Edgar hadn't heard from any of his regulars in a couple of weeks. It wasn't like them not to show up, and his bank account started to thin out because of it too. He knew what that group of folks was in with, but he didn't ask questions, always made sure their drinks and cigars or cigarette girls were nearby, and got tipped well because of it. Life was good, until it wasn't.

Now he realized he was going to have to cut back a bit on things, no more dinners at the restaurant, back to eating at home with mom and dad. That apartment on his own? Not going to happen. He sighed as he pulled on his dealer's vest and made his way to his usual table, putting on a smile, he tapped Ricky on the shoulder. "Well folks, looks like I'm your new guy. How's everyone doing tonight?"

A portly man, a woman seated next to him that Edgar could only assume was his 'date' with the way she eyed his chips, a school-teacher looking guy, and a woman Edgar had never seen, and was unsure he wanted to take his eyes off of would be clients tonight.

The reverberated tones of cheers and jeers rumbled through the room, it was loud and it was smokey. Nothing really out of the ordinary though, it's just the way of life on a casino floor. Yup, you got it right. That's where Melanie found herself this evening, not just any casino though. She was at The Flamingo, in Las Vegas. She didn't often find herself out on the western portion of the US anymore, her line of work had led her to Philadelphia and needless to say the work for the majority kept her out on the east coast.

This trip to Vegas, was a tad bit of business but mostly for pleasure. It was her time to get away from things and enjoy herself, where that took her while she was out here was anyone's guess. For now though she was quite content sitting at the Blackjack table; vodka on the rocks in her hand, cigarette in the ash tray next to her and a rather hefty stack of chips in front of her.

It's been a good night already, she wasn't sure how much she was already up but it was significant. Not that the money was all too important but it's always nice to win. She wasn't the only one at this table either, which made it more impressive the stack she had produced. She was about to place her bet down for the next set of cards but was signaled to hold bets as the dealers were switching out.

The men did the normal switching out of dealers, the old guy left without saying a word and the new guy stepped in. "Well folks, looks like I'm your new guy. How's everyone doing tonight?" None of the others paid the man any mind, which Melanie thought was a bit rude as she eyed then all down and shook her head. She then directed her attentions to the dealer and gave him a smile.

"I've got a drink, a stack of chips and most importantly no responsibilities at the moment. Things are fantastic over here. How about yourself?"

Melanie took the glass in her hand and raised it to her lips taking a tiny sip. One thing she learned being at the casinos, was to never play drunk. Things never ended well that way. Placing the drink down, Melanie placed a couple chips on the button.

"Now...." She glanced at the name tag on the dealer. "Edgar, I was doing quite well with Ricky as you can see. If this stack keeps growing the both of us will have a good night." She shot him a wink and smiled.

Edgar nodded.

"That's the way it goes Miss. Though If you were having a good time with Ricky, you'll have a better one with me, promise." He gave Sofia a small wave, and suddenly there was a pack of cigarettes on the table next to the woman who had just spoken.

Edgar started to deal.

"So where are you folks from?"

The fat man mumbled something about California, clearly interested only in his own cards. The woman with him just smiled at Edgar, a smile that told them both she was a local and he would see her again, if he hadn't seen her before.

Then Edgar turned to the other woman.

"What about you miss? What far-reaching corner of the country is that wonderful accent from?"

Melanie nodded as the pack of cigarette's were placed next to her, it was more then likely she wasn't even going to open the box. Usually she wasn't much of a smoker, only really did it on occasions. Those occasions consisting of social settings, like this but even then she'd light a cigarette take a puff and let the majority of the rest of it burn out on it's own.

"What about you miss? What far-reaching corner of the country is that wonderful accent from?"

Accent? Melanie thought to herself, no one ever came out and said she had an accent. It made her chuckle just a bit.

"An accent? I have an accent?"

The man smiled and nodded just as he finished dealing out all the cards.

