Someone Cheated 2/21/11

The cards flew across the table. 6 players, 30 cards. Some just tip the edge of their cards to see what they have. Some palm'em then fan'em. The dealer waits patiently as eyes shift and cards shuffle back & forth in hands. There's an obvious novice in the group. He's got tells up the yin-yang. The dealer knows a couple of the people. They're skilled and he knows they'll take advantage of the newbie. The gentleman that draws the dealers eyes the most though is sitting on the end. Dressed in black with matching dark hair, he leans back casually in his chair. There's something about his gaze and silent attitude that's unsettling. The dealer watches as the man takes the hand and then the next 2. The dealer traces the floor with his foot and finds the floor switch that will tell the guys in the back to watch that chair. A second after he taps the switch, the man in black looks at him and smiles but it doesn't look friendly. The dealer becomes nervous. He taps it again as he deals. Sweat beads his forehead. The man in black wins again. And again. The dealer is tapping constantly now.

"Excuse us please." A tall, dark man in a dark suit with dark glasses is standing behind the dealer. "This table is closed now." The dealer is relieved until he notices the man in black is still smiling and leaving the table un-accosted. He looks at the suited man and realizes they aren't here for the player, they're here for him. "No, no, no..." he stammers as the dark man takes him by the arm.

"Who were you signalling to?" the deep voice rumbles. "No one! No one!" "You were signalling with your foot & now you're sweatin' up a storm." "No, I was hitting the switch! The switch for the last chair!"

"It never went off." "The guy in black! You were supposed to watch him!" "There was no signal to watch him." He looked ok to me as I approached. You on the other hand..."

The man in black watched from around the corner as the dealer is escorted to the back. Someone has to take the fall. He almost feels bad for the guy. It will cost him his job but he can find another. The man in black is satisfied. Mission accomplished. He smiles grimly and catches sight of himself in the mirror. His eyes are flickering like static. He blinks and it's gone. Green eyes stare back at him for a momentbefore he turns on his heel and walks out the doors. Calm and cool, just like before.