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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3906398" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-thirty-three, “Will the real Job Kane please stand up.”, Monday, June 19th, 4:45 A.M. Jake notices Jeff Mills enters the front door and speaks to Finnegan at the door as the next hand is dealt. Jake does not pickup his cards and instead says, "These cards are worn. I am not saying someone nicked them, but I believe I can tell what some of the cards are by the marks on them. A new deck is in order." He continues to watch the group getting ready to reveal the dealer as fake. When they appear to be in place and someone is close enough to take Jake's Colt from the man, Jake Cook gives them one more distraction. He taps the dealer on the arm to get his attention and then points to a spot on his own shirt just below his right shoulder. In the most ordinary and matter of fact tone says to the man, "Boris, you have something on your shirt right there." The dealer looks down, not catching Jake's slip of the tongue, although Adair's eyes go wide and he turns to stare back at the staircase that the Lucky cousins had gone up. Van Horne walks over to the table, coming up to the table between the dealer's chair on Commodore Duvall's chair, thus on the side that the dealer is wearing the gun on. He hands the dealer a fresh deck of cards. The dealer breaks the seal on the pack and shuffling. He deals out the cards. While he is doing this Jake notes that Jeff Mills hands Thom the key to the front door and Jeff then advances into the center of the room, over to a point ten feet behind the space between where Maverick and Adair are seated. Deputy Eduardo Rodriguez and Father Valdez both get up from their barstools and walk out to the side door, heading outside presumably to the outhouse while chatting causally in Spanish. Sydney Sue remains at the bar with her drink. Across the room, Boston Harker moves to a point over beside the door to the kitchen. The cards are dealt for the hand. Each player takes two or three cards and none raise the ante. While this is going on Jonathan Harker heads towards the center of the room to a spot ten feet behind the space between where Maverick and Hawkes are seated. The dealer asks what people want for final cards. Hawkes takes four, Duvall and Cook each take two, Adair takes one and Maverick holds with what he has. Adair raises by $ 200 causing Duvall, Cook and Hawkes to both fold. Maverick calls the $ 200 and raises it $ 500. While this is going on the Deputy Sheriff and the Priest return from the side door. Instead of heading directly back to the bar they start to head across the room towards the table in the center, presumably to watch the game. Michael George moves out from behind the bar over to that door, all three exits now covered by security. Adair slides $ 500 into the center to call Maverick's bet and then raises him another $ 1000. While Maverick contemplates calling the bet Cornelius Van Horne speaks saying, "Don't bother Mr. Maverick, I am not allowing this hand to count." Maverick looks up and says "Excuse me sir?" Van Horne says, "Mr. Maverick, I would have thought that you would have learned from the example of the previous competitors in this tournament that shenanigans will not be tolerated." Upon hearing that word Finnegan leaves his spot over near the staircase and begins to make his way over to the table. Van Horne shifts his gaze slightly and says, "Mills, Harker, draw your revolvers and keep them on Maverick. Don't get close enough for him to grab your weapon." His gaze shifts back to Maverick and he says, "Now put down those cards and very slowly stand and remove your jacket." Maverick does as instructed, carefully removing his jacket and placing it on the back of his chair. He holds up his arms and says, "See, nothing hidden." Van Horne then says, "Father Valdez, your services please." The priest begins to wave his hands and stating various words, mixing between Spanish and Latin. Jake has now seen enough clerical spellcasting to realize that Valdez should be holding his holy symbol, which he isn't, and that incantations are typically in one language rather than a mix of both. Jake also notices that while all eyes are on either Valdez or Maverick across the room the female halfling at the bar is wiggling her figures and muttering something softly. Van Horne inches a little closer to the dealer now as well. A loud ripping sound follows, given that Boris Trodinov is fourteen inches taller than Job Kane and 120 pounds heavier, with Kane's clothing ripping to sheds as the dealer's body transforms back. The gun belt that had been hanging loose now tightly constricts around the man as Van Horne reaches over to relieve the man of his