Dead Man's Hand

by Steven Meehan

  But the man just smiled his special smile of warmth and hatred. “No he wasn’t one of my employees.” Dempsey shifted slightly in his seat as if he had been sitting on something. “You can be quite the insightful individual.”

  Scoffing at his words I snapped back, “I wouldn’t be here if I had just let Patrick win the tournament.”

  “No, you wouldn’t be here right now. However, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t have had you taken care of.” Dempsey offered with a casual shrug.

  “What? What do you mean?” My emotionless mask started to crack under my combined confusion and fear.

  A hint of annoyance crossed his face as he seemed slightly upset at having to explain himself. “My boy, my dealers thought you might be cheating me. They know what they are looking for and more importantly they know what happens to cheaters. Without proof, I would have let you go home and carry on with your life, for a little while. But before long one of my… troubleshooters, would have resolved the issue.”

  I glared back at him as I almost snarled, “I didn’t cheat.”

  Ignoring both the glare and the snarl in my voice Dempsey said, “So you say. But since there were no cameras in place there is no way for me to know that for certain. Therefore, all I can do is rely upon the instincts of my dealers. They said there was a chance you were cheating me, my hands were tied from that moment.”

  “So if my life is forfeit, why am I still alive?” I was so furious I almost didn’t care what I was saying.

  His expression changed to one of mild shock as his gaze lifted from me towards someone behind me. Without asking a question he prompted goon number two to speak. “We told him that he was valuable to you, boss. And we only told him that escape would void that value.”

  Satisfied, Dempsey returned his gaze back to me and said, “Your life isn’t forfeit Marcus. It’s just no longer your own.”

  Disgusted by his arrogance, I mentally spat in his face as I forced a question out. “So what makes me such a valuable commodity then?” I didn’t even bother trying to hide the contempt in my voice.

  Groaning Dempsey retorted, “I thought we agreed not to waste each other’s time.”

  “Why?” I asked, actually daring to look him straight in the eyes.

  With a small sigh of aggravation Dempsey replied with his emotionless monotone. “Marcus your talents are exceptionally rare. In fact I have only had dealings with one other person with similar talents. The rarity of your gift makes you valuable to me, and I try very hard not to squander valuable things.”

  I swallowed as I tried to force my heart back down my throat. “So just because you have video of me transforming a card, you’re going to put aside your de facto punishment for cheaters?”

  “That’s correct.” He replied, his tone emphasizing how utterly foolish he believed my question to be.

  Well foolish or not I just needed to stall for time. And I just needed a little more, I could feel the warmth from the kitchen and it was working its way into me. I needed to keep this conversation going until I could get warm enough to try something. Time to try and stretch this conversation out a little more. “So let me get this straight. If I hadn’t changed that last card I’d be a dead man right now, or soon enough at least.” Dempsey’s head gave me the slightest nod indicating that I was correct. “But now that you actually have visual proof that I cheated, just the once at the end of the tournament mind you, you’re going to spare my life?”

  With a dismissive wave of his hand Dempsey retorted, “The fact that you cheated is not the issue here, Marcus. The heart of the matter is you are able to wield magic.” I could see the utter belief behind his eyes, great he did have someone like me on his payroll. Not only that but they were really playing up the whole witch angle to a new degree. In his mind, not only did magic exist, but he would do anything to surround himself with those who could wield it, people like me. With a wickedly cruel smile he added, “So yes, because I have that proof you get to live.”

  I got to live all right; I got to live as his personal slave. Despite all the liquid coursing through my veins right at that moment I felt as if I had been traveling across the Sierra without water for three days. It took me a good minute to work enough moisture into my mouth so I could speak. “If you’re not going to kill me, what are you going to do to me?”

  This was obviously the question he had been waiting for as he smiled widely. “Well, Marcus that depends.”

  “On what?”

  He shrugged, “Honestly it depends on you.”

  “And how exactly does it depend on me?”

  Reaching down to the floor on his right Dempsey retrieved a briefcase and laid it on the table between us. “Why I’m going to offer you a job, Marcus.”

  I was so stunned I had to remind myself to breathe. I stared into Dempsey’s eyes and studied them. I knew he was being completely serious. After a couple more moments of trying to process Dempsey’s surprising offer I realized that my jaw was hanging open, which must have amused Dempsey because a genuine smirk crossed his face. With that smirk fear flooded through me, which was just the jolt I needed to think clearly. I closed my mouth and waited a second before asking the obvious question. “What kind of a job?

  “A man who gets right to the point, I like that, but before I answer it let me ask you a question of my own. Are you a parent?” The radical change of topic made my head swim, but I eventually shook my head and Dempsey continued on, indifferent to my confusion. “I thought as much. Well I am a father, and let me tell you, raising children is not easy. A parent has to shield them from all the wrong influences, guide them to make all the right choices. But after all the work, if you manage to guide them to a better life than your own, you’ve done something wonderful.”

  “And what does that have to do with me?”

