5-The Setup

5

The Setup

Bob watched through his front window as Tobias’ car pulled up out front.  His stomach was upset with the idea that he would actually have to ride with the overzealous chef, but tonight would be a chance to a make a lot of money.

Bob needed money.

He came out the front door and walked to the car.  Bob opened the door and got in, shutting the door.  Tobias gently pulled away from the curb and they began the journey to the game together.

“We need to get something straight,” Tobias finally spoke after a couple of minutes.  “I’m only bringing you to this game in order to keep you from firing any more of my cooks.  We have a deal right?”

Bob nodded, irritated.  “Of course, no more cooks.  I’ll be selling it soon anyway, so it won’t matter.”

Tobias nodded, frowning, taking one hand off the steering wheel to pull a cigarette out of his pocket and put it to his mouth.

Bob looked over and shook his head as he did.  “I don’t smoke.”

Tobias didn’t even hesitate to light up.  “Good for you.”

Bob sighed, long and hard and rolled the window down.

Tobias’s frown turned into a smile.  “You have the money to play tonight, right?”

Tobias knew for a fact he didn’t have the money to play tonight.

Bob raised his eyebrow and turned toward Tobias.  “Of course.  What do you think I am?”

 “I think you’re an asshole.”  Tobias responded before pulling out his pack of cigarettes and raising them to Bob’s face.  “Would you like a smoke?”

Bob grabbed the pack and hurled them out the window.  “Keep this shit up and you can stuff the poker game and I’ll fire every God damned cook in the restaurant!”

Tobias nodded, still smiling.  “Alright, fair enough.”

****

It was a good forty minute drive into Shaker Heights and the nice tree covered houses that sat camped away from the road.  Tobias found the address he had been given earlier that day and pulled into the driveway.

Bob leaned over and looked forward, past the gate they stopped at to see what he could of the massive brick house at the end of the driveway.  “Hell of a house.”

Tobias turned and raised an eyebrow.  “It’s high stakes, remember?  You do have the money for this, right?”

Bob scowled.  “Ask again and the deals off.  Who are these people, anyway?”

“Savannah Burton is hosting.”  Tobias answered as he put the three digit code into the punch pad to open the gate.

Bob twisted toward him in shock.  “Did you say ‘Savannah Burton’?”

The gate lurched into motion, slowly opening.  “So, you’ve heard of her?  She’s in town on family business.  She decided to put a game together while she is here.”

Bob shook his head.  “How in the hell do you know Savannah Burton?”

Bob Stanoski liked to consider himself an underground poker scholar.  Savannah Burton, otherwise known as ‘The Red Queen’, was one of the bigger players.  She was the last surviving member of the Burton family, a kind of hillbilly mafia that originated in Georgia.  Savannah had taken the reigns and dabbled in the business from time to time, but for the most part, stuck to what she was good at, Texas Hold ‘em.  The idea that his lowly sous chef, Tobias Snyder, had an in with her, was beyond him.

Tobias smiled at Bob as he pulled the car through the gate and up the driveway.  “I’m pretty good myself, you know.”

Tobias continued to explain.  “I have been playing for a long time.  I was trying to earn enough to buy the restaurant and then you came along.”

Bob ignored the malice in Tobias’ voice.  “So you have played with Savannah Burton?!”

Tobias shook his head.  “No, but I know her.  She came through town once before and I met her body guard.  We all ended up drinking together and talking poker.  She decided to invite me when she came into town, so don’t fuck this up for me.”

Bob actually nodded as they pulled the car to a halt in front of the massive residence, “I won’t.”

Tobias and Bob got to the front door and Tobias knocked three times. Inside they heard movement and the sound of bolts being thrown before the door swung open to reveal a large heavy featured cowboy.  He wore tight jeans, riding boots, a button up shirt with a leather vest over it and was topped with an old fashion John Wayne Stetson.

Bob was a taken aback at the Spaghetti Western that had come to life in front of him. The cowboy stared at Bob for a long time while he took a canister of chew out of his back pocket and stuffed a wad of it in his front lip.

“What’s up, Marshall?  Long time, no see.”  Tobias said, breaking the ice.

