“Why don’t I trust you?” shequietly asked. She picked her cards up again and glanced at them, then eyedDunlop carefully. Deciding it was too early to risk herself on a pair ofthrees, she folded.
Dunlop grinned, turning his cardsover. He had nothing.
“You were bluffing!” She couldhave kicked herself. “That’s it. I want a second opinion on my next medicalreport.”
They played contentedly for thenext half hour. It was McReidy’s deal. She was shuffling the cards and notaware that the door opened behind her.
“Room for one more?”
A sudden chill struck her at thesound of John’s voice. She froze, one hand poised over the other, ready to mixthe deck.
“Always,” Gillespie answered. “We’ve missed your money.”
“Looks like you’re losing againtonight.”
“I never cheat a friend.”
John read more into the statementthan what was implied. Had Gillespie been playing seriously, he could easilyhave wiped out the lot of them. He was playing for fun. He was serious whenthe stakes were high.
John grabbed a chair. Giacomoslid towards Kowalski, making room between himself and Gillespie. That putJohn directly opposite McReidy. Her mood dimmed and she avoided eye contact,focusing on shuffling the cards.
She was not going to let him getto her, even to the point of ignoring him completely. She need not haveworried.
The conversation was light. Johnspoke very little. When he did, it was purely social, without the slightestmention of anything to do with work. There was still a tension between Johnand McReidy that couldn’t be eased. It could be overlooked, but when theireyes met, which often happened as they all tried to read each others’ faces,the contact was broken off immediately.
*
It was getting late. Giacomoyawned and stretched. Dunlop collected the chips in the kitty, circling hisarms around them and dragging them back towards his own pile. He was having agood night. Gillespie shuffled the cards for the last time.
“Okay, guys, last hand. Time tosquare off.”
John watched McReidy as the cardswere dealt. She was about to pick them up when he reached across the table andplaced his hand on top of hers, effectively stopping her. She looked up athim.
“Do you want your job back?” heasked.
The question must have put her inshock, for it suddenly seemed as though they were the only people in the room.
“Yes.” There was no otheranswer.
“Side bet. You and me. If youwin, you’re back on duty.”
It was tempting.
“If I lose?” she asked cautiously.
He shrugged. “Then you’re off myshift permanently.”
The silence that enveloped theroom was deafening. They all waited for her answer. The stakes were high –too high.
She desperately wanted her jobback, but not at the risk of what she saw as a demotion. She searched his facefor any clue that might help her. She didn’t have to win the hand, only tostay in longer than he did.
His eyes were blank. Deep poolsof mud that would give no assistance. It would be entirely her decision. “Arewe agreed?”
The word ‘no’ faltered on herlips. “Yes,” was all that came out.
“Good.” There was the smallesthint of a smile as he withdrew his hand and slung his arm over the back of hischair. He watched her cautiously as she picked up and sorted her cards. Hiseyes followed her every movement as she discarded three cards.
“John… how many?”
“Huh?” John suddenly realisedGillespie was talking to him. His cards were still face down, untouched fromwhere they had been dealt. He picked them up, taking only a moment to decide. “Two.”
It was a nerve racking hand. Kowalski was too distracted by John and McReidy to concentrate and foldedalmost immediately. Dunlop didn’t want to risk his winnings. Giacomo wastired and running out of chips. Overcome by intrigue, Gillespie chosediscretion and backed out.
That left only John and McReidy. The pile of chips in the centre of the table was large, but neither of themwere interested in it.
John was still. One arm was overthe back of his chair, the other propped on the table. The only movement hemade was the slow, deliberate stroking of his chin as he watched her like ahawk.
She wasn’t going to back down;she refused to fold. If he was going to beat her then he would have to takeher for everything she had, which he appeared quite content to do. He had morechips than her; she was down to her last one. Without thinking, she leantacross and dragged Kowalski’s chips to add to hers. Now, she had more thanJohn.
“What do you think you’re doing?”Kowalski demanded.
“I’ll pay you back, I promise,”she told him.
John smiled with approval. Tenout of ten for initiative. He dropped his hand to the table. They could go onforever at this rate. It was about time he ended it. He matched her bet. “I’ll see you.”
It was crunch time. She turnedher cards over. Three queens. She watched him for any hint before he revealedhis own.
He moved them neatly together asone and dropped them face down in front of Gillespie. “Beats me.”
Gillespie quickly placed the deckover them, collecting the other discarded hands and putting them on top.
John stood up to leave. “Giacomo, change the rosters. I’ll see you on the bridge in the morning.”
McReidy stared at his empty chairas the full realisation of her win sank in. They all knew how much he hated tolose. After a moment, she followed him out.
While the others sortedthemselves out, Gillespie secretly checked John’s cards – a full house. Heknew he had her beaten. For whatever reason, he had chosen not to.
*
McReidy caught up with John alittle way down the corridor. “Commander,” she called out.
John stopped and turned around. “What is it now?”
“Are you sure there’s no hardfeelings?”
“I wouldn’t have made the bet ifI had no intention of honouring it. If you had lost, I would have expected youto keep your side.”
“Leave me alone!”
The scream echoed from down thecorridor. John’s jaw tightened and he was off like a flash. McReidyfollowed. Around the first corner and they were confronted by Kat and Rodgersarguing.
“Get away from me!” Kat screamed.
“Aw, come on, Kat.” Rodgersstepped towards her, his arms spread open. He was trying to charm her, hisvoice sweet as sugar.
“Don’t you ‘Kat’ me,” she warnedhim, stepping back.
“She means nothing to me,” hetried to defend himself.
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