Raylan_ A Novel - Elmore Leonard [73]
“Our driver at the time,” Liz said. “Harry thought was from West Africa, so Cuba always had to put on an accent, one he picked up from cabdrivers.” She said, “I can’t imagine Harry trying anything with you.”
“Why?” Jackie said.
“He’s too old. He might ask you to strip, promise he’ll just look.”
“Would that upset you?”
“Not in the least, if he can pull it off.”
“He sure goes to the bathroom a lot.”
“His tired kidneys,” Liz said. “And here’s your boyfriend now.”
Harry came in from the hallway telling Jackie, “I got three guys so far want to play you: my friends the breeders, Ike and Mike, and a World Series of Poker pro they dug up called Dude Moody.”
Jackie was nodding.
“He’s been at the final table. I think he won a couple of bracelets. They call him Moody Blues or just Blues.”
“I said to Ike and Mike, ‘For Christ sake, what do you guys need help for?’ And there’s a guy in town I asked to stop by. You met him, Liz, Raylan Givens? The marshal lookin for that driver we had. He called, I asked him to come by for a drink and say hello.”
Jackie said, “Harry, don’t tell him I play poker, okay?”
Jackie watched Raylan take off his hat shaking hands with Harry and they stood talking for a few minutes. Now they were coming over to the sofa, Raylan saying, “Don’t get up, ladies, you look comfortable.”
“We have had a couple,” Liz said. “Raylan, it’s so good to see you. It seems to me that you and I sat here having martinis one time. Harry, where were you?”
“Tendin business. I believe I was helpin a foal come into the world. She’s still lookin like a possible.”
Jackie saw Raylan stare at her for a moment and turn to Liz again, Liz saying, “This time my guest said she might try a Manhattan. They seemed to’ve worked just fine.” Jackie wondering how she’d be introduced. These people got in conversations and forgot she was there.
Not Raylan.
Harry said, “Liz makes it sound like she’s never had a Manhattan.”
Jackie watched Raylan smile, being polite, watched his eyes come back to her. She said through her buzz, “Hi, I’m Jackie.”
Raylan came over to shake hands telling her not to get up, but she did and stood with her feet planted.
“Harry’s latest partner,” Liz said.
Raylan gave her hand a nice squeeze and said, “Is that right?”
Jackie told herself she’d get out of this or she wouldn’t, and said, “Harry’s my banker, he stakes me to poker games, but doesn’t pay too much attention.” Smiling then to show she was being funny. “He has no idea how we’re doing.”
No one laughed. Liz said, “If you’ve been playing no-limit for the past week, you’re winning, or Harry would’ve left you off somewhere.”
Harry said, “You make me sound heartless.”
“I’ll bet,” Liz said, “she’s up at least a hundred grand.”
Raylan said, “You play poker as an occupation?”
She said, “I’m not sure. I’m looking at it.”
“You were in a game,” Raylan said, “in Indianapolis recently that was raided, weren’t you?”
Jackie said, “You know how much I lost?”
Harry said, “You never want to be in a game when the cops bust in. They take all the cash and chips as evidence. What happens to the dough after that?” Harry said to Raylan. “Maybe you can tell me.”
“Isn’t part of my job,” Raylan said.
“I’m always careful,” Harry said, “pickin games for Jackie. What I do is call the chief of police, tell him who I am, and say I want to play some poker without gettin in the way of a raid. I ask him if there’s a police fund-raiser I could help out.”
Liz asked Raylan if he had time for a drink. He said, glancing at his watch, he’d better get back. “We’re tryin to locate a guy wants to shoot me on sight.”
Liz said, “I’d think you’d have them lining up.”
“Well, some are dead,” Raylan said, and looked at Jackie. “I’d like to hear more about what you’re doin. I haven’t played a lot of poker but’ve always had a good time. Are you stayin here by any chance?”
“Till we hit the poker trail again,” Harry said. “Jackie’s takin on some guys tomorrow in a big cash game.”
Raylan touched his coat pocket and said, “Excuse me,