weapon. In the process of the clothing expanding Hawkes is hit in the eye from a button that pops off from the dealer's vest. The sound of the tearing clothes causes everybody's gaze to shift to the dealer, as both Jonathan Harker and Jeff Mills shift their aim away from Marverick and towards the giant now in their midst, them having each stood far enough back to now have clear shots at him without the other players being in the way. Van Horne tosses the Peacemaker behind the dealer's back and towards Jake Cook on the other side, who manages to catch it although the trigger is depressed in the process. A 'click' sound indicates that there was no round in the chamber although the weapon's weight confirms to Jake that most of the other chambers do have rounds in them. Trodonov grabs the table with both hands and with his exceptional strength flings it up and outward, making the table into a temporary flying shield between himself and two security men with guns out while simultaneously showering them and Maverick with piles of metal chips, drink glasses and cards. Adair manages to react fast enough to slide his chair back to keep from being hit from a leg on the upended table but Hawkes is slower and gets struck on the side of his head by the other table leg and is knocked off his chair, Finnegan catching him in midair before he falls onto the floor. Jake hollers to the large man, "Hold there Boris, lets talk. Adair set you up to talk the fall for him if his scam went sour. Surrender and you have a chance. There are too many guns in the room for you to come out alive. Fight and he gets off free. If you surrender you can make him pay for the trouble he put you in." While he is speaking, Jake rotates the cylinder on his Colt and cocks the hammer but does not point it at the large Slavic man. He also attempts to keep an eye on Adair who is off to the side of him. Hearing what Jake said Adair yells out "Me? I never met this guy, Cook seems to know him! He even called him Boris when he still looked like Kane." As Jake is yelling Maverick makes a dive to the floor and beneath another table as Jonathan Harker and Jeff Mills throw up their arms as a reflex action to deflect the flying debris coming at them. Finnegan is busy moving Hawkes out of the line of fine. Thom, Michael George and Boston Harker remain firm at the three exits, anticipating that the large Russian may attempt to flee. Deputy Rodriguez now has a dagger in his hand and orders the man to surrender. Father Valdez attempts to cast a spell to no effect. Meanwhile, the Russian catches the Deputy by surprise when he grabs Eduardo's knife arm by the wrist, causing him to drop the dagger, and pull the Deputy towards him as he backs towards the wall, thus using the Deputy as a shield. Trodinov then yells out, "Back off or I'll kill him! I won't surrender. That Judge will hang me!" At this point Boston Harker, Jeff Mills, Jonathan Harker and Jake Cook all have revolvers in their hands and Michael George is holding a shotgun, all of them except for Jake aiming at the large Russian man. Nobody fires as silence fills the room. The standoff ends as a gun rings out, this from the upper staircase. Trodinov is hit on his lower right side from a gun fired by Tony Lucky. He remains standing despite the wound with minimal initial reaction. Jake immediately recalls an incident from a few months back when Tony got into a running gun battle with a jealous husband that Tony is a terrible shot with a gun and it was probably a miracle that the Deputy Marshal didn't get hit instead. Jake yells, "Tony, put that gun down before you kill the deputy." Something is definitely out of place if Tony can make that shot, he thinks. Jake keeps his revolver pointed down and backs towards the stairs. "Nobody has to die today, we can figure something out." Tony does not fire off another shot but Trodinov uses the distraction to make a move. He backs up further to the wall and then shoves Rodriguez forward so that he is still in line of fire from Jonathan Harker and Jeff Mills as the tall Russian makes a swan dive towards and through a glass window on that wall that looks out onto Allen Street, the wooden slats holding the window panes offering little resistance to the massive man. Tim Finnegan had drawn his revolver and fires a shot as the man sails through the window but does not appear to hit. Boston Harker also takes a shot but misses. Over by the side door Michael George opens the door and starts to rush out onto Allen Street while still holding the shotgun. "Mierde." Jake follows George out the door onto Allen street, not to shoot at the big Russian but to make sure that George does not get himself killed. Despite a few cuts the large Russian manages to get quickly to his feet and draws a hidden derringer from his