"I didn't realize I had an accent but then again I guess I hear my own voice daily, so how would I know. Huh?"

Just then a large roar, came from the roulette section. It was a successful roar, someone hit big and they let everyone know it. "Seems someone else is having a good night." The man next to her piped up then looked directly back down at his hand and said nothing more.

"Yeah..." Melanie said before looking back at Edgar. "Well, do wanna know where I'm originally from or where I live now?" She didn't even give the man time to respond before continuing to talk.

"Originally from Seattle, born and survived. Now though I'm out in Philadelphia, been out there for a little while now. Perhaps that is where I've picked the accent up from?"

She was hoping it was an area accent and not some kind of Russian accent she picked up while working with Viktor.

Edgar raised an eyebrow as he continued to deal.

"Survived huh? I know the weather up north is bad, but I didn't realize Seattle was an 'I survived' sort of place. Glad you did though Miss."

He watched as he flipped cards and exchanged money.

"See? I said you would have a good night didn't I?" He smiled and then started to shuffle for the next hand.

"So, how is Philadelphia? Making a good home for yourself out east I hope." He smiled and started to deal another hand as he pointed one finger toward Edith and in short order a glass of water was on it's way to the table for the mystery woman.

Melanie waved off a hit card, you don't hit on a 20. The rest of the cards flipped with the dealer having to stay on 19. He paid out the winnings and took the previous cards. She took the winning pile of chips, keeping the previous bet on the table for the next hand. Before putting the winning stack within the other stacks, Melanie took a couple off and tossed then gently towards Edgar.

See how this winning thing goes, she gave him a wink and directed her attentions to her drink before going back to answering the mans question.

"Survived, yeah that about sums it up. It's a long story..." She took another drink as thoughts of her past ran through her head. "Philadelphia though is home now and it's going well out there. Settled in rather nicely out there, it did take a little bit to get used to it but I like it. Was a fresh start, you know?"

She watched as a new set of cards was dropped in front of her, a pair of 8's. The houses card, Edgar's card showing was a face card. She waited for all the others to do their things until it was her turn. She reached for an identical stack of chips that her original bet was.

"Not sure I should but think I have to split those."

Edgar separated the cards, dropping an ace on the one 8 which was an easy stand and then a 3 on the other 8. She tapped the table signaling a hit, Edgar dropped a queen next to it.

"I think that split was a good idea, hopefully..."

"Thank you for the tip Miss." Edgar smiled to the woman. "And I think your splitting will be a good thing in the end. Sir?"

As he turned to the other man he flipped a card in response to him tapping the table. Another face card and the man slammed a fist onto the table and leaned forward. "Boy, this is the fifth hand I should have won tonight and you know it, slide me my fucking chips, so I'll gut you."

Edgar watched as the other man reached down into his jacket. He cocked an eyebrow and simply shook head head. "You don't want to do that here sir. If I were you I would wait till I make it into the parking lot. Doing it inside the casino will get you killed. Hell, I would be surprised if, now that you're threatened me, they let you walk out of here without so much as a beating."

"That a threat son?" The portly man had, by then produced a knife and Edgar sighed.

"No." He nodded toward the two burly men who were making their way to the table. "I think security might want to have a word with you though." He watched as the other man's eyes went wide as his wrist was grabbed and his knife dropped from his hand. He had no chance at fighting back as more men came out of the woodwork and he was taken to the back room.

The woman who was with him grabbed a handful of chips and made her way toward the door. Edgar sighed and slipped the mans chips into a tray, making sure to accidentally drop one or two larger denominations into the tip bucket.

"Very sorry about that Miss. Now, let's see how you did shall we?" He flipped his card to reveal an 8. "Well look at that, luck stays on your side." He smiled as he slid the woman her chips.

Melanie observed as the portly man threatened Edgar, she was about to step in but wanted to see how things played out first. Edgar handled the situation rather well, she was a bit astonished actually. Usually people in a situation like that panic and/or don't know how to react. It didn't phase him in the slightest, it actually piqued her interest quite a bit.

