know, in High Noon. Facing the gunman at the end of the street. Although Gary Cooper was facing a whole gang in that one, and all I had was Mr. Moustache.”
“You like old movies?” Tanner asked. That was another thing they had in common.
Hope nodded, helping herself to pot stickers. “Late night TV, my secret vice,” she said.
Tanner could think of other late-night vices he’d like to tempt her with.
“She’s a natural card player,” Pete Wysniewski said. “You see them every so often. Stu Ungar. Like that.”
Weary nodded. “You played some remarkable poker this week,” he said to Hope. “Truly remarkable.”
“Bing, bing, bing!” Sharp Eddie said, finishing up the Mongolian beef.
“Unbelievable streak,” Isaiah Rush said. “You were fantastic all week.”
Hope blushed furiously.
“Thanks to you all,” she said. She took a deep breath. “I’ll never be able to repay you guys for coming out here and getting me this far.”
“Hey,” Marty said. “Stop. No more of that. We always felt we shoulda done more for you back then. What we did this week is nothing. We’re square.”
“And we had fun,” Sharp Eddie said, laying aside his napkin and sitting back with a sigh of satisfaction.
Jim Thickpenny nodded. “We were delighted to accommodate your unexpected and fascinating request for assistance.”
“We’re just glad to see you again, Hope,” Weary said.
Tanner watched Hope smile with her lips pursed together. She was trying not to cry. What had these people—such unlikely friends—meant to each other years ago? He’d give a lot to know. Someday, he hoped—and if he had anything to say about it—she’d trust him enough to tell him.
As they started to file out of the restaurant, Marty held Hope back.
“Got something for you here,” he said. He pulled some sheets of paper from inside his coat pocket. “Did some research. Thought you might need it.”
Hope took the papers and looked at them. “What’s this?”
“These are most of the players you’ll likely meet tonight at Big Julie’s,” Marty said. “Big Julie tends to play with a bunch of guys regular, and another two or three that rotate, depending on who’s flush or who’s in town. Like that.”
Hope nodded, reading more carefully. “This is fantastic, Marty! This will really help. How did you get this?”
“I asked around. The six regulars is there, plus Big Julie. Then you, that’s eight. Maybe one other. Last week one guy went to the hospital with a peanut allergy, might be him. If not—sorry, kiddo. It was the best I could do on such short notice.”
Hope looked at him with shining eyes. “You’ve got everything here! Names, style of play, tells, winnings, even photos! Everything!”
“Everything I could find, anyways. You can’t have us spotting tables for you up there. You’ll be on your own, and you’re coming in cold. They know each other, and how everybody plays, so you got it tougher than the other players. I thought this could even your odds a little bit.”
“Marty, I love you. You think of everything.” Hope put her arms around him and held him close.
“Jeez, Hope, stop that. It’s nothing,” Marty blustered, and Hope took pity and let him go.
“It’s everything, Marty. I won’t forget what you did for me this week. Let me know if I can repay the favor. I mean it.”
Marty patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “You’re a good kid,” he said. “If I had a kid, I wouldn’t mind if she turned out like you.”
Hope felt herself beaming at Marty.
“I’d have been proud to be your kid,” she said.
Tanner watched Hope and Marty from a distance and wondered what the Jersey card player was saying that made her smile at him like that and wondered what Marty had given her. His last will and testament? A treasure map? It wasn’t any of his business. But whatever it was, it had sure made Hope happy.
Well, he had an afternoon to make Hope happy, too. He was free until this evening, when he had to play in Big Julie Saladino’s weekly card game. And he’d make sure that Big Julie won, too, whatever it took, because otherwise he’d be violating the terms of his probation. He had a lot of reasons to stay out of jail now, starting with the one that was standing over there talking to Marty the Sneak.
Hope waved goodbye to Marty, and then, there she was. Coming toward him, a big smile on her face.
“You picked a good table for me this morning,” Hope said, as she joined Tanner, beaming. “Thank you.” He looked lazy,