by Samuel King
"We'd have to rob a bank just to pay it," Kate quipped.
"Don't worry, Darlin'," Doherty said. "Between the two of us, we'll have the luck of the Irish."
Obviously still angry, Kate glared at him through narrowed eyes. "You can go to hell, Jimmy. That wasn't right, what ya did, and ya know it."
Throwing his arms up, Joel said, "Look, Kate, if it helps at all, he had every right to renegotiate. I certainly had no idea he'd be risking ten years in prison. Did you?"
When Kate remained silent, he turned to Freeman. "Did you?"
"How could I? Nobody was talking about a bug in the beginning."
"And that's the key," Joel said. "The scope of the operation changed after he agreed to twenty-five per cent, Kate. It's not your fault for not seeing that it would change, and it's not his for wanting to be compensated. Okay? Can we move on?"
His entreaty seemed to mollify Kate, who shrugged, muttering, "Boy, can I pick ‘em."
"I know the feelin' all too well, dear," Doherty said. But ta'night will make it all worth it.
Joel breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay, then, back to business. Is the club at the Regency holo equipped, Bobby?"
"The whole place is—from top to bottom. Once he gets registered, Helen can transport in, and then she'll have the run of the place."
"She'll have to transport from a neutral site," Joel mused aloud. "The library or somewhere else, so there's no link between us and the Regency."
"We'll want ta encrypt the link from here to the library, too, just ta be sure," Kate said. "I'll make the arrangements."
"Good. So, Mr. Doherty will register at the Regency on Wednesday then initiate the transport to bring Helen over. From there they go to the club in search of our target. What's his name?"
"Debbs's" Freeman answered. "Vincent Debbs. I'll get a photo."
"Okay. They'll locate Mr. Debbs, and hopefully, with Helen's help, get an invitation to the next game. Does that sound about right, Mr. Doherty?"
"Sure, as far as it goes, but we'll need a driver and someone to control the players while we're relievin' ‘em of their valuables."
"And that's where I come in," Joel said. "You get a holo system into the room, and I'll provide your security."
"Shouldn't be too hard," Doherty said. "We'll make sure he wants Blondie here at the game—his good luck charm, so ta speak."
Joel brought his fist down on the table as though it were a gavel. "Alright, then. Kate will monitor from here, Bobby will be your driver, and once you two are safely away, Helen and I will transport out."
"Just one thing," Doherty said. "How the hell are ya goin' ta control the players?"
"That involves a little magic," Joel answered.
"Magic?"
"Well, it seems that way if you don't know what's happening. We'll override their system's safety protocols, allowing me to use the EMU against them."
"The what?"
"Just a fancy name for the holo system's force field," Freeman explained. "Wait ‘til you see it man, it's like his hand is a pulse pistol."
When Doherty guffawed, Joel pointed at him with his index finger. "Just point and shoot."
"C'mon?"
"I'm just controlling the system's resources without the use of external controls," Joel said. "Being part of the system, I can do that."
Incredulous, Doherty replied, "So you're tellin' me, ya can actually turn your finger inta a pulse pistol, like he says?"
Joel nodded.
"That could be very nasty."
"Well, I've got to apply enough force to get their attention without hurting them. It's always worked before."
"You people sure have a lot of tricks up your sleeve."
"I told ya, Jimmy," Kate said, smiling. "We know what we're doin'. All we need is for you ta hold up your end. No screw-ups."
"Screw-ups? Relax, Kate, will ya? Everything's gonna be fine. Lighten up."
Joel rose from the table, his face, an impassive mask. "I'm afraid we can't lighten up, Mr. Doherty. We take our work very seriously. I hope we can expect the same level of commitment from you."
Doherty winced. You pompous little… After several seconds he took a deep breath. "Well, don't ya worry about me, Mr. Revolutionary. I can handle anything you people throw at me. And that's a fact."
***
Bedecked in a strapless, black gown, Helen stepped off the Regency's receiving platform to be greeted by an ebullient Doherty. "Damn, you're lookin' good tonight, Darlin'," he said, patting her posterior.