"No need to apologize for him."

He slid her, her winnings. Melanie took half of one of the stacks and slid it over to him. She wasn't really sure how much it was but it didn't matter, like she said if she win he wins. She took back her original stack and replaced it with just a couple of chips this time. Before he was able to deal another round of cards, an older couple sat down to fill the seats of the portly man and his.. whatever she was.

It gave her enough time to inquire a bit.

"So, are you from around here?"

Edgar smiled and tossed the tip into the bucket as well. "Thank you again."

He also smiled to the older couple that sat with them.

"I am from here actually, born and raised. My parents moved here before I was young. They jumped on the boom, hoping to make some money with the job offers. Now dad works for the city and mom is a secretary." He shrugged. "They're happy though."

He turned to the older couple. "Welcome folks, have a seat. I'll deal you in on the next hand, let me just finish this one out with the nice young lady and we'll get you involved."

As he dealt he watched two queens come up for the woman, and a five come up for him.

"Well, looks like this will be a quick hand huh?"

Melanie smirked, she kind of figured her luck would change soon. Hence why she put a lower bet on the table but alas this was not the case, unless somehow the house pulled out a 21. It was something she had seen before, which was why she never got her hopes up with gambling until the money was in her possession.

"I think I'll stay on that." She waved her hand from left to right signalling to stay put with the queens.

"So born and raised in Vegas, that must have been an interesting upbringing? I mean being this close to all of this your entire life. You must have seen some things?"

She knew he had to have seen somethings, especially after how he handled the portly man. Though she really wasn't sure how much information she was going to get out of him in a setting such as this. He was kind of working and she, well she wasn't the only person at the table listening to the conversation. Though she was a bit interested to hear his response.

She took the final sip out of her current glass and playfully swirled the ice cubes, as she waited.

Edgar flipped over a King, and smiled. "Fifteen, well, that should..." He stopped short as he flipped a six from the deck. "Well that's bull. Sorry." He genuinely frowned as he put her bet into the tray attached to the table.

He began to deal in all three folks at the table now and continued to talk while doing so. "Well, there's always someone in the city who has connections to folks if that's what you mean. Politicians, and business folks alike. Then you've got the type like the guy who just left who think they can just thrown their weight and their money around. They tend to learn hard lessons fast."

He finished dealing and then felt a tap on his shoulder. His pit boss had come up to him.

"Sorry folks, but Edgar has to leave a minute, we're going to pay out all your bets here and you can play at any other table you'd like."

Edgar didn't say anything, but he stepped back from the table. This was not normal, not at all. Something was up. He watched as the pit boss paid everyone out and then took the tip bucket from the table and headed toward the back. Someone must have noticed him slip those few into his bucket.

Melanie sat there and watched the events begin to unfold, now normally something like this would have just rolled off her shoulders like a drop of water in the rain but for some reason this situation was bothering her. It was odd, a man she never met. One she probably would have never seen again after their brief encounter here at The Flamingo but something wasn't right.

She leaned in towards to pit boss and asked a simple question in a rather normal tone.

"What's that all about?"

The pit boss paid no mind to her, as if she hadn't said anything. Apparently she needed to be a bit louder.

"WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT????"

The pit boss looked at her but once again didn't comment. The rage instantly went through her body as she stood up and slammed her fist onto the table, which caused her chips to topple over. "Ma'am, calm down otherwise we will have to remove you." It was a comment that caused Melanie to smirk.

"Remove me? Apparently you don't know who you are dealing with, cause if you one of your men." She glanced over her shoulder knowing all too well they were already besides her. "Touch me, trouble will be had and trust me these are not empty threats like that fat man made a little while back. You touch me and I will destroy you and everything you know."

