He placed the deck of cards on the table and stood, extending his hand to his father. “Nice to meet you, James.” He shook Komal’s hand. “Melvin.” Turning to the last man, he offered his hand. “Sam.” He spoke in English.
His father blinked and stared at him. “Have we met?”
Smith stared back at his father. “I don’t believe so. Why do you ask?” He sat down, as did the rest of the men.
“You look familiar. Like someone I used to know.” His father switched to Russian.
Smith lifted an eyebrow. “Is that a good or a bad thing?” He answered in Russian.
“What are you talking about?” Melvin interrupted.
Smith turned to the man who had hurt an untold number of children and translated what they’d said word for word. He didn’t know if Komal or the others spoke Russian, but if he did, he wouldn’t give them any reason for concern.
“Shall we play?” Komal said. “Seven card stud. Where are the chips?” He turned and motioned for the man with the black shirt. “Buy in?” Smith watched as the man with the black shirt divided the chips equally among the players and placed the money in the chip box. He handed Blanton the cards and watched as he shuffled and Komal cut. The hand was dealt, and all the players settled the pot.
“Have you spotted Komal and Blanton?” Val asked the question.How in the hell was he supposed to answer that?He didn’t respond or speak until it was his turn to bet. “I call.”
“If you’re with them, raise on the next bet. Ten for each you’ve identified.”
He watched the cards, and when it was his turn, he tossed in four chips. “I raise forty.”
Blanton swiveled his head. “Are you working on a royal flush?”
Smith wasn’t. The hearts in his hand didn’t match the spades on the table, nor did the numeration make a straight. He shrugged. “Pay to see.”
All but Komal folded. The murderer sneered. “I think you’re bluffing.”
Smith turned a bored look toward the murderer. “Then pay to see.”
Komal stared at him for a long moment. The railway car door opened again, and Blanton did a double take. “There you are,” Val said as she entered his peripheral vision, but he didn’t look up at her, even when she stood beside him and put her arm around his shoulder. He continued to hold Komal’s stare. The man broke and threw in his cards. Only then did Smith look up at her. Val had her hair swept up, dangling in places, and she’d changed clothes. The tight, low-cut, almost see-through blue dress she wore matched her eyes and the jewels she’d put on. She purred, “Darling, don’t take all their money, and don’t forget dinner is in an hour.”
He reached up and pulled her down for a kiss. “I won’t forget. Go, do lady things, and let us continue our game.”
Val trailed her finger along his lips in an intimate gesture before turning her gaze to the other men at the table. If he’d ever seen a study in lust, that was it. He saw the lecherous stares of the men at the table. His father included. Val smiled to let all of them know she knew exactly what they were thinking and turned. All eyes except his followed her out the door.
“Your girlfriend?” Sam asked.
“My wife,” Smith corrected him. “Deal the cards, or are you going to eye-fuck my wife some more? Believe me, she’s out of your league and off limits.”
James cleared his throat. “She’s a beautiful woman.” Sam and Blanton agreed, and all but Komal had the grace to look like kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The game continued until a rail car steward walked through the car playing dinner chimes. Smith had won several hands but lost enough that the others were still in the hunt. He could cat and mouse the players all night if he needed to do so.
“We hold the table and continue after dinner?” James suggested, standing. “My wife wouldn’t be pleased to dine alone.”
Smith stood also. “I agree.” He glanced down at his chips and turned to leave the car.
Komal waved them toward the dining car. “Enjoy.”
James hesitated. “You aren’t eating?”
“In a moment.”
Smith heard the dismissal as he was walking away. He entered the dining car and found Val sitting with his mother. Of course. The table where they were was set for eight. He made his way to the table and paid his mother absolutely no attention until he bent down and kissed Val. “I’m on time, as requested.”
She laughed and leaned into him once he was seated. “Nadia, this is my husband, Ivan.”
His mother extended her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ivan.”
He lifted a bit from the chair and kissed his mother’s hand. “And you.”