Shade Page #6

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- What?

- After the game.

- Are you insane?!

Malini's connected all over L.A., Vernon.

It's highway time.

We haven't gone

through all of this

not to play in that f***ing game.

I'm playing in that game.

- You want to split? Feel free.

- Shut up!

Malini's never going

to find us that fast.

All we got to do is lay low

for a bit, that's all.

Where?

Let's get cleaned up. I know

a place no one will look.

Open sesame.

- You're kidding.

- No sh*t.

It's the magic castle,

what do you want?

There's no way malini's going

to find us in this place.

It's kind of

amazing.

Yeah, I used to spend a lot of

time here before I met Charlie.

Before I rescued you,

you mean.

You okay?

Well, yeah, other than

being shot at, I'm great.

No, I mean, between you

and me, are we okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, we're fine.

Look, after the game,

I'll talk to Charlie, okay?

We'll work it out.

What the hell's

vice doing here?

You run out

of hookers to bust?

Yeah, I...

I think the last one

I busted was your mama.

Of course, don't worry,

she's out on bail.

- So who's this guy?

- Not sure yet.

We think he's connected

to malini's crew.

Witnesses?

The waitress in back.

She didn't see anything.

People outside

said they saw

three people tear ass out

of here just afterwards.

Two guys and a girl.

Two guys

and a girl?

Jesus, I don't believe it.

- What?

- Look.

What the f***

is he still doing here?

- Who?

- Professor.

Put the cards down.

Just put them down.

Jesus, you have no idea

what you're doing.

That's horrible.

Absolutely horrid.

Go read eardonachs.

But I didn't get... - no,

no, it actually hurts me

to watch you

hold a deck.

I suggest taking up a new

hobby like stamp collecting.

So Professor,

what is the best advice

you've ever given

a card man?

Sleep with as many

different women as possible.

Hey, guys, what do you

think of this?

Not bad.

Not bad.

What do you think,

Vernon?

Well, the move

is pretty open.

It'll work here, but forget

about it at the card table.

You need some kind

of shade.

I'd say make the shift with one

hand as you ante with the other.

That's good.

Very good.

Boys, I'd like you to meet

one hell of a card man.

- This is Vernon.

- Hey.

Hey. Professor,

this is Tiffany.

If I knew that hustling

had such benefits,

I never would have

gotten into magic.

Why thank you.

- And you remember, uh...

- Miller!

Surprised you're

still alive.

Funny, I could've said

the same thing about you.

You still hustling old ladies out

of their social security checks?

Still pulling rabbits

out of hats, Professor?

Boys, entertain

the lovely lady

while Vernon

buys me a drink.

Just don't pull any

rabbits out of your hats.

- Been a while.

- Quite a few years.

What brings

you here?

There's a big game

at the Roosevelt tonight.

You boys

are going to work?

Stevens is playing.

- The Dean?

- Yeah.

Be careful,

he's damn good.

So are we.

- Don't you mean he?

- No, I mean we.

Who do you think got your

little magic boy here

into someone who could

make a real living?

It hasn't hurt you

at all, has it?

Give us a minute, Charlie, will you?

Look, there's some loose change

over there on the floor.

Keep an eye

on the clock, okay?

I want you

to think

of any card in any

of the three rows.

Okay.

- You look a little haggard, son.

- It's been a long week.

Being on the grift

is a tough life.

It can wear you down.

I've seen it before.

I know, I know.

You told me.

I'm not knocking

the profession, my boy.

Hell, I've been

friends

with most of the top

mechanics and hustlers

of the last century.

I just hate to see

you go down that road,

especially

with Miller.

- He's not that bad.

- He's a street hustler...

Who's glommed onto you because

he sees you have talent

and he has none... other

than being a good liar.

We made a good team. I mean,

what did you want me to do?

Make a grand or so a week

doing tricks for tourists?

I make that

in one hand.

Of course.

You just have

to make a choice.

At some point,

is it about the art,

or the money?

I remember when you and I

used to stay up all night

just discussing

one move.

Yeah, I miss that.

I still don't have

the finger floater

on the bottom palm

covered yet.

We should work

on that.

You always know

where to find me.

Resident legend,

huh?

Ask yourself if this is

what you want to be doing

for the rest

of your life.

It gets harder

every day

and every dollar

to get out.

Just remember,

some things are

more important than money...

Vernon.

I've known a lot of mechanics

and hustlers in my time,

but I've yet to meet

a retired one.

Hello?

They're using bee, red back.

Nice work, J.J.

I'm... I'm looking

for Mr. Hemingway.

Try room 808.

Thank you.

We're in.

- How do you feel?

- I'm good. I'm loose.

Okay, remember

what I said...

Play the man,

not just

the cards.

Take your time.

Be patient.

Quit it, Charlie. You're

making me nervous.

No, nerves are good.

Keeps you sharp.

Good.

Ready to do this?

Okay, let's go.

Can I help you?

I'm looking for

Mr. Hemingway.

Please come in.

Hey, now you

must be Mr. holden.

That's right.

How're you doing?

- How do you do?

- This is Miller.

- How are you?

- And this is Tiffany.

A genuine

pleasure, ma'am.

- Thank you.

- I'm Tony d. From Austin, Texas.

This good old boy

is Mr. thornhill.

- Hey.

- Call me Jack.

Hey, Jack.

And if you'll allow me to introduce

you to our host this evening...

Mr. malini.

Good of you

to join us, Mr. holden.

It's good of you

to have me.

These are my friends.

They tend to bring me luck.

Any problem

with them observing?

Not at all.

I hope this

will prove to be

an entertaining evening

for all of us.

If you'll allow me to introduce

you to the other players?

You didn't know malini

was going to be here?

No idea.

- Great.

- Stay cool.

This is

Mr. Stevens.

Mr. Stevens...

Mr. holden.

- Nice to meet you.

- And you.

I hear you're from

the Cincinnati area.

Yeah,

around there.

Then you must know

lady buck Johnson?

I've met her. I don't

really know her, though.

Too bad about her

husband, isn't it?

I wasn't aware

that she was ever married.

Oh, that's right.

I don't remember

seeing you around the clubs

the last time I was

around Cincinnati.

- I'm more or less a weekend player.

- Right.

This is Tiffany.

Tiffany,

very expensive name.

Worth every penny.

- This is Miller.

- Charlie, Charlie Miller.

Dean,

good memory.

You sitting in,

Charlie?

Not me, no.

I'm a dice man.

Really.

Are you stake horsing?

Well, yeah, I guess

something like that, yeah.

You must be

pretty good, kid,

if he's willing

to risk money on you.

Charlie's

very conservative.

You're not a hustler,

are you, kid?

What do you say, Max? Are we going

to start this thing or what?

Absolutely.

Gentlemen.

There you go.

Can I get a receipt

for that?

Yeah, after the game,

dice man.

Mr. holden, take your seat over there.

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