Speaking in a hushed voice, she advised, "Let's wait until we find Mr. Debbs before we start all that, okay?"
"Now, why is that?"
"Why? Because I'll break your arm, if you do it again. That's why."
"No need to get hostile. I'm just playin' m'part."
Helen pointed to the club's entrance on the far side of the lobby. "Shall we get started?"
"Anything you say, Darlin'." He guided her to the club with his best imitation of a pimp's swagger, drawing as much attention as possible as they entered. Once inside, he paraded her past the patrons slowly, as if displaying his wares, while searching for the man in Freeman's picture.
Doherty found him eventually, seated at a table next to the service entrance. A large, rugged man dressed in an exquisitely tailored suit, he readily stood out amidst the other, mostly effete and casually dressed, patrons. He seemed to be taking note of everything in the club, including them.
"Mr. Debbs?" he asked, approaching the mark.
"That's right. And you are?"
"John O'Reilly. I'm visiting from New York."
His eyes locked on Helen, Debbs muttered, "Is that right?"
"Yes, sir. And this young lady is Helen."
"I recognize her."
Doherty started. "You do?"
"Of course. She looks just like the sales model at the General Holographic store. Damn."
After regaining his composure, Doherty replied, "Well, you're very observant. Her original owner bribed the store manager for the model's profile and configuration specs."
"You might say I'm her clone," Helen added.
"Smart man," Debbs said, ogling her. "Very smart."
"Not quite smart enough. Which explains why I have her now."
Debbs seemed to study him for the first time. "Really?"
"Yes, indeed. You see, he thought he could play cards."
A toothy grin spread across Debbs' face. "Oh, he did, did he?"
Doherty nodded.
"And I suppose you think I'm another sucker who thinks he can play cards."
"Not at all. I just heard that you're a sportin' man like m'self, and you've got the best game in town."
"Well, you heard right, but it's a closed game, Mr. O'Reilly—invitation only. Besides, as beautiful as…"
"Helen," she replied, smiling.
Returning her smile, Debbs continued. "As beautiful as Helen is, it's a cash-only game. Two hundred thousand buy in. Sorry."
"Why, you misunderstand me, sir," Doherty said with a mock southern accent. "Helen here is my gift, not a stake."
"A gift?"
"Well, call it a bribe. You let me into the game, and she's all yours." He paused and leered at her, "And I can personally guarantee that she's the sweetest bribe you'll ever be offered."
"Yeah? How's that sit with you, Sweetheart?"
Helen bit her lip provocatively. "I've been configured to serve, Mr. Debbs. I'll be happy with any owner who appreciates me."
Debbs took a deep breath, his eyes traveling from her legs to her breasts. "Well, I certainly fall into that category."
"Well, do we have a deal?"
"I'll have to clear it with the other players, but you're in luck. We're looking for a fourth."
"That's wonderful."
For only the second time, Debbs looked directly at him. "We take our cards seriously, Mr. O'Reilly—no fucking around." When Doherty nodded, he added, "Prepaid chips only. No banks."
&n
bsp; "Well, of course. That goes without saying."
Debbs squeezed Helen's thigh. "What about a test drive?"
"Lookin' a gift horse in the mouth, are we?" Doherty answered.
"I suppose you're right, there," Debbs said with a laugh.
"But I certainly will bring her array with me, so you can take possession immediately. Hell, if you have a holo system in the room, maybe she'll bring ya luck."
"I don't need luck, Doherty, but as far as having her at the game, that's a great idea. I'm sure my friends will appreciate it, too." Debbs paused and licked his lips. "And I'll take possession then, too… Just to make sure you don't have a change of heart."
"Ordinarily, your lack of trust would trouble me, Mr. Debbs, but where this beauty is concerned, I totally understand."
Debbs nodded. He retrieved a business card from his pocket and handed it to him. "Game's scheduled for Friday evening. Give me a call in the afternoon, and I'll give you the details."
Jubilant, Doherty pumped his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Debbs. I'm lookin' forward to the game."
"No more than I am, my friend," Debbs replied, ogling Helen. "Can't remember anything I've looked forward to more." When Helen gushed, he slipped his hand beneath her gown and added, "Now why don't you two sit down and have a drink? I'd like to get to know this young lady."
