“Good. Keep up the good work, because we want to have a good clean run there.”
I headed to the bar. “I know, that’s why I’m going to get this little situation sorted out with this Jaz woman.”
“Do you have any information on her? Why do you think she’s cheating?” Bones was asking good questions.
I felt frustrated because I had no answers. “I have no idea right now, but I will,” I replied with conviction.
Bones looked at me with trust. “You’ve got it. Let us know if you need backup though. Don’t let it get out of hand,” he warned.
“I won’t,” I said quickly. I wanted the card shark nipped in the bud as much as he did. I high-fived Charlie. “How’s life treating you?”
“Pretty good, Ink. I’m working here hanging with you, meeting pretty girls, and fixing up my bike at the moment,” he replied with a mischievous grin on his young face.
I winked at him. “Life’s pretty sweet, then.” I checked all of the soft drink bags to make sure they were full for the night.
“Sure is.” Charlie was stocking beers in the fridge and counting as he went along.
“You check the kegs out back?” I called out.
“Yeah, we’re good to go,” he confirmed.
“Okay, great. Should be a good night. I think Chalk is trying to get his pool competition going, that’s going to help get rid of that mid-week lag. Hump Day pool I think he’s calling it.” I chuckled.
“Hump Day pool? Chalk is insane. It might work, though. He’s an awesome pool player,” Charlie said, singing Chalk’s praises.
“I think it’s working already.” I nodded my head towards the door as five guys and three women walked in. I saw them signing their names on a sheet Chalk directed them to. I quickly distributed the floats between the two cash registers. I knew they would be headed our way soon.
Chalk wore a bandana around his head, and he gave us a wave from the other end of the bar.
I saluted him and grinned as I moved to the music and turned it on. “Now, we’ve got some atmosphere, that’s better.”
“Is this his first night running the pool competition?” Charlie asked.
“I think it is,” I replied. “He’s been procrastinating about it for the last few months. He has a kid, and that takes up a lot of his time. We’ve all told him to hurry up and do it. I guess he’s finally listened.”
Chalk pointed to the bar.
Then all eight of the people came toward us and ordered a round of drinks.
“Hi guys,” Chalk said. “I got some friends with me that have dared to come down and play pool. I have another twenty or so coming in, so it should be a nice little tournament.”
“Wow.” I nodded at him. “That’s a good start. Told you that you should have started this earlier.”
“I know you’re right, but I’m starting now.” He shrugged his shoulders.
I lined up the beers for all eight of them. Wheelz ended up having a busy night. Chalk had the place rocking. He even got out the mike to announce the event, which was a hoot. It was weird hearing Chalk on the mike, but he did good. If he ever wanted to try something different, being an MC might be his thing. A naturally funny guy and he would hustle you right out of your last dollars with the smile of an assassin.
Bones kept score along with Harper who dropped in to join the fun. Most tables were packed, and the regulars who came on Wednesdays seemed curious about the pool competition. Hopefully it would make them interested enough to join in the next time.
My energy levels were a little higher going into Red Stone the next night. The place was completely different from Wheelz. Red Stone Casino had a mixture of wealthy, middle class, and poor people. All walks of life existed in one space, making for interesting shifts. I couldn’t help but watch out for Jaz. A radar seemed to be turned on inside of me telling me she was circulating the floor. I clocked in upstairs.
Damien was doing the same thing. He signed in and looked back at me.
“Hey, how you doing man?” I asked him.
“Good man. Ready for my shift, how about you?” Damien asked.
“Pretty decent.”