Page 38 of Cry Havoc

“You never know,” Tom said, pushing his wad of about $500 into the center of the table. If he won, the money would allow him to spruce upthe Green Beret Lounge at Phu Bai, now that he saw what was possible at the Delta Club.

“How much is that?” Lee asked, assessing his stack of cash.

“Call it $480 and change. Can you call?”

Lee rubbed his chin and looked concerned for the first time all night.

“I’ve got maybe two hundred, two-fifty in front of me, but I’m feeling good.”

Tom smiled and lit another Marlboro.

“That’s not quite enough. You have anything else to call my bet?”

His eyes went to the Rolex on Lee’s wrist.

“Oh man, I just picked this up today at the PX. Two hundred bucks. That’s more than half a month’s pay.”

“That doesn’t really cover it, but seeing as how you are Quinn’s friend and this is the Delta Club, I’ll pretend it does. Plus, I need a watch,” Tom said, shaking his empty left wrist. “Want me to bury any top cards before I deal?”

“No need, but let’s finish these drinks and get another pour. You in, Quinn?”

“I’m in for a drink. Hoping Tom can get me a bit of my money back.”

“I doubt it,” Lee said. “Let me make a toast.” He raised his glass. “To lying, stealing, cheating, and drinking. If you’re going to lie, lie for a teammate. If you’re going to steal, steal a heart—like ‘GI Jo’s’ over there on the wall.” He nodded to the photo of the beautiful Playmate behind the bar. “If you are going to cheat, cheat death. And if you’re going to drink, drink with me, motherfucker!” Lee tossed back the dark brown liquid and shook his head.

Tom and Quinn did the same.

Tom set down his glass and dealt out ten cards, five each.

“Lee, as much as I like you and appreciate the toast and hospitality, it’s time for you to lose that watch.”

All right, damage report,Tom thought, arching his cards off the table for a glance at his current hand.Could be worse. I need one card.

He looked up at Lee, who was staring at him with a confidence that at this stage of the night would be hard to fake.

“Any cards, Lee?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll be taking one,” Tom replied with an easy smile.

“Good luck.”

“?‘Always play to the end and finish the game,’?” Tom said, quoting his father. “I shall finish the game.”

Tom discarded his one unwanted card and pulled a lone fresh one off the top of the deck. He was adding it to his hand when he saw Lee place his cards down on the table face up.

“A goddamned royal flush. Sorry, boys,” Lee said. He reached forward and began pawing in his winnings. “Looks like you’re going to have to keep asking Quinn for the time.”

Quinn dropped his head.

“Don’t worry about it, Tom. I have a little left over to get us through the week.”

Tom had not stopped looking at his cards.

“One moment, Lee, youdidsay that treys were still wild, didn’t you?”

Lee’s hands stopped midway through their sweep of the winnings. “Well, yeah, butonlywith face cards, and not with any aces.”