“This is the guy?” Marshall, the cowboy’s, southern drawl infected his speech.

Tobias nodded, “This is him.”

“He trustable?” Marshall asked, the chew now distorting his speech.

Tobias shrugged.  “That’s debatable.”

Bob, who had become increasingly more nervous, turned and gave Tobias a hard look. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Tobias smiled, “Just being honest.”

“Come now Marshall.”  The new voice was female.  It had a sultry, heart-melting quality to it.

Marshall turned, his body moving with him and allowing Bob to see past him into the large welcoming hall.  The stairs to the second level started in the middle of the hall and slowly ascended.  The room had the look of something out of Gone With the Wind.

Adding to that, was the woman standing four steps up.  She was wearing a form fitting red dress that stopped just above the knees.  It was strapless, no doubt to show off her ample cleavage.  Beautiful, long, blonde hair dropped from her center and down either side of her head; a very liberal hair style for the southern belle type that stood in front of them.

“If any of us were trustable, we wouldn’t be here, now would we?”  The woman finished her statement and slowly maneuvered herself down the stairs, seeming to having some trouble with her high heel shoes.

Suddenly, she lost it on the last stair and staggered.  Marshall moved like a phantom and caught her before she hit the marble floors.  “You all right, ma’am?”

Tobias shook his head and Bob stepped into the hall, shocked.  Savannah stood back up straight.  “Oh my stars, I just bought these shoes and they are just giving me the darnedest time of it.”

Bob extended his hand and Savannah took it.  Bob then brought it to his lips and Tobias secretly rolled his eyes behind him.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am, I have heard nothing but the best about The Red Queen.”

Savannah smiled at Bob’s compliments.  “Oh that silly nick name?  I just hope a smart man like you isn’t hung up on my reputation.”

Bob smiled, “Of course not.”

Savannah flirtatiously smiled back.  “I do like your friend here, Mr. Snyder, and what should I call him.”

Tobias shrugged.  “Well, I call him plenty of different names, including but not limited to-”

Bob cut Tobias off before he could finish the insult.  “Bob.  My name is Bob Stanoski.”

Savannah shot Bob a heavy smile.  “Well, Bob Stanoski, are you ready to play some cards?”

Stanoski grinned.  “Of course.”

“Good.”  Savannah began to go into the rules.  “It’s simple no limit hold ‘em poker.  We are trying to be casual here, so the buy in is twenty thousand.  Blinds start at five hundred and one thousand and will increase by the hour.  The last remaining, gets the pot.  None of that second or third place pay out nonsense.  No money required up front but when you are out you will have to speak to Marshall directly about payment.  Did you get all that, sir?”

Bob nodded, “Of course, but I have to admit, I’m not planning on losing.”

Savannah grinned playfully.  “No one ever does.”

Suddenly, the sound of Marshall spitting broke the silence and called the room’s attention to him.  He had just spit in a plant on a table.

“Good God, Marshall.  How tactless can you be?!  Now hurry to the kitchen and get yourself a cup or something!”

Marshall tipped his hat.  “Sorry, ma’am.”

Marshall walked back into the house toward the kitchen and Savannah shot Tobias a look.  Tobias shrugged.

“Sorry about that.  Let’s go to the game room and get underway,” Savannah said and lead Tobias and Bob to the game.

Savannah led Bob to what would have been the dining room.  The long table in the center was surrounded by six other players, two women and four men, all well dressed and well kempt, so much that they put Tobias and Bob to shame.  The only other person was the dealer, classically dressed in a white shirt black vest and a bow tie.

Savannah introduced them all and told Bob to take a seat.

What Bob didn’t see was Tobias slip over next to Savannah.  “Nice job on the stairs, dumb ass.”

Savannah, frowned and whispered back to Tobias, “Fuck you.  I’m no good in heels.  What about ‘Marshall’ and his impromptu spittoon?”

“Who are the suits?” Tobias asked.

“Acting students.  Got to love their desperation.  They work for peanuts.  Now are you ready to do this?” She smiled.

 Tobias couldn’t stifle his grin any longer.  “Let’s do this.”

End Episode 5