  Dempsey’s face immediately soured at my interruption. “Your impatience is something we will have to work on I see. No matter, that’s not all that will require some attention I’m sure. You see Marcus, I am going to more or less adopt you. You are still young enough to learn the error of your ways. You can still be guided down the right path.”

  I probably should have kept my mouth shut; nothing I said was going to improve my situation. “You mean I get to be a slave.”

  “That’s a vulgar way to think about it, Marcus.” Dempsey retorted, visibly angered that I dared to compare his beloved idea to slavery. “I’m sure the two gentlemen behind you would object to such a description as well.” Dempsey then pointed towards a couple of spots behind me and I assumed that he was motioning towards my bodyguards. “They were among my first employees; they are not mindless, nor are they automatons. I find them to be perfect examples of what I expect from my perspective employees, thus they are always present during interviews such as this.”

  I saw the threat before me, I would have had to be blind, deaf, and mute to not have seen it. I also knew that I didn’t have much of an option, at least not at the moment. I could either accept the job or let Dempsey pull the figurative trigger to the figurative gun that he held against my temple. On principle, I was just unwilling to agree to Dempsey’s proposal, I just needed more time, so I went fishing for more information about the job. “And what exactly would I be doing for you?” Again I must have let my fury and contempt flow through the words, because Dempsey’s legendary patience was thinning slightly.

  “Why, whatever is asked of you of course.” He replied with a smooth voice. “You don’t need to worry about the details right now. All that you need to know is that my employees are all well taken care of.”

  “And just what will happen to me if I were to refuse your, oh so generous, offer?” As with all of my earlier questions I had a pretty good idea what his answer was going to be. When you dealt with men like Dempsey there were only two choices, the option they gave you and permanent retirement. But, I still had to ask.

  Rather than answering verbally, he reached into his coat and removed a simple black case.
It was about eight inches long, three inches wide. As soon as he placed it down upon the table he deftly undid the single latch. Slowly, he opened it, taking care not to let me see the contents. “You can always say no, I can’t force you to take the job. That’s one of the reasons this country is so great. You have that choice. And if that is your choice, then my associates will untie you and escort you out of here.” He stopped talking when he saw that I was about to interrupt. The look he leveled at me froze my blood, making me wish I was already dead. Once he ensured he had my full attention, he removed something from the case, still managing to keep it hidden from me. “But for every decision there is a consequence and your cheating has brought you to this crossroad. Therefore, this is your other option.” As he spoke he placed a rather large bullet on the table and simply let the silence emphasize his threat.

  As I looked at the projectile my breathing grew more labored. He was showing me the exact bullet he would use to have me killed. “And your choice couldn’t be simpler. You can come work for me or embrace the fact that this bullet will end your life. Now Marcus please do not take this personally, after all it’s just business.”

  Chapter 16

  This time I was simply unable to contain my fury. “You’re threatening to end my life, how is that anything but personal!”

  To his credit the man actually looked wounded by my outburst. But, he casually replied. “It’s not personal. I don’t know you as a person, not yet anyway. This decision has nothing to do with you as a person for all I know you are someone I could call a friend. You cheated. And as a result of that, you now have a choice to make.”

  As I stared blankly at the bullet I considered Dempsey’s offer; no, not an offer, this was an ultimatum plain and simple. I kept weighing my options, but the more I did that, the more I realized there was only one real exit; though I hoped to delay taking it at least for a short while. “Just out of curiosity, what would have happened had I been able to palm the ace?” I know with the fresh deck I couldn’t, but just suppose I had managed to do it.”

  “Do you mean what would be happening to you if instead of being special you were merely a common cheat?” Not trusting my voice I simply nodded. “Well Marcus, we wouldn’t be having this conversation for one thing. Nor would you have awoken in such luxury. Now if you would be so kind, I’m in rather a bit of a rush so I’ll need your answer now.”

  It was now or never and while I did feel warmer I was worried it wouldn’t be enough. But I was running out of time so I decided to try to power a transformation. Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus the little heat I found, it appeared that the drugs were doing their job. I finally resigned myself to the only real option laid out before me. I answered in a very meek voice, “It would appear that you have yourself a new employee.” Dempsey clapped his hands together like a child seeing his Christmas presents on that special morning. Ignoring the outright glee I went on, forcing sarcasm to drip from every word. “You have quite the recruiting technique, it’s no wonder you have such quality employees.”

  “It does work rather well doesn’t it?” He replied, either missing or more likely, ignoring my sarcasm.

  Keeping my eyes on his threat I quipped back, “Only if that bullet is really mine.”

  As he returned the bullet to its case he spun it around so I could see him close the lid. On the side that was facing him, just to the right of that single latch, there engraved on a plate was one word. As I read it and swallowed, I had a hard time keeping myself from vomiting. The case and bullet were indeed reserved for me. Apparently Dempsey felt the need to gloat, “I have a bullet and case just like this for every one of my employees.”

  At this point I mumbled something slightly incoherent, but whatever it was; I managed to catch his response. “Like you said, for this kind of recruitment to work I would need a bullet for everyone. Once my employees start, I set their case aside and, for the most part, I forget that they even exist. Though, should any employee of mine try and betray me or fail to do as they’re instructed…” Dempsey lifted the case up, brandishing it in front of me as he concluded, “Well they know what to expect. Motivation is the key to a good working environment!”