The pit boss stood there and laughed, then motioned for his men to bring her in the back. "Since you are so curious and since you can't behave yourself you can join Edgar in the back." The two guards grabbed Melanie by the arms and lifted her out of the chair, she struggled a little bit but didn't want to make a huge scene. Plus at this point she was already plotting... She plotted the entire way into the back and even more so when they shoved her into the room, the room Edgar was already in.

His eyes widened as she got shoved in. She looked at him and smiled.

"Your boss just did something he is going to regret."

Edgar's eyes widened.

"Miss, what did you do? I'm sure he brought me back here to chew me out and take his cut of what I took from the big man or turn me over to the owners. I might have lost my job, but they weren't going to break my legs. I've done it before, this is normally how it goes. I get yelled at, I give them seventy cents on the dollar for all my tips and if it's enough then I keep my job. If not, then I just go to another casino. They always need dealers."

He shook his head.

"You though? I don't know that you're going to be so lucky, they are never very kind to the patrons. Also, you're never going to see a dime of the money you left on the table out there. It's all gone now."

he sighed.

"if you keep quiet, maybe I can get them to be kind, but I really don't know what story to give them. If we know each other, they are going to think we were trying to kill the house. If we don't then I hang out out to dry." He sat down against the wall of the threadbare room trying to think when he heard footsteps starting to approach.

The men had taken her bag but had not searched her, that was their stupidity. Melanie pulled her gun off her hip, checked to see if her ammo was full, which it was and then tucked the gun back on her waist. The entire time she had been listening to Edgar speak while also continuing to plot. It wasn’t until he stopped that she spoke up. 
 

“Wait, this whole thing was because you took some of that fat guys money and put it in your pocket. That fat bastard deserved to have his money lifted. Mine though better be in a bag waiting for me once I’m done with this shit.”

She could see Edgar looking at her waist, well the spot on her where the gun was hidden. 
 

“Don’t worry, it’s not for you. It’s for those 2 guards and your boss, that jackass pit boss. I wanted him, told him he’d regret his decision. He apparently doesn’t know the connections I have.” Melanie smirked then made her way over to the corner of the room but turned to face the door. 
 

“You sure that’s why you’re in here?”

Edgar nodded.

"Pretty sure. I've done it a handful of times, this is always how it goes. Sometimes I keep my job. Sometimes I go home with a few bruises and no money. It all depends on the pit boss. The only other thing I can think of is, the fat man had connections of his own and they dragged me in here because of him."

He shrugged.

"If that's the case, well, what's one blackjack dealer to the Boss of some city back east right? I pay the Casino about a thousand bucks, they pretend to kill me, and instead take a cadaver from the morgue and beat it until it's unrecognizable and send a finger to the Boss. I leave, get my hair dyed, and grow a beard and work at a different place."

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on, then off, then on again. It was something to pass the time at least.

As she stood there in that corner, back pushed against the wall. Melanie gave some thought to the man's comments, she never would have imagined a random black jack dealer such as Edgar having such a past. Well guess it wasn't really a past but more so a sense of survival, it wasn't something common. Most people would cower and plead for their life, their job, and their money.

Not Edgar though, she could tell he wasn't thrilled about the situation at hand but was already game planning for what was potentially about to come. That's a skill that is generally unteachable, you either have it or you don't and he had it.

She pushed herself off the wall and took a couple steps forward.

"You've already got this all plotted out, huh?"

Edgar nodded.

"Have you ever thought about making real money?"

Edgar cocked his head to the side.

"What do you mean real money? I think I do pretty well, couple hundred a week if I play the game right, that's more than most can say for a dealer. Some of the high roller dealers can make that, but they have eyes on them all the time. Me? I get a little more leeway, works out better I think."

He looked the woman up and down then for the first real time. There was an air about her, confidence, knowledge. She knew what she was doing, and what she was talking about too. It was something he only really saw from a few people in his life, and none of them got his blood pumping like this woman did when she stepped toward him. He could feel himself getting a little flushed, but pushed that down and continued with the lighter.

