Poker Face
Noelle Winters
Copyright © 2017 Noelle Winters
Poker Face
By Noelle Winters
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Contents
1. Monday 26th September; 11pm
2. Wednesday 28th September; 4:55pm
3. Wednesday 28th September; 6pm
4. Wednesday 28th September; 9:00pm
Wednesday 28th September; 9:30pm
5. Thurs 29th September; 7am
6. Thursday 29th September; 2:30pm
7. Thursday 29th September; 9pm
8. Friday 30th September; 8am
9. Friday 30th September; 5pm
10. Saturday 1st October; 7pm
11. Sunday 2nd October; 10am
12. Sunday 2nd October; 8pm
13. Monday 10th October; 4pm
14. Monday 10th October; 6pm
15. Monday 10th October; 9pm
16. Tuesday 18th October; 11pm
17. Wednesday 19th October; 11am
18. Wednesday 19th October; 6:30pm
19. Thursday 20th October; 9am
20. Friday 21st October; 7:30pm
21. Monday 24th October; 9am
22. Monday 24th October; 12 noon
23. Tuesday 25th October; 8am
24. Tuesday 25th October; 3pm
25. Tuesday 25th October; 7pm
26. Wednesday 26th October; 7:30am
27. Thursday 27th October; 11pm
28. Monday 7th November; 6pm
29. Monday 7th November; 8pm
30. Monday 7th November; 10pm
31. Epilogue - February
Hi Reader!
1
Monday 26th September; 11pm
Cairo took a deep breath, inhaling the cool, crisp air, and let it linger in her lungs before breathing out. Her heart was racing, she could feel her blood pressure rising, but she had to be calm. She had to pretend nothing was wrong.
She could feel the shadow of what she had done chasing her. Had she done the right thing, stealing all that information? It was safe, it was secure on a heavily encrypted flash drive. And it was hidden - for now. Going to the police was the next logical step, but it wasn’t enough. She knew the police couldn't keep her safe.
Her hand sprawled over her lower stomach, feeling the ghost of a bump. She wasn’t far enough along to show, no, but the baby had triggered a long chain reaction of cascading dominos, one that didn’t have an end. She would survive, and her baby would too. She hoped.
Her feet stilled and she looked up, temporarily pulled out of her reverie. She was in front of the local cafe, Barks and Coffee. She knew the owner, she had gone to high school with her. More than that – they had been best friends. Liv was one of the most trustworthy people Cairo knew. She was like a vault. Once something passed her lips, it wasn’t coming out again unless someone had the right key. Was it right to put her in danger? Cairo didn’t know.
She exhaled noisily, lifting her sharp-featured face to the sky and looking at the stars that sprinkled it. Most of them were obscured by the white, fluffy clouds, looking ominous in the light of the moon.
Night time was her time. It was when she felt safe, secure.
She slipped her hands into her pockets, and paused instead of continuing her forward movement. Her right hand found the deck of cards she carried with her, a physical manifestation of her now-online addiction. She glanced around, ensuring the surrounding areas were empty, before she pulled it out.
Letting the cards out of the box, she looked at them, feeling the ever-familiar tug. The voice in her head that whispered, “It would be okay, just this once.” But where had that gotten her? Nowhere good. She owed the wrong things to the wrong people.
She tilted one of the cards, its shimmery surface lighting up under the moonlight. She could barely see the crest on one of the diamonds that told her what it was. Trick cards, his requirement.
A soft thud drew her attention. Immediately Cairo tucked the cards back in their small box and back in her pocket, shielding them with the heavy coat she wore. What was she thinking? She was out in public, running an errand – and dropping by his house.
Besides, the police couldn’t do anything. It was never worth going to those in charge unless she could guarantee her safety. He was much stronger than they were, with much farther reach.
She had learned that, bitterly, from experience.
Evidence. She needed evidence. Something that proved his involvement. What she had was something, but nothing was fool-proof. The entire flash drive was in code. If he got out – and he had the connections - she was dead. She and everyone she loved.
For a small town, Amaranth certainly had its share of bad guys. Its isolation made it an even bigger target for what had happened. What she had been drawn into. She pulled the coat tighter around her and exhaled shakily, glancing at the watch on her wrist. She had fifteen minutes.
Taking a deep breath, Cairo squared her shoulders and moved forward. She stayed to the darker side of the sidewalk, trying to stay in the shadows as much as she possibly could. His lights were off, except for a small porch light shining like a beacon.
Her nerves were starting to get the better of her. Her hands were starting to shake in her pockets, fingers trembling as she tried to curl her hands into fists. It was dangerous, messing with a drug lord. Especially when he had nothing to lose and no danger to face.
Once Cairo stood in front of the door, it opened without a sound, the only change the length of its shadow as it opened and then closed behind her. Her wry amusement didn’t show on her face. He did love his dramatic displays. She reminded herself to stay alert, to look for the opportunity she needed. She had to have laser focus for what she was going to do. She had to find his office, and find his ledger - something, anything, to connect him to everything.
The house was empty; not what she had expected. Her heart was beating faster, the pulse drumming in her ears. Where was he? Was this a trap?
“We want you to carry.” His voice came out of nowhere.
Cairo jumped, hating that her vulnerability had showed. For a second she thought she
