That was when Great-Grandpa's voice came through, trembling with excitement:
"Yes! Yes! The first thread of fortune has shifted to you!"
"Boy, see that golden glow above their heads? It's turned dark gray. That's the mark of catastrophic luck. They're done for!"
"Last round. Go for the throat! Force them to put up their company shares and property as collateral!"
By five in the morning, even the parlor owner was nodding off.
Caspar's hand shook as he signed his name on a handwritten IOU. He'd wagered the entire profit share from that five-million-dollar construction contract he'd just landed. Every cent of it, pledged to me.
Humphrey lost his Audi and six hundred thousand in savings.
Joe got the worst of it. He signed over the deed to his building supply store.
"You played us hard tonight, Thaddeus."
Caspar slumped in his chair, face white as paper.
He clenched his jaw and added, "But you won this much. Beverly's going to grill you the second you walk in. You'd better head home and get your story straight."
I stood, tucked the thick stack of IOUs and transfer receipts into my jacket, and gave Caspar a light pat on the cheek.
"Relax, Caspar."