"If you're offering me a job, well. I'll be real interested to hear what you've got to say that's for sure."

"A couple hundred dollars a week, sure that's decent but I'm talking real money."

Melanie took another step towards him.

"I mean if you are content with things here and your income then we will talk no further."

Edgar was about to say something but was quickly disrupted by the door opening. Walking into the room were the two guards that carried Melanie into the room and the pit boss. Who by all means had the cockiest smirk on his face. "Both of you sit down!" The man stated in a rather deep tone, as if he was trying to intimidate them.

Melanie stood there and chuckled, a chuckle that brought all eyes onto her. "Do you wanna get hurt little girl? Cause if you don't sit down and shut the hell up you're not gonna be happy."

Melanie's chuckle immediately stopped, not because of the threat but because she wasn't going to play around anymore. She looked him dead in the eyes and without hesitation spoke up.

"You listen up! What you're gonna go do now is a couple things. Firstly you're gonna go out there and get my money." He laughed but Melanie paid no mind to it. "Then once you get my money and bring it back here you're going to apologize to both myself and Edgar over here. He laughed once more. "Then you will step aside and we will leave. If you follow those three simple steps I will forget this happened and everyone will be happy."

The pit boss walked over to the table and slammed his closed fists on the table, sending an echo through the room. "Listen bitch, you will do what I say. I make the rules here!"

Melanie took a step forward and calmly replied to his threat.

"You apparently don't understand the dire situation you are in right now. Do you value your life? Do you value the life of your family?"

Before Melanie could continue the pit boss swung his backhand in her direction, connecting flush with her cheek. It was an act that dropped her to the ground. The pain radiated from her face as she looked down at the ground, a couple drops of blood dripping from her mouth. Seems this guy has a death wish and it was a wish she was surely going to fulfill.

Edgar watched as the door slammed open, and almost sat down as he was told, but then the woman next to him started to laugh. It stopped him, mid-movement. He stared at her as she barked back at the pit boss. Then he watched in horror as he struck her. As she hit the ground, Edgar lunged.

He never even made it close to the pit boss. He did make it on top of the table, but as soon as he did the two guards reached out, one grabbing, one punching. Edgar took three solid hits before he tumbled from the table onto the ground himself.

"Oh, so you'll steal from the Don of Reno, but you got a problem with me teaching some bitch what her place is huh Edgar?"

Edgar wiped the blood from his mouth as he glared. "Yeah, I got a problem with that. I'd have a problem with you putting your dirty grubby hands on any woman, or any work of art, and she happens to be both." He spit the excess blood from his mouth and slowly positioned himself between the woman and their assailants. If she was going to have any chance at getting that piece of hers, it was going to be because they had to go through him first.

"You're dumber than I thought you were Edgar, you could have walked out of here no problem. Not now though, not now kid. Go ahead boys."

And then the two goons made their way toward him and the woman.

Melanie could hear the commotion going on around her then the comments from the pit boss. She could feel Edgar's legs up against her. Almost as if her were shielding her. The ringing in her ears was subsiding and out of the corner of her eyes she could see from underneath the table the thick legs of the guards coming towards them.

She reached for her gun, pulling it off her waist and used it to help push herself off the ground. Slowly Melanie turned towards the men, holding the gun by her side. The men instantly spotted the piece which caused them to stop in their tracks. "She's got a gun!" The two men looked at each other then focused their attentions back towards her.

"Now why did you have to go and do that?" Melanie stated as she lifted the hand with the gun of it towards her mouth. Using the back of her hand to wipe the blood dripping from the side of her mouth.

"You couldn't just do as I asked, you had to be a dick. Didn't you?" Melanie could see the pit bosses eyes glaring at the door handle, could see him processing his odds. "You make a run for that door I will drop you before you could even touch the handle."

She directed her attentions towards Edgar.

"You good?"