks and placed them in the shoe. "We have about an hour of play left before lunch. What do you say I take all your money and we call this a day."

Silas stared at him and raised one eyebrow, issuing the silent challenge. The Mafia guy smirked and Father Thomas cleared his throat before saying, "This is the poker game that the Lord hath made."

"Then I guess I better get to dealing." Jake placed the final group of cards into the shoe and pushed his ante into the center of the table. "Wouldn't want to disappoint the Lord."

Mallory could barely contain her excitement as she removed the dirty glasses from the poker table and stacked them on the nearby tray. As soon as the door swung shut behind the last player, Jake grabbed the stack of bills he'd gained from Silas and waved it at Mallory.

"I've got to run tests on this," he said, the excitement evident in his voice. "Reginald gave me an office on the second floor with a wall safe to secure the funds. I'll give you a call as soon as I know for sure."

Mallory smiled and gave him a thumbs-up as he hurried away from the table. She glanced at the stacks of chips on the table and couldn't help the feeling of elation that passed over her. It was still too soon to celebrate, but damn, things were looking good.

The Mafia guy and the banker had played out just before lunch, and both had declined the additional buy-in option. Father Thomas only had chips remaining for two more antes. Silas had played well but was already down five thousand of the ten additional he'd put up. All Jake had to do was shut down the table before the ATF bust happened, and she would earn her money from Reginald.

The ATF bust was still a bit of a worry--guys with guns tended to make Mallory a little nervous, especially when there was no deer or ducks around, but it wasn't like anyone had asked her opinion. And on the plus side, with the boat closing in on land at a rapid speed, there shouldn't be much lag time in between the bust and docking. The FBI had a team of men in Royal Flush waiting for the word from Jake to take their places at the dock, so that end of things was covered, too.

Mallory glanced at the clock on the wall and hurried to the dining room. She needed to eat a sandwich or something before play resumed for the afternoon. She was also dying to check in with Amy, whose table had grown less and less crowded as the morning wore on. Then she still needed to check in with Reginald and Scooter. Make sure everything was all right on their end.

She found Amy at their usual table in the restaurant. When she saw Mallory, a huge smile lit up her face. "I won!" she shouted before Mallory could even make it to the table, then jumped out of her chair and grabbed Mallory's hands, dancing her around in a circle. "I won, I won, I won!"

Mallory smiled back at Amy and allowed herself to be twirled in a circle. "It's a good thing," she said when the twirling finally stopped. "Dancing with me probably just bought you an entire afternoon of bad luck."

Amy waved one hand in dismissal and flopped back in her chair. "Who cares? I've had enough good happen today to hold me over for a long, long time." She leaned toward Mallory as she slid into the seat across from her and whispered, "After lunch, I'm going to Reginald's office to help Scooter give you guys tips. I cleared it with your uncle just before lunch."

Mallory couldn't hold back a grin. Scooter had been doing a fabulous job so far, but with both him and Amy watching the cards, Mallory knew there was no way Jake could lose. "When this is over, I owe you huge."

"I heard Silas bought in," Amy said, her voice low.

"Yeah, Jake's testing the money now," Mallory whispered.

"When this is over, we are both set for life," Amy said.

Mallory was just about to reply when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Knowing that no one she'd want to touch her would dare, she felt her pulse quicken as she turned around in her seat. She almost breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Walter Royal standing there. For the first time in her life, Royal wasn't dead last on her shit list.

"Mr. Royal," she said, trying not to smile. After all, the fool had just ruined his afternoon of play by touching her. "How can I help you?"

Royal puffed up his chest and looked down at her with a broad smile. "Well, I've been thinking about your situation, and I think I can help. You see, I've been needing a route person for the port-a-john plant for some time now. Someone who could manage a big truck and the heavy equipment it takes to lift the Johns."

Mallory stared at him in disbelief. "And you think I'd want the job?"

"Well, now you've already met some of my store managers--couple of 'em said you were trying to pick them up in J.T.'s Bar last Friday night. I figured maybe pickins was slim in the construction business, and you might have an easier time finding a man if you were in port-a-johns."

Mallory forced herself to keep from strangling the man. "I think I'll pass, if it's all the same. I'm sure something else will come up."

Royal shook his head. "Hope it comes up fast. The tax note is going on sale next Thursday... just thought you should know." He tipped his hat at her, nodded at Amy and walked away from the table.

"Asshole," Amy said. "God, I can't wait to see the look on his face when you buy that note, Mallory."

Mallory watched the smug owner saunter across the dining area like he owned the world. "Bet I wipe that smile off it."

Jake stared at the machine in front of him, trying to decide whether or not to kiss it. The money was fake! He had Silas Hebert right where he wanted him and finally the man was going to pay for all his transgressions. If only there were a worse place on earth than jail, he'd gladly recommend the man be sent there for all eternity.

Eager to tell Mallory the good news, he pulled his cell phone out and dialed her number. She answered on the first ring.

"Well?"

"We've got him. It's all fake."

There was a sharp intake of breath and Jake knew her mind was racing with the same emotions as his own, but more, since for Mallory, this entire situation had become very personal. "Oh, my God. I don't think I even know what to say."

"Yeah. I know. It's like the end of a big nightmare."

"Well, maybe not the end, but definitely a conclusion."

Jake felt the breath tighten in his throat at the truth in her words. For Mallory, the nightmare was never ending.

There would never be any justice to right the wrong that had been done to her, but he was going to do everything he could to make things as good as they could get. "Based on the way the play is going, I don't think Silas can hold."

Mallory laughed. "I think you're right on that one, and I have even more good news on this end. Amy cleared her table out, so this afternoon she'll be helping Scooter with the calls."

Jake felt his load lighten even more. "That's fantastic. Good for Amy. Things are looking good for Reginald too, then." Jake carefully removed the money from the machine with his gloved hands and placed it in a plastic bag. "I've got to run. I need to call my captain to ensure everything is in place when we dock."

"Wait, Jake! Exactly what happens during the ATF takedown? That whole thing makes me very nervous. These are not your typical criminals."

"Try not to worry. I think it will go fine. The ATF planned this very carefully, and Lord only knows how many of the staff on board are actually agents. Besides, the bad guys won't have weapons. We'll just pretend surprise like everyone else and keep an eye on Silas so he doesn't slip away."

"You're probably right. I'll see you after lunch then," she said, and disconnected.

Jake flipped his phone shut and walked over to the far wall of the room. He removed a picture of Mallory as a child from the wall and twirled the dial on the safe hidden behind it. The silence in the room made the click of the locking mechanism echo through the room. Smiling, he pulled the door open and placed the stack of bills inside, then shut the door and twirled the combination around and tested it. Satisfied that no one was getting at the money except him or Reginald St. Claire, he pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed his captain.