***
Debbs studied his cards, casually massaging Helen's posterior. The other two players had grumbled about her presence, but quickly relented when he promised to "share". Still, one of them, a hawkeyed shipping mogul named Pierce, seemed ill at ease with the situation.
"You better concentrate on your cards, Debbs," he advised. "You keep playin' with that toy of yours, and we're gonna wipe you out, son."
"Toy? Helen's no toy, Pierce. She's my good luck charm. Right, Honey?"
"Anything you say, Vinnie." She leaned over him and giggled after he squeezed her breast.
"Luck, huh?" Sonny, the fourth player asked. "Well, come over here, Baby. I could use some luck, too."
After Helen obliged, Sonny ran his hand up and down her thigh and finally, under her dress. Several seconds later, he leaned back in his chair with a contented grin and asked, "How about you, Pierce?"
When Pierce declined with a scowl and a wrinkled nose, he continued, "No? Well, I guess it's just the two of us, Debb's… except O'Reilly here. He looks like he could use some luck. What about it, New York?"
"Can we get back ta the game, please?" Doherty replied.
Debbs laughed. "What's the matter, O'Reilly? Things not going your way?"
"Don't ya worry about me, Vinnie boy. I'm just tryin' to make the game interestin'."
"Interesting!" Debbs exclaimed. "Boy, you're down almost hundred thou, and we've barely been playing thirty minutes. You better get going."
Sonny and Pierce laughed, and Helen took note of the genuine frustration on Doherty's face. He did say he wasn't a card player. She hesitated then added her laughter to that of the others.
"You shut your mouth, bitch," Doherty snarled. "Don't forget who still owns ya."
"Hey, none of that," Debbs said. "Technically, I own her now, anyway."
"Not until after the game."
"Well, be nice anyway."
Helen moved closer to Doherty and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry, baby."
He seemed to ignore her at first, then without warning, ran his hand under her dress, up to her crotch. "It's okay, Darlin'," he said, leering at her with a wicked grin. "As long as you give me some luck, too."
His grin seemed as genuine as his frustration had been only moments earlier, and she returned it, even as she seethed. "You bet, Sugar." She returned to Debbs' side, looked across the table at Doherty then turned away, but not before the smiles had disappeared from both of their faces. Wait until this is over, you little prick.
*
She set her anger aside for the next fifteen minutes, and played her part every bit as well as Doherty played his. Still, every time Debbs pawed at her, she pictured Doherty as the perpetrator. She fantasized about retribution for the grifter's molestation, both real and imagined. Only her love for Kate, to whom she owed her freedom, kept the fantasies non lethal.
Forty-five minutes into the game, she nodded to Doherty, who rose from his chair abruptly and stretched. "Excuse me, boys. I've got to take a leak."
"Well, hurry up, New York," Sonny said. "You're about to lose a bundle."
Debbs and Pierce laughed at the jibe, exchanging unflattering comments about the hapless Yankee, while Helen slowly made her way to the holo control unit. Only when she began to adjust the controls, did Debbs take note of her absence. "What're you doin', beautiful?" he asked.
"It looks as if the game will be over soon," she said. "I should set up the transfer back to your system."
"Relax. It's only over for your old boss, here. The rest of us will be playin' for a while. Besides, I'm way ahead of you, doll. It's already set up."
"Oh, yes, I see it is. I like a man who's always a step ahead."
"Well, then, I'm definitely your… What the hell?"
Joel had suddenly appeared next to Helen, who continued to smile demurely. The formerly deflated Doherty turned and faced his detractors who registered varying degrees of surprise and fear. "Sorry to disturb your game, gentlemen," Joel said. "But I'm afraid you'll have to call it a night."
"What the hell's going on here?" Debbs demanded.
Doherty shrugged. "Sorry, Vinnie. I just never liked losin'."
Debbs sprang from his chair. "You son-of-a-bitch! You think you can—"
"Easy, Mr. Debbs," Joel advised. Pointing at the mark's empty chair, he bowled it over, before blowing imaginary smoke away from his fingertip. "Let's all calm down, shall we?"
