18(S2E7)-The Show

18

(Season 2 Episode 7)

The Show

Sidney, in her Savannah outfit, watched as the small group of spectators found their seats, getting ready to watch the second round of the illegal poker super bowl.

Harrison Foote took his seat as well, an ear to ear smile on the face of the small toad-like man.  He had everything to be happy about.

This man was high stacked and primed to win the whole thing.

Sidney had a mind to agree.  She had plenty of time to watch the other players during the prior day’s fold fest.  No one, including Savannah, had the real ability to take down Markov.  The man was a rock and Sidney was getting one bad hand after another.

Sidney wasn’t sure if she could beat Markov, even if she wasn’t being cheated.

The pale Asian woman, Lilly, and the well rounded black man, Theodore, remained in the game.  The cowboy had been sent packing the day before.  After Sidney had bluffed out the cowboy, Savannah had smelled blood and went in for the kill, taking the man out while he was on tilt.

Sidney had not bothered to learn his name.

Things looked bleak for Savannah’s scam and, in turn, Sidney’s well being.  If it continued this way it would be a matter of time before Markov picked them off one by one.  Sidney had yet to find a tell or even see him flinch.  They had bitten off more than they could chew.

It was at that point that the day’s dealer entered the room and walked nervously to his chair at the center of the table.  He had a light sheen of sweat on his skin and his hands shook lightly.  Sidney also noted a small bruise on his right cheek.

Sidney looked to see Mr. Foote’s reaction and she could tell he noticed the bruise too because, at that moment, the casino owner’s smile faded and he suddenly leaned forward.

Sidney thought Hank couldn’t have done a better job.  He had put the fear into the dealer without hurting him too badly to make it obvious.  This did wonders for her confidence because this also confirmed that she was not alone in this terrible situation and that Tobias and Hank were out there running the game.

Sidney snuck a glance at Savannah who was in her Sidney outfit across the table. Savannah stared at the dealer then snapped a harsh glance at Sidney.

Sidney couldn’t resist and winked at her.

The dealer announced the rules of the game and the current chip amounts of each player.  He then burned a card and dealt the first hand of the day.

Pair of nines in the pocket.

Sidney smiled as the bet came to her.  “I do believe, I’m going to have to get serious.  I raise.”

All of the players snapped attention to Sidney.  Even Markov eyed her.  She had been a dead fish through the whole game the night before, but now, in the open hand she raised.

The game had changed.

****

“What the fuck happened?” Harrison muttered under his breath, trying not to attract attention.

His assistant, the scantily clad dark haired woman named Stephanie stepped up.  “I’m sorry, sir.  What are you speaking about?”

“Somebody got to the dealer, you stupid bitch!” Harrison’s voice rose and this attracted attention.

Harrison saw the looks and calmed himself.  Stephanie shook her head.  “Sir, how can you tell?”

Harrison took a deep hard sigh.  “How much do I fucking pay you?”

“Before or after taxes?” She responded as if the question was not rhetorical nor an insult.

“Don’t answer that,” Harrison almost growled.  “He has a bruise under his eye and he’s so nervous his hands are shaking.”

She shook her head.  “Sir, I believe you may be overreacting.”

The moment she had finished speaking, the dealer spoke up loudly from the floor.  “Three queens beats two pair.  Pot to Ms. Burton.”

Harrison turned around frowning, to watch the flighty blonde woman clap happily.  “Well look at that!  Appears my luck is changing!”

The audience clapped for the hand and Harrison wanted to beat someone to death.

“Who is tomorrow’s dealer?” Harrison asked.

“Sam Peters, sir.” The assistant replied undaunted by the little man’s rage.

“Call up Silas.  Double his normal fee, and set him up to watch Sam.  No one gets to him.”  Harrison barked the order with frustration in his voice.

“Of course, sir.” The assistant responded then took her leave to make the calls she needed to.

Harrison seethed but took solace in the fact that Silas would take care of it.

Whoever flipped his dealer was going to pay.

****

“Too rich for me,” Savannah said in her best northern accent, dropping her cards to the table.

Savannah stared at Sidney and seethed.

Sidney grinned back at her.  “Well, so sorry to hear that, sweetie.  That’s what you get for voting for Obama.”

Savannah narrowed her eyes at the mockery of the south.

Lilly and Theodore stared at the amount before them.  It was enough to put them both all-in.

The Asian woman gave a wry smile.  “That’s not going to work on me, dear.”

She pushed her chips in.  She was very obviously referencing the move Sidney had pulled on the Cowboy.

The joke was on her.  Sidney had pocket kings, with a king on the table.  She had been watching the two very closely and she knew that Lilly was only going in because she believed Sidney to be bluffing.

Sidney shook her head.  “You’re just too smart for me, sugar pie.”

The over the top tone and accent was awarded with another dark look from Savannah.

Sidney had to admit she was having too much fun with this.

The bet was to Theodore and he was taking his time sizing up the competition.  He wasn’t so sure Sidney was bluffing, thanks to her recent roll.  She had climbed back to third very obviously, now just behind Savannah but still a long way off from the mountain that was Demtri Markov.

“All in,” he said in a deep booming voice, but Sidney heard the fear in it.  The dealer went about splitting up the side pots, making sure if one of the lower stacked players won, the correct amount would go to each person.

Sidney knew this would not matter.

It was at this point that a quiet buzzer sounded.

“This will be the last hand of today’s game,” the dealer announced and the crowd clapped.

The showdown had become all the more dramatic.  The spectators couldn’t be happier with the epic setting as two people played to stay in the game.

Sidney decided to give them a show.  “So, you both are in?”

Sidney never gave them a chance to respond and continued speaking to the crowd. “Would anyone who doesn’t like spoilers please close their ears now?”

No one did but she had their full attention.  She turned back to Lilly.  “You think I’m bluffing, but you were sure the big man here wouldn’t go all in so you called.  Now, you are sitting on a low pair, praying that he has a crap hand and I am bluffing.  I’m not bluffing.  But that wouldn’t matter because you are also wrong about Teddy, here.”

She turned toward Theodore.  “You have a five and a king, which is giving you two pair. That gives you a decent hand with two cards to try to land the full house.  You need the king, which I can guarantee you don’t have, or the five, which I’m guessing makes up Lilly’s low pair.”

The two looked at each other and both frowned, knowing she was right.

“Bless my stars, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the only chance anyone has is a five.  The last five.” Sidney said with a grin.

Lilly scuffed, half in disdain for the performance and half out of frustration for losing to the performer.  She stood, knowing she was done, and walked out angrily.

The dealer adjusted his collar and dealt the last two cards.

An ace of clubs and an ace of spades.

The crowd erupted in applause as Theodore hurled is cards across the room in anger.

“Round two concluded,” The dealer spoke over the applause.  “We conclude with Mr. Markov in the lead with $2.5 Million.  Savannah Burton now in second with $500,000, and finally, Sidney Thomas with $450,000.  We will resume tomorrow at the same time.”

The applause continued as the large brick house that was Demtri Markov stood, eyeing Sidney emotionlessly.

Sidney as Savannah put a hand on her hip and winked at the big Russian.  “We got a date tomorrow, sugar.”

The Russian gave her nothing, simply turning and walking out.

Deep inside, Sidney was still worried.  At the end of the day, no matter what Tobias and Hank did on the outside, she still had to find a way to topple the Russian.

Sidney was not sure it was possible.

END EPISODE 18