type as me

The Charming Monkey, Part 11

"I don’t think I quite understand", said Fortis, "You want to play me at cards? For money?" The guy genuinely looked put-out by the prospect. Vadas had an equally bemused expression on his face.

"Sure, why not", I replied trying to look as cool as I possibly could.

"Well I’m very flattered", snorted Fortis, "but I really don’t think you could afford the stakes". He was right.

"That’s okay, I won’t be playing with my money", I said, shooting a look over to Vadas, "I’ll be playing with his". Fortis’s eyes lit up, but before he could utter a word, Vadas had grabbed my arm, and was pulling me to one side.

"What do you think you are doing!", he hissed, "Are you trying to bankrupt me? If this is a game to you.."

"If you want that monkey", I said abruptly, cutting him off in mid sentence. I could tell that didn’t happen to him very often, "then you must trust me. I want your full co-operation, not questions asked". Vadas looked unsure.

"Very well", he conceded, and I could tell he was intrigued, "but know this Mister Cane: any loss that I suffer will pale in comparison to the losses you will encounter if you fail". I didn’t gulp, but I wanted to.

I turned back to Fortis, who had clearly been trying to listen to the conversation.

"So how about it?", I asked, "Texas Hold’em, no limits. I believe that’ll make a pleasant change to the restrictions imposed on you in this joint".

"Indeed it does, Mister…Cane", he replied almost drooling at the prospect, "Very well. You do realise that I never loose?"

"So I have been told", I said, breaking into a smile, "but then you’ve never played me, and I am very good at poker". He seemed spooked a little, and he began to grip that golden monkey a little tighter.

"Gentleman!", boomed Vadas, "I believe that we should make this game a little more private. If you would please come with me, we’ll to one of the executive game rooms". He clicked his fingers, and a croupier began gathering Fortis’s chips up and made toward a big red door to one side of the hall. Fortis looked uneasy. I couldn’t blame him. Vadas has probably wanted to get him in a room with a bunch of his goons for some time now. I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea either. We began to follow the chips to the room.

"Nice monkey", I said, trying to lighten the mood. I think I made it worse.

"What of it?", he snapped back, shielding the monkey inside his suit pocket.

"Just an observation, pal. Meant nothing by it". I could see Vadas was paying a great deal of attention to us. This guying really wanted that monkey.

We reached the door, and went inside the room. It was lavishly decorated, and yet simplistic; just a card table in the middle of the room, and not much else. The croupier ushered us to our seats. I took off my jacket and sat down, facing Fortis.

"You best get me a drink", I signalled to Vadas, "we’re going to be here a while".