"You think I'm afraid of your goddamn parlor tricks?"
"Probably not. I'm just hoping you'll let discretion be the better part of valor. We've got nothing against you, sir. All we want is your money. Helen, if you would, please."
She approached the table smiling. "Just your pre paid chips, Gentlemen. We're not interested in anything else."
As if waking from a stupor, Pierce yelled, "What the hell is this, Debbs? You vouched for this guy."
Sonny grumbled, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you set this whole thing up."
"For what?" Debbs shouted. "To steal your spare change?"
"Like I said, if I didn't know better."
"Well you do know better. It's obvious what happened here. As usual, I was thinking with the wrong head. Look at this bitch! Ghost or not, what wouldn't I have done to get a piece of her? What an idiot."
"Hey!" Doherty yelled, pointing at him. "Be nice. No need for that kind of talk."
"Or what—you'll zap me with your magic finger gun?"
Having retrieved all of the prepaid chips, Helen said, "Calm down, O'Reilly. I'm a big girl." She handed the chips to him, snarling, "Here. Try not to lose them."
"Do I detect some tension, here?" Joel asked, chuckling.
"I'll explain later," Helen answered and folded her arms, refusing to look at Doherty.
"Oh, my, dissention in the ranks," Joel quipped. "Okay, Mr. O'Reilly, time to make your exit."
Doherty placed the purloined chips in his pocket and started for the door. "I dunno what her problem is," he called over his shoulder. "Must be that time of the month."
As he left the room, laughing, both Helen and Debbs started after him, but Helen stopped after a single step and yelled, "Asshole!"
Debbs required convincing and stopped only when Joel pointed directly at him. "I really don't want to hurt you, Mr. Debbs. Please."
"This isn't over, O'Reilly," Debbs shouted. "You'll see."
*
For several minutes Joel and Helen held the players captive, waiting for Doherty and Freeman to make good their escape. The time passed slowly for Helen, who could think of nothing other than the grifter and his insults. She immersed herself, once again, in fantastic retribution plots until J
oel roused her. "Okay, it's our turn, Helen."
She started, as if waking from a dream. His voice had a quality about it, one she seldom heard but recognized immediately. In her anger at Doherty, she'd almost forgotten the happy byproduct of a successful operation: Joel's soaring libido. She smiled at him, and he returned it, perhaps the warmest he'd ever graced her with. I'll win your heart yet, you beautiful man.
With Joel's finger hovering over the holo system's transmit button, Helen blew Debbs a kiss. "I'm sorry, Vinnie, really."
"I don't know where you think you're going," Debb's said. "I've still got your array."
Helen smiled and said, "No, Vinnie, I think if you check that refrigeration unit, you'll see that you don't." In the next instant she found herself looking at Kate.
The redhead, who had witnessed the operation on the remote link monitor, greeted her with a scowl. "What an asshole that Jimmy is. Sorry, Helen."
"What the hell happened? Joel asked.
Kate replied, "I'll tell ya the whole story, and when that so-called grifter gets here, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
Her anger returning, Helen said, "You'll have to wait in line, Kate." Then she plopped into her regular chair at the table and added, "If there's anything left, that is."
***
Doherty and Freeman returned to the safe house thirty minutes later and found not the celebration they'd expected, but their three comrades sitting quietly around the table.
"Here they are," Doherty said, proudly displaying the three wafers. "The answers to all ya problems—and mine too."
"Well, let's see how much we made before we go that far," Joel said.
"Not ta worry, Boss Man. There's a bundle on those chips. I guarantee it."
"I'm just glad we can pay our bills," Freeman said. "If this thing had gone bad, I'd be in hiding right along with you." He paused for a moment, before adding, "And I live here."
Helen had heard enough. "You're not going to say anything to him, are you?" she asked Joel.
When he shrugged, Kate spat, "What would ya expect. They're all pigs. All they care about is their score."
Helen rose from her seat. "Well, it's not all I care about." She approached Doherty and glared at him for several seconds before striking him with considerable force. "Don't you ever touch me like that again—for any reason!"