  “You hold your people ransom?” I asked with more anger than I think I ever used before, I was beyond the point of trying to not display emotion.

  “No, I would never do that,” began Dempsey behind a slighted face. “Their own actions hold them ransom. I merely hold them accountable to those actions.”

  “One and done is that it?”

  “It does ensure compliance, don’t you think?” With a smile breaking out across his face he pressed on, “More businesses should adopt the practice.”

  As I looked into Dempsey’s wicked smile I wondered what he had forced me into. No, I wouldn’t, couldn’t, feel sorry for myself, that was the only thing that monster had right. I had made a choice. It hadn’t been a good one, but it had been my choice. Still flashing me that genuine smile Dempsey continued without missing a beat.

  “Now that we’re all one big happy family, would you be so kind as to remove all of Marcus’ restraints? Dante, including the chemical one.” With those words there was immediate movement behind me as one of the goons began to loosen my bonds.

  “Now Marcus, was this really such a horrible experience? As of this moment you are gainfully employed with terrific benefits. What more could you want out of life?” As he looked at my dead eyes Dempsey snapped his fingers as an idea came to him. “I can think of something else that you might want, your winnings from the tournament.”

  I was beginning to think that I had everything figured out when Dempsey dropped that bombshell on me. He was going to let him keep my winnings from his tournament?! What was going on here? Something was wrong with the universe. He must have either read my mind or my surprise showed clearly on my face because he gave me a very plain answer. “You work for me. I’m surprised you’re still confused at this point; I have employees working in the tournament. The only thing you were mistaken about was how much of their winnings my employee’s get to keep. Fair is fair, you earned it.”

  “But… I wasn’t working for you when I won it.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Which is part of the reason why all of this unpleasantness was required,” Dempsey replied in a much more serious tone.

  “But…”

  “Don’t worry about the fact that you cheated. Just don’t do it next year and there won’t be a problem. Is that clear?”

  “But…”

  “How have you managed to accomplish anything in life with such a limited vocabulary?”

  His verbal jab was just what I needed to force my frustration out of the way of my words. “You would have killed me if not for the last hand.”

  “Yes. And where’s your difficulty?” Dempsey asked honestly not understanding why I was so frustrated.

  “So, just because I’m your employee now it becomes no harm no foul?”

  With a critical eye he studied me for a moment, “You know Marcus I’m beginning to question whether this relationship will have any kind of longevity. It troubles me deeply when you have trouble grasping the simplest of concepts.” Dempsey silenced me yet again with nothing more than a glare and a slight wave of his hand. I had been so focused upon Dempsey that I hadn’t noticed that the goon untying me had finished and dropped two manila envelopes on the table in front of me. “Look, right now it doesn’t matter. Over time you will have to work out these issues on your own.”

  Dempsey pointed at the two envelopes in front of me, “For now though, these two envelops will be your life. In the top one you will find all of your new and updated paperwork including an ID. You’ll need that ID in order to access your bank account, which has your winnings less my twenty percent of course. Now the other envelop has everything you’ll need to complete your first assignment.”

  “So I have a new name now?”

  “Yes, though you’ll have to explore that top envelope
to find out who you will be.”

  I gingerly lifted the first envelope; I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, and extracted my wallet as well as the promised bank account information. That would keep for the time being. My primary concern was finding out what my new name was going to be. I opened my wallet and looked down at the revised driver’s license. Right next to my face I saw the name Dempsey had chosen for me, and it caused my stomach to plummet six feet through the floor.

  He just smiled his favorite, wicked smile. “I trust you are fine with using your real name, Francis Harrison Bailey?” I could hear the satisfaction in his words and I shuddered.

  Sitting there I stared down at my real name and finally understood just how far Dempsey’s reach and power stretched. How was I going to be able to escape a man who could discover the name I hadn’t used in over a decade? That name along with so much of my past I had thought successfully buried. But now those memories were flooding back, drowning me with their potency. And like that, I realized that the only way to ever escape Dempsey would be a body bag.

  “I’ll take your silence to mean that you’re fine with the name.” He waited a moment for me to respond, but he eventually went on. “Well, we’ll just have to work on your manners, not to mention your patience. I do not appreciate rudeness, no matter what the reason.” One second I was staring down at the ID and the next I was lifted up by the neck. One of the goons must have been signaled by Dempsey.

  Catching sight of my eyes Dempsey stared down at me with another hard glare and through clenched teeth spoke with controlled anger. “Employees of mine who lack in those areas quickly find themselves unemployed. And I’m sure you’ll understand what I’m implying when I tell you I do not have to worry about unemployment benefits. Do I make myself abundantly clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With a simple hand motion from Dempsey my assailant, gently lowered me back down to my chair. Through another one of his smiles Dempsey asked. “See? That wasn’t so hard was it? Now, as I said before, I’m in a terrible rush so Dante will show you the way out and answer whatever questions you might still have.”