belt. but makes the mistake of heading north on Allen rather than south just as Michael George steps out the side door fifteen feet in front of him. Both men raise their weapons simultaneously and point at each other. Both fire and both hit, Trodonov's shot nicking the side of Michael George's ear. Michael George's shotgun blast is more accurate. Jake exits the doorway just in time to see the giant Russian's head disintegrate from the blast and the body slump to the ground. "So much for reminiscing about old times," Jake says and shrugs. "That was close Michael, do be careful in the future. Your woman would certainly hold it against me if you got shot on the job." He carefully releases the hammer on his Colt and moves the cylinder so it is over an empty chamber again. He pats Michael on the should once and enters the Lucky Lady. At this point the first light of dawn is coming over the horizon. Thom is sent outside with a blanket to cover over the body and Boston Harker heads off to find Dick Lester to come collect it. Deputy Rodriguez thanks everybody for helping to save his life and says that he will explain things to the Marshal and Judge, and that he doesn't expect charges to be filed against Mr. George." Father Valdez casts Cure Light Wounds spells on both Michael George and Brady Hawkes. Jake says out loud to the group, "Where is the real Job Kane? Is he unharmed?" Jonathan Harker says, "He's alive but very badly hurt, they tried to kill him when we broke into the barn, one of them stuck a knife into his chest. Deputy Rodriguez's skill with knife throwing was faster though, otherwise the attack would have been fatal for Mr. Kane." Valdez says, "I was able to cast a spell to keep help him. He's over at Doctor Eaton's right now being operated on. He'll live." Jake fixes Evan Adair a cold dark stare. Without turning to look at the others he says, "Deputy, is there enough evidence to charge someone for organizing Kane's kidnapping and replacement? Eduardo replies, "No Mr. Cook, all three of the people who were involved with that are now dead." Adair says, "Congratulations Cook, it looks like you managed to get away from your crimes yet again." Jake states, "Spare me from your insolent prattle. Everyone knows that only you would have arranged to substitute someone for Job Kane. Just too blasted convenient for anyone to believe otherwise. Well now the man who signed the away Job's share is proven to be false, so that scam is over. You no longer have your own dealer provide you with winning cards, now you have to measure up to these fine card players on your own. You may have been fortunate that most of those who could provide evidence against you are dead and so the law is not dragging you off to Isby. I feel a wind of change Adair, and you should be worried about a good many things. Do not feel like you need to respond, every time you open your mouth you reduce the value of the contribution to this world made by the human race and I think the world has lost enough value today." Adair says, "Nice speech Cook, too bad for you it has little basis in fact. I'll have you know that the man who sold me Job Kane's share of the Lucky Lady wasn't that disguised man who you were on a first-name basis with, but Job Kane himself. The paperwork was done weeks ago, the day that he arrived with his lady friend in fact, it just didn't become finalized until this weekend when the monetary transfer took place. And you don't have to just take my word on it, that Halfling reporter was present as a witness. Maybe having that awful non-human present was a mistake, somebody obviously leaked the information, I'm guessing it was him. Otherwise how did that friend of yours find out? He must have been waiting until the bank opens this morning to clean out Job's account. As to my winning earlier with him, every one of us knows that is how a 'hustle' is done, letting the intended victim win a few to build up his confidence and increase his bets before reeling him in for the kill. He just got exposed before your chance to spring your trap." Jake turns and asks, “Van Horne, what about the game?" Van Horne turns to Father Valdez and says, "Is Mr. Hawkes physically alright?" The priest replies, "Yes sir, his injuries were minor and are all healed now." Van Horne replies, "Well, then it's now 5:30. This room is a mess but I suppose that we could use one of the upstairs rooms and play for another hour. I can deal. We'll need to use regular chips but I think we can find some rather quickly while these get cleaned up." Looking at the chips scattered everywhere Thom exclaims "But who had what?" Hawkes mutters, "Don't look at me, I've always felt that you should never count your money while you're sitting at the table." Van Horne turns to the Hostess and says, "Miss Peacock, what it the current running total?" She recites from memory "In descending order, Mr. Cook now has $ 17,100, Mr. Maverick has $ 16,600, Mr. Adair has $ 14,400, Mr. Hawkes has $ 13,300 and Mr. Duvall has $ 900." After Miss Peacock recites the totals, Jake says, "Let us finish what we started gentlemen." Peacock leads them upstairs to one of the larger rooms. It is far more intimate with only the five players, the dealer, the Hostess and with Jonathan Harker and Boston Harker in the room for security. The door is shut with Timothy Finnegan on guard outside. Van Horne passes out chips and breaks out a new deck of cards as he starts to deal. Jake is ready to play cards. No special tricks, no complicated plans in his mind just good old fashioned poker. He focuses on those around him, their mannerisms and tells, the count of the cards, the odds and his own intuition. He thinks to himself, “Hermes, I will beat this man. It is time he gets what he has earned.” Van Horne passes out chips and breaks out a new deck of cards as he starts to deal. The first hand is dealt and cards distributed twice. It ends with Jake holding a full house. Maverick raises the pot by $ 300. Hawkes, Adair and Duvall all fold. Jake calls. Maverick has a quartet of threes, winning the pot. Jake has poor cards for the next hand and folds as do Hawkes and Maverick. Duvall calls and raises $ 700, his entire remaining pile. Adair calls the $ 700 and raises another $ 200, laughing "I guess that eliminates you sir." Maverick says "That isn't very sporting of you sir" as he tosses in two of his own $ 100 coins and says, "Duvall calls, let's let the cards decide." Duvall actually wins the hand with a full house. Adair angrily says to Maverick "That would have eliminated him you fool!" Maverick says, "I have no love for the Commodore but I do admire good sportsmanship." Duvall slides the two coins back saying "Thank you for the loan." The next hand has Duvall and Cook both folding with Hawkes and Adair both calling Maverick's $ 300 raise after the first cards are given out but folding at the final one when he raises another $ 600. Jake suspects Maverick was bluffing. The fourth hand has Hawkes and Duvall folding again with the other three each tossing in a second coin. Adair wins. The fifth hand has Cook, Maverick and Duvall folding with Hawkes and Adair each going up another $ 200 and Adair winning. The sixth hand entices Cook, Maverick and Adair to all stay in, with Jake holding four nines. Maverick raises the Ante by $ 200 over the initial $ 100. Adair calls that bet. They turn to Jake to see what he will do. Jake looks down at the nine chips in the pot, and then pushes five of his own in. "See your two and raise three." Adair and Maverick call the bet. Adair wins with a quartet of Kings. The time on the clock in the room now reads 6:00 AM. Van Horne says, "We will play for another forty-five minutes, which will probably mean another six to ten hands based upon the current pace." Jake nods and continues with his play. Maverick and Hawkes both fold for the next hand with Jake, Adair and Duvall continuing. Adair prompts Duvall to call another $ 300 which Duvall not only does but raises another $ 300. Jake calls and wins, leaving Duvall down to his final $ 1000. The eighth hand of this session comes down to Maverick and Adair each increasing the ante by $ 300 with Adair winning. The ninth hand has Hawkes actually winning but no great gain as the ante was not increased. The tenth hand is another one that stays at the ante with Adair winning. The eleventh hand of the night proves exciting for most. Maverick and Hawkes both fold but Cook and Duvall both continue to call and raise with Duvall betting his remaining money. Adair wins, eliminating Duvall from the tournament. The final hand of the session also proves exciting. Hawkes takes four cards and then another four and folds but the others all appear to be in for the long haul each only taking one card each time. Jake has a straight flush seven to jack in his hand when it is his turn to raise the bet from the ante that the pot is still at. Jake bobbles five chips in his hand, moves to drop them in the pot but withholds two at the last moment, raising three. Maverick calls and raises two. Adair calls and then Jake calls. Maverick reveals his hand as four sixes and an ace. Adair then puts down a royal flush, winning the hand. The session finishes with Adair leading at $ 19,300 , followed by Maverick at $ 15,800, Cook at $ 15,500 and Hawkes at $ 12,100. Van Horne says that they will resume downstairs exactly one hour after Judge Isby adjourns court for the day and that the minimum ante when they resume will be $ 200. Jake collects his belongings and heads home to bed